Mar 19, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

College of Engineering



Mission

The mission of the College of Engineering at the University of Delaware is to cultivate both learning and the advancement of knowledge in the engineering sciences, and the computer and information sciences. To this end, we provide all of our students with outstanding undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs so that they will know how to reason critically and independently, yet cooperate productively. Our graduates should understand our culture, communicate clearly in writing and speech, and develop into informed citizens and leaders. The College encourages a strong tradition of applying its distinguished scholarship, research, and educational resources to serve the local, state, and national communities through collaborative efforts with individuals, industry, and government. The College of Engineering at the University of Delaware recognizes the increasing diversity of its students and faculty and, therefore, strives to create an atmosphere in which all people feel welcome to learn and participate in the free exchange of ideas.

Degrees

The College of Engineering offers baccalaureate degrees in biomedical, chemical, civil, environmental, electrical, computer, and mechanical engineering. We also offer baccalaureate degrees in computer science and information systems.

The College offers minors in aerospace military leadership; biochemical engineering; bioelectrical engineering; bioinformatics; biomechanical engineering; civil engineering; cybersecurity; electrical and computer engineering; computer science; environmental engineering; environmental sustainability; integrated design; materials science and engineering; nanoscale materials; sustainable energy technology; and sustainable infrastructure.

The College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences also offer a joint five-year program which leads to a bachelor’s degree in one of the engineering majors as well as a bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences (see Arts and Sciences-Engineering Double Degree ).

4+1 Degrees

The College of Engineering offers several Bachelor/Master Degree programs that allow well-qualified students to earn a Bachelor and Master degree in an engineering field. Current 4+1 Degree Programs exist in Chemical Engineering/Particle Technology, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The Materials Science and Engineering (MSEG) department offers a special 4+1 BS/MMSE program for highly-qualified undergraduate students from the University of Delaware. This program allows the student to earn a bachelor’s degree from one of several partnering departments (including Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering, and Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences) and the Master’s of Materials Science and Engineering (MMSE) degree in five years of full-time study at the University of Delaware.

Additionally, the College of Engineering and the Lerner College of Business and Economics offer a joint five-year program that leads to a baccalaureate degree in an engineering major and a Master of Business Administration degree. Inquiries should be made to the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Advisement at (302) 831-8659 during the first semester of the freshman year.

Air Force ROTC

The University’s Air Force ROTC  program is also administered through the College of Engineering.

Common Fall Semester

Incoming Freshmen majoring in an engineering field have the choice of being admitted directly into one of our seven engineering majors or of entering the first fall semester as Engineering Undecided (EGU). Students who choose the EGU option begin their studies in the fall by taking a special set of courses called the Common Fall Semester. Successful completion of the Common Fall Semester permits students to finish any engineering major in the normal four years, provided that they are on track with the calculus sequence for the chosen major. The Introduction to Engineering (EGGG 101) course taught in the fall semester lays out the nature of each engineering discipline so that students may make an informed choice of major during the latter part of the semester as they begin registration for the spring. Biomedical Engineering students take BMEG 101 - Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (2cr.) . Both courses count as First Year Experience courses, the taking of which is a graduation requirement for all University students.

Resources to Insure Successful Engineers (RISE)

In addition to academic programs, the College of Engineering also maintains the Resources to Insure Successful Engineers (RISE) Program. RISE provides counseling, social support, and financial assistance to students from groups who are underrepresented in engineering, as well as others. The program begins with a pre-freshman academic experience and continues to graduation. Interested individuals should contact the RISE Academic Program Manager at (302) 831-6315.

Advisement

Undergraduate student advisement begins during summer New Student Orientation and continues through graduation. All College of Engineering students are assigned faculty advisors. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with them before course registration periods and when adding or dropping courses. Students are also encouraged to meet with their faculty advisors at other times to learn more about undergraduate academic options, including research and internship opportunities; engineering and computer and information sciences professions; and graduate school opportunities.

The College Undergraduate Advisement Office provides advisement to students who experience academic difficulties or who require additional guidance. The Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Services, in conjunction with academic support staff in each department, coordinates a preliminary degree checkout for each College of Engineering student early in his or her senior year to help identify any impediments to graduation.

