Engineering Academic Information

Advanced Placement

Students are strongly encouraged to take the advanced placement and/or achievement tests in American history, English, chemistry, calculus, and political science prior to admission. College level course work in these areas will be waived with appropriate scores. For more information, see the University of Houston Admissions website.

College Fees

Engineering Information Technology Fee: Provides support of the changing technology in the computer labs used by engineering students.

Engineering Student Designated Tuition: Provides funds to strengthen the academic mission of tenuretrack faculty, adjunct and visiting faculty, graduate assistants, and academic support personnel.

Engineering Student Service Fee: Provides services to students for advising, placement, retention and communication skills.

Engineering Equipment Fee: Provides funds to purchase, repair, refurbish, maintain and operate equipment in the college’s departmental and shared undergraduate teaching laboratories.

Engineering Education Resource Fee: Provides funds for various services to students including Teaching Assistants and course handouts.

Course Load

The maximum course load students will be permitted to carry per semester is determined by consultation with their faculty advisor and is based on their grade point average for the previous semester and nonacademic commitment.

Students should expect to devote a minimum of two to three hours of study time per week for each semester hour of course load. For example, if students have clear academic status and work 10 hours per week, they should carry a course load of no more than 15 semester hours. The study time for such a course load will be an additional 30 to 45 hours per week, bringing the total hours per week to 70, the equivalent of more than one and one-half full-time jobs.

Earned Grade Requirements for Engineering Majors

Engineering majors must earn a grade of C- or better in all engineering, mathematics, and science courses. No grade lower than C- will be accepted on any courses transferred to the University of Houston.

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

College of Engineering students are allowed a maximum of two attempts for any engineering course offered at the University of Houston or an equivalent engineering course offered at another university or college

General Petition Deadline

The College of Engineering is committed to making a quality undergraduate program available to its students. In order to allow engineering majors to enroll in engineering courses, the College strictly enforces a deadline for the submission of general petitions requesting a change of major or readmission to the College. Petitions submitted after the deadline are considered for the semester following the upcoming semester. The deadlines for each semester follow.

Credit for Off Campus Courses

College of Engineering students seeking credit in engineering courses at an university or college outside of the University of Houston must receive written approval prior to enrollment. The deadlines for each semester follow.

Engineering Probation and Suspension

After attempting at least six hours within the major, if the cumulative major GPA is below 2.25, the student is placed on probation.

Once on probation, in the next semester(s) enrolled, the semester major GPA is evaluated. If the semester major GPA is greater than or equal to 2.25, but the cumulative major GPA is below 2.25, the student continues on probation. If the semester major GPA is below 2.25 the student is suspended.

Readmission from Suspension

When a student is placed on “Engineering Suspension” for the first time, the student is ineligible to reenroll for at least one long semester. For example, a student suspended after a Fall semester would not be eligible to enroll (register) for engineering courses until the following Fall semester. A student suspended after a Spring semester would not be eligible to enroll (register) for engineering courses until the following Spring semester. A student suspended after a Summer session would not be eligible to enroll (register) for engineering courses until the following Spring semester.

Students are prohibited from continuing in the College of Engineering if they (a) violate the three-attempt rule for Math and Science, (b) violate the two-attempt rule for engineering courses, (c) violate course prerequisites.

Second suspension:

Students suspended for a second time will not be readmitted to the College of Engineering

Special Programs

Cooperative Education Program

Cooperative Education is a program that enables students to receive career training with pay as they work with professionals in their major field of study. Most positions are offered on a full-time, alternating basis with two students at each job. While one student works, the other attends school; they trade places each spring, summer and fall terms. There are a few positions offered on a part-time schedule; these are known as parallel co-op jobs. Work experience is available in government, business, industry and human services, and will enhance students’ academic training. This valuable experience will also be noted on their transcripts. For more information, contact the Co-op Office at 713-743-4230.

Promes

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