The William States
Lee College of Engineering has adopted a vision that:
The College is
the engineering college of first choice for
students, faculty, staff, and industry partners,
discovering, integrating, applying and disseminating
knowledge.
The College nurtures
collaborative and friendly learning communities in which
students, faculty, staff and industry partners can
succeed and are involved in the continuous assessment
and improvement of our programs. Student development,
faculty development, and resource and community
development are guided by the principle that they should
enhance our learning environment and promote our
institution.
The Lee College offers baccalaureate degree programs in
Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Construction
Management. On the graduate level, the College offers
programs leading to master’s degrees in Engineering and
Engineering Management; the Ph.D. in Electrical
Engineering and in Mechanical Engineering; an
interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Infrastructure and
Environmental Engineering; and, in cooperation with
North Carolina State University, a program leading to
the Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering (see the
Graduate Catalog).
The College is comprised of the Departments of Civil and
Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer
Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Engineering
Science, and Engineering Technology.
Engineering Programs. The baccalaureate programs
in engineering offer a professional engineering
education that can be used as the foundation for several
different career objectives: careers as professional
engineers in industry, business, or consulting; graduate
study to prepare for careers in research, development,
or teaching; and a more general and more liberal
engineering education with the objective of keeping a
variety of career avenues open. The civil, computer,
electrical, and mechanical engineering programs are
accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission
of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD
21202-4012; telephone: (410) 347-7700.
Whatever the career objective of the student, a sound
engineering educational program ensures their graduates
have: (a) an ability to apply knowledge of math, science
and engineering; (b) an ability to design and conduct
experiments/analyze and interpret data; (c) an ability
to design a system, component, or process; (d) an
ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams; (e) an
ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering
problems; (f) an understanding of professional and
ethical responsibility; (g) an ability to communicate
effectively; (h) an ability to evaluate the impact of
technology in a global / economics / environmental /
societal context; (i) an appreciation for lifelong
learning; (j) knowledge of contemporary issues; and (k)
an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern
tools for engineering practice. The course of study will
involve the humanities, social sciences, physical
sciences, mathematics, and engineering sciences. The
student expecting to accept employment in industry may
emphasize the engineering design and engineering science
aspects of his or her program, while the student
preparing for graduate study might emphasize the
mathematics and science aspects. Some engineering
graduates ultimately take on executive and management
responsibilities in industries and firms that are based
upon engineering products and engineering services. Such
students may choose to construct an elective option in
their program that includes business administration and
economics offerings and other courses to strengthen
their communication skills.
Engineering students are strongly encouraged to pursue
the requirements for registration as a Professional
Engineer. The first step in the registration process is
the successful completion of the Fundamentals of
Engineering (FE) Exam. Students are encouraged to take
this exam during their senior year. Additional
requirements for professional licensure subsequent to
graduation include the accumulation of at least four
years of progressive engineering experience and
successful completion of the Professional Engineer
Examination (PE Exam). Students who complete the
Cooperative Education Program or who complete their
Master’s degree only need three years of progressive
engineering experience to be eligible to take the PE
Exam.
Engineering
Technology Program. Engineering technology is
the profession in which knowledge of mathematics and
natural sciences gained by higher education, experience,
and practice is devoted primarily to the implementation
and extension of existing technology for the benefit of
humanity. Engineering technology education focuses
primarily on the applied aspects of science and
engineering aimed at preparing graduates for practice in
that portion of the technological spectrum closest to
the product improvement, manufacturing, construction,
and engineering operational functions.
Engineering technology programs are characterized by
their focus on application and practice and by their
approximately equal mix of theory, practice and
laboratory experience. The civil, electrical, and
mechanical engineering technology programs are
accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of
ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD
21202-4012; telephone: (410) 347-7700.
Graduates of the engineering technology program are
recruited by most major technological companies in the
U.S. They are employed across the technological spectrum
but are best suited to areas that deal with application,
implementation, production, and construction. Technical
sales and customer services fields also account for many
placements.
Engineering technology students are encouraged to pursue
the requirements for registration as a Professional
Engineer. The first step in the registration process is
the successful completion of the Fundamentals of
Engineering (FE) Exam. Graduates are encouraged to take
this exam after completing four years of work experience
under a Professional Engineer (PE). Additional
requirements for professional licensure following
graduation include the accumulation of at least eight
years of progressive experience and successful
completion of the Professional Engineer Exam. Students
who complete the Cooperative Education Program or who
complete their Master’s degree only need seven years of
progressive engineering experience to be eligible to
take the PE Exam.
