COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
The College of Engineering offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering. Each program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET). Individuals enrolling in these degree programs are given an opportunity to develop a strong background in the engineering sciences and to learn the analysis, design, and synthesis tools necessary to function well as active participants in many traditional, new, and emerging areas of technology.
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 routinely used in all programs. Some classes are taught by adjunct faculty 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.
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 Entering Directly from High School
Students entering directly from high school will be admitted as engineering majors on the basis of the following admission criteria:
- Students must meet all UTSA admission requirements.
- Students must have credit for MAT 1214 Calculus I or have completed the prerequisites necessary to enroll in MAT 1214 Calculus I (through a mathematics placement test or credit for MAT 1093 Precalculus or an equivalent).
Students who satisfy the above-mentioned criteria are admitted directly as engineering majors; those who do not meet all of these criteria are reviewed and considered on individual merits for admission as pre-engineering students. If a student cannot be placed in MAT 1073 Algebra for Scientists and Engineers or a higher-level mathematics course, he or she will not be accepted as a pre-engineering student until he or she has the proper mathematics background. Such students may take their deficiency mathematics courses at UTSA as an undeclared major.
Students Entering with Transfer Credit
Any student applying from either a degree program within UTSA or from another institution of higher education is considered a transfer student. Transfer students with less than 30 hours of transferable credit are evaluated the same as those students entering directly from high school.
Transfer students with 30 hours or more of transferable credit must meet the following requirements in order to be accepted directly into an engineering major:
- Students must fulfill all requirements for UTSA admission.
- Students must have credit for MAT 1214 Calculus I or have completed the prerequisites to enroll in MAT 1214 Calculus I (through a mathematics placement test or credit for MAT 1093 Precalculus or a transfer equivalent).
- Students must have credit for at least 15 hours of mathematics, science and engineering courses applicable to the degree they are seeking.
- Students must have a at least a 2.00 grade point average in each of the three components of the Three-Calculation Grade Point Average (see explanation below).
- Students must comply with the “C” grade rule (see explanation below).
Students who meet the above-mentioned criteria are admitted directly into a major and those who do not meet all of these criteria are reviewed and considered on an individual basis for admission as pre-engineering students.
A transfer student who does not meet the criteria for admission directly into an engineering major and who is not admitted as a pre-engineering student may pursue other degree programs at UTSA for which they qualify.
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: Civil Engineering (CE), Electrical Engineering (EE), or Mechanical Engineering (ME). All students admitted to engineering majors should follow their major curriculum. 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 deficient 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 advancement 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 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 Civil Engineering (CE), Electrical Engineering (EE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), or Engineering (EGR) course indicates unsatisfactory preparation for further engineering education. Any such course in which a grade of “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 engineering 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 integrates University studies with institutionally supervised work experiences 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 support 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 civil, 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 Civil Engineering (CE), 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 requirements. Recommended degree plans and current ABET requirements may be obtained from the College of Engineering.
Requirements common to all engineering degree programs follow.
- Core Curriculum requirements
Students seeking the Bachelor of Science degree in any engineering field must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements 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. - General Engineering requirements
All degree-seeking candidates in engineering must complete the following 21 semester credit hours:CHE 1103 General Chemistry I EGR 2323 Applied Engineering Analysis I MAT 1214 Calculus I MAT 1223 Calculus II PHY 1903, 1911 Engineering Physics I and Laboratory PHY 1923, 1931 Engineering Physics II and Laboratory