The following are the requirements for direct admission to the College of Engineering majors including Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering:
1. Requirements for direct admission to a College of Engineering major for new freshmen or freshman transfers who have been admitted to the University (freshman transfers are transfer students who have earned fewer than 30 hours):
a. Must have completed MAT 1214 Calculus I, or the equiva- lent with a grade of “C–” or better, or have met a prerequisite for taking MAT 1214.
b. i. Must have graduated in the top quartile of their high school graduating class, or
ii. Must have graduated in the second quartile of their high school class and have a SAT score of at least 1050 or an ACT score of at least 22, or
iii. Must be granted admission into a College of Engineering major by holistic review by the College of Engineering if not meeting the criteria in i. and ii. above.
New freshmen and freshman transfers applying for admission to the College of Engineering and not meeting the above criteria will be admitted to the University as pre-engineering majors. 2. Requirements for direct admission to a College of Engineering
major for transfer students who have earned 30 or more hours and have been admitted to the University:
a. Must have completed MAT 1214 Calculus I, or the equiva- lent with a grade of “C–” or better, or have met a prerequisite for taking MAT 1214.
b. i. Must have a transfer grade point average of at least 2.50 and a grade point average of at least 2.50 in all mathemat- ics, sciences, and engineering coursework, or
ii. Must have a transfer grade point average of at least 2.00 and a grade point average of at least 2.00 in all mathemat- ics, sciences, and engineering coursework, and be granted admission to the College of Engineering major by holistic review by the College of Engineering.
Transfer students not admitted directly to a College of Engineer- ing major may be granted admission to the pre-engineering major by holistic review by the College of Engineering. Transfer students not admitted directly to a College of Engineer-
ing major, nor granted admission as a pre-engineering major must select a different major at the University.
Pre-engineering majors who have at least a 2.00 grade point aver- age in each of the three components of the Three Calculation Grade Point Average (see below) may apply for admission to a College of Engineering major after completing MAT 1214 with a grade of “C–” or better. Admission of a pre-engineering major into a College of Engineering major will be determined by a holistic review by the College of Engineering.
The College of Engineering offers five Bachelor of Science degree programs in: Biomedical Engineering (BME); Civil Engineering (CE); Computer Engineering (CmpE); Electrical Engineering (EE); and Mechanical Engineering (ME). The three programs of CE, EE and ME are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET). The BME and CmpE are newly estab- lished programs. While the latter are not currently ABET accredited, plans are underway for the accreditation of these programs. The College has excellent laboratory facilities where students receive hands-on instruction by faculty. Computer-aided design (CAD) facilities, including state-of-the-art workstations, are rou- tinely used in all programs. Some classes are taught by adjunct fac- ulty from local industries, giving students the opportunity to interact with engineering professionals engaged in relevant engineering practice.
This engineering education incorporates demonstrable attributes of ABET-2000 criteria as core values. Graduates from the College of Engineering should have excellent opportunities for employment and pursuit of graduate degrees.
College honors
The College of Engineering designates certain of its outstand- ing students as Honors students and provides the opportunity for advanced study under close faculty supervision. Selection for the honors designation is based on the student’s academic performance and recommendation by a faculty member in the student’s major discipline. To be eligible for the program, students must have a minimum UTSA grade point average of 3.25 and a minimum grade point average of 3.25 in their major at UTSA. These minimum aver- ages must be maintained by the student to receive approval of the College Honors Committee. Students applying for College Honors must enroll in EGR 4993 Honors Research during their final two semesters. The completed research paper must be approved by the supervising faculty sponsor and by at least one of the faculty mem- bers in the student’s major discipline. Students interested in this program should contact a faculty advisor for additional information.
admission to the College of engineering
The admission to any undergraduate program in the College of Engineering at UTSA is based on UTSA’s undergraduate admission requirements plus the following additional admission criteria for the College of Engineering. A student may be admitted to the College of Engineering in two ways: directly into a major or as a pre- engineering student. A student is admitted directly into a major only if all College of Engineering admission criteria are met. Students interested in pursuing the Biomedical Engineering major must meet additional requirements. See the Department of Biomedical Engineering section for information on admission to the Biomedical Engineering major.
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All transfer students to the College of Engineering must complete at least 42 credit hours from their required major courses at UTSA before graduation.
Placement as an engineering Major
Incoming students who meet all admission criteria either directly from high school or with transfer credits will be admitted into one of the following majors: Biomedical Engineering (BME), Civil Engineering (CE), Computer Engineering (CmpE), Electrical Engineering (EE), or Mechanical Engineering (ME). All students admitted to engineering majors should follow their major curricu- lum. A student who meets the requirements for entering into a major within the College of Engineering, but is unsure of which major to pursue, may be admitted as an undeclared engineering student. If a student cannot meet all the admission criteria for an engineering major, he or she may be admitted as a pre-engineering student. Placement as a Pre-engineering Student
Students admitted as pre-engineering students should take the defi- cient mathematics courses along with required University Core Curriculum courses. Their academic performance will be monitored regularly by the College of Engineering. The three-attempt limit will be enforced (see section, Three-Attempt Limit for the College of Engineering). Students can apply to their department for advance- ment into an engineering major when conditions specified by the department are met. One of the required conditions for placement into an engineering major is a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in each of the three components of the Three-Calculation Grade Point Average. A student placed as a pre-engineering student may not enroll in any College of Engineering courses except for 1000- level BME, CE, EE, ME, and EGR courses until they have been certified by a department in the College of Engineering as meeting the qualifications for placement as an engineering major.
