Mar 29, 2024  
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Engineering Academic Information


Colleges  > Cullen College of Engineering  > Engineering Academic Information

 


Advanced Placement

Students are strongly encouraged to take the advanced placement and/or achievement tests prior to admission. College level course work will be waived with appropriate scores. Please note that subject mastery is a critical success factor for future work. Regardless the outcome of AP testing, students should evaluate whether they believe they have mastered the subject material, and if not, they should take the required courses at the University of Houston. For more information, see the University Testing Services website.

Course Load

The recommended and maximum course loads for undergraduate students are specified on the University’s Course Load  webpage.

Students should expect to devote a minimum of three hours of study time per week for each engineering course. For example, a student registered for 15 hours of engineering courses should expect 45 hours of studying per week, for a total time commitment of 60 hours per week. Students who work outside of school should reduce their course load by one course (3 semester hours) for every 12 hours of work.

Earned Grade Requirements for Engineering Majors

Engineering majors must earn a grade of C- or better in all engineering, mathematics, and science courses required in their degree plans.

Dean’s List

Each fall and spring semester the college compiles the names of all undergraduate students who qualify for the Dean’s List. Students whose semester grade point average is 3.50 or better on a minimum of 12 semester hours are eligible. The grade of S is not counted.

Students who earn grades of I (except in senior honors thesis courses), D, F, or U during the semester will not be considered for the Dean’s List.

Two Attempts

Students in the College of Engineering may not attempt an engineering course more than two times. An “attempt” of a course has occurred when a grade (including W, I and F grades) is awarded.

Credit for Off Campus Courses

Students in the College of Engineering must receive written approval prior to enrolling in engineering courses at another college or university. Students who enroll in off-campus engineering courses without required approvals cannot use credits earned towards a University of Houston engineering degree. The deadline to request approval for off campus engineering courses is specified on the College of Engineering website.

Engineering Probation and Suspension

The College of Engineering has a probation and suspension system that is based on a student’s major GPA. Students are not evaluated for Engineering Probation/Suspension until they have completed at least six hours in the major.

A student is placed on Engineering Probation if their cumulative major GPA drops below 2.25. When a student is on Engineering Probation they must obtain a semester major GPA of at least 2.5 to continue enrollment in engineering courses. A student on Engineering Probation who obtains a semester major GPA of 2.25 will continue on probation until the cumulative major GPA is at least 2.25.

If a student on Engineering Probation does not obtain a semester GPA of at least 2.25 the student is placed on Engineering Suspension. When a student is placed on Engineering Suspension for the first time the student cannot enroll in any engineering courses for at least one long semester. In other words, a student suspended from engineering after a fall semester would not be eligible to enroll in engineering courses until the following fall semester, and a student suspended after a spring semester would not be eligible to enroll in engineering classes until the following spring semester.

The procedure for readmission from a first Engineering Suspension is outlined on the College of Engineering website. Students who are placed on Engineering Suspension a second time will not be readmitted to the College.

Students are prohibited from continuing in the College of Engineering if they (1) violate the University’s three-attempt rule in math or science course; (2) violate the two-attempt rule for engineering courses; or, (3) violate course prerequisites.

Special Programs

Engineering Career Center

The Cullen College of Engineering Career Center provides students with access to co-op, internship, and full-time employment opportunities. These work experiences allow engineering students to take knowledge obtained in the classroom and apply it to real-world settings while gaining hands-on experience and industry-related skills. For more information refer to the Engineering Career Center website.

Program for Mastery in Engineering Studies

The Program for Mastery in Engineering Studies (PROMES - pronounced “promise”) provides academic, social, and financial support to engineering students, with a strong emphasis on making students’ first year in college a success. For more information see the Special Programs  section of this catalog.