Highway surveying and design is an essential course of civil engineering specialty in China as well as in the U.S.A. The paper presents results of a study on the teaching methods utilized in two universities of the two countries. Differences in the teaching methods are identified through course designs and teaching practices. The weights of homework assignments, quizzes, exams, designing labs, and field activities are compared quantitatively. The results show that, with a well designed course and well organized teaching practice, the effectiveness of teaching can be greatly enhanced.