Civil Engineering Degree – How Hard Is A Civil Engineering Degree Program

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Civil engineers are the ones who specialize in city building. What this means is that they plan the construction of water distribution, bridges, roads and other infrastructure. Becoming a civil engineer is definitely a good career choice, not only because of the huge value of the work they do, but more importantly the opportunities that come along with this profession. Thus you may be wondering how hard a civil engineering degree program is.

If you are planning to get a degree in civil engineering, there are four basic things you need to do. First, you have to find a civil engineering school. Next you should know the registration requirements and complete them. Finally, you will have to pay the fees and complete the course. These requirements are indeed easy to accomplish, but of course the process of completing the coursework is a different story and may require a lot of effort and dedication from the students.

The good thing about civil engineering degrees is that they are mostly available in traditional universities as well as online. These options equally have their pros and cons, and so as a student of a civil engineer degree program, it is important that you explore your options. This is the only way that you can really guarantee that your choice will be the one to suit you the best.

The first thing you should take into account in choosing the right civil engineer school is the accreditation of the institution. There are so many colleges and universities offering this program, but you can never be sure that they all meet the standards set by the state and private institutions. Also, you should not opt for schools that have just one or two types of engineering degree programs. Keep in mind that the more courses offered by a school, the better quality of education you are likely to gain.

When it comes to the requirements for admission to a civil engineering degree program, they may vary greatly. Typically, however, engineering schools require that applicants have credits in physics, algebra, technology and English. It is not enough that you have taken these courses, because the best civil engineering programs require that you get outstanding marks in the said subjects.

If you are wondering about the fees needed to finish a civil engineer course, well you should expect to pay more than those taking other Bachelor of Science degrees. And so, it is recommended that potential students explore their options in terms of grants and scholarships available to them. There are a number of student jobs also open to students who wish to earn some money while attending school.

After completing the entire civil engineering degree program, a student should apply for a professional engineering designation or certification. This is administered by the Professional Engineer Association of America. Throughout this process, your course will be assessed. You may also be offered some relevant programs for the enhancement of your skills. Finally, you will be taking the examination to receive the certification for a civil engineer.

Civil Society A Proper Definition

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Civil society is the arena of collective action without restraint around common interests, goals and values. In theory, its institutional forms differ from the state, family and market, but in practice the boundaries between state, civil society, family and market are often complex, blurred and negotiated. Civil society commonly embraces a diversity of spaces, actors and institutional forms that vary in their degree of formality, autonomy and power. Civil societies are often populated by organizations such as tax-exempt public, foundations, development organizations, community organizations and unions, women organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, trade unions, support groups, social movements, associations and support groups.

The past twenty-five years have witnessed a spectacular expansion of philanthropy, volunteering, and Civil Society organizations throughout the world. Indeed, we seem to be in the midst of a global associational revolution, a worldwide upsurge of organized private voluntary activity. Despite the promise that this development holds, however, the nonprofit or civil society sector remains the invisible subcontinent on the social landscape of most countries, poorly understood by policymakers and the public at large, often encumbered by legal limitations, and inadequately utilized as a mechanism for addressing public problems.

Social accountability is an unusual concept in that it always seems to require being defined before it is applied or discussed. In part it is a result of an inherent ambiguity or elasticity in the concept.. Many would hold that a free and vigorous press is an essential element in civil society. But most newspapers and TV stations in the country are run as for-profit businesses. In modern societies, realizing these ideals like political equality or peaceful coexistence – requires action across many different institutions, not just voluntary associations. Civil society as the good society is very important, because it sets the contributions of voluntary associations in the proper context and guards against the tendency to privilege one part of society over the others on ideological grounds voluntary associations over states for example, or business over both.

There are some interventions, though, that would be useful across the board. The main initiative must be to strengthen the pre-conditions for a healthy civil society by attacking all forms of inequality and discrimination, giving people the means to be active citizens, reforming politics to encourage more participation, guaranteeing the independence of associations and the structures of public communication, and building a strong foundation for institutional partnerships, alliances and coalitions. Inequality is the poison of civil society because it endows citizens with different levels of resources and opportunities to participate, so things like support for childcare and a living wage which are not usually seen as civil-society building interventions, may be the most important areas of
all.

For realization of a civil social system stronger links are needed to be built between policy groups, organizing groups, service deliverers and the media; we need to link associations across different interests and agendas and get progressive organizing out of its silos (issues and identities); we need to encourage a more democratic relationship between grassroots constituencies and those in the nonprofit sector who claim to speak on their behalf. We need to reduce the costs and risks of citizen participation(for example, making it easier to organize at the workplace), and we need to honor and connect different forms of participation so that service doesnt become a substitute for political engagement.

