This paper discusses how a university has integrated an academic program of ethics and leadership across the campus and more specifically within the School of Engineering. The college has embraced principled leadership and ethics as a core component of the general education curriculum. A four year sequence of required leadership classes provides a unified approach to ethics that spans all undergraduate level degree programs. Running in parallel with the student’s major course of study, it integrates ethics and principled leadership topics into the general curriculum and into specific courses taken by the student body as a requirement for graduation. This paper will outline the leadership course requirements, the inclusion of service learning, and participation of local businesses in the program. To further prepare students for a culture of ethics in engineering the Departments Civil and Environmental Engineering along with the Electrical and Computer Engineering provide additional emphasis throughout their curriculum which support their ABET Program Outcomes. Both in and out of the classroom, engineering leadership and ethics topics span freshman through senior years. Classroom topics include NSPE (National Society of Professional Engineers) code of ethics, case studies, and famous incidents. Extra- curricular activities include panel discussions, conferences, order of the engineer ceremony, and regional ethics competitions. The paper will address how the required components of the program are assessed to meet both ABET and SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and School). By focusing on principled leadership and ethics as a college-wide mission, this university has a unique story to contribute to the discussion of teaching ethics in engineering at the collegiate level.
Robert Barsanti is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The Citadel where he teaches and does research in the area of target tracking and signal processing. Since 2015, Dr. Barsanti has served as the William States Lee Professor and Department Head. Before joining The Citadel in 2002, he served on the faculty and as a member of the mission analysis design team at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. Dr. Barsanti is a retired United States Naval Officer. His memberships include the Eta Kappa Nu, and Tau Beta Pi honor societies.
Ronald J. Hayne is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The Citadel. He received his B.S. in Computer Science from the United States Military Academy, his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arizona, and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia. Dr. Hayne's professional areas of interest include digital systems design and hardware description languages. He is a retired Army Colonel with experience in academics and Defense laboratories.
Dr. Kevin Bower is D. Graham Copland Professor of Civil Engineering and Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Bower’s research into teaching and learning forces on improving active learning environments and the development of principled leaders attributes in engineering students.
John Peeples graduated with a BSEE from The Citadel, and after a tour in the USAF completed his MSEE and PhD in Electrical Engineering at the University of South Carolina. After 25 years in the computer industry he returned to his alma mater as a professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. John completed 12 years of service as department head in 2015. He is the senior past president of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Head Association (ECEDHA), a member of the SC Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and a Senior Member of the IEEE.
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