Curriculum Organization

Engineering

The undergraduate curriculum in each engineering major consists of a core of required courses, a group of technical elective courses, and a group of breadth requirement courses. The core group includes courses in mathematics, chemistry, physics, computer science, and engineering. The technical elective courses allow students to investigate the sciences in more depth and to develop a concentration within their engineering discipline. Most of the breadth requirement courses are taken from the humanities and social sciences to provide a well-rounded education. Additional academic requirements specified by individual engineering departments are given in the appropriate departmental sections.

Computer and Information Sciences

The undergraduate curriculum in each computer science major consists of a core of major requirements, breadth requirements, and electives. The core courses consist of computer science, math and science courses, as well as courses in business and information systems for the Information Systems major. The Computer Science major also consists of a 12-credit concentration. Most of the breadth requirement and elective courses are taken from the humanities and social sciences to provide a well-rounded education.

University and College Breadth Requirement Information

Background

A college education requires some breadth of knowledge across diverse fields and perspectives. Therefore, the University requires all students in each College to take a minimum of 12 credits in courses designated as University Breadth Requirements. These courses must be chosen from the University Breadth Requirement list. If a student changes his/her major to one that resides in a different college, these 12 credits are guaranteed to count toward the University Breadth Requirements in the new college.

The College of Engineering requires students to take between 9 and 25 additional breadth credits depending on their major. These credits may be satisfied by taking courses on the University Breadth Requirements list or courses on the College of Engineering Breadth Requirements list as specified by major. The College of Engineering Breadth Requirement list contains foreign language courses, humanities courses, social science courses, and Career and Professional Preparation courses the College deems valuable to a broad education.

Breadth Requirement Resources:

Dean’s Scholar Program

The Dean’s Scholar Program exists to serve the needs of students whose clearly defined educational goals cannot be effectively achieved by pursuing the standard curricula for all existing majors, minors, and interdepartmental majors sponsored by the University. Driven by an overarching passion or curiosity that transcends typical disciplinary bounds and curricula, a Dean’s Scholar’s intellectual interests may lead to broad interdisciplinary explorations of an issue or to more intense, in-depth studies in a single field at a level akin to graduate work. However, it is important to note that because engineering degrees are professionally accredited, it is difficult for a Dean’s Scholar to complete an engineering degree within four years. In consultation with faculty advisors and the Assistant Dean, Dean’s Scholars design an imaginative and rigorous individual plan of study to meet the total credit hours required for graduation. Contact the Assistant Dean or go to:

www.udel.edu/deansscholar for more information.

Academic Standards

In order to graduate, College of Engineering students must satisfy the general University requirements for a baccalaureate degree as well as all the requirements of their departmental major.

The College of Engineering’s departments have established minimum standards for certain courses and for progression to the sophomore or junior level for each of their majors. These standards are given in the appropriate departmental sections.

Additionally, students pursuing any engineering major (not computer science or information systems) must have at least a 2.0 grade point average in all engineering, mathematics, and science courses used to fulfill graduation requirements. If a course is repeated, only the last grade will be used to compute the engineering grade point average; however, all grades are used to compute the University’s cumulative grade point index. Credit from courses taken pass/fail cannot be used to complete any engineering degree requirement, unless the course is only offered pass/fail in the engineering curriculum.

Changing Major or Transferring into the College of Engineering

The College of Engineering curricula are very demanding. Therefore, applicants should have a good record in mathematics and science. Students who wish to change their major or transfer into the College of Engineering should contact office of the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Services at (302) 831-8659 for advisement on the process.

All majors in the College have restricted access due to capacity. Therefore, current UD students who wish to change into a major within the College of Engineering should first see the following web site for information about Restricted Majors and the request for change of major process: http://www1.udel.edu/registrar/students/restmajorsinfo.html#EG. Students who meet the change of major criteria may request a change of major by completing the “Change Major/Minor/Concentration” web form available from their UDSIS Student Center page.

Students from outside the University of Delaware who wish to transfer into a major in the College of Engineering must make a formal application through the University Admissions Office. The Admissions Office maintains a list of minimum academic criteria for students wishing to transfer.

Departments and Programs

Department of Biomedical Engineering

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Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

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Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

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Department of Computer and Information Sciences

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Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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Department of Materials Science and Engineering

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Department of Mechanical Engineering

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Air Force ROTC

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