Dwight Look College of Engineering
Entrance and Enrollment Requirements
The minimum requirements for entrance to the University are listed in the earlier pages of this catalog. Because of the importance of science and mathematics to engineering, high school students who aspire to a career in engineering are encouraged to take as many of these courses as possible. In particular, high school preparation should include four years of mathematics and four years of science emphasizing algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, chemistry, physics and biology.
A critical step in an engineering education is proper individual placement in the first courses undertaken. The College strongly recommends the following guidelines to students participating in the math advanced placement examinations in high school: 1) If a score of 3 is made on the BC exam or 4 is made on the AB exam, we recommend the student not accept AP credit and enroll in MATH 151; 2) If a score of 4 is made on BC or 5 is made on the AB, we recommend that the student accept advanced placement credit for MATH 151 and enroll in MATH 152. New Student Conferences and associated Credit by Examination tests provide information to advisors so that students are started at a level which may differ from the printed curriculum but which is appropriate to their aptitudes and background. All freshmen admitted into engineering take mathematics placement tests during the New Student Conferences and should review algebra, trigonometry and geometry prior to their conference. Because of the importance of computers to engineers, the Look College of Engineering encourages incoming freshmen to purchase a personal computer.
Students who meet the University and college entrance requirements enter the Look College of Engineering with a lower-level classification. Enrollment in sophomore-, junior- and senior-level engineering courses will be restricted to those students who have been moved from that lower level to a major degree sequence within the Look College of Engineering. As noted below, students enrolled in engineering technology will take a limited number of sophomore-level engineering technology courses while in the lower-level classification. Admission to a major degree sequence may be limited by the availability of instructional resources. To be considered for admission to a major degree sequence a student must be in good academic standing and have received credit for specific courses referred to as the Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) courses.
Students seeking major degree sequence admission to Computer Science must have credit for CPSC 111 and 211, ENGL 104, MATH 151 and 152, and 8 hours of basic science or equivalent. Students seeking admission to a major degree sequence in Engineering Technology (ET), Electronics or Telecommunications ET option, must have credit for CHEM 107; CPSC 206; ENGL 104; ENTC 210, 219 and 250; MATH 151 and 152; and PHYS 208 and 218. Students seeking admission to a major degree sequence in Engineering Technology, Manufacturing and Mechanical ET option, must have credit for CHEM 107; CPSC 206; ENDG 105; ENGL 104; ENTC 181, ENTC 206 or 207; MATH 151 and 152; and PHYS 218. Students seeking admission to a major degree sequence in industrial distribution must have credit for CHEM 107, ENGL 104, IDIS 240, MATH 141 and 151, and PHYS 201. All other students seeking admission to a major degree sequence in engineering must have credit for CHEM 107, ENGL 104, ENGR 111 and 112, MATH 151 and 152, and PHYS 218 and 208 or equivalent.
For most programs acceptance into the upper division of a degree sequence depends on (1) completing all CBK courses with a grade of C or better; (2) achieving the program's desired grade average for the CBK courses; and (3) achieving the program's desired cumulative grade point average for courses taken at Texas A&M University.
Students will be allowed to remain as a lower-level student up to 60 hours (provided they are in good standing and making progress). At the 60-hour limit, students may be blocked from further registration in that department if the CBK and overall GPR requirements for upper division have not been achieved. Transfer students will be handled on an individual basis.
Transfer students, regardless of transfer hours, also are admitted with a lower-level classification and must meet the same standards and criteria for admission to a major degree sequence as shown above. For most majors, grades of C or better are required in the CBK courses. For complete details concerning policies for repeating courses and admission to a major degree sequence in the Look College of Engineering, students should contact the Engineering Academic Programs Office or the departmental advisor in their major department.
Although students are required to declare an intended major, many students enter engineering without a firm choice of major. As an aid to making a decision, the freshman courses ENGR 111 and 112, Foundations of Engineering, introduce students to engineering problems from the various disciplines. In addition, students may participate in career counseling sessions and attend presentations, career fairs and other activities sponsored by student engineering professional societies. Departmental advisors at New Student Conferences will help students select courses to fit their objectives.