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The requirements for a degree from the College of Engineering include many courses that are common to all degree programs. Most of these courses are taught at the freshman and sophomore level. A specific curriculum has been established for each degree program and is given in detail on the following pages.

Admission Requirements.

Students meeting the admissions requirements of the university will be admitted to any major within the college with the exception of mechanical engineering. Students not meeting assured admissions requirements but still wanting to pursue a degree in engineering will be admitted to engineering undecided. Once a student has earned a 2.5 GPA or higher, mechanical engineering can be declared as a major.

Core Curriculum Requirements.

The university has established a set of core courses required for all students. These requirements ensure breadth in each academic program. Students should consult their faculty advisors or chairperson regarding specific requirements. Please note that these requirements are incorporated in the curriculum of each major or specialization in the college. Students are urged to seek advisement prior to their first enrollment to avoid losing credit. A listing of Core Curriculum requirements is in the Undergraduate Academics section of this catalog.

Computer.

All students in the college are expected to have access to a personal computer. Many instructors require students to transfer homework with email. Some instructors transfer information to students using the Internet. While computer facilities are available on campus, students do best when they have their own personal computer. Students should check with their respective department for hardware and software recommendations.

Maximum Course Load.

A normal course load is 15-19 credit hours. A student must get approval from the dean’s office to take more than 19 hours during a fall or spring semester or more than 8 hours during a summer term. Students on academic probation are not allowed to take more than 16 hours during a fall or spring semester. Students who work should adjust their course load accordingly. Check with the dean’s office for recommendations.

Credit by Examination.

Credit for some engineering courses above the freshman level is available through departmentally prepared examinations. The student must present to the dean a written request to take the examination. The petition must state the extent and manner in which the student obtained competence in the subject. Upon approval by the dean, the petition should be 237 Engineering presented to the chair of the department concerned for arrangements to take the examination.

Correspondence Courses.

All correspondence work taken for a degree program requires written approval from the dean of the College of Engineering prior to registration. Correspondence courses taken from institutions other than Texas Tech must be certified by the Division of Outreach and Extended Studies as being equivalent to correspondence courses offered at Texas Tech.

Transfer Course Evaluation.

Courses transferred from another institution will be evaluated for use in a given degree program. Each department evaluates transfer courses associated with courses taught in their department.

Grades for Transfer Courses.

The highest grade for a repeated course, either at Texas Tech or another institution, will be the grade used to determine acceptance of the course for a degree program. Only courses with a grade of C or better will be accepted for use on an engineering degree plan.

Prerequisites.

In scheduling courses, prerequisites and corequisites are mandatory.

Engineering Science Courses.

All designated engineering science courses in a degree program should be taken as early as possible. The designated engineering science courses are C E 2101, 2301, 3302, 3303, 3305, CH E 3321, 3330, E E 3302, I E 3301, M E 3311, 2322, 3331, and 3370. The designated engineering technology science courses are GTEC 1312, 2351, and 2311.

Basic Science and Mathematics Requirements.

If a student receives advanced placement in a mathematics course (on the basis of high school mathematics classes, MAT, or SATM test scores) higher than the first required course in the particular degree program, the department may specify the replacement course. If not specified, the student has the option to take an additional higher level mathematics course or substitute up to 4 hours of basic science for 4 hours of mathematics (some programs may specify the substitute course). The student must take a minimum of 12 hours of mathematics and 12 hours of basic science as required by the degree program. To meet the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET requirements, a minimum of 32 hours of approved basic sciences and mathematics must be completed. The Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET requires a minimum of 24 hours of approved basic science and mathematics for students in the Department of Engineering Technology. The basic science and mathematics courses used for the substitution may or may not be required by the degree program. In any case, the student must meet the minimum number of hours required for graduation.

ROTC.

Subject to the policies of the department and with the approval of the department chair, 3 hours of advanced ROTC credit may be counted for the general elective courses in engineering, computer science, and engineering technology degree programs.

Substitution of Courses.

Any substitution of courses specified in a degree program requires the written approval of the chair of the student’s major department and the dean of the College of Engineering. Degree credit for electives requires written approval by the chair of the department involved. A list of acceptable technical electives for a degree program can be obtained from the department. Courses considered remedial, duplicative, or inferior will not be accepted.

Grades of C.

A grade of C or better is required for all courses included in the degree plan. If a student earns a D or F grade in a prerequisite to a required course, the student must retake the prerequisite course and complete a grade of C or better before enrolling in the required course.

Pass-Fail.

All courses used to satisfy the degree program requirements must be taken for a grade. (The pass-fail option is not allowed.)

Scholarships.

A student on departmental or college scholarship must be a full-time student to maintain his or her scholarship.

Engineering Undecided.

A student registering as engineering undecided (ENUD) must select a major after completing 45 hours of academic credit. Exceptions to this rule will be reviewed on a case by case basis by the dean’s office. Engineering undecided is not a major.

Application for Degree.

A student must file an “Application for Degree” with the office of the dean of the College of Engineering at least one year before the anticipated date of graduation. Subsequently, the student will receive a list of courses and the number of credit hours that remain to be taken. Because they must meet all the requirements of a specific year’s catalog, students must indicate the year’s catalog under which they plan to graduate. This must be a year during which the student is registered in the College of Engineering, with the restriction that all requirements for an undergraduate degree must be completed within seven years of the date of the catalog chosen.