Construction Management Program. Construction
management provides the education nec
essary
for entry into the construction industry in a variety of
careers in the residential, commercial, and industrial
sectors, as well as infrastructure, and heavy horizontal
construction. Related careers in real estate and land
development, infrastructure development, code
enforcement, and insurance are also career options.
The program is enhanced by a business/management core
that includes courses in statistics, computer
applications, economics, accounting, engineering
economics, business management, business law, finance,
and construction law. The Construction Management
program shares a common lower division (freshman and
sophomore year) curriculum with the Civil Engineering
Technology Program. This provides a two-year opportunity
to determine which program best fits the desired
academic objective.
ACADEMIC PROGRESSION REQUIREMENTS AND DISCONTINUANCE
CONDITIONS FOR:
I. Bachelor’s Degree Programs and Advising in the
College of Engineering
Students may be
admitted to one of the four College of Engineering
departments: Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEGR),
Electrical and Computer Engineering (EEGR and CPGR),
Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science (MEGR),
and Engineering Technology: Civil Engineering
Technology (CIET), Construction Management (CMET),
Electrical Engineering Technology (ELET), Fire
Safety Engineering Technology (FSET), or Mechanical
Engineering Technology (MEET). Students may also be
admitted as SEGR (Systems Engineering), ENGR
(engineering undecided), or ETGR (engineering
technology undecided) majors.
Engineering Undecided (ENGR) and Engineering
Technology Undecided (ETGR) are individualized
advising programs for students who qualify for
admission to an engineering or engineering
technology major but who have not decided which
program they desire. Students may change their
classification to a specific major once they make a
decision. Both ENGR and ETGR students should make
such a decision no later than the completion of
their freshman year.
Students are expected to follow the advice and
recommendations of their faculty advisors and are
expected to know and follow all pre-requisite,
co-requisite, and progression requirements of their
program. Persistent attempts to circumvent that
advice and guidance shall be grounds for
discontinuance.
Students must demonstrate that they are making
satisfactory progress toward completion of their
major degree. They are in violation of this
requirement and subject to discontinuance if they
have two consecutive semesters of unsatisfactory
progress.
II. Freshman Year
Requirements
All new freshman
students are initially advised by a central office
within the College of Engineering. Students are
eligible for transfer to their major department for
further advising once they have achieved the
following:
1. completion of all non-elective courses in their
freshman year curriculum with grades of C or better
2. a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of
2.0 for all courses taken
III. Sophomore
Through Senior Year Requirements
In addition to
the University requirements for continued
enrollment, students must maintain a major
cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all courses in the
departmental curriculum taught by the College.
Failure to meet this requirement for two consecutive
semesters will result in suspension from the College
of Engineering.
IV. Requirements for
Readmission to the College after Discontinuation
An undergraduate
student who has been discontinued for failure to
satisfy the College requirement for continuation
stated above, but who nonetheless meets the
conditions for continued enrollment in the
University, will be ineligible for readmission to
the College until one of the following occurs:
1. An appeal is accepted through the College of
Engineering
2. The student completes an Associate of Science
(AS) degree for engineering or an Associate of
Applied Science (AAS) degree for engineering
technology
3. The student elects to use the Two-Year-Rule
A student who has been suspended by the University
must follow University guidelines for appeal.
Readmission to the College after discontinuation or
suspension is not automatic. An application for
readmission must be made by the student and approved
by the College/department. Students who are
readmitted after discontinuation by the College,
suspension by the University, or under the Two-Year
Rule 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’s discontinuation from the College.
SPECIAL COLLEGE
PROGRAMS
MAPS – Maximizing Academic and
Professional Success Program. The College’s
nationally recognized MAPS program assists students in
developing the personal, academic, and professional
skills needed for success. The program includes peer-led
collegiate coaching and career coaching conducted in
small group sessions, Supplemental Instruction (SI),
tutoring, workshops and study groups. SI and/or tutoring
is available for courses such as calculus, chemistry,
and physics, and for sophomore and junior engineering
and engineering technology courses. Assessment results
indicate that students who regularly participate in MAPS
perform well academically and are much more likely to
graduate from the College. In addition, the MAPS Program
supports the College’s student organizations.
