Engineering Advising

Effective pursuit of engineering and engineering related studies requires careful attention to both the sequence and the type of courses taken. The engineering curriculum differs in key respects from the study plans of other majors—even in the freshman year.

New students must attend the University’s Orientation program. They will be introduced to the engineering advisors during this program and receive advisement for their first semester.

The student and advisors jointly work out a plan of study that meets both the student’s career objectives and the College of Engineering’s degree requirements. The advisors maintain the College of Engineering student’s records.

Students not yet meeting departmental admissions requirements are advised by the general engineering advising office.

While the College provides advising services to assist students with academic planning, the responsibility for seeing that all graduation requirements are met rests with the student.

The College of Engineering requires all undergraduates to apply for graduation the semester prior to the anticipated graduation term. Necessary forms and instructions can be obtained in the Engineering Student Services Office or from departmental advisors.

Advising Offices
Tampa Campus: TECO Energy Hall, Room 1302, (813) 974-2684.
Sarasota Campus: Room C111, (941) 359-4521.
Lakeland Campus: Student Services Office (LLC), Room 2100, (863) 667-7071

Preliminary Coursework for Engineering Students

The College of Engineering Bachelor of Science programs are founded on a set of coursework that is designed to give each student a thorough foundation of knowledge on which specialization studies and a professional career can be based. Emphasis is placed on three key elements; development of communication skills, familiarity with the social sciences and humanities and a solid base in science and mathematics.

Each degree-granting department has developed a list of courses to provide key elements for the degree offered. While the specific courses will vary slightly from one department to another, the categories are as follows:

General Education Courses
Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics
Engineering Courses
Department Specialization

Special course requirements exist for Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Information Systems. Students selecting any of these disciplines should be aware of their specific requirements. Students may consult the College’s Advising Office for detailed information.

The Engineering undergraduate student must not only be a technically competent individual but a person who can understand, adjust and contribute to the social environment.

Students who transfer from a State of Florida community college with an Associate of Arts will find their General Education coursework satisfies the USF General Education Requirements.

All Engineering must complete the USF Exit Requirements. The Literature and Writing portion can be met by completing ENC 3246 Communication for Engineers. The three-hour Major Works/Major Issues requirement is integrated into the senior year curriculum. Students who have completed a previous bachelors degree with transfer work equivalent to required exit courses may be exempt from one or both of these requirements.

1. University Liberal Arts Requirements
   All students are required to take 42 semester hours to complete the University liberal arts requirements. Thirty-six (36) semester hours will satisfy the general education course requirements and 6 semester hours will satisfy the exit requirements. These requirements are distributed as follows:

   General Education Requirements*	Semester Hours
   English Composition	6
   Quantitative Methods	6
   Natural Sciences	6
   Social Sciences	6
   Historical Perspectives	6
   Fine Arts	3
   African, Latin American, Middle Eastern or Asian Perspectives	3
   	36
   Exit Requirements* (Must be taken at USF)
   Major Works and Major Issues	3
   Literature and Writing	3

   *Courses may be certified in more than one area, but students may use each course in only one (1) area.

   In addition, 12 hours considered Gordon Rule Communication (6A) courses must be completed. For Engineering students, these are ENC 1101, ENC 1102, ENC 3246, and one more. The fourth course is selected from any general education or departmental courses that have been certified Gordon Rule Communication (6A) by the USF Undergraduate Council.

   Courses in the liberal arts requirements should incorporate the following components whenever they are relevant to the specific discipline: the learning skills of conceptual thinking, analytical thinking, creative thinking, written expression, oral expression, and the dimensions of values and ethics, international perspectives, environmental perspectives, race and ethnicity, and gender. When warranted by the subject matter, each course must incorporate consideration of at least one of the dimensions and one of the thinking skills to meet the liberal arts requirements.

   Departments should ensure that courses proposed for the liberal arts have sufficient depth and breadth. These courses will share the substantive rigor and intellectual challenge of courses offered for major credit, with the specific feature of offering an integrative perspective of the discipline and its relationship to academia as a whole. Additionally, such courses will encourage majors to interact with students from other disciplinary backgrounds.

2. Mathematics and Science Core Requirements
   For students in the engineering programs, the mathematics coursework consists of a Calculus for Engineers sequence (or a calculus sequence of equivalent level), Differential Equations, and additional hours of designated courses supportive of the student’s selected field of specialization, as specified by the department. Science coursework includes the Physics with Calculus sequence and General Chemistry course(s) depending on the degree-granting program.

   Students whose high school preparation is insufficient to enter the Calculus for Engineers are required to take supplementary algebra and trigonometry prior to being considered for acceptance into the College.

Grading Policies

1. S/U GRADING POLICY
   Students pursuing College of Engineering degree programs are expected to take their courses on a graded basis. Please refer to the grading system in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog. S/U grading option must be requested during the first week of classes. Courses taken on an S/U basis are not applicable to the College’s degree programs. Exceptions require written approval of the department advisor prior to registration.

