Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog | 2020-2021 
    
Undergraduate Catalog | 2020-2021 Previous Edition

Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering Concentration, B.S.C.E.


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The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (B.S.C.E.)  with a Concentration in Geotechnical Engineering is intended for students to gain a solid foundation in civil engineering through a selection of core required courses supplemented with elective courses that increase their depth in the concentration and meet their professional aspirations. Traditionally, geotechnical engineering focuses on the design and construction of foundations, slopes, retaining walls, and earthen structures.  However, today the scope of this discipline has dramatically expanded to include geo-environmental engineering, design and construction of tunnels, landfills, waste management facilities, site and amended geo-material characterization, design of pavements and geo-pavements, as well as natural hazards assessment and mitigation.  

Through careful course selection and scheduling, students can obtain the Concentration in Geotechnical Engineering within the required 120 credit hour B.S.C.E. curriculum.  Students completing the requirements described in this program receive a special designation on their transcripts showing they have completed the Concentration in Geotechnical Engineering.

Admission Requirements


Freshmen

Freshman admission is competitive. Based upon an overall evaluation of high school record with particular emphasis on advanced courses in math and science and SAT or ACT scores, freshmen may be admitted directly to an engineering major or as engineering undecided. 

  • Minimum GPA:  n/a
  • Pre-Major/Prerequisite Courses:  Freshmen MUST present a pre-calculus equivalent course, a math course during the high school senior year (grade 12/13) or math intensive science course such as physics or chemistry if no math courses are available, with no grades below C in any math courses.  Students with AP test scores of at least 3 on AP Calculus AB or BC or early college high school students who present transfer credit for calculus equivalent to MATH 1241  or higher are exempted from having a math course in the senior year.
  • Other:  Minimum SAT-Math score of 570 or ACT-Math subscore of 23
  • Declaration of Major:  Students may declare the major at time of admission or at any time if in good standing with the College and University.

Transfers

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 meet the GPA requirement may be admitted upon the recommendation of the chair of the major department.

  • Minimum GPA:  2.5 (3.0 for Mechanical Engineering)
  • Pre-Major/Prerequisite Courses:  Calculus I course (with grade of C or above) equivalent to MATH 1241  
  • Transferable Credit Hours:  24

Academic Progression Requirements

Freshman Year Requirements

All new freshmen, early college students, and transfer students with only one year semester at another institution 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.

  • Follow the advice and recommendations of their faculty advisors.
  • Follow all prerequisite, corequisite, and progression requirements of their program.
  • Earn at least a 2.250 GPA in the first semester.
  • Complete all non-elective courses in the Freshman year curriculum with grades of C or above.
  • Pass all courses within three attempts, including withdrawing from a course with a grade of W.
  • Complete the Freshman curriculum within three regular semesters, if starting in the required first semester mathematics course.
  • Earn a 2.500 cumulative GPA upon completion of the Freshman curriculum.

Sophomore through Senior Year Requirements

  • Maintain an overall GPA of 2.000 in the University.
  • Maintain a major cumulative GPA of 2.000 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.
  • Take courses in the curriculum a maximum of two times to achieve a satisfactory grade, including withdrawing from the course with a grade of W.

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 unless an appeal is accepted by the College of Engineering.  If 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.

Degree Requirements


General Education Courses (18-19 credit hours)


For details on required LBST, UWRT, and Social Sciences courses, refer to the General Education Program .  Elective courses should be chosen to satisfy University General Education requirements, meet the objectives of a broad education consistent with the educational goals of the profession, and complement the student’s overall educational plan.  To avoid taking “extra” elective courses, students must select their elective courses carefully after consulting with their faculty advisor.

Foundation Courses (30 credit hours)


Note:


*A grade of C or above is required.

Elective Courses (24 credit hours)


Civil Engineering Design Elective Courses (6 credit hours)


Select one course in at least two technical areas (Options):

Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Elective Courses (3 credit hours)


Select one of the following:

Civil Engineering Restricted Elective Courses (3 credit hours)


Select one of the following (that hasn’t already been taken):

Civil Engineering Unrestricted Elective Courses (6 credit hours)


Select two from the following:

  • CEGR 3000-3999
  • CEGR 4000-4999

Technical Elective Courses (6 credit hours)


Select two technical elective courses from the list below.  Any course not appearing on this list requires written permission from the Undergraduate Program Director prior to registering for the course.  Any non-listed courses must be at the 3000-level or above and must come from one of the departments listed below.

Chemistry

Computer Science

  • ITCS 3000-4999
Engineering

  • CEGR 3000-4999
  • ECGR 3000-4999
  • MEGR 3000-4999
  • SEGR 3000-4999
Management Information Systems

  • INFO 3000-4999
Physics

  • PHYS 3000-4999
Statistics

  • STAT 3000-4999

Concentration Requirements (15 credit hours)


Of the 120 required credit hours in the BSCE degree, students opting for this concentration must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours that satisfy the following requirements:

Degree Total = 120 Credit Hours


Grade Requirements


A grade of C or above is required for select Major Courses, as noted above.  Students must earn at least a 2.5 GPA in the selected Concentration Courses. 

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