Apr 20, 2024  
2010-2012 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering


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Introduction

The mission of the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering is to educate the future leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs while discovering, inventing, integrating, and applying new engineering and computer science knowledge in service to society.
The overarching goals of the College of Engineering are to:

  • Enable students to achieve excellence in engineering, informatics, computer science, and construction management.
  • Promote the discovery, invention, integration, dissemination and employment of new engineering, informatics, computer science, and construction management knowledge in service to society;
  • Enable economic growth while increasing the quality of life and maintaining the ecosystem. Our core strategy for undergraduate learning in engineering, computer science, informatics and construction management embraces four distinct objectives:
    • Graduates will be technically competent in core areas within their discipline and related mathematics and sciences.
    • Graduates will be able to work within a team and communicate effectively through oral, graphical, and written modalities.
    • Graduates will be able to synthesize diverse information to develop creative design solutions.
    • Graduates will be able to function effectively in an evolving profession.

We provide students a high-quality, rigorous, and innovative educational experience that enables them to address the needs and concerns of society by considering not only the technical aspects of the problems but also the social, environmental, economic, and political consequences of their decisions. All programs in the college provide the student with a high-quality education by incorporating subject matter from science, mathematics, social sciences, and humanities in addition to the major discipline. Development of communication skills, including written, oral, and graphical, are emphasized. Thus, we provide a rich and fertile environment in which the student acquires knowledge and skills, learns to make informed decisions, expresses creativity, and develops an appreciation for learning as a lifelong process.

We support the development of innovative teaching and learning strategies, appropriate use of technology in classrooms and laboratories, and the fostering of an atmosphere in which an ethnically and socially diverse student body and faculty can flourish.

Design is a fundamental part of the college curricula. Entering students are introduced to concepts of design, which are integrated throughout their programs, culminating in a senior-year, team-oriented, multidisciplinary capstone design project.

Upon graduation, our students are well prepared to pursue a professional career, enter educational paths such as law and medicine or pursue graduate education in engineering, informatics, computer science, or construction management.

Accreditation

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree programs in Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
Bachelor of Science in Construction Management accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE)

Departments, Majors, and Undergraduate Degrees

College of Engineering
Entertainment Engineering and Design — Bachelor of Science

Department of Aerospace Studies

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil Engineering — Bachelor of Science in Engineering

School of Computer Science
Computer Science — Bachelor of Arts
Computer Science — Bachelor of Science

Construction Management Program
Construction Management — Bachelor of Science
Engineering Science Option
Management Option

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering — Bachelor of Science in Engineering
Electrical Engineering — Bachelor of Science in Engineering

School of Informatics
Informatics — Bachelor of Science

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering — Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Department of Military Science

Graduate Degree Programs

Aerospace Engineering — Master of Science
Biomedical Engineering — Master of Science
Civil and Environmental Engineering — Master of Science in Engineering
     Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering
Computer Science — Master of Science
     Doctor of Philosophy
Construction Management — Master of Science
Electrical Engineering — Master of Science in Engineering
     Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering
Informatics — Master of Science
     Doctor of Philosophy
Materials and Nuclear Engineering — Master of Science
Mechanical Engineering — Master of Science in Engineering
     Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering
Transportation — Master of Science

Minors

Aerospace Studies
Computer Science
Engineering Science
Military Science
Technology Commercialization

Multicultural Engineering Program

The Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP), administered by the College of Engineering, assists African American, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, female, and other under-represented groups in pursuing an education in the disciplines of engineering, informatics, computer science, and construction management. The MEP program was founded in 1988. The program provides a wide range of student services including a freshman orientation course, scholarships, tutoring, academic and personal counseling, internships, and assistance in finding summer and part-time employment in industry. The MEP regularly schedules speakers on topics related to personal and professional development. The MEP sponsors local student chapters of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Contact the MEP Office in the College of Engineering for additional information. All students are encouraged and eligible to join MEP.

Admission to the College

Admission Policies

A student admitted to UNLV may immediately be admitted to the College of Engineering. Regular admission requires graduation from an accredited high school with a minimum grade point average (on a 4.00 scale) of 3.00. High school graduates are strongly advised to complete four years of English, four years of mathematics, and three years of science while in high school.

Transfer Policies

Transfer students from other universities or from other UNLV colleges must have a minimum GPA of 2.50 for admission to the College of Engineering. Transfer students with a GPA of less than 2.50 can be admitted on probationary status and must schedule an interview with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs prior to entering the college. The student may be required to agree to an academic performance contract.

