Undergraduate students in almost all disciplines experience curricula dominated by the technical foundations, but lacking many of the "soft" topics that the students will need in order to be fully prepared to practice professionally after graduation.

Richard McCuen is an Emeritus Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maryland. He retired in 2020 as the Ben Dyer Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering. Dr. McCuen received a BSCE degree from Carnegie-Mellon University (1967) and the MSCE and Ph.D. (1971) degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He was a faculty member at the University of Maryland for 49 years and served as Director of the Engineering Honors Program for more than 35 years. Each year, Dr. McCuen taught two honors courses that focused on leadership, professionalism, communication, the elements of undergraduate research, and creative thinking. He is the author or co-author of 29 textbooks, and approximately 275 journal publications, conference proceedings papers, and reports. He has served as editor or associate editor of leading journals including the J. American Water Resources Association, the ASCE Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, the Journal of Hydrology, and the AWRA Water Resources Impact. He received the 2015 Ven Te Chow Award for research, education, and service from ASCE, the 1991 James M. Robbins Award for Excellence in Teaching from Chi Epsilon, the 2017 President's Outstanding Service Award from the AWRA, and the 1988 Icko Iben Award from the AWRA. Dr. McCuen has been involved in research related to hydrologic engineering, storm water management, urban hydrology, statistical analysis, flood frequency analysis, hydrologic modeling, and engineering ethics.

Introduction. Career Planning for Success. Internship Experiences and Professional Growth. Mentoring Within a Professional Workplace. Development of Professional Attributes. Attitude Development for Professional Achievement. Codes of Conduct and Resolution of Professional Conflicts. Development of a Professional Value System. Professional Resolution of Fraudulent Practices. Imaginative Thinking: An Ability for Professional Growth. Intellectual Characteristics and Problem Complexity. Knowledge Development Via Academic Research. Professional Communication. Graduate Education: A Key to Professional Growth.