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Undergraduate Admission to the College of Engineering

Before declaring a particular major within the field of engineering, students must meet admission requirements for the student’s chosen degree program. Students may apply to the College of Engineering upon initial entry to the University by declaring Engineering as their intended major on their admissions application. When a student is accepted to USF, engineering staff will review the necessary credentials and notify the applicant of his or her Engineering status.

USF students may apply through the Office of Engineering Student Services, in the College of Engineering. To be considered for admission to the College, an applicant must be accepted by the University as a degree-seeking student and be academically in good standing.

Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit TOEFL scores to the College of Engineering. The minimum TOEFL score must be 550.

College of Engineering Admission Requirements

Students meeging or exceeding the below criteria are granted direct entry to the College. Others are classifies "Pre-Engineering."

  1. Freshmen:

    1. Test Scores:
      SAT—combined score of 1050 minimum with a minimum quantitative of 550.
      ACT—combined score of 25 minimum and mathematics of 25 minimum.

    2. High School Mathematics: Should include sufficient algebra and trigonometry to enter Engineering Calculus I.

    3. High School Grade Point Average of 2.5/4.0.

  2. Transfer Students:

    1. Engineering
      Florida community college transfer students that have completed the courses shown below with a minimum grade of "C" are accepted directly into the College of Engineering.

      Communications:

      • ENC 1101/1102 English I and II (6)

      Mathematics:

      • MAC 2311 Engineering Calculus I (4)
        or MAC 2281, MAC 2282, MAC 2283
      • MAC 2312 Engineering Calculus II (4)
        or MAC 2281, MAC 2282, MAC 2283
      • MAC X283 Engineering Calculus III (4)
        or MAC 2281, MAC 2282, MAC 2283

      Natural Sciences:

      • CHM X045/X045L General Chemistry I (with lab) (4)
        or CHS 1440 Chemistry for Engineers
      • PHY X048/X048L General Physics and Laboratory I (4)
      • PHY X049/X049L General Physics and Laboratory II (4)

      Humanities & Social Sciences:

      • Humanities Courses (6)
      • Social Science Courses (6)
      • Humanities or Social Sciences (3)

    2. Computer Science
      Transfer students into the Computer Science program from a Florida community college are not required to have Differential Equations or any of the Chemistry courses indicated above.

    3. Information Systems
      Transfer students into the Information Systems program from a Florida community college are not required to have Calculus III, Differential Equations or any of the Chemistry courses indicated above.

    4. Information Technology
      Transfer students into the Information Technology (IT) Program from a Florida Community College are not required to have taken Calculus, Differential Equations or Chemistry courses as listed above. Of the courses required for entrance into the IT program (as described in the following sections), the subset of those courses required for admission is:
      • MAC XXXX Pre-Calculus
      • MXX XXXX Discrete Mathematics
      • STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics
      • COP XXXX Computer Programming (e.g., C, Java, Pascal, etc.)

Note: The XXXX course number designation indicates that any course in the Florida system with the appropriate prefix and title is acceptable.

All other transfer students should contact the College’s Admission Office (813/974-2684).

Required Prerequisites for Entering Engineering programs

Once a student has been admitted to the College of Engineering, he/she must then seek admission into one of the specific departments.

The minimum requirements for acceptance by the departments administering the Engineering programs in Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering are completion of English, Calculus, Physics and Chemistry requirements.

The minimum requirements for admission to the Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Information Systems programs offered by the Computer Science and Engineering Department are completion of English I & II , Physics I & II (and labs) and Calculus I & II with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in those eight courses. Following departmental admission, it is necessary that a student complete the courses CDA 3100 ( Computer Organization ) , and COP 3514 ( Program Design ) with a grade point average for all attempts of at least 3.0 prior to taking any other departmental courses.

The requirements for admission into the Information Technology program are completion of English, Statistics, Macroeconomics, a Database course, a Computer Programming course, Pre-Calculus, a Physics course, and Discrete Mathematics. Unless stated otherwise, a grade of "C" is the minimum acceptable grade, but a 2.5 minimum GPA is expected in the above courses. Early entry into the IT program is possible for students with a 2.5 GPA in those courses required for entry into the college. The remaining courses must be completed before graduation. Equivalent courses may be accepted if they meet program objectives.

Prior to being admitted to a department, a student may be permitted to take no more than two departmental engineering courses. Individual departments may have continuation requirements.

A student can be advised by the department advisor prior to completing requirements for department admission if he or she so chooses. This type of student must still comply with all of the above-listed requirements prior to official acceptance by the department.

Engineering Advising

Effective pursuit of engineering and engineering related studies requires careful attention to both the sequence and the type of courses taken. The engineering curriculum differs in key respects from the study plans of other majors—even in the freshman year.

