Mar 18, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog | 2017-2018 
    
Undergraduate Catalog | 2017-2018 Previous Edition

College of Engineering


The William States Lee College of Engineering’s vision is that:

The College is the engineering college of first choice for students, faculty, staff, and industry partners discovering, integrating, applying, and disseminating knowledge.

The College provides quality educational experiences and discovers and disseminates knowledge that serves the citizens and industries of the Carolinas, and the national and the international communities.

The Lee College offers baccalaureate degree programs in Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Construction Management. On the graduate level, the College offers programs leading to master’s degrees in Engineering, Construction and Facilities Management, Energy and Electromechanical Systems, Fire Protection and Administration, and Engineering Management; the Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and in Mechanical Engineering; and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems. For details on the graduate programs, refer to the UNC Charlotte Graduate Catalog.

The College of Engineering consists of the following departments:


Degree Programs

Engineering Programs

The baccalaureate programs in engineering offer a professional engineering education that can be used as the foundation for several different career objectives: careers as professional engineers in industry, business, or consulting; graduate study to prepare for careers in research, development, or teaching; and a more general and more liberal engineering education with the objective of keeping a variety of career paths open.  The baccalaureate programs in civil, computer, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Whatever the career objective of the student, a sound engineering educational program ensures that graduates have: (a) an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering; (b) an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data; (c) an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability; (d) an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams; (e) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems; (f) an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility; (g) an ability to communicate effectively; (h) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context; (i) a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in lifelong learning; (j) a knowledge of contemporary issues; and (k) an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern tools necessary for engineering practice. The course of study will involve the humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and engineering sciences and design. The student expecting to accept employment in industry may emphasize the engineering design and engineering science aspects of his or her program, while the student preparing for graduate study might emphasize the mathematics and science aspects. Some engineering graduates ultimately take on executive and management responsibilities in industries and firms that are based upon engineering products and engineering services.  These students may choose to construct an elective option in their program, including economics and business-related courses that strengthen their communication skills and other non-technical skills.

Engineering students are strongly encouraged to pursue the requirements for registration as a Professional Engineer (PE). The first step in the registration process is the successful completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination. Students are encouraged to take this examination during their Senior year. Additional requirements for professional licensure subsequent to graduation include the accumulation of at least four years of progressive engineering experience and successful completion of the Professional Engineer Examination (PE Exam). Students who complete the Cooperative Education Program or who complete their master’s degree only need three years of progressive engineering experience to be eligible to take the PE Exam in North Carolina.

Majors

Minors

Honors Programs

Graduate Early Entry Programs

Engineering Technology Programs

Engineering technology is the profession in which knowledge of mathematics and natural sciences gained by higher education, experience, and practice is devoted primarily to the implementation and extension of existing technology for the benefit of humanity. Engineering technology education focuses primarily on the applied aspects of science and engineering aimed at preparing graduates for practice in that portion of the technological spectrum closest to the product improvement, manufacturing, construction, and engineering operational functions.

Engineering technology programs are characterized by a focus on application and practice and on an approximately equal mix of theory, practice, and laboratory experience. The baccalaureate programs in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering technology are accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Graduates of the engineering technology programs are recruited by most major technological companies in the U.S. They are employed across the technological spectrum but are best suited to areas that deal with application, implementation, production, and construction. Technical sales and customer service fields also account for many placements.

Engineering technology students are encouraged to pursue the requirements for registration as a Professional Engineer. The first step in the registration process is the successful completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination. Students are encouraged to take this examination during their Senior year. Additional requirements for professional licensure following graduation include the accumulation of at least eight years of progressive experience and successful completion of the Professional Engineer Examination (PE Exam). Students who complete the Cooperative Education Program or who complete their master’s degree only need seven years of progressive engineering experience to be eligible to take the PE Exam in North Carolina.

Majors

Honors Programs

Graduate Early Entry Programs

Construction Management Program

Construction management provides the education necessary for entry into the construction industry in a variety of careers in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, as well as infrastructure, and heavy horizontal construction. Related careers in real estate and land development, infrastructure development, code enforcement, and insurance are also career options.  The Construction Management program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

The program is enhanced by a business/management core that includes courses in statistics, computer applications, economics, accounting, engineering economics, business management, business law, finance, and construction law.  The Construction Management program shares a common lower division (Freshman and Sophomore year) curriculum with the Civil Engineering Technology Program.  This provides a two-year opportunity to determine which program best fits the desired academic objective and allows students who are interested to complete a double major in both Construction Management and Civil Engineering Technology.

Majors

Honors Programs

Graduate Early Entry Programs


Admission Requirements

Engineering

Freshman admission is competitive.  Based upon an overall evaluation of high school record with particular emphasis on advanced courses in math and science and test scores, freshmen may be admitted directly to an engineering major or to engineering undecided.  Specifically, freshmen MUST present a pre-calculus equivalent, a math course during the high school senior year, no grades below C in any math courses, and a minimum SAT-Math score of 570 or ACT-Math subscore of 23.  Transfer students must present a GPA of at least 2.5 (3.0 for Mechanical Engineering) and have completed a pre-calculus course equivalent to MATH 1103 .  All transfer students will be admitted to the lower division of a department, and evaluation of transfer credits follows the North Carolina articulation agreements.  Transfers from an ABET-accredited engineering program who do not have a 2.5 GPA (3.0 for Mechanical Engineering) may be admitted upon the recommendation of the chair of the major department.

