TO: Professor Sid Alvis and Mr.

Jackson Stoneman
FROM: Camden Bowers
DATE: November 16th, 2023
RE: Civil/Environmental/Civil Technology/Construction Management Major Reflection Memo

I chose a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. I was extremely committed to my

decision and I still am. The idea of designing and building machines or methods with a purpose and a
function sounds very appealing to me and I believe that a mechanical engineering degree is the best way
for me to achieve that.
Before this section of the class, I knew a fair bit about civil engineering and construction
management. I’ve heard stories from one of my highschool teachers who was a construction manager
and I had a good grasp on how civil engineers design bridges, roads, and public buildings in general. I
was wondering how lots of the structures are designed in teams and how all the aspects of a building
come together such as the ventilation, plumbing, structure support, ect to make the building.
I know environmental engineers implement and modify sustainable environmental structures,
and civil engineer technologists maintain public structures. Construction managers manage the actual
building of a project and work until it is finished. I am not sure if I have any more questions about civil
engineering.
The theoretical engineer portion was the designing of the beams and decision matrices used to
decide which would be built as well as the calculations for the beam. The applied engineering section
was actually putting together the beam after ordering the parts as well as the testing of the beam's
actual properties. There was overlap in the calculations for the beam and meeting the properties for
testing.
Civil engineers design public facilities like roads, bridges, and sewage systems and civil
engineering technologists maintain and implement the designs. Environmental engineers build
environmentally sustainable projects for issues such as pollution and water treatment. Construction
managers supervise and coordinate the creation of a project and all its moving parts.
This section moved me a small amount towards civil engineering, but I am still confident that the
flexibility of mechanical engineering is for me. I am completely sure I do not want to become an
environmental engineer or construction manager.
I have neither given nor received any unauthorized help on this assignment, nor witnessed any violation
of the UNC Charlotte Code of Student Academic Integrity. Camden Bowers 11.11.2023