Abstract

The Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) Architectural Engineering (ARCE) department has seen significant progress in reaching gender equity as evidenced by recent student enrollment numbers. However, ARCE-affiliated technical and history classes still lack discussion of notable female practitioners or the value of input from women as project stakeholders. This educational shortcoming is likely true at many other civil or structural engineering, construction management, and architecture programs. To address this gap, the authors developed a new 1-credit hour course offered in Spring 2024 to Cal Poly Honors and ARCE students to expose them to the contributions and concerns of women in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) fields.

In-class content has been developed which consists of engaging lectures with storytelling, case studies, and interactive group discussions while at-home assignments have students examine multimedia resources such as book excerpts, online articles, and podcast episodes. Additional activities that are planned to enrich the student experience include a panel with female leaders in AEC industry and faculty, along with a day trip to Hearst Castle to learn about the prolific California- based designer Julia Morgan.

Course deliverables range from discussion posts to reflect on course topics, creation of a podcast as the midterm project, and a final class project to produce a game and a book directed towards middle and high school students. The major course projects are intended to generate material for AEC professionals and faculty to conduct educational outreach with youth to adults from diverse backgrounds. In addition to descriptions of each of these curriculum components, this paper will summarize pre- and post-course surveys to identify the course’s impact on student awareness of women’s contributions and perspectives in the design of the built environment. Whether students are budding engineers, architecture enthusiasts, or simply curious about the stories behind buildings and civil infrastructure, this class provides a journey into the creativity, resilience, and excellence of women in the AEC domain.

Disciplines

Architectural Engineering

Number of Pages

20

Download

Share

COinS
 

URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/aen_fac/156