Engineering Technology

Freshmen have to meet regular Freshman admission requirements.  Transfer students who are not interested in the distance education program must meet regular transfer admission requirements.  Transfer students are only accepted into the distance education program with the following requirements: (1) an Associate in Applied Science degree, or its equivalent, in a field appropriate to the option they plan to enter; (2) an overall GPA of at least 2.2 on all courses taken toward the two-year degree (exceptions to this requirement will be considered on the basis of individual merit); and (3) satisfactory completion of the prerequisite background courses for the option they plan to enter.  Acceptance of the A.A.S. degree indicates the acceptance of up to 64 credit hours toward the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology degree only.  These credit hours are not valid toward any other degree program at the University.

Academic Progression Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree Programs and Advising in the College Of Engineering

Students may be admitted to a major in one of the five College of Engineering departments: Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEGR); Electrical and Computer Engineering (EEGR and CPGR); Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science (MEGR); Systems Engineering and Engineering Management (SEGR); and Engineering Technology and Construction Management: Civil Engineering Technology (CIET), Construction Management (CMET), Electrical Engineering Technology (ELET), Fire Safety Engineering Technology (FSET), or Mechanical Engineering Technology (MEET).  Students may also be admitted as Engineering Undecided (ENGR), or Engineering Technology Undecided (ETGR) majors.

Engineering Undecided (ENGR) and Engineering Technology Undecided (ETGR) are designations for new freshmen who qualify for admission to an engineering or engineering technology major but who have not decided which program they desire.  ENGR students must work with their academic advisor to choose and declare a program of study by the completion of their Freshman year.  ETGR students are encouraged to choose a major by the time they attend summer orientation and registration because they take discipline-specific courses in the Freshman year. 

Students are expected to follow the advice and recommendations of their faculty advisors and are expected to know and follow all prerequisite, corequisite, and progression requirements of their program.  Persistent attempts to circumvent that advice and guidance will result in not being permitted to enroll in College of Engineering courses.

Students must demonstrate that they are making satisfactory progress toward completion of their major degree.  They are in violation of this requirement if they have two consecutive semesters of unsatisfactory progress, which will result in not being permitted to enroll in College of Engineering courses.

Students in the civil, computer, electrical, and systems engineering programs may take a course in their curriculum a maximum of three times, including withdrawing from the course with a grade of W.  Students in the mechanical engineering program may take a course in their curriculum a maximum of two times, including withdrawing from the course with a grade of W.  Failure to achieve a satisfactory grade in a course to progress in the program within the allowed attempts will result in no longer being permitted to enroll in courses in the declared engineering program.

Freshman Year Requirements

All new freshmen are initially advised by a central office within the College of Engineering. Students must satisfy the following requirements in order to progress in the curriculum and matriculate to their major department.

  1. Earn at least a 2.0 GPA in the first semester
  2. Complete all non-elective courses in the Freshman year curriculum with grades of C or above
  3. Pass all courses within three attempts, including withdrawing from a course with a grade of W
  4. Complete the Freshman curriculum within three regular semesters, if starting in the required first semester mathematics course
  5. Earn a 2.5 cumulative GPA upon completion of the Freshman curriculum

Sophomore through Senior Year Requirements

In addition to College and University requirements for continued enrollment, students must maintain a major cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all courses in the departmental curriculum.  Failure to meet this requirement for two consecutive semesters will result in not being permitted to enroll in College of Engineering courses.

All engineering courses at the 2000-level and above used to satisfy degree requirements within the College of Engineering are restricted to majors and minors of the college.  Students enrolling in these courses must meet the prerequisite requirements for enrollment.  Others wishing to enroll in these courses must obtain departmental authorization.

Requirements for Reenrolling in the College of Engineering

An undergraduate student who fails to satisfy one or more of the progression requirements stated above, but who nonetheless meets the conditions for continued enrollment in the University, will be ineligible to reenroll in the College of Engineering until an appeal is accepted by the College of Engineering.  Once an appeal is accepted, requirements for continued enrollment appropriate to the individual situation are specified in a “Continuation Agreement” that is mutually agreed upon and signed by the student and his/her appropriate advisor.

A student who has been suspended by the University must follow University guidelines for appeal.  Readmission to the College of Engineering after a University suspension is not automatic.  An application for readmission must be made by the student and approved by the College/department.  Students who are readmitted by the College of Engineering after suspension by the University must meet requirements for continued enrollment appropriate to their individual situation.  These requirements are specified in a “Continuation Agreement” that is mutually agreed upon and signed by the student and his/her appropriate advisor.  The consequences of failure to meet the requirements of the agreement may be articulated in the agreement itself.  However, if these consequences are not included in the agreement, failure to meet the requirements will automatically result in the student not being permitted to continue to enroll in College of Engineering courses.


