Curriculum revision in the light of ABET 2000 criteria

This paper explains how the Delft University of Technology civil engineering faculty utilized the ABET 2000 criteria in a major curriculum revision process. The ABET 2000 criteria have been interpreted as three seemingly simple steps to be carried out by each engineering faculty: (1) define your product and thus its standard; (2) produce your product; and (3) assure the quality of your product. The product here is a graduate, not a curriculum! The author believes that much faculty insecurity with the third step above stems from a poor product definition in step 1; quality control is impossible without a good standard. This paper concentrates first, therefore, on defining the product or standard. It continues to describe how this better definition and the lessons learned while formulating it have been utilized in a major overhaul of the civil engineering B.Sc. curriculum at the Delft University of Technology. It concludes by reflecting on the overhaul process.