New students must attend the University’s Orientation program. They are assigned an engineering advisor during this program and receive advisement for their first semester at that time.

The student and advisor jointly work out a plan of study that meets both the student’s career objectives and the College of Engineering’s degree requirements. The advisors maintain the College of Engineering student's records.

Students not yet meeting departmental admissions requirements may elect to be advised by the general engineering advising office or the department of their intended specialization.

While the College provides advising services to assist students with academic planning, the responsibility for seeing that all graduation requirements are met rests with the students.

The College of Engineering requires all undergraduates to apply for graduation the semester prior to the anticipated graduation term. Necessary forms and instructions can be obtained in the Engineering Student Services Office.

Advising Offices
Tampa Campus: The College of Engineering is located near the south-central side of campus; the Engineering Student Services Office is located in ENC 1302, (813) 974-2684.
Sarasota Campus: Palmer “C” Building (PMC), Room 101, (941) 359-4331/4330.
Lakeland Campus: Student Services Office (LLC), Room 2100, (800) USF-5636 (in state only), (863) 667-7071

Office Hours
Usual office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For off-time meeting hours, please call the College's advising office.

Preliminary Coursework for Engineering Students

Both the four-year and five-year curricula of the College of Engineering Bachelor of Science programs are founded on a set of coursework that is required of all engineering students. This coursework is designed to give each student a thorough foundation of knowledge on which specialization studies and a professional career can be based. Emphasis is placed on three key elements; development of communication skills, familiarity with the social sciences and humanities and a solid base in science and mathematics.

Each degree-granting department has developed a list of courses to provide key elements for the degree offered. While the specific courses will vary slightly from one department to another, the categories are as follows:

  • General Education Courses (Social Sciences, Humanities, Communications)
  • Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics
  • Common Engineering Courses
  • Department Specialization
  • Special course requirements exist for Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Information Systems (IT), and students selecting any of those fields should be aware of their specific requirements. Students may consult the degree granting department or the College’s Advising Office for detailed information.

  1. University Liberal Arts Requirements

    All students are required to take 42 semester hours to complete the University liberal arts requirements. Thirty-six (36) semester hours will satisfy the general education course requirements and 6 semester hours will satisfy the exit requirements. These requirements are distributed as follows:

    General Education Requirements* Semester Hours
    English Composition 6
    Quantitative Methods 6
    Natural Sciences 6
    Social Sciences 6
    Historical Perspectives 6
    Fine Arts 3
    African, Latin American, Middle Eastern or Asian Perspectives   3
      36
       
    Exit Requirements* (Must be taken at USF)  
    Major Works and Major Issues 3
    Literature and Writing 3

    *Courses may be certified in more than one area, but students may use each course in only one (1) area.

    Courses in the liberal arts requirements should incorporate the following components whenever they are relevant to the specific discipline: the learning skills of conceptual thinking, analytical thinking, creative thinking, written expression, oral expression, and the dimensions of values and ethics, international perspectives, environmental perspectives, race and ethnicity, and gender. When warranted by the subject matter, each course must incorporate consideration of at least one of the dimensions and one of the thinking skills to meet the liberal arts requirements.

    Departments should ensure that courses proposed for the liberal arts have sufficient depth and breadth. These courses will share the substantive rigor and intellectual challenge of courses offered for major credit, with the specific feature of offering an integrative perspective of the discipline and its relationship to academia as a whole. Additionally, such courses will encourage majors to interact with students from other disciplinary backgrounds.

  2. Mathematics and Science Core Requirements

    For students in the engineering programs, the mathematics coursework consists of a Calculus for Engineers sequence (or a calculus sequence of equivalent level), Differential Equations, and additional hours of designated courses supportive of the student’s selective field of specialization, as specified by the department. Science coursework includes the Physics with Calculus sequence and General Chemistry course(s) depending on the degree-granting program.

    Students whose high school preparation is insufficient to enter the Calculus for Engineers are required to take supplementary algebra and trigonometry prior to being considered for acceptance into the College.

    Students in the Information Technology program must meet the math and science requirements in the Four Year Program or in the State Mandated Common Prerequisites at a Florida Community College.

College Regulations

  1. GENERAL EDUCATION Requirements

    While the Engineering undergraduate student is expected to complete certain requirements during the first two years of study which are directed toward the humanities and social sciences, and which are fulfilled by the completion of the General Education requirements of the University, the College of Engineering expects more of its prospective engineering graduates than this minimum. The engineer must not only be a technically competent individual, but must also be a person who can understand, adjust and contribute to the social environment.

    Students who transfer from a State of Florida community college with an Associate of Arts degree and who have met that college’s General Education Requirement will find their General Education coursework satisfies the University General Education Requirements.

