2020-2021 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering and Computing
Administration
Dean: Plotkowski
Associate Dean: Born
Assistant Dean: Thelenwood
Website
Mission
The mission of the Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering and Computing is to prepare undergraduate and graduate students in engineering, computing, and occupational safety and health to become accomplished professionals; to contribute to our professions through active scholarship in all of its forms; and to support the university and society with expertise, leadership, and service.
To achieve our mission, we
- prepare students to compete in today's global economy by emphasizing experiential learning in a contemporary technical environment;
- prepare students for the future by emphasizing sound principles;
- emphasize a strong technical background enhanced by effective communication skills;
- provide working professionals with the opportunity for continuous professional development;
- imbue students with a strong sense of "the public good" and their own professional responsibility to the public good; and
- strive to be an example and an inspiration to develop competence, courage, and compassion with unquestioned integrity.
The Padnos Legacy
Grand Valley State University has named the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing in honor of Seymour and Esther Padnos to recognize their commitment to creating an environment where students and faculty can reach their full potential in the fields of engineering, computing, and occupational safety and health. It is the aim of the university to inspire these future professionals to live up to the personal and professional ideals of the Padnos family.
Program Information
The college offers undergraduate programs in biomedical engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, interdisciplinary engineering, mechanical engineering, product design and manufacturing engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, information systems, information technology, and occupational safety and health management. Master's degree programs are offered in health informatics and bioinformatics, data science and analytics, cybersecurity, computer information systems, biomedical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, product design and manufacturing engineering, manufacturing operations, and mechanical engineering.
The college also provides courses in support of nonengineering and computing students through minor programs in biomedical engineering, computer science, computer engineering, data science, engineering science, health care information systems, information security systems, information systems, information technology, and occupational safety and health management, as well as general education and service course offerings.
Specific information on admission, curriculum, and graduation requirements can be found in each program section.
Experiential Learning
The Padnos College of Engineering and Computing is committed to the role of experiential learning in preparing professionals for careers in engineering, computing, and occupational safety and health management. All students completing undergraduate degrees in engineering complete the integrated cooperative education program. All students completing undergraduate degrees in the school of computing and information systems, occupational safety and health management, and the professional science master's programs, complete the integrated internship program. Internship opportunities are available, but not required, of students in the Master of Science in engineering program and the Master of Science in computing and information systems programs.
Academic Units
School of Computing and Information Systems: cis.gvsu.edu
School of Engineering: gvsu.edu/engineering
Department of Occupational Safety and Health: gvsu.edu/osh
Professional Science Master's (coordination function): gvsu.edu/psm
Accreditation
- The Computer Science Major is accredited under the General Criteria and Computer Science Criteria by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, 415 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. Telephone: (410) 347-7700, www.abet.org.
- The Information Systems Major is accredited under the General Criteria and Information Systems Criteria by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, 415 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. Telephone: (410) 347-7700, www.abet.org.
- The Computer Engineering Major is accredited under the General Criteria and Computer Engineering Criteria by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 415 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. Telephone: (410) 347-7700, www.abet.org.
- The Electrical Engineering Major is accredited under the General Criteria and Electrical Engineering Criteria by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 415 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. Telephone: (410) 347-7700, www.abet.org.
- The Interdisciplinary Engineering Major is accredited under the General Criteria by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 415 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. Telephone (410) 347-7700, www.abet.org.
- The Mechanical Engineering Major is accredited under the General Criteria and Mechanical Engineering Criteria by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 415 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. Telephone: (410) 347-7700, www.abet.org.
- The Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering Major is accredited under the General Criteria and Manufacturing Engineering Criteria by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 415 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. Telephone (410) 347-7700, www.abet.org.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Management Major is accredited under the General Criteria and Safety Criteria by the Applied and Natural Sciences Accreditation Commission of ABET, 415 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. Telephone (410) 347-7700, www.abet.org.
Advisory Boards
The advisory boards for the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing and each academic program are composed of the dean and many leaders from local, national, and international companies, who serve to create and sustain an active partnership between the college, schools, and industry. The boards provide advice concerning goals, curriculum, and other matters that strengthen the student experience. The advisory boards also work to strengthen the partnerships that benefit industry and the broader community.