2. I GRADE POLICY
   The criteria for requesting and time limit for completing a grade of “I” (incomplete) are detailed in the University’s Academic Policies and Procedures portion of this Catalog. A written agreement detailing the specific requirements and time limit for completion is required in some departments and recommended in all others.

   Full tuition must be paid and an audit form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the end of the first week of classes if a student wishes to attend the course again to review the material. If a student registers for the course but does not request to audit the course, a grade will be submitted for the subsequent registration and the I grade will be converted to an IF. In this case, the student may choose to apply grade forgiveness.

3. Minimum Acceptable Grade in Required Courses
   Unless otherwise stated, the minimum acceptable grade in math and science prerequisites is a C (C- is insufficient). Minimum acceptable grades for engineering, math and science courses, as they pertain to specific degree programs, are determined by the academic departments. Students are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with departmental guidelines.

Continuation and Graduation Requirements

1. Minimum GPA Requirements
   To meet graduation and continuation requirements all undergraduate Engineering students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in the following categories:
   1. Overall Undergraduate GPA
   2. USF GPA
   3. GPA* in Math and Science courses required for the curriculum
   4. Engineering Courses
   5. Specialization Courses

   *Note: The Math Science GPA is based upon the best attempt. Other categories include all attempts, unless grade forgiveness has been applied. In no case will the minimum GPA for a category be less than 2.0.

   Students who do not maintain the required minimums of the program pursued in each category are ineligible for further registration in the College unless individually designed continuation programs are recommended by the student’s academic advisor and approved by the department undergraduate coordinator or the Director of Admissions & Advising and the Engineering Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or his designee.

   Under University of South Florida policy, students who have been academically dismissed may petition the Academic Regulations Committee for readmission. The College may lend support to such a petition after the first dismissal from the University if extenuating circumstances existed and if the deficiency can be corrected within two semesters. However, should a second dismissal occur, the College will not support readmission to the College of Engineering.

   Students who are academically dismissed from the University of South Florida may choose to attend another institution of higher learning and reapply to USF after thus improving their overall GPA. These returning students will be considered for readmission to the College if they meet the current program entrance requirements for their intended major (as published in the University of South Florida Undergraduate Catalog in effect during their reentry term).

2. English Requirement
   Students evidencing an English deficiency will be required to initiate the necessary corrective programs, with the assistance of their advisors. It is recognized that such deficiencies can exist even though a student has met the University’s minimum English requirements. Correction of any deficiency must commence the term after a student has been notified and must be completed prior to recommendation of the student for graduation by the faculty of the College.

3. Mathematics Requirement
   Students evidencing a lack of the ability to apply mathematics will be required to take remedial coursework beyond their regular degree requirements. Faculty of the College who encounter students who are deficient in their mathematical ability will refer such cases to the Advising Office even if passing grades have been obtained in the math prerequisites for engineering.

4. Residency Requirement
   Transfer students must complete a minimum number of specialization courses in the USF degree granting department. The minimum number of USF specialization credit hours required is established by the respective academic department. In no case will this be less than 18 hours. The University residency requirement of 30 USF hours must also be met. General engineering courses are not considered specialization courses.

5. Satisfactory Progress and Years to Degree
   Students who register for a course three times without receiving a grade of “C” or better (i.e., receive grades of C- or lower or W) will be denied further enrollment in the College of Engineering unless written permission is obtained from the Department Chairperson and the College Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

   The College of Engineering requires that a student complete the baccalaureate degree within five years after beginning engineering specialization courses. Specialization courses taken more than five years prior to graduation will not be counted toward the degree. Exceptions may be granted by the Academic Department.

6. Disruption of Academic Process and Academic Dishonesty
   The College of Engineering will maintain an environment that encourages all to study and conduct engineering research free from undue disruption. Disruption of the Academic Process is a matter the College is obliged to report to Student Judicial Services. Academic dishonesty, in any form, is taken very seriously by the College of Engineering and will result in sanctions. The most serious penalty is dismissal from the University. (See University policies regarding academic dishonesty.)

7. Grievance Procedure
   Students should make themselves fully aware of the University’s grievance procedures. (See University policies regarding grievance procedures.)

8. University, College and Program Requirments
   The College requirements described in the section above are in addition to requirements set forth in the University policy and procedures section and the departmental sections of this catalog. It is the student’s responsibility to complete all university, college, program and curricular requirements prior to graduation.

9. Graduation Application Procedures and Deadlines
   Each engineering student is required to complete an application for graduation and check list. Students should schedule an appointment with the Department Undergraduate Coordinator to review graduation qualifications and obtain departmental signatures well in advance of the College graduation application deadline. Approved applications must be submitted to the College of Engineering Advising Office the term prior to the semester in which graduation is sought. Graduation applications are due on the dates indicated below.

   August 1st for Fall Graduation
   November 1st for Spring Graduation
   April 1st for Summer Graduation

10. Fundamentals of Engineering Examination
    Taking the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam prior to graduation is required in some departments and strongly encouraged in others. (See the Office of Engineering Student Services for applications and information.)