Freshman
Learning Community (FLC). The FLC is home to
approximately 200 College of Engineering freshmen who
live and interact in a single residence hall. During the
fall semester, FLC students take classes together.
Students benefit from having access to collegiate
coaching, SI, and tutoring for a variety of freshman
courses. Other events such as engineering site visits,
special study nights, and social activities are also
available to participants.
Student Leadership Academy. The Leadership
Academy is an optional extracurricular program designed
to develop the leadership potential of College of
Engineering students through a series of weekend
retreats with other students, faculty and industry
partners. Top industry executives help facilitate
specific activities providing some real-world
perspective on being a successful leader in business and
in the community.
Experiential Learning Opportunities. Students are
encouraged to participate in professional work
experiences in support of their academic and career
development through the cooperative education, 49ership,
service-learning, and internship programs offered to
students in the College. The College is working with the
University Career Center to expand experiential learning
offerings to enable more students to graduate with
career related experience. For more information about
experiential learning opportunities, please see the
University Career Center
section of this Catalog.
Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program. Students
may obtain practical work experience while pursuing
their degree by participatin
g
in cooperative education whereby a student alternates
semesters of full-time academic study with semesters of
full-time work experience in industry. Students may also
do back-to-back Co-op experiences if their fall or
spring Co-op session is combined with a summer session.
The work experience is under the direction of the
student's major department and is closely related to his
or her field of study. Students who fulfill all
requirements of the Co-op program receive transcript
notation, can earn up to three credit hours for a
technical elective, and will receive partial credit
toward the professional practice requirement for
registration as a Professional Engineer.
To be eligible for the Co-op program, a student must
have completed at least 30 credit hours at UNC Charlotte
including a number of specified courses with a minimum
GPA of 2.5. A transfer student is expected to have
completed at least 12 hours at UNC Charlotte.
For an undergraduate to be officially designated as a
Co-op student, he or she must participate in at least
three full-time semesters of work experience (three work
sessions and three seminar courses). Consequently,
participation in Co-op Education usually means that
graduation can be delayed up to one year. However,
students who participate in Co-op traditionally are more
highly recruited at higher starting salaries than other
students.
Students interested in learning more about the
advantages and opportunities of participating in this
program should contact the College’s Faculty Associate
for Student Professional Development or the University
Career Center.
Domestic Internships. A number of opportunities
for non-credit internships, called 49erships and Service
Learning 49erships, exist for students at local and
regional employers. Internships for College of
Engineering students are almost always paid positions. A
minimum of 80 work hours need to be completed in no less
than five weeks for one semester to successfully
complete the program. Fall and Spring 49erships are
part-time. Summer 49erships may be full- or part-time.
Full-time students who are in good University standing,
have completed 30 credit hours, and have a 2.0 minimum
cumulative GPA are eligible.
Internships do not offer academic credit, but students
do receive transcript notation. Approval for enrollment
must be arranged before the student begins the work
experience, and students pay a course registration fee.
Students may begin this program during their sophomore
year. Transfer students must complete 12 credit hours at
UNC Charlotte before making application for the program.
Students interested in learning more about the
advantages and opportunities of participating in this
program should contact the College’s Faculty Associate
for Student Professional Development or the University
Career Center.
International Experiences. The College provides
opportunities for overseas study, research, and/or an
industrial experience. In many cases, students who meet
eligibility requirements receive special scholarships
and/or grants to help defray the cost of these programs.
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam Review. The
first step in professional licensure is the FE exam,
which engineering students take their senior year. To
encourage and prepare students to take and successfully
pass this national exam, the College offers free review
opportunities each fall and spring semester. The
materials focus on technical subjects and test-taking
strategies.
CONTINUING ENGINEERING STUDIES
The College of Engineering sponsors various special
educational programs for practicing engineers,
technologists, technicians, and others, in addition to
its regular academic degree programs and courses. These
include conferences, short courses, seminars, and other
continuing education programs designed to aid those
practicing in the technical professions and occupations
to keep abreast of the latest developments in the
rapidly expanding technology. For more information,
contact the Office of Continuing Education, Extension,
and Summer Programs.
