Structural mechanics is a specialized and fundamental course in civil engineering specialty.The paper introduced the reason of its key status, the development history of main structural mechanics theories, and progress of structural mechanics teaching.The influences and requirements of endowments in teaching and research universities and colleges on structural mechanics course were analyzed.An appropriate approach to improve the teaching effect of structural mechanics was discussed, and the object of structural mechanics course construction was proposed, which is studentoriented, diversified talent trainingoriented, engineering practiceoriented, and capacity buildingoriented.