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
Engineering Science — Minor
Technology Commercialization — Minor

Entertainment Engineering and Design — Bachelor of Science

• Engineering Option
• Design Technology Option 
• Entertainment Engineering and Design — Minor

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

Aerospace Studies — Minor            

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

Construction Management — Bachelor of Science

• Engineering Science Option
• Management Option

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

Computer Science — 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

Graduate Degree Programs

Aerospace Engineering — Master of Science
Biomedical Engineering — Master of Science
Civil 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
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 (Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps)
Computer Science
Engineering Science
Entertainment Engineering and Design
Military Science (Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps)
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 minorities in pursuing an education in the disciplines of engineering, computer science, and construction management. The MEP program was founded in 1988. The program provides a wide range of student services including scholarships, internships, and assistance in finding summer and part-time employment in industry. 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). Students interested in joining MEP or wanting additional information about MEP should contact the MEP Office in the College of Engineering. All students are eligible to join MEP.

Admission to the College

Admission Policies

A student admitted to UNLV may immediately be admitted to the College of Engineering. 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

Except for students entering the Entertainment Engineering and Design major, all freshman and transfer students admitted to the college are placed in one of the following pre-major programs in the college.

CEGPRE — Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEMPRE — Construction Management
COEPRE — Computer Engineering
CSCPRE — Computer Science
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. 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 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.

Academic Advising Center

The College of Engineering Academic Advising Center, located in TBE-A-207, assists students in selecting majors that meets their personal and career goals and in pursuing the degree requirements within the College of Engineering. Because student success requires sufficient preparation for all coursework and careful planning of both semester and long-term graduation schedules, the Academic Advising Center helps students develop course schedules, and acts as the main point of contact for processing academic forms including graduation applications and also acts as a referral service to the many resources available to UNLV students.

The Academic Advising Center administers the academic advising services for all college disciplines and accepts 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 and take advantage of the services and assistance provided to ensure accuracy of semester schedules and 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 the their academic advisor for further direction.

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