Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering

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Introduction

The College of Engineering offers majors in several engineering disciplines, computer science, and construction management as well as minors in engineering disciplines, technology commercialization, computer science and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) related fields.

Engineering is a discipline that has had a direct and vital impact on people’s lives throughout history. In ancient times, mankind practiced the art of engineering by creating fundamental inventions such as stone tools, the lever, and the wheel. In modern times, engineers apply innovative methods using scientific and mathematical principles to the design, manufacture, and control of structures, machines, processes, and systems. Today engineers are responsible for creations such as skyscrapers, dams, water treatment plants, automobiles, airplanes, electric power, computers, electronic communication systems, the internet and medical diagnostic tools. An engineering education provides opportunities for solving problems of great social significance and for increasing humankind’s quality of life.

Since the development of the electronic computer in the 1940s, the computer science field has seen spectacular growth. Electronic computers now range from single-chip microcomputers in any number of electrical appliances, such as refrigerators and thermostats, to supercomputers which can perform thousands of trillions of operations per second. Computer Science is the study of the design of computer software and hardware as it relates to the theory of computation, algorithms and data structures, programming methodology and languages, operating systems, and computer elements and architecture. Its applications include computer system architecture, computer networks, distributed computer systems, programming languages and software systems, information and data management, artificial intelligence, computer science theory, evolutionary algorithms, and computer vision and graphics.

Construction Management is a discipline and management system specifically created to promote the successful execution of construction projects for clients. A construction manager or management team coordinates the different processes, budgets and timetables necessary to complete a major construction project. In particular, a construction manager or management team is responsible for the overall planning, coordination and control of a construction project from inception to completion while meeting a client’s requirements. This includes ensuring the construction of functionally and financially viable project that will be completed on time within authorized cost and to the required quality standards.

The mission of the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering is to serve society and the region as a center of higher learning and research by providing technology, computer science, and engineering education to technologists and engineers, some of whom will become future leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators. The College’s goals are:

• To provide quality undergraduate education through nationally-accredited programs in computer science,
   civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, entertainment engineering and design,
   mechanical engineering, and construction management. Graduates of our undergraduate programs will have the
   1. Appropriate technical knowledge and skills to be technically competent in their disciplines
   2. Appropriate interpersonal skills to function professionally in their disciplines
   3. Knowledge and skills to be a responsible citizen
• To provide competitive graduate and professional education in computer science, civil and environmental engineering,
   electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and construction management.
• To create knowledge through research and to disseminate the results of research through publication.
• To engage in private and public service through outreach, creation, and dissemination of knowledge, or to
   function as a repository of knowledge.

Accreditation

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, www.nwccu.org 
Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree programs in Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.
Bachelor of Science in Construction Management accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), http://www.acce-hq.org/

Departments, Majors, Minors and Undergraduate Degrees

College of Engineering

Entertainment Engineering & Design — Bachelor of Science
Entertainment Technology & Design — Bachelor of Science
Engineering Science — Minor
Entertainment Engineering and Design — Minor
Solar & Renewable Energy — Minor
Technology Commercialization — Minor
Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) — Minor

Certificate
Technology Commercialization
Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)           

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

Construction Management — Bachelor of Science

Department of Computer Science

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

Computer Science — Minor
Information Technology — Minor

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

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

Department of Military Science (Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps)
Military Science — Minor

Department of Aerospace Studies (Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) Aerospace Studies — Minor 

Graduate Degree Programs

For information on graduate degrees and programs refer to the Graduate Catalog.

Multicultural Engineering Program

The mission of UNLV’s Multicultural Program (MP) is to recruit minority and underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students into the Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) and healthcare related disciplines; foster a positive and caring learning atmosphere that supports classroom instruction and professional development; increase retention and graduation rates; and improve overall student success. The MP office provides a wide range of student support services and assistance in finding scholarships, internships, summer and part-time jobs, as well as, post graduate full-time employment within the STEM and Health Science industries.
The original MP began in 1989, as the Minority Engineering Program in response to the under-representation of American-Indians, African Americans, Latino and Hispanic Americans, and women in engineering, computer science, informatics, and construction management professions. As of 2013 we have expanded from the College of Engineering and now include the entire STEM and health science related disciplines.

