Dec 02, 2024  
2024-2025 University Catalog 
    
2024-2025 University Catalog

School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management


Mission Statement

To prepare our students to be ethical and technically proficient leaders who can make an impact on our world.

Vision Statement

To be a creative and inclusive academic community that provides state-of-the-art scholarly opportunities in areas that support RWU’s strategic efforts.

School Goals

The School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management (SECCM) at Roger Williams University (RWU) has identified several goals that will enable us to achieve our mission and progress toward realizing our vision. These goals - consistent with the strategic plan of RWU - are categorized into three broad themes - Student Experience; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Visibility and Engagement.

 

Theme 1 - Student Experience

  • To provide undergraduate programs that are flexible and robust enough to meet the dynamic needs of an ever-changing world.
  • To participate in graduate education at RWU through interdisciplinary campus curricula and identifying and creating SECCM graduate certificate and degree programs where appropriate.
  • To promote student involvement in SECCM and RWU co-and extra-curricular activities.
  • To grow research opportunities for SECCM students.
  • To recruit and retain a committed and qualified body of SECCM students
  • To facilitate the career development of SECCM students.
  • To increase the number and breadth of international learning opportunities for SECCM students.

 

Theme 2 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  • To foster a welcoming atmosphere in which all SECCM community members feel a strong sense of belonging.
  • To foster a gender-inclusive community by actively recruiting and welcoming more female-identifying and non-binary individuals.
  • To diversify our community toward reflecting the heterogeneity of the greater regional, national, and global populations.

 

Theme 3 - Visibility and Engagement

  • To communicate strategically to strengthen SECCM’s impact.
  • To increase engagement of SECCM alumni and friends across all of our programs to benefit the broader SECCM community.

 

Overview

The School of Engineering, Computing, and Construction Management (SECCM) offers three undergraduate majors leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. These programs are Computer Science, Construction Management, and Engineering. The school also offers an undergraduate degree in Computer Science leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree. The Computer Science (BS) major and the Engineering major are accredited by ABET. The American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) accredits the Construction Management (BS) major.

The academic programs are designed to provide our graduates with flexibility and competency in the pursuit of their career goals. The curriculum reflects the needs of today’s graduates. In today’s workplace, successful professionals must be able to adapt to rapid technological change, communicate and interact effectively with diverse populations, and unite post-graduate educational and professional experiences into future vision. All of our programs incorporate the University General Education, which assures students of an extensive and effective background in the social sciences and humanities. The Computer Science (BS) and Engineering programs augment this general education with substantial requirements in mathematics and the physical sciences. The Computer Science (BA) program provides students the flexibility to double-major or pursue multiple minors. The Construction Management program complements the General Education curriculum with courses in mathematics, physical sciences, business and management.

Additional flexibility is built into the Engineering and Computer Science (BS) programs. Both programs require students to select a specialization. Engineering students may specialize in Civil, Computer, Electrical, Environmental or Mechanical Engineering. Computer Science students may specialize in Data Science, Digital Systems, Human Centered Computing, Intelligent and Autonomous Systems, or Mathematics. Both programs also accommodate “custom” specializations.

All undergraduate programs encourage students to participate in an internship experience. Internships may be arranged during an academic semester or during summer or winter breaks. The University Center for Career and Professional Development helps students find and obtain intern opportunities.

In the SECCM, students have the opportunity and are encouraged to participate in a variety of students clubs. Engineering students may choose from clubs affiliated with: the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME); the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE); Engineers Without Borders (EWB); and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).  There also is a non-affiliated club: Robotics Innovation. Computer Science students also are encouraged to join the student chapter of IEEE. Construction Management students are encouraged to participate in the Construction Management Student Club which is the umbrella organization for Women in Construction (WIC), the Green Building and Sustainable Construction (GBSC); Residential Construction Club; Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) student chapter; and Sigma Lambda Chi (Construction Management Honor Society). All students are encouraged to participate in the Multicultural STEM Alliance.  These clubs participate in a wide variety of activities that include student competitions, community service, and interaction with local professional organizations. In addition to the educational benefits and networking opportunities, these clubs provide an environment in which students interact socially outside of the classroom with their fellow students and faculty.

Applicants for the SECCM programs should possess a strong background in mathematics and science. All applicants should have completed four years of high school mathematics including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus. Two years of science, including physics, should have been completed.

 

Facilities

The School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management is housed in two buildings near the center of the campus. The original building contains classrooms, seminar and discussion rooms, an auditorium, engineering and computer science laboratories, and faculty offices.

The new SECCM Laboratories building was completed in late January 2020. The 27,325 square foot facility contains state-of-the-art laboratories for all three disciplines, student collaboration spaces and faculty offices. Located adjacent to the original building, the new facility greatly enhances the experiential learning of our students.

 

School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management Faculty

Robert Griffin, Dean

B. Gökhan Çelik, Associate Dean

Anne K. Anderson, Construction Management Program Coordinator

Anthony S. Ruocco, Computer Science (BA and BS) Program Coordinator

Charles R. Thomas, Engineering Program Coordinator

 

Professors:

Chunyan Bai, Janet L. Baldwin, B. Gokhan Çelik, Michael J. Emmer, Amine Ghanem, Koray Özer, William Palm, Anthony S. Ruocco, Matthew R. Stein, Charles R. Thomas

Associate Professors:

Ahmet E. Akosman, Anne K. Anderson, Maija A. Benitz, Sonya J. Cates, Lillian C. Jeznach, Pamela K. Judge, Nicole M. Martino, Issa J. Ramaji

Assistant Professors:

Daniel Dimitrov (visiting), Vani Gupta, Shay Kurzinski, Jung Hyun Lee, Allison Marn, Gordon Stewart (visiting)

Staff:

James Dorothy, Jennifer Wagner

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science

Minor

Master of Science

Graduate Certificate