The William States Lee College of Engineering

The William States Lee College of Engineering offers baccalaureate degree programs in engineering, engineering technology, and computer science. On the graduate level, the College offers programs leading to master's degrees in engineering and computer science, the Ph.D. in electrical engineering and mechanical engineering, and, in cooperation with North Carolina State University, a program leading to the Ph.D. degree in engineering and computer science. (For more information regarding graduate programs in engineering, see the Graduate Section of this Catalog.)

The College comprises the Departments of Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science, Engineering Technology, and Computer Science. At the time this catalog went to press, many of the curricula were undergoing substantial revisions. Entering students should contact the appropriate department regarding specific details of the revisions.

The engineering programs offer professional engineering education to prepare students for careers as professional engineers and researchers. The engineering technology programs are designed to provide graduates of twoyear associate degree engineering technology programs an opportunity to continue their education at the baccalaureate level and to pursue careers as engineering technologists. The computer science program prepares students for careers in information science, computer engineering, and general computer science.

Engineering Programs. The baccalaureate programs in engineering offer a professional engineering education that can be used as the foundation for several different career objectives: for 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.

Whatever the career objective of the student, a sound engineering educational program must include substantial content in: (1) the humanities and social sciences, (2) the physical sciences, (3) mathematics, and (4) the engineering sciences. Also, (5) there must be an indepth experience in creative engineering design. 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 which are based upon engineering products and engineering services. Such students may choose to construct an elective option in their program which includes business administration and economics offerings, and other courses to strengthen their communication skills.

The engineering curricula prescribed by the faculty of UNC Charlotte give thorough attention to the five essential components of a sound program of study. Those elements which are considered basic to every program of study are specified in each curriculum outline and result in freshman requirements which are essentially the same for all engineering students. The common basic core serves as the educational foundation for the professional engineering courses later in the program and provides solid preparation for the first step in the professional engineering registration process.

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 Exam (also known as the EIT--Engineer in Training--Exam). Students are encouraged to take this exam during their last semester prior to graduation. Additional requirements subsequent to graduation include the accumulation of at least four years of progressive engineering experience and successful completion of the Principles and Practice Exam.

Engineering Technology Program. Engineering technology is the profession in which a 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, and engineering operational functions.

Engineering technology programs are characterized by their focus on application and practice, and by their approximately 50/50 mix of theory and laboratory experience.

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 better suited to areas that deal with application, implementation, and production, as opposed to the conceptual design and research functions. The technical sales and customer services fields also account for many placements.

Computer Science Program. The Computer Science Department offers a wide variety of programs to match the diverse requirements of employers. The computer science major may pursue either a bachelor of science or a bachelor of arts degree.

The bachelor of science program offers the student two very different concentrations: computer science or computer engineering. The computer science option is centered on software development and has a substantial requirement in mathematics and physics. Theoretically based, this program prepares students to continue their education in master's or doctoral programs, or to enter the business world as a computer scientist. The computer engineering option prepares the graduate to enter the computer industry either as a computer hardware design engineer or as a computer scientist with a heavy dose of mathematics, the physical sciences, and electrical engineering.

The bachelor of arts options are in computer science and information science. As in the bachelor of science program, the computer science concentration prepares the student to enter the business world as a computer scientist. The emphasis in this program is less theoretical and mathematical, and more on the applied side. The information science option provides the student with the opportunity to emphasize the information processing aspects of computer science. This concentration emphasizes the interface between the human element and the computer as well as the processing of information. This emphasis also includes a series of courses from the Belk College of Business Administration.

The curriculum provides flexibility for the student to tailor a program to meet her or his needs and objectives. For the computer science option in the bachelor of science or bachelor of arts degrees, the student must select a minimum of 15 hours outside of computer science in which to study. This "minor-like" program allows the student to select from the full spectrum of University programs and majors, including the University Honors Program.