The graduation requirements for each of the engineering degrees are presented in the form of four-year programs of study. These four-year schedules are highly recommended, but rarely followed without deviation. Some students can proceed more rapidly; many must proceed more slowly and take nine or more semesters to complete the degree. Flexibility in course selection is also present though elective categories within curricula and through approved substitutions.
All engineering curricula are designed to meet all criteria for accreditation by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET). Among other criteria, ABET requires that students complete:
The curricular descriptions below do not address how these requirements are satisfied; students seldom need to be concerned with these details. However, if deviations from a curriculum are requested, they must not violate any of the accreditation requirements.
Circumstances deemed acceptable for deviating from the outlined engineering curricula are included in each departmental description. The choice of courses to fulfill elective credit requirements, which vary from 32 to 73 in the different curricula, provides students with considerable flexibility in their programs. In addition, some departments permit the substitution of elective courses for required ones and also offer outstanding undergraduate students the opportunity to enroll in graduate courses. These options aid the student in tailoring a course of study to meet personal goals more closely.
There are three general types of elective courses: technical electives, liberal studies and free electives.
Technical electives are limited to courses in engineering and closely related fields.
Liberal studies electives are those courses that are classified as either humanities, literature, or social studies (designated by H, L, S, or Z in the breadth column of the Timetable) or as foreign language.
Free electives are courses completely free of any restrictions or requirements other than the course prerequisites.
Other specific elective requirements are established and described in department curricula.
To assist the student in gaining a better understanding of individuals and societies, and to reduce problems of transferring from one curriculum to another, most engineering curricula require adherence to the Liberal Studies Guidelines. Some require slight variations from those guidelines.
Students who have high grade point averages may satisfy some elective credits by independent study of subjects or problems suitable for analytical investigative work. The student must identify a professor who is willing to supervise study of interest to the student. Together they must agree upon the work to be done, the credits earned (usually 1-3), and the course number (199, 399, 599, or 699) for which the student is to enroll before the beginning of a semester. Weekly meetings with the professor to discuss questions and report progress are customary.