According to the system standard of engineering education certification and OBE teaching concept, this paper points out some problems that need to be solved urgently in civil engineering application software courses. Taking the course of computer aided design for architectural engineering in civil engineering as an example, this paper discusses the key problems in the course construction, such as course logic, course orientation and effective achievement of course objectives. This paper expounds the classroom teaching design based on the modules of course content, the project-based teaching mode in the course practice, the course assessment method and the measures of continuous improvement in the course reform and practice integrated with OBE teaching concept. The curriculum implementation results show that the teaching method focusing on students’ main role can significantly improve students’ learning autonomy, and the inquiry-based curriculum learning can effectively promote the achievement of the curriculum objectives. The curriculum model and teaching method can provide ideas and reference for the teaching method reform of similar courses in civil engineering.