Placement as an Upper-level engineering Major
An engineering major may not take upper-division courses within the College of Engineering until he or she has been placed by the College of Engineering as an Upper-Level Engineering Major. A student who has successfully completed all of the lower-division mathematics, science, and engineering courses required for his or her engineering major may apply to the department of the major for approval to be certified as an Upper-Level Engineering Major. In order to be approved for placement as an Upper-Level Engineering Major, a student is required to demonstrate satisfactory academic performance by having a minimum overall grade point average of 2.00 in all lower-division (1000- and 2000-level) courses that count toward the degree and obtaining a grade point average of 2.25 in all lower-division mathematics, science, and engineering courses. An official degree plan is filed upon receiving approval to become an Upper-Level Engineering Major.
“C–” grade rule
A grade of “D+” or lower in any science or mathematics course required for an engineering degree or any other course that is a prerequisite to a required Biomedical Engineering (BME), Civil Engineering (CE), Electrical Engineering (EE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), or Engineering (EGR) course indicates unsat- isfactory preparation for further engineering education. Any such
course in which a grade of “D+,” “D,” “D–,” “F,” or “W” is received must be repeated before enrolling in any course for which it is a prerequisite. This requirement is subject to the three-attempt limit. three-attempt limit for the College of engineering A student unable to achieve the minimum required grade in a required engineering course or in a prerequisite to a required engi- neering course within three enrollments (attempts) shall be required to change his or her major to a field outside of the College of Engineering. Enrollment in a course for a period of time sufficient for assignment of a grade, including a grade of “W,” is considered an attempt.
three-Calculation grade Point average
The three grade point average calculations employ only the grades received in courses that are applicable to the engineering degree being sought. The grade point averages used in the three-calculation grade point average (GPA) are:
• overall grade point average of all courses (Overall GPA), • grade point average of all mathematics, science, and engineering
courses, and
• grade point average of all courses taken in the discipline of the major subject (Major GPA).
Cooperative education in engineering Program
The Cooperative Education in Engineering Program formally inte- grates University studies with institutionally supervised work expe- riences at cooperating organizations. Students participating in this program alternate periods of study at the University with periods of employment in industry. This combination of experiences enhances the student’s knowledge, personal development, and preparation for a professional career. Participants register at the University each semester. During the work periods, students register for the 1-semester-credit-hour Engineering Co-op course. At the end of each work period, students submit reports covering the period. These reports are the basis of the student’s grades in the course. The cooperative education work periods also provide students with a source of income to help pay for their college expenses.Students may petition to apply 3 semester credit hours of Engineering Co-op as a technical elective toward their degree in engineering. They must petition prior to co-op activities.
To qualify for the Cooperative Education in Engineering Program, a student must: have declared a major in the College of Engineering; have completed at least 36 semester credit hours of major and sup- port work, including 7 hours of college-level calculus and 8 hours of college-level physics; and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 and a minimum grade point average of 2.50 in their College of Engineering courses. Students are advised that many co-op employers require cumulative grade point averages higher than 2.50, and some require a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Transfer students may participate in the program after completing at least one semester at the University.
For more information and to apply to the Cooperative Education in Engineering Program, students should contact the College of Engineering Advising Center.
degree requirements Common to all engineering
Programs
Entering students should enroll in COR 1203, Freshman Seminar (Society and Technology), as early as possible, preferably during their first semester at UTSA. The purpose of this course is to help students to understand the influence of engineering and technology on society, be introduced to different engineering disciplines, and learn about skills necessary to become successful in their college education. During their first semester, students should specify their interest in a specific engineering program by selecting biomedical, civil, computer, electrical, or mechanical engineering as a major. Undecided engineering students should select a major closest to their area of interest (refer to the following program descriptions). Students may obtain additional information about each program from the College office or a faculty advisor in the appropriate discipline.
Prerequisites for Biomedical Engineering (BME), Civil Engineering (CE), Computer Engineering (CmpE), Electrical Engineering (EE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), and Engineering (EGR) courses must be completed with a grade of “C–” or better. A minimum grade of “C–” is required for all science and mathematics courses required in the Engineering programs. Students must satisfy the University’s Core Curriculum and ABET accreditation require- ments. Recommended degree plans and current ABET requirements may be obtained from the College of Engineering.
Requirements common to all engineering degree programs follow. I. Core Curriculum requirements
Students seeking the Bachelor of Science degree in any engi- neering field must fulfill University Core Curriculum require- ments in the same manner as other students at UTSA.
