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College of Engineering

Dean: James L. Melsa
Associate Dean: David K. Holger
Associate Dean: Theodore H. Okiishi
Assistant Dean: Loren W. Zachary

Engineers occupy a uniquely important position in our modern civilization. They have the responsibility for taking the discoveries of basic science and translating them into processes, materials, products, structures, facilities, and services for society.

Departments of the College

Objectives of the Curricula in Engineering
Engineering education seeks to develop a capacity for objective analysis, synthesis, and design to obtain a practical solution. The engineering programs at Iowa State University are designed to develop the professional competence of a diverse student body and, by breadth of study, to prepare students to solve the technical problems of society while considering the ethical, social, and economic implications of their work. 

Experiences contained within the programs are intended to develop in each student an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics and science to engineering problems; an ability to design and conduct engineering experiments, including analyzing and interpreting data from experiments; an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs; an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams in the solution of engineering problems; an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems; an ability to communicate effectively; the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and national context; a recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning; a knowledge of contemporary issues; and, an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Registration as a professional engineer, which is granted by each individual state, is required for many types of positions. The professional curricula in engineering at Iowa State University are designed to prepare a graduate for subsequent registration in all states. Seniors in accredited curricula (accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) of the College of Engineering are encouraged to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination toward professional registration during their final academic year. Seniors in engineering curricula who have obtained at least 6 semester credits in surveying may take the Fundamentals Examination for professional registration as land surveyors.

Four engineering departments offer the opportunity for well-qualified undergraduate juniors and seniors to pursue a graduate degree in their program while finishing the undergraduate requirements. The departments offering concurrent B.S./M.S. degree programs are: Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Civil and Construction Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering. Refer to the Graduate Study section for each department for more information.
Advanced work in engineering is offered in the post-graduate programs. See the Graduate College section.

Accreditation
Twelve curricula in the college of engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Engineering Accreditation Commission
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
111 Market Place, Suite 1050
Baltimore, MD 21202-7700
Phone: 410-347-7700
www.abet.org

Accreditation status is indicated at the beginning of the courses and programs section of each engineering curriculum.

Organization of Curricula
All curricula in engineering are designed as four-year programs. They are structured in two phases: a basic program and a professional program. The basic program consists primarily of subjects fundamental and common to all branches of engineering and includes chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering computations, and English. The professional phase of a curriculum includes intensive study in a particular branch of engineering, as well as a continuation of supporting work in mathematics, basic sciences, humanities, and social sciences.

Students must complete the requirements of the basic program before proceeding to a professional program.

 

High school credits particularly important to students wishing to study engineering include 2 years of algebra, 1 year of geometry, and 1/2 year of trigonometry; 1 year each of chemistry and physics, and 4 years of English. See Index for specific admission requirements. Placement in mathematics, English, and chemistry will generally be based on high school preparation and test scores. Advanced placement is possible for exceptionally well-prepared students. Students who are not adequately prepared may be encouraged or required to take additional preparatory coursework and should expect to spend more than the customary time to complete the engineering program. Any coursework which is preparatory or remedial in nature cannot be used to satisfy credit requirements for graduation in any of the engineering curricula.
Basic Program for Professional Engineering Curricula
The first year program is much the same for all professional curricula in the College of Engineering. Each curriculum requires completion of the basic program as well as the curriculum designated requirements. The basic program is a set of courses common to all engineering curricula, while the curriculum designated requirements are courses required by individual curricula. The student who desires to receive the bachelor’s degree in a minimum time will find it desirable to select a curriculum as soon as possible.
Entering undergraduates must demonstrate proficiency in trigonometry based on test scores, or by having transfer credits from a college trigonometry course, or by passing one of Math 141, 142 or 149 before enrolling in Math 166 or C E 160.
The Department of English may recommend placement in one or more sections of Engl 101 because of unsatisfactory performance on the English placement test administered to students whose first language is not English.
Basic Program
Cr. 
8 Mathematics 165, 166
6 English 104, 105
4 Chemistry 167 or 177*
3-4 Engineering 160, 161, CE 160, 
Cpr E 183 and and 184, or E E 183 and 184**
5 Physics 221
R Engineering 101
0.5 Library 160
26.5-27.5 Total credits
Curriculum Designated Requirements
Aerospace Engineering—Aer E 161 (3 cr.), 
Aer E 192 (R)
Agricultural Engineering—Chem 167L (1 cr.) or 177L (1 cr.)*, A E 110 (1 cr.), Engr 170 
(3 cr.)
Chemical Engineering—Chem 177*, 177L 
(1 cr.), 178 (3 cr.), 178L (1 cr.)
Civil Engineering—Chem 177*1 Chem 177L1
(1 cr.), Chem 1781 (3 cr.), Chem 178L1 (1cr.), 
C E 104 (1 cr.), C E 160**, C E 170 (2 cr.), 
C E 111 (3 cr.). (Physics 221 scheduled in sophomore year for students selecting option 1 of the chemistry/physics sequence.) 