    All Engineering students must complete the USF Exit Requirements. The Literature and Writing portion can be met by completing ENC 3211 Communication for Engineers.

  2. English Requirement

    Students who have been admitted to the College of Engineering may be required to take an examination in order to evaluate their preparedness in the use and understanding of the English language. The faculty of the University’s English program will administer the examination.

    Students evidencing an English deficiency will be required to initiate the necessary corrective programs, with the assistance of their advisors. It is recognized that such deficiencies can exist even though a student has met the University’s minimum English requirements. Correction of any deficiency must commence the term after a student has been notified and must be completed prior to recommendation of the student for graduation by the faculty of the College.

    See Continuation and Graduation Requirements below for minimum grade requirements.

  3. Mathematics Requirement

    Students who are pursuing an engineering program are expected to acquire a facility for the rapid and accurate solution of problems requiring the use of mathematics. This requirement includes the ability to translate physical situations into mathematical models. Students evidencing a lack of manipulative ability or of the ability to apply mathematics will be required to take remedial coursework in engineering analysis and problem solving that is over and above their regular degree requirements. Faculty of the College who encounter students who are deficient in their mathematical ability will refer such cases to the Advising Office.

  4. Continuation and Graduation Requirements

    To meet graduation requirements all undergraduate students must maintain above the minimum cumulative overall GPA of 2.00. In addition the College of Engineering also requires undergraduate students to maintain a minimum of 2.0 GPA in all engineering courses attempted, as well as 2.0 GPA in all courses attempted in their specialization. In no case will the minimum GPA for a category be less than 2.0. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure she/he meets all departmental requirements. In addition to the completion of the coursework and/or project requirements of the respective program of the College, students must be recommended for their degrees by the faculty of the College.

    Students who do not maintain the required minimums of the program pursued in each category are ineligible for further registration in the College unless individually designed continuation programs are recommended by the student’s academic advisor and approved by the department undergraduate coordinator or the Director of Admissions & Advising and the Engineering Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or his designee. All students who are academically dismissed from the University will be denied readmission to the College of Engineering unless they meet admission requirements in effect at the time readmission is sought and are recommended for readmission by the department and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

    Students who register for a course three times without receiving a grade “D” or better (i.e., receive grades of D- or F) will be denied further enrollment in the College of Engineering unless written permission is obtained from the department chairperson and the College Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

    Students pursuing College of Engineering degree programs are expected to take their courses on a graded basis. Please refer to the grading system in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog. S/U grading option must be requested during the first week of classes. Courses taken on an S/U basis are not applicable to the College's degree programs. Exceptions require written approval of the department advisor prior to registration.

    The College of Engineering requires that a student completes the baccalaureate degree within five years after beginning the Engineering specialization courses. Any exceptions require approval of the department and Dean’s Office.

    Each engineering student is required to complete the Application for Graduation - Check List and submit it to the College of Engineering Advising Office by the drop date of the term prior to the semester in which graduation is sought. Completion of this form is a requirement for graduation.

    Effective Fall of 2000 students pursuing Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering will be required to take the discipline oriented Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Effective Fall of 2001 students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering will be required to take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Engineering students in other disciplines are strongly encouraged to do the same. (See the College Office of Student Services for applications and information.)

  5. Transfer Credit

    The USF College of Engineering will accept transfer credit when appropriate if the transferred course has been passed with a grade of "C" or better. In some cases credit for a course may be granted, but the hours accepted may be less than the hours earned at another school.

    While credit work from other institutions may be granted subject to the conditions of the previous paragraph, the last one-quarter credits, which may include a minimum of thirty semester hours of engineering coursework, specified by the degree-granting department must be taken at USF to receive the baccalaureate degree. The College of Engineering's Associate Dean for Academics must approve exceptions.

FIVE-YEAR PROGRAMS LEADING TO BACHELORS AND MASTERS DEGREES IN ENGINEERING

Students who, at the beginning of their senior year, are clearly interested in graduate study are invited to pursue a Five-Year Program of study leading simultaneously to the Bachelor of Science in Engineering or Engineering Science and Master of Science in Engineering or Engineering Science degrees. The general basis of the five-year program includes

  1. A two-year research program extending through the fourth and fifth year.

  2. The opportunity of taking some graduate courses during the fourth year and deferring the taking of some senior courses to the fifth year. The requirements of the combined degrees do not differ from those for the two degrees pursued separately.

Students apply for admission to this program through their advisor, who should be consulted when additional information is needed. Departmental expectations and general admission requirements include

  1. Senior standing (90 credits) with at least 16 upper level engineering credits completed at the University of South Florida with a 3.0 GPA.

  2. A minimum score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Records Examination.

  3. Above-average performance in the chosen Engineering program.

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