Get All Details About the Indian Civil Services (IAS) Exam

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Get All Details About the Indian Civil Services (IAS) Exam

Today the Indian Civil Services have become much more multifaceted and broader. The importance of the Civil Services in a country like India is great. Since it is such a vast country with varied features in different parts, India needs an efficient system of administration and management.

Life in civil services is very different from how it is portrayed in the public media. The civil services examination is basically a test to choose suitable administrators. It tests the candidate right from the stage when one starts the preparation. One common misconception about the prelims is that it is a test of facts and figures. Civil service as an instrument of State is distinguished from military services. Civil services run most of the day-to-day services, projects, programs and implement the policy of the civil government as opposed to defense services that safeguards the nation in its frontiers.

In Civil services, there is very little room for heroism and the essential elements that civil services support are formulation and implementation of policies. So, the required attitude and skills for civil servants are tenacity, good language skills, presentation skills, analytical skills and objectivity rather than brilliance in any particular subject or a very high level of intelligence.

The Indian Civil Service Examinations are conducted by and under the supervision of the Union Public Service Commission which was established in 1950 under the Constitution of India’s Article 315. This annually held examination is highly competitive as thousands of aspirants appear for it every year. In spite of the many career options available today, many young people still opt for the Indian Civil Services because it retains an aura of prestige and a civil servant in India even today earns a lot of respect in the country. Added to this are the various facilities and high salary of an Indian bureaucrat.

The actual examination is divided into two stages: The Preliminary Examination The Main Examination

Once a civil service aspirant clears these stages he or she then has to appear for the interview. During the interview the candidate will face questions on topics of general awareness. However, the main objective of the interview is to gauge the personality of the candidate and adjudge whether he or she is suitable for the responsibility that the job entails. Lastly, there is a Medical Test. This is especially important for the candidates of the Indian Police Service.

Preparation of Civil Services takes a lot of perseverance, hard work, time management, and proper guidance. For more information about the optional subjects, syllabuses, and previous years’ question papers, check the respective links.

Riya, The author is a faculty by profession and imparts education/training for civil Services Entrance exam. For More detail For Civil Services Exam, need any book, online Coaching, preparation, Study material, notification, etc, you can logon on http://www.careerlauncher.com/civils

Civil Services Preliminary Exams 2013

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Once in life everyone covets to have a government Job and aspire to crack UPSC Exam. With strategic study management and persistent hard work it is possible to crack it.
To fill the post of IAS, IFS & IPS , UPSC has issued and invited candidates to appear in Civil Services (preliminary) examination 2013. After Preliminary Exam, the mains and the interview has to be get through. Civil Services (preliminary) examination eligibility requires the candidate to be a graduate, aged between 21 to 30 as on 1-8-2013.

CSAT 2013 Admit Card
This year CSAT is to be held at May 26, 2013 and those who have applied can now download their Civil Services (preliminary) exam. 2013 admit card on the UPSC official website http://upscadmitcard.nic.in/CSPDefault.aspx from 28th April, 2013 to 26th may, 2013.

CSAT Pattern & Syllabus
Civil Services (preliminary) exam. 2013 pattern consists of two papers having Objective type questions and is considered as a screening type of exam, to sift candidates to appear in for the main exams. The two papers are compulsory having weightage of 200 marks each.

Civil Services (preliminary) examination syllabus consists of Question based on General studies including Indian & global geography, Indian polity and governance, general science, problem solving, general mental ability, English language, vocabulary and comprehension, Indian economics, events of national and international importance etc.

Civil Services (preliminary) exam. 2012 questions except those testing your English and Verbal skills are mentioned in both Hindi and English language.

Civil Services Preliminary exam Preparation Books 2013
Not every year the question pattern remains same and there is always a slight change to be noticed in CSAT exam. The key to break all the barriers is to concentrate on each subject and study them from the basics. The regular & thorough read of Newspapers and N.C.E.R.T. text books will keep you updated and prepared for questions out of the box as well.

Apart from the above saying, reliable Civil Services Preliminary exam 2013 Books & resources as
Handbook for General Studies: UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2013 (Paper-1) by Kalpana Rajaram,
General Studies Paper – II (CSAT) 2013 by TMH, UPSC Portal Current Affairs (2012 – 13) by Sachchida Nand Jha,
Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning & General Mental Ability for General Studies Paper II (CSAT) by Arun Sharma
assist you solve the questions in time. These books will not only enhance your solving speed but also keep you in the right direction by giving a clear view to what is expected and what to prepare for Civil Services preliminary exams 2013 exam.