College Policies

Pre-major Placement

All freshman and transfer students admitted to the college are automatically placed in one of nine pre-major programs in the college, depending on the student’s preference of a major:

CEEPRE — Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEMPRE — Construction Management
COEPRE — Computer Engineering
CSCPRE — Computer Science
EEPRE — Electrical Engineering
EEDPRE — Entertainment Engineering and Design
INFPRE — Informatics
MEPRE — Mechanical Engineering
ECSPRE — Undecided
EGGPRB — Probation

Students in these pre-programs will be assigned an advisor by the College of Engineering Advising Center. Students in pre-programs are expected to study English, mathematics, science, engineering computer science, construction management, and introduction to design. When a student has completed 45 to 50 credits of prescribed course work in one of the above major areas, such student is eligible to submit an application to the Advising Center for advanced standing in a major field of study. Advanced standing status allows a student to take upper-division course work appropriate to the student’s goals and major.

Entering freshmen demonstrate their readiness to take courses such as ENG 101 (Composition I), MATH 181 (Calculus I) and CHEM 121 (General Chemistry I) on the basis of ACT or SAT test scores and placement exams. All students should be aware that courses such as ENG A and CHEM 103 are not applicable toward degree programs in the college. MATH 126, MATH 127, and MATH 128 are applicable only toward the Bachelor of Science degree in Informatics.

EGG 101 - Introduction to Engineering and Computer Science

EGG 101 and 101L are mandatory courses designed for incoming students that are not calculus (MATH 181) ready and/or undecided about their major within engineering.

The lecture (EGG 101) provides information about all engineering and computer science disciplines, and promotes academic success and career development.

The required lab (EGG 101L) is designed to provide supplemental instruction for students registered in MATH 126 or MATH 127 with the goal of better success in MATH 181.

Credit for Transfer Courses

Transfer students from other Nevada institutions should obtain a copy of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Course Transfer Guide to determine course equivalencies between those institutions and UNLV. Transfer students must be aware that even though the Office of the Registrar & Admissions accepts courses for transfer credit, each department evaluates courses for content and level prior to acceptance toward a degree in any major. Students may be required to furnish documentation on some courses before they can be considered for acceptance.

International Students

International students are required to take placement exams in English as a second language (ESL) and to enroll in the appropriate ENG or ESL courses recommended by the Director of the English Language Center.

Probation

A student may be placed on college probation if:

  1. The cumulative GPA falls below 2.00.
  2. The student is not taking courses toward a college degree program.
  3. The student does not have credit for ENG 101 and MATH 181 and is not progressing toward these course requirements. School of Informatics students are exempt from MATH 181.

Suspension

A student will be placed on college suspension for one semester if on probation for two consecutive semesters.

A suspended student, whether on college or university suspension, may be readmitted to the college based on an interview with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs. The re-admitted student will remain on college probation and may be suspended again unless specific goals have been achieved. Such goals are spelled out in a contract entered into by the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs. All re-admitted students must make an appointment with the associate dean to develop contract requirements. A student on college suspension, while not eligible to take any courses in the college, may take other courses to improve academic standing and demonstrate readiness to continue a degree program.

Advisement

The College of Engineering Advising Center, located in TBE-A-207, is organized to assist students in recognizing and stating their goals, in successfully completing their degree programs, and in embarking on careers in keeping with their goals. Success in a degree program includes adequate preparation, taking the right courses at the right time, and seeking the advice of a mentor/advisor. The Advising Center will assist students in planning their major curriculum, career curriculum, and support activities curriculum.

The Advising Center administers the academic advising services for all majors and accepts student applications for advanced standing status and graduation. All undergraduate students are encouraged to visit the College of Engineering Advising Center and take advantage of the services and assistance provided. Additionally, students should also review the Advising Center’s website for additional information (http://engineering.unlv.edu/advising/).

The Advising Center schedules registration advising appointments each semester beginning approximately two weeks prior to the start of early registration. Students should come to the Advising Center or call 702-895-2522, during that time to make an appointment for registration advising.

During the first week of classes, students should be prepared to submit proof that they have taken and passed all necessary prerequisite courses; and are currently registered in all corequisite courses, otherwise, they face being administratively dropped from courses in which they do not meet the necessary prerequisites and corequisites.

Grades of C (2.00 or higher) are required in all engineering, computer science, construction management, math, and science courses and in ENG 101, ENG 102, and ENG 404.

All components of a major curriculum offered by the college must be completed.

The college may refuse to accept any course taken more than eight years prior to graduation. Students to whom this requirement might apply should consult with the appropriate department chair.

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