Additional Engineering Programs and Opportunities

Maximizing Academic and Professional Success Program (MAPS)

The MAPS Program helps improve the retention and academic performance of students who are committed to earning degrees from the Lee College of Engineering.  The program connects students to college and campus-wide resources, extra-curricular opportunities, and organizations with the goal of developing independent learners and problem solvers.

MAPS transition coaching helps students improve their time management, study, and learning skills through a variety of interactive sessions facilitated by successful College of Engineering students.  MAPS also offers peer-led Supplemental Instruction (SI) and/or tutoring for courses such as calculus, chemistry, and physics, and core College of Engineering courses as funding is available.  Assessment results indicate that students who regularly participate in MAPS perform well academically and are much more likely to graduate from the College.  For details, visit osds.uncc.edu/maps-program.

Freshman Learning Community (FLC)

The FLC is home to more than 200 College of Engineering freshmen who live, study, and interact in a single residence hall. Students benefit from having similar interests and course schedules. In addition, MAPS peer coaching and tutoring for a variety of Freshman courses are offered on-site. Other events such as engineering site visits, special study nights, and social activities are also available to participants.  For details, visit osds.uncc.edu/freshman-learning-community.

Student Leadership Academy

The Leadership Academy is an optional extracurricular program designed to develop the leadership potential of College of Engineering students through a series of weekend retreats with other students, faculty and industry partners. Top industry executives help facilitate specific activities providing some real-world perspective on being a successful leader in business and in the community. Students who fulfill all requirements of the program receive transcript notation.  For details, visit osds.uncc.edu/leadership-academy.

Experiential Learning and Service Learning Opportunities

Students are encouraged to participate in professional work experiences in support of their academic and career development through the cooperative education, internships and service learning programs offered to students in the College.  The College works with the University Career Center to expand experiential learning offerings to enable more students to graduate with career related experience.  For more information about experiential learning opportunities, see the University Career Center  section of this Catalog and visit osds.uncc.edu/professional-development.

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program

Students may obtain practical work experience while pursuing their degree by participating in cooperative education whereby a student alternates semesters of full-time academic study with semesters of full-time work experience in industry.  Students may also do back-to-back Co-op experiences if their Fall or Spring semester Co-op session is combined with a Summer session.  The work experience is under the direction of the student’s major department and is closely related to his or her field of study.  Students who fulfill all requirements of the Co-op program receive transcript notation, can earn up to three credit hours for a technical elective, and will receive partial credit toward the professional practice requirement for registration as a Professional Engineer in North Carolina.

To be eligible for the Co-op program, a student must have completed at least 30 credit hours at UNC Charlotte, including a number of specified courses with an overall minimum GPA of 2.5.  A transfer student is expected to have completed at least 12 credit hours at UNC Charlotte.

For an undergraduate to be officially designated as a Co-op student, he or she must participate in at least three full-time semesters of work experience (three work sessions and three seminar courses).  Consequently, participation in Co-op Education usually means that graduation can be delayed up to one year.  However, students who participate in Co-op traditionally are more highly recruited at higher starting salaries than other students.

Students interested in learning more about the advantages and opportunities of participating in this program should contact the College’s Director for Student Professional Development and Employer Relations or the University Career Center.  For details, visit osds.uncc.edu/professional-development/co-ops.

Domestic Internships

A number of opportunities for internships (either for-credit or not) exist for students at local and regional employers.  Internships for College of Engineering students are almost always paid positions.  UNC Charlotte University Career Center defines an Internship as requiring a minimum of 80 work hours which need to be completed in no less than five weeks for one semester.  Fall and Spring semester internships are part-time.  Summer internships may be full- or part-time.  All students are eligible to apply for and accept internships posted in Hire-A-Niner.

Internships posted by the University Career Center do not routinely offer academic credit.  Students can earn credit, when other options are not available, by registering for UCOL 3410 (Career Development Internship).  UCOL 3410 allows Junior- and Senior-level students to earn one to three hours of elective credit, depending on criteria set by the employer and the University Career Center in consultation with the student’s major department.  Approval for enrollment must be arranged before the student begins the work experience.

Students interested in learning more about the advantages and opportunities of participating in this program should contact the College’s Director for Student Professional Development and Employer Relations or the University Career Center.  For details, visit osds.uncc.edu/professional-development/internships49erships.

International Experiences

The College provides opportunities for overseas study, research, and/or an industrial experience. In many cases, students who meet eligibility requirements receive special scholarships and/or grants to help defray the cost of these programs.

Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam

The first step in professional licensure is the FE exam.  Students in ABET accredited programs may take the FE Exam at any time.  The College encourages students to take and successfully pass this national examination during their Senior year.  For details, visit osds.uncc.edu/professional-development/fe-exam.

Continuing Engineering Studies

The College of Engineering sponsors various special educational programs for practicing engineers, technologists, technicians, and others, in addition to its regular academic degree programs and courses. These include conferences, short courses, seminars, and other continuing education programs designed to aid those practicing in technical professions and occupations to keep abreast of the latest developments in the rapidly expanding technology.  For more information, visit the Office of Extended Academic Programs at exap.uncc.edu.