Civil Services preliminary exam previous year papers have often lend a helping hands to many to those who have succeeded the exams in the past. Once you get through the preparations make use of books like
IAS Mains General Studies Chapter wise Solved Papers 2011-1997 by Sidharth Mittal
Crack Civil Services General Studies IAS Prelims (CSAT) – Paper 1 and 2: Set of 2 books to practice further using mock test paper.

At the end 1000 candidates are chosen to fill 1000 vacancies after they get through Preliminary Exam, Main Exam and Personality Test/Interview. There are also limits of attempts that are 4 for General, 7 for OBC and unlimited for SC/ST.

Computer Forensics – Criminal vs Civil What’s the Difference

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Computer Forensics – Criminal vs Civil: What’s the Difference?
by Steve Burgess

In the field of computer forensics, as in the field of law, procedures in civil cases differ somewhat from those in criminal cases. The collection of data and presentation of evidence may be held to different standards, the process of data collection and imaging can be quite different, and the consequences of the case may have very different impacts.

A couple of quick definitions may be in order. Criminal law deals with offenses against the state – the prosecution of a person accused of breaking a law. Such offenses may of course include crimes against a person. A government body, or the representative of a government body accuses the person of having committed the offense, and the resources of the state are brought to bear against the accused. Guilty outcomes can result in fines, probation, incarceration, or even death.

Civil law covers everything else, such as violations of contracts and lawsuits between two or more parties. The loser in such a dispute often must give payment, property or services to the prevailing party. Imprisonment is not at issue in civil cases. As a result, the standard for evidence is not as high in civil cases as in criminal cases.

For the law enforcement computer forensics specialist, a certain amount of extra care should be taken in collecting data and producing results, for the standard of proof is higher. There are advantages on the data collection end, however. For once a court has authorized a search warrant, an officer (and possibly several) with badge and gun can go seize the defendant’s computer by surprise and by force. Once the computer has been seized and imaged, all data is accessible and may result in additional charges being brought against the defendant.

By contrast, in a civil case, there tends to be a lot of negotiation over what computers and what data can be inspected, as well as where and when. There is not likely to be any seizing of computers, and quite a long time may take place between the time the request to inspect a computer is made and the time the computer is made available to be inspected. It is common for one party to have access to a very limited area of data from the other party’s computer. During this time, a defendant may take the opportunity to attempt to hide or destroy data. The author has had several cases wherein the computer needed for analysis was destroyed before the plaintiff had the opportunity to inspect. Such attempts at hiding data are often discovered by the digital forensic sleuth, who may in turn present evidence of such further wrongdoing in expert witness testimony. For a light look at one such example, see CSI Computer Forensics – Real Cases From Burgess Forensics #12 – The Case of the Computer That Got Lost.

Opportunities for learning techniques and interacting with other professionals may differ as well. While some computer forensic software suites and training, such as Access FTK, EnCase, or SMART Forensics are available to most who can pay, others, such as iLook are available only to law enforcement and military personnel. While many support and professional organizations and groups are available to all, some, such as the High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA) are not open to professionals who provide for criminal defense (with a few minor exceptions).

When law enforcement has a case involving computer forensics, the intention is to locate enough data to find the defendant guilty in court, where the standard for information presented tends to be fairly high. From the time digital data or hardware is seized and acquired, Rules of Evidence must be kept in mind. Law enforcement personnel must follow accepted procedures or evidence could be thrown out. Acquisition of data and discovery in criminal cases often must follow sometimes strict and differing procedures depending upon whether the jurisdiction is federal, state, or municipality and at times depending upon a judge’s preferences.

In a civil case, the initial processes of electronic discovery may be just to find enough data to show one or the other party whether they are likely to prevail, should the case go all the way to court. As such, the initial presentation of data may be fairly informal, and be just enough to induce the parties to settle the case. On the other hand, the data found may be so minimal the line of inquiry into electronic evidence is dropped.

Although we use many of the same tools, computer forensic professionals in private practice and those in law enforcement are held to different standards, have access to different resources, and their work results in substantially different outcomes between the criminal and civil cases to which they contribute.

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Steve Burgess is a freelance technology writer, a practicing computer forensics specialist as the principal of Burgess Forensics, and a contributor to recently released Scientific Evidence in Civil and Criminal Cases, 5th Edition by Moenssens, et al. Mr. Burgess may be reached at www.burgessforensics.com or via email at