agnerd said:

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So a civil over 72 years old? I'd think cruising by the local nursing homes might be the quickest way to find someone meeting that description.

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Quote:

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I'm happy to help with your assignment. I graduated from Texas A&M University in 1975 with a degree in Civil Engineering, so I can give you a pretty good picture of what things were like back then.

What the department and curriculum were like

The program was very structured and heavily focused on fundamentals. Everyone essentially took the same core set of coursesstatics, dynamics, strength of materials, structural analysis, fluid mechanics, and soil mechanics. There wasn't much room for electives or specialization at the undergraduate level like there is today.

We also spent a lot more time on surveying than I think students do now. That included actual fieldwork using transits and levels, not simulations or software. Drafting was done entirely by hand, so you had to be precise and patient.

There were no computers involved in our coursework. Most of our calculations were done by hand or with slide rules, and later on some of us started using basic calculators. Because of that, you really had to understand the underlying theoryyou couldn't rely on software to check your work.

The professors tended to be demanding, and the expectation was that you would keep up or fall behind. It was not an environment with a lot of hand-holding.

How I served after leaving Texas A&M

After graduating, I went to work for a consulting firm in Texas that focused on transportation and municipal infrastructure. Over the years, I worked on roadway design, drainage systems, and eventually project management for public works projects.

The education I received at Texas A&M prepared me well in terms of fundamentals. I was comfortable analyzing problems and understanding how structures and systems behaved, even if I had to learn newer tools and methods on the job as technology advanced.

What I would change

If I could change anything, I would say the program could have benefited from more emphasis on practical design and real-world applications while we were still in school. We learned the theory very well, but a lot of the "how things actually get built" knowledge came later in our careers.

I would also add that more flexibility in choosing areas of focus would have been helpful. Today's students seem to have more opportunities to specialize earlier, which I think is a good thing.

That said, I wouldn't trade the strong foundation we received. It served me well throughout my career.

Best of luck with your class.

Sincerely,
John R. Mitchell
Class of 1975
Civil Engineering
Texas A&M University

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maroon barchetta said:

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AI slop

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Decay said:

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Also "Gig A&M" (on the coffee mug) is some kind of genius fever dream I can't believe I've never seen before

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Decay said:

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Also "Gig A&M" (on the coffee mug) is some kind of genius fever dream I can't believe I've never seen before

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MROD92 said:

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My dad is ME class of 65
I can ask him if he's interested if you like. After graduating he worked at NASA for 32 years

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mh_eng_27 said:

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Interveiw will be brief, can be over email or call, and will cover how department and its curriculum were when they were here, how they served after leaving Texas A&M, and what they would change about any of it. I'm the first Ag in my family and don't have any contacts.

If you know anyone you might be willing to have a brief chat, lmk!

Thank you!
MH CVEN '27

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infinity ag said:

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MROD92 said:

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My dad is ME class of 65
I can ask him if he's interested if you like. After graduating he worked at NASA for 32 years

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Clear Lake?

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MROD92 said:

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infinity ag said:

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MROD92 said:

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My dad is ME class of 65
I can ask him if he's interested if you like. After graduating he worked at NASA for 32 years

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Clear Lake?

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Yes sir

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