Frequently Asked CE Curricular and Advising Questions

It is typically the student that is "off-schedule" that may need a modification in our standard curriculum (see question 2). You may request a modification in the curriculum. You should download and complete the Civil Engineering Curriculum Modification Request form. On the form you should clearly describe why you need a modification and state the change in curriculum requested. The form needs to be approved by your academic advisor, by the assistant chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Teresa Culver), and then by the Undergraduate Dean (Paxton Marshall). If approved, a copy of the signed form will be kept with your academic records for documentation of the modification. NOTE: we may not be able to approve all requests. (June 2005)

2) What curriculum do I follow if I am a 5th year student?

You may always graduate under the same curriculum as your 4-year colleagues. That is if you had entered anticipating graduating in 2007, but do not graduate until 2008, you may still follow the curriculum for the Class of 2007. However, students that have been away for a semester or more (possibly due to illness, academic suspension, co-op program, international study, etc.) may find that the course offerings and/or the curriculum have changed during their absences. If it is no longer possible to complete the curriculum that you started on, you may request appropriate modification in your program (see question 1). Or if you simply would prefer to graduate using the newer curriculum, you may also formally request to do so using a Civil Engineering Curriculum Modification Request form (see question 1). (June 2005)

3)How does the Engineering in Context program (ENGR302/401/402) or the EcoMod project (ENGR495/ENG499) fit into the civil engineering curriculum?

A student in the Engineering-in-Context program or the EcoMod project may not have to take CE490 or may be able to count three-hours as a CE4xx elective. (See the following question and answer.) A student will not be given permission to replace both CE490 AND a CE4xx with these alternative experiences. Some students have chosen to take CE490 and one or both of these alternative experiences. Any hours from ENGR401/402 or EcoMOD project not given approval for substitution as CE courses can always be used as Engineering elective hours or unrestricted elective hours. (April 2007)

4) Are there any suitable alternatives to the CE490 capstone design experience?

All civil engineering students must have a for-credit capstone design experience. As a capstone design course, CE490 reinforces a range of civil engineering and professional practice skills applied to land development, typically for a commercial site. Civil Engineering graduates consistently rate CE490 as one of the most useful courses taken here, and the majority of civil students will use CE490 as their capstone experience.

With approval, a student may substitute another course for CE490, but the following key factors must be demonstrated:

i) The focus of the course must be a major design experience, providing the civil engineering student significant design experience in at least one area of civil engineering.

ii) The design experience must be group-based.

iii) Supervision from an appropriately trained engineer must be provided (i.e. a computer scientist should not supervise a structural engineering project).

iv) You must gain written approval for the replacement course, using the Civil and Environmental Engineering department's curriculum modification form (see question 1 above) BEFORE THE START OF CE490. To avoid disruption of the CE490 group experience, students will not be granted permission to drop CE490 for another substitute class after the semester has begun. (April 2007)

5) If I received a D in a required course, do I need to repeat the class?

A "D" grade is considered a passing score, albeit indicating some significant weaknesses. The department of Civil and Environmental Engineering does not have any special requirements related to D-level course work. Thus you may take subsequent courses after receiving a D in a prerequisite course. However, as per school policy, you may also choose to repeat the class. If so the two grades for the course will be averaged in your GPA. Overall, your cumulative GPA must be at least a 2.0 to remain in good academic standing and to graduate. (June 2005)

6) As an undergraduate may I take a CE6xx class and if so how does it fit into the civil engineering curriculum?

As per school policy, you must be a fourth year student with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2. If so you may ask permission of the instructor to take a 6xx level course. The CE6xx course may be applied to your undergraduate degree as civil engineering elective (please complete the Civil Engineering Curriculum Modification Request form to document this change in your curriculum) or as an unrestricted elective. If this is an "extra" course and you do not need the credits for any undergraduate requirement, then you may later apply these credits towards a graduate degree. Note, however, you generally cannot apply the credits towards both your bachelor's and a graduate degree. (June 2005)