CHE 1103, MAT 1214, and PHY 1903 (also listed under section II, General Engineering requirements) may be used to satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements for Mathematics and Natural Sciences.
II. General Engineering requirements
All degree-seeking candidates in engineering must complete the following 22 semester credit hours:
CHE 1103 General Chemistry I
EGR 2323 Applied Engineering Analysis I MAT 1214 Calculus I
MAT 1224 Calculus II
PHY 1903, 1911 Engineering Physics I and Laboratory PHY 1923, 1931 Engineering Physics II and Laboratory
dePartMent of BioMediCal
engineering
Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical
engineering
A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biomedical Engineering (BME) at UTSA is an interdisciplinary program that combines engi- neering principles, approaches, and methodologies with biological, chemical and physical sciences in order to define and solve prob- lems in medicine. Students will be trained in the fundamentals of science and engineering and are expected to be able to apply this knowledge to investigate fundamental biomedical engineering questions associated with complex living systems as well as with the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. A broad understand- ing of sciences and engineering principles is provided in the first two years of the program, with students having the option to choose one concentration as an in-depth focus area of study in the last two years of the program. Critical thinking and innovative design skills are integrated throughout the program to aid students in developing solutions and in solving biomedical engineering-related problems. Design projects throughout the program and Senior BME Design courses provide students the opportunity to integrate their design, critical thinking and communication skills with the scientific and engineering knowledge they acquired throughout the Biomedical Engineering program. The regulations for this degree comply with the general University regulations (refer to Chapter 1, Bachelor’s Degree Regulations).
Admission Requirements. A first-time, full-time freshman admit- ted as a biomedical engineering major must meet the minimum admission criteria of the College of Engineering. These criteria are: • Students must meet all UTSA admission requirements;
• Students must have credit for MAT 1214 Calculus I or have completed all necessary prerequisites to enroll in MAT 1214 Calculus I (through a mathematics placement test or credit for MAT 1093 Precalculus or an equivalent).
• Students must:
1. have graduated in the top quartile of their high school gradu- ation class, or
2. have graduated in the second quartile of their high school class and have a SAT score of at least 1050 (Reading and Math) or a ACT composite score of at least 22, or,
3. be granted admission into a College of Engineering major by holistic review by the College of Engineering if not meeting the criteria in 1 and 2 above.
All students applying for admission to the Biomedical Engineering program must submit the following supplemental documents to the Department of Biomedical Engineering:
• two (2) letters of recommendation, • a copy of the transcript, and
• a statement of their interests, professional career goals and how the Biomedical Engineering program will help achieve those goals.
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All transfer students must meet the aforementioned minimum admission requirements for the College of Engineering and the Biomedical Engineering program. Transfer students must also meet the minimum Good Academic Standing Requirements for a Biomedical Engineering Major (see below) in order to be considered for admission to the Biomedical Engineering program. Additionally, transfer students should also have completed at least 15 semester credit hours of mathematics, science, or engineering courses, and have an overall grade point average of a 3.0 or better.
Admissions to the biomedical engineering program will be competi- tive; meeting the aforementioned requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Admission will be restricted only to the most qualified applicants.
Good Academic Standing Requirements for the Biomedical Engineer ing Major. All students must be in good academic stand- ing in order to remain in the Biomedical Engineering program. The minimum requirements that a student must satisfy in order to remain in good standing as a biomedical engineering major are stated below: • A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 for all
coursework (Cumulative GPA will be calculated on all courses, including previously attempted or repeated courses).
• An average GPA of at least 3.0 for all science, mathematics and engineering coursework (GPA will be calculated on all courses, including previously attempted or repeated courses).
Students who fail to meet the above requirements but have a mini- mum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above will be placed on program- matic probation in the following semester. Students who fail to maintain good academic standing after a semester of programmatic probation or who has a cumulative GPA below 2.5 will be deemed to be not in good academic standing as a biomedical engineering major and will be removed from the program.
Education Objectives. The objectives of this program are founded on the belief that engineering principles and understanding of bio- logical and physical sciences are critical to the investigation of fun- damental bioengineering questions associated with complex living systems as well as with the diagnosis and treatment of human dis- eases. As such, the specific educational objectives of this program are that our graduates will be expected to be able to:
• successfully apply their biomedical engineering knowledge and training skills to address and solve biomedical and biotechnol- ogy problems;
• develop critical thinking, problem solving, and innovative design skills needed to be successful biomedical engineers; • develop effective communication skills needed in their biomedi-
cal engineering careers.
The minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree is 125, at least 39 of which must be at the upper-division level. All candidates for this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements, the General Engineering requirements, and the degree requirements, listed below.
Core Curriculum requirements (42 semester credit hours)
Students seeking the Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering must fulfill the University Core Curriculum require- ments in the same manner as other students. The courses listed below satisfy both major requirements and Core Curriculum requirements;