AGP - Course Summary and Outline

This first course in the series of America's Greatest Projects reveals the intricacies involved with developing and implementing projects of a national and worldwide nature. These first two projects deal with the commonality that they were both conceived by the federal government and engineered by a team of mostly government-employed engineers. This course traces the history leading up to the actual opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, including the ideas and the attempts by other nations to develop a canal that would join the two oceans. The efforts of the many individual engineers to achieve such an engineering feat are also described.

Also included in this course is a synopsis of the construction of the Hoover Dam, another early twentieth century project that was on the forefront of engineering technology. This course details the contributions of several engineers who participated in this remarkable achievement. You will discover that the construction of the Hoover Dam was the very first major project to use outside contractors instead of a government-directed workforce.

Below is an outline of the topics explored and areas of instruction included in America's Greatest Projects (& Their Engineers).

1. Panama Canal

A. Early Events

B. Enter the United States

C. U. S. Construction Begins

D. Summary

2. Hoover Dam

A. Hoover Dam Approval and Administration

B. Hoover Dam Engineering and Design

C. Hoover Dam Construction

D. Summary