Admission to the College

Admission Policies

All programs in the College of Engineering require elevated levels of mathematics preparedness. A student admitted to UNLV must meet one of the following requirements for admission to the College of Engineering:

• SAT Mathematics Score of at least 520 (pre-March 2016) or 550 (after March 2016), or
• ACT Mathematics Score of 23 or higher, or
• Grade of C or better in MATH 096, or
• Placement into MATH 126 (Precalculus) or above by the UNLV Department of Mathematical Sciences.

High school graduates are strongly advised to complete four years of English, four years of high school mathematics including AP Calculus, three years of high school science including chemistry, physics and one AP science course while in high school.

Transfer Policies

Transfer students from other universities or from other UNLV colleges must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 for admission to the College of Engineering. Transfer students with a GPA of less than 2.5 can be admitted on probationary status and must schedule an interview with the Engineering Academic Advising Center prior to entering the college. The student may be required to agree to an academic performance contract.

College Policies

Pre-major Placement

CEGPRE — Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEMPRE — Construction Management
COEPRE — Computer Engineering
CSCPRE — Computer Science
EEDPRE — Entertainment Engineering and Design
EEGPRE — Electrical Engineering
MEGPRE — Mechanical Engineering
ECSPRE — Undecided
EGGPRB — Probation

Students in these pre-programs will be assigned an advisor by the College of Engineering Academic Advising Center. Students in these pre-programs are expected to complete courses in their majors. After a student has completed pre-engineering courses prescribed by their chosen major, the student is eligible to submit an application to the Academic Advising Center for advanced standing in their major. Advanced standing status allows a student to take upper-division courses in the student’s major.

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. Students may also visit the transfer student information page found linked from the Admissions webpage. Students can access the transfer course equivalency tables, learn about admission requirements and FAQ’s about transferring to 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 as an equivalent course.

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 or is not progressing toward these course requirements.

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 approval of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs. The re-admitted student will remain on college probation and may be suspended again unless specific goals that are articulated  in a contract entered into by the student and the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs have been achieved. All re-admitted students must make an appointment with the College of Engineering Academic Advising Center 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 within the college. Please see the University policy regarding suspension rules.

Repeat Limit Policy

The Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering has a policy on the maximum number of attempts that are allowed to successfully complete a course in the undergraduate curriculum. Students are allowed a maximum of three attempts in an engineering, computer science or construction management course. Under this policy, the attempts include all attempts that result in a course grade of “A-F”, “AD”, “S/U”, “I” or “W”. The only exceptions to the repeat rule could include withdrawals for medical or military duties.

If a student is unsuccessful at the third attempt at a College of Engineering course, the student must submit a petition and plan of success to the Advising Center requesting additional attempts to be granted. This petition will be reviewed by the Academic Advisor, Department Chair and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs for a final decision.

Please note that in this process, a student is required to submit a clear and well written statement demonstrating a clear understanding of why previous attempts have not been successful and why an additional attempt is warranted. The statement must also outline what will be changed to make sure that the courses will be completed successfully.

If the request is not submitted or the request denied, you will be dropped from your engineering, computer science or construction management courses.

Academic Advising Center

It is the goal of the College of Engineering Academic Advising Center to assist each student in navigating the requirements of their degree while at UNLV. The advising center staff is committed to providing academic assistance to students as they fulfill their educational goals and achieve academic success, thereby enabling our graduates to enter into their chosen field within the engineering, construction management and computer science professions.

The Academic Advising Center administers the academic advising services for all college disciplines and facilitates transfer course evaluations, student applications for advanced standing status and graduation initiation. All undergraduate students are encouraged to visit the College of Engineering Academic Advising Center located in TBE A-207 and take advantage of the services and assistance provided to ensure accuracy of semester schedules, to obtain referrals to campus resources and student support services to help with academic and personal goals, and ensure a timely graduation. Additionally, students should also review the Academic Advising Center’s website for additional information (http://engineering.unlv.edu/advising/).

The Academic Advising Center schedules general advising and registration specific advising appointments each semester on a first-come, first-serve basis, however weekly open advising is also available for short questions. Students should come to the Academic Advising Center or call 702-895-2522, to make an appointment for advising with the Advisor assigned to their major. 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. 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 their academic advisor for further direction.

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