Undergraduate Curricula and Academic Regulations
Degree Programs
The School of Engineering offers programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering, Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, and Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering. The undergraduate programs in biomedical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, and the program in computer science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Academic Advising
Once admitted to the School of Engineering, each student is assigned an academic advisor, usually a full-time faculty member. Typically, students remain with their advisors for the duration of their studies. Students are required to consult with their advisors at least once a semester, but have the possibility of meeting with their advisor at any time during the academic year. Students must obtain approval from their advisors for registration and to make any course changes, such as adding or dropping a course. Ordinarily, at the end of the first year of study, an undecided student will be asked to designate the program in which he or she wishes to earn a degree, if he or she has not already done so.
Transfer Students
Historically, many junior and senior engineering students have transferred to the school from community colleges and four-year liberal arts colleges. Experience with these students indicates that they are able to perform academically similarly to the way in which they performed in their previous institutions. Students who have completed pre-engineering programs may normally begin the junior year of studies. Students who wish to transfer to the school are advised to contact the appropriate department to determine which of their previous courses are transferable.
Transfer Credits
With pre-approval from the University’s Transfer Coordinator, students can take courses at institutions outside of the Consortium and transfer these credits to the school, within limits set by the university. The Transfer Coordinator coordinates the evaluation of courses for equivalency taken by transfer students and courses to be taken at institutions outside of the Consortium.
Internships
The school believes that students can benefit from academic year and summer internships, which provide opportunities for students to learn while doing actual engineering work. The Center for Academic and Career Success and the school assist students in obtaining internships. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering requires internships as an integral part of its program--two internships are required for students in the construction concentration while the rest of the concentrations require one. Internships in other majors within the School of Engineering are not required but are encouraged.
Interdisciplinary Studies
A program leading to the dual degrees of Bachelor of Science in Architecture, offered by the School of Architecture and Planning, and Bachelor of Civil Engineering is available to students who want to combine the practice of architecture and engineering. Interested students should contact either the School of Architecture and Planning or the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering for specific information.
Minors
A minor, or sub-concentration, in the humanities, social sciences, philosophy, or religious studies is available to students who complete the requirements for the sub-concentration as stipulated by the respective department or school. Normally, a sub-concentration consists of six or seven courses in one disciplinary area.
Engineering students can also obtain a minor in computer science, neuroscience, or data analytics. Students should check with their departments for specific requirements for the minor. Completed applications for a minor must be submitted to the Office of the Dean of the School of Engineering.
Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degree Programs
An accelerated bachelor's/master's program allows undergraduate students to pursue a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in a shorter time than would be required if both degrees were pursued separately. This is made possible by allowing a number of approved graduate engineering courses (500 level or greater) taken as part of the requirements for the bachelor's degree to be applied toward the master's degree. Students should speak to their advisor for additional information regarding admission requirements and the application process.
Study Abroad Program
Qualified engineering students at Catholic University may study abroad, typically during the second semester of their junior year. The Catholic University engineering undergraduate programs have developed modified curricula for their study abroad students to ensure that the participating students graduate on time. Students who are interested in this program should contact the dean's office for general information and their department for specific coursework. To be eligible to participate in the study abroad program, students must be in good standing and possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00. For more information please see the School of Engineering website at: http://engineering.catholic.edu
English Requirement
All students are required to take at least one English writing course, ENG 101- Rhetoric and Composition. International Students may take ENG 103 - English Composition for Non-Native Speakers, when appropriate.
Mathematics Requirement
All incoming freshmen are required to take a math placement exam. Students with insufficient scores will be required to take foundational math courses, such as MATH 108 (Elementary Functions), before taking MATH 121 (Calculus I). Foundtaional math courses do not count toward the degree requirements. Special requirements are imposed because the study of mathematics is integral to engineering. In particular, an engineering student must earn a grade of C- or better in MATH 121 (Calculus I) and MATH 122 (Calculus II) before advancing to the next course in sequence.
Senior Design Requirement
All seniors in the School of Engineering must complete a two semester sequence in Senior Design. Each department within the School of Engineering offers ENGR 441 and ENGR 442, Interdisciplinary Senior Design I and II. This allows students from all majors within the School of Engineering to work in interdisciplinary teams. Another option for Senior Design is ENGR 420 and ENGR 421, Social Innovations I and II. The Social Innovations course sequence includes an additional emphasis on entrepreneurship.
GPA Requirement for Graduation
Students must have a minimum cumulative average of 2.0 in the course of studies required for the degree program to graduate. The School of Engineering does not round for the purpose of calculating final cumulative grade point average.
A student whose cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 will be placed on academic probation for the following regular semester. In other words, a student whose cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the spring semester is on probation through the end of the following fall semester, even if the student takes Summer Session courses to raise his/her cumulative GPA. Also, a student whose cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the fall semester is on probation through the end of the following spring semester. While on probation, a student may register for no more than four courses and may not participate in extracurricular activities such as student government or athletics. A student may be academically dismissed for the following reasons: failure to gain a 2.0 cumulative GPA after two consecutive semesters on academic probation, failure in three courses in any given semester, or a cumulative GPA of less than 1.5 at the end of any academic year.
General Degree Requirements
The number of courses and credits required for a degree depends on the specific program of study. In general, the curricula of the various engineering programs are similar in the first two years, and students can transfer easily between programs during this period. The coursework during the last two years is discipline specific and can be tailored to meet the student's interests.
Coursework requirements for each program are given below under the departmental sections. In addition to specific technical courses and electives described for each program, all students in the School of Engineering follow a modified version of the University’s Liberal Arts Curriculum, and must also take two liberal studies electives and a course on professional ethics in engineering.
The modified version of the University’s Liberal Arts Curriculum requires eight (8) courses. These include one English composition course, two Theology and Religious studies courses, two core Philosophy courses, one course in either social sciences, fine arts, or literature, one mathematics course, and one science course. The mathematics and science course requirements are fulfilled by courses also required by each of the School’s majors.
The two additional liberal studies elective courses must be selected in consultation with a student's advisor from a list of approved courses. These liberal study courses provide exposure to the broad range of studies necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context and provide knowledge of contemporary issues relevant to engineering practice.
The professional ethics course is typically PHIL 362 (Professional Ethics in Engineering) but students in the Civil & Environmental Engineering programs may opt instead to take CEE 383 (Ethics & Sustainability).