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2012-2013 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Requirements for a Major in Engineering

To complete the requirements for graduation with a B.S.E. degree, the following course requirements, for a minimum of 138-142 credit hours depending on the engineering program, must be met: general education and basic skills; engineering foundations courses; cooperative engineering education, engineering design Capstone; and engineering electives. The program requirements are listed with the information on the individual program. A minimum of 24 credit hours in engineering courses must be completed at Grand Valley State University at the 300 level or above. These courses must include EGR 485 and EGR 486.

General Education and Basic Skills

As identified in the General Academic Regulations section of the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog, with the exception that the general education program for engineering students includes the following courses:

Engineering Foundation

The following courses (engineering, science, mathematics, and communications) prepare students for further work in engineering. Students must complete the following courses with a minimum grade of C (2.0) with not more than one repeat in each course:

Admission to Major Standing

Admission to major standing in the B.S.E. program requires a secondary application. Applicants must meet at least the following:

  • a GPA of 2.7 or above in the engineering foundation courses
  • completion of each course in the engineering foundation with a grade of C (2.0) or above with not more than one repeat, and
  • completion of preparation for placement in cooperative engineering education, EGR 289.
  • Transfer students must also complete at least eight credit hours in engineering courses taken at Grand Valley State University before they can be admitted to major standing.

Completion of Cooperative Engineering Education

The cooperative education program expected of most students begins with EGR 289 - Engineering Co-op Preparation - a course designed to prepare students to enter the culture of professional work as an engineer. This is followed by a minimum of 1,500 hours of co-op work, comprised of three semester-long work experiences, preferably with the same host company/organization. Students must enroll in the courses EGR 290, EGR 390, and EGR 490 during the co-op work semesters. This is the expected path to be followed by all students and, after secondary admission, is the only path that does not require prior approval from the faculty.

Following are the alternative options for students to satisfy the School of Engineering's program requirements for co-operative education, based on the need or desire of the student to seek an alternative option to the expected path described above. The options described below will only be considered after the student submits a petition to the faculty detailing his/her proposed study plan. Students who pursue these alternative options without prior faculty approval will not meet the requirements for graduation and must complete the three-semester expected path for co-operative education described above.

Option 1 - Study Abroad

The student must complete two semesters of co-op work (typically EGR 290 and EGR 390) and 1 study abroad semester approved and supervised by the Padnos International Center.

In this case one of the three co-op semesters will be replaced by a study abroad experience. The student will be expected to take at least one engineering course during the study abroad semester - preferably a course that is not available at GVSU. In addition, courses that will enhance cross-cultural understanding will be strongly encouraged. The student will also be required to keep a journal during this experience and to orally present a summary of their experience to the faculty and students of the School of Engineering during the next academic semester.

Option 2 - Undergraduate Research

The student must complete two semesters of co-op work (typically EGR 290 and EGR 390) and 1 undergraduate research experience at a college or university other than GVSU as part of a recognized, structured research program (e.g. the NSF REU program).

In this case one of the three co-op semesters will be replaced by an undergraduate research experience. The student selecting this option will be expected to work closely with a research mentor in a research environment. The student will also be required to keep a journal during this experience and to orally present a summary of their experience to the faculty and the students of the School of Engineering during the next academic semester.

Option 3 - Technical Elective

The student must complete two semesters of co-op work (typically EGR 290 and EGR 390) and one (1) 300 level, or above, engineering technical elective course in the student's major that is in addition to existing program requirements for technical electives.

Option 4 - Engineering Minor/Dual Major

The student must complete two semesters of co-op (typically EGR 290 and EGR 390) and successfully complete either a) 1 or more engineering minors at GVSU or b) 2 or more engineering majors at GVSU. Both options (a) and (b) must include the completion of at least 3 additional courses in the program than are needed for the completion of any one major.

Senior Engineering Design Capstone

Completion of the required senior design project course sequence with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in each course:

Engineering Program

In addition to the required courses, a student must select engineering electives in his/her chosen program to form a coherent plan of study. The approval of the students academic advisor is required to ensure the course choices meet the requirements of the program. No more than two courses with a grade of less than C (2.0) may be counted toward the major.

A sample curriculum for the foundations of engineering course sequence that is completed during the freshman and sophomore years is presented below. A sample curriculum for the junior and senior years in each program is presented in the section addressing that program.

Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Engineering

The following course sequence assumes an appropriate mathematics background for the entering student.

First Semester: Fall

Second Semester: Winter

Third Semester: Fall

Fourth Semester: Winter

(Admission to major standing in the B.S.E. program at this time.)

Engineering Program Description

Click here for the program description.


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