Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED PUBLICATION]

Engineering Major, B.S.E.


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The Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree is a practical, flexible engineering program which requires a solid foundation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and liberal studies as well as the engineering science core. A total of 127 semester hours are required in the four-year Bachelor of Science in Engineering program. Eighteen hours of mathematics through differential equations and including engineering statistics, fourteen hours of chemistry and physics, and a 3-4 hour math/basic science elective are required. All engineering students also must complete the University Core requirements. The engineering degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (EAC/ABET).

An engineering student can complete the program in four years provided they enter USI prepared to successfully complete MATH 230  (Calculus I) in their first semester. Those students who do not enter the program ready for MATH 230  will take an additional three to fifteen hours of mathematics courses necessary to raise their mathematical abilities to a required level, zero to six hours of additional engineering courses designed to improve their problem-solving skills, and zero to six hours of preparatory science courses to improve their abilities to succeed in higher level science courses.

Cooperative education opportunities are available to students enrolled in engineering. The co-op experience is designed to assist the student in developing an understanding of human relationships and in learning to work with others as a member of an engineering team. Individual growth is enhanced by the realization that, in addition to demonstrating theoretical knowledge, one also is learning to become an integral part of the working interrelationship between the academic and professional worlds. On the job and at the University, the co-op student obtains first-hand knowledge of professional practices, expectancies, and opportunities. At the same time, the student is offered a realistic test of career interest and aptitude. Participation in this program enables the student to make a more intelligent selection of a position after graduation.

In accordance with the University’s transfer policy (found in the undergraduate admission requirements and regulations section), the faculty of the engineering department examine on a case-by-case basis the transcripts of students transferring from other institutions. Failure to achieve a grade of C or better in a required engineering course at another institution will necessitate repeating the course.  A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for all ENGR courses that a student takes as part of their program of study.  All Engineering majors are required to take the nationally administered Fundamentals of Engineering examination during their final semester.

Petition for permission to waive any program requirements must be approved by the chair of the engineering department. After admission into the engineering program, required engineering courses may be taken at another institution for transfer of credit only when approved in advance by both the student’s advisor and the department chair.

Core 39


The core curriculum at USI, Core 39, offers students at our institution an outstanding opportunity to have a well-rounded education.  Some of the choices within Core 39 are limited for engineering in order to fulfill program needs.  Courses within Core 39 that are required for engineering majors:

  • First Year Experience Course for Foundations  Credits: 1
  • Credits: 3   for Communication in Foundations
  • Credits: 4   for Mathematics in Foundations
  • Credits: 3   for Social Inquiry in Ways of Knowing  or ECON 209 
  • Credits: 3   for Moral and Ethical Reasoning in Ways of Knowing
  • Credits: 3   for Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry in Ways of Knowing
  • Credits: 5 Natural Science in Bachelor of Science AND
  • Credits: 4 Natural Science with Lab in Bachelor of Science
  •  

    Students will have the option of selecting from available courses for one additional Ways of Knowing course, one World Language and Culture course in Bachelor of Science, and one Social Science course in Bachelor of Science.  Students must ensure that they fulfill their global embedded experience with one of these three choices.  Students are highly encouraged to take courses in United States History or Government, Literature, and Foreign Language to fulfill their Core 39 choices.  A total of 42 hours are earned in Core 39 due to the additional semester hour for MATH 230  and the additional two semester hours for PHYS 205 .

The Engineering Core (Breadth)


The common engineering, math, and science credits for all engineering majors total 67 semester hours, 17 hours of which are also part of the University’s Core 39.  This common core of math, science, and engineering courses is structured to ensure that all USI engineering graduates have sufficient breadth of study in a wide range of engineering topics.  All students majoring in engineering must satisfactorily complete the following required engineering courses for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering:

Math and Basic Science


The following Math and Basic Science courses must also be completed:

Engineering Electives


In addition to the engineering core, at least 35 hours of engineering technical electives are required.  One elective will be a 3-4 credit hour math or basic science option chosen from the following list:

Depth


All engineering students must choose an emphasis area from the following:

  • Civil
  • Electrical and Computer
  • Industrial and Manufacturing
  • Mechanical
  • Mechatronics

Each emphasis area has a number of emphasis-required courses.  Each emphasis area also has at least one design sequence.  All students must complete all emphasis-required courses and at least one design sequence for at least one emphasis area in order to graduate with a degree in engineering from USI. The purpose of the emphasis areas is to ensure that students have sufficient depth of study to be well-prepared for engineering practice or an advanced degree program upon completion of their undergraduate degrees.  Complementing their design sequence, students will complete the senior design course (ENGR 491 ) which incorporates design elements with other realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, safety, and ethical factors, as well as social impact.  The emphasis-required courses and design sequences for each emphasis are listed below:

Civil


Electrical and Computer


Industrial and Manufacturing


Mechanical


Mechatronics


Note:


With advance coordination, students can propose their own unique program of study that incorporates courses from more than one emphasis area. Program plans of this type must be submitted to the department chair before the student completes his or her second year of study. A departmental committee will either approve or disapprove the program of study.

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