Admission
Secondary Admission for Undergraduates
All undergraduate programs require secondary admission as described in their specific academic program information.
Graduate Admission
See appropriate academic program description for information on graduate admission.
Advising
Academic advising, including major selection, meeting secondary admission requirements, career direction, and course scheduling, is provided by the professional staff of the advising center on both the Pew Grand Rapids Campus and the Allendale Campus. Advisors work primarily with presecondary admission undergraduate students. Inquiries from prospective students are welcome. See gvsu.edu/pcec/advising for additional information.
Outreach
K-12 outreach strives to attract the next generation of students to the computing, engineering, and occupational safety and health professions. Staff direct summer camps, provide building tours to prospective students, and support curricular and co-curricular activities for students both at Grand Valley and in schools. See gvsu.edu/pcec/outreach for more information.
Professional Society Student Chapters
ACM - Association for Computing Machinery
ASME - American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASSE - American Society of Safety Engineers
IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
NSBE - National Society of Black Engineers
SAE - Society of Automotive Engineers
SME - Society of Manufacturing Engineers
SWE - Society of Women Engineers
Honor Societies
Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honors Society
Upsilon Pi Epsilon International Honor Society for Computing and Information Disciplines
Scholarships
Joseph E. Appelt, P.E. Engineering Scholarship
AITP (Association of Information Technology Professional(s) Scholarship
Atomic Object Scholarship
NN Autocam Precision Components Group Engineering Scholarship
Autocam Medical Engineering Scholarship
Baldwin Foundation Scholarship
Clarke & Nancy Borgeson Science, Technology, & Mathematics Endowed Scholarship
Robert Bosch Fuel Systems Engineering Scholarship
Scott M. Dykstra/Oliver Products Company Engineering Scholarship
Carl Erickson and Mary O'Neill Pathway Endowed Scholarship
FIRST Robotics Engineering Scholarship
FTC&H Engineering Endowed Scholarship
FTC&H Occupational Safety and Health Management Endowed Pathway Scholarship
General Dynamics Land Systems Engineering Scholarships
Eric Jon Gillette Memorial Scholarship
Initech Global Advancing Technology Scholarship
Paul and Dianna Johnson STEM Pathway Endowed Scholarship
Fred M. and Bernedine Keller Engineering Diversity Scholarship
Kirkhof Engineering Scholarship
Ray and Fran Kisor Graduate Engineering Fellowship
Lacks Enterprises Scholarship
Eric Maino Community Technology Award
James B. Miller Endowed Engineering Scholarship
Occupational Safety and Health Management Scholarship
Seymour and Esther Padnos Engineering Scholarship
GVSU/Padnos/MSPE Engineering Scholarship
GVSU/Padnos/SAE Engineering Scholarship
GVSU/Padnos/Graduate Scholarship
Lt. James W. Parmelee Memorial Scholarship
Price-Heneveld Engineering Scholarship
Retaining and Inspiring Students in Science & Engineering (RISE) Scholarship
Right Place Manufacturing Engineering Scholarship
GVSU/School of Computing and Information Systems Academic Scholarship
GVSU/School of Computing and Information Systems Freshman Scholarship
GVSU/School of Computing and Information Systems Study Abroad Scholarship
The Joseph Spruit Engineering Scholarship
SPX Corporation Foundation Engineering Scholarship
George & Marianne Stein Memorial Scholarship
TowerPinkster Engineering Scholarship
Trans-Matic Engineering Scholarship
Dr. Eric L. VanFleet Occupational Safety and Health Endowed Scholarship
Whitney Young Outreach Engineering Scholarship
Windstream Technology Scholarship (previously PAETEC Technology Scholarship)
Thomas and Joyce Wisner Engineering Scholarship
Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships
Qualified full-time fellowship and assistantship candidates are selected on the basis of aptitude, interest, and background.
Industry graduate fellows gain practical experience by working closely with a local company to solve practical problems related to the chosen area of graduate study.
Graduate assistants work with appropriate school faculty and staff members. Graduate assistant positions are available to assist in the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing with research, writing, data collection and analysis, and student services.
Graduate assistantships are typically available in support of the following areas:
- Data Science and Analytics
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Professional Science Masters FIRST Robotics
- K-12 Outreach
- PCEC Advising