Computer Engineering—Com S 227 (3 cr.), 228 (3 cr.), Cpr E 183** (2 cr.) and 184 (2cr.) E E 166 (R cr.)
Construction Engineering—Con E 110 (R cr.), Psych 101 (3 cr.), Engr 170 (3 cr.) 
Electrical Engineering—E E 183** (2 cr.) and 184 (2 cr.), Com S 207 or 227 (3 cr.) , 
E E 166 (R cr.)
Engineering Applications—SSH elective (3 cr.)
Engineering Science—Chem 167L (1 cr.), 
Engr 170 (3 cr.)
Industrial Engineering—I E 101 (R cr.), SSH elective (3 cr.), Engr 161**
Materials Engineering—Chem 177*, 177L (1 cr.), 178 (3 cr.), 178L (1 cr.), Engr 170 
(3 cr.), (Physics 221 scheduled in sopho-more year.)
Mechanical Engineering—Chem 167L (1 cr.), Engr 170 (3 cr.), M E 102 (R cr.)
The student’s adviser may require or recommend courses in addition to those specified above if the preparation and progress of the student are such that additional courses are necessary or desirable.
*Students planning to enroll in A E (Biosystems Engineering Option), C E1 , Ch E, or Mat E will find Chem 177 to be a better preparation for Chem 178. However, Chem 167 is accepted as a substitute for 177 for those students declaring one of these curricula after having completed 167. The Chem 155-165 sequence is an acceptable substitute for Chem 167.
**Recommended choices by program:
C E: C E 160 (3 cr.)
Cpr E: Cpr E 183 (2 cr.) and Cpr E 184 (2 cr.)
E E: E E 183 (2 cr.) and E E 184 (2 cr.)
I E: Engr 161 (3 cr.)
Students enrolling in Cpr E and E E must take both 183 and 184 in order to meet basic program requirements. However, credit hours for graduation will be given for any of Engr 160, Engr 161, Cpr E 183 and 184, E E 183 and 184, or C E 160 without increasing a curriculum's minimum number of credits required for graduation. Students in Cpr E or E E who take 160 or 161 will have their technical elective requirement increased by 1 credit hour.
1Students in the general emphasis in C E have two chemistry/physics sequence options.
Option 1—Students taking Chem 177, 177L, 178, 178L are required to take only one physics course, Phys 221.
Option 2—Students may substitute Phys 222 for Chem 178, 178L.
Requirement for Entry into Professional Program
Students enrolled in the College of Engineering must satisfy both of the following requirements before enrolling in the professional courses (200-level and above) offered by departments in the Engineering College:
1. Completion of the basic program with a grade point average of 2.00 or better in the basic program courses.
2. A cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better for all courses taken at Iowa State University.
The following are the only exceptions to this rule:
a. Students who have completed all of their coursework while enrolled in the College of Engineering, but have not met the two basic program requirements, may enroll for not more than one semester in 200-level or above courses offered by departments in the College of Engineering. This exception may be extended to two semesters for students whose curriculum requires Chem 178 and 178L (i.e. 
Ch E, C E1, and Mat E).
b. Students transferring to the College of Engineering from another college or university, or from a program outside this college, who have not met the two basic program requirements may enroll for not more than two semesters in 200-level or above courses offered by departments in the College of Engineering.
c. Iowa State students not pursuing an engineering degree may generally take engineering courses without restrictions provided they meet the prerequisites and space is available.
d. Only the first two semesters of 200-level and above engineering courses, taken at ISU while a student is not enrolled in the College of Engineering, can be applied toward an engineering degree.
1General Emphasis Program option 1 with Chem 177, 177L, 178, and 178L, and Environmental Specialization Program.
Requirement for Graduation
In order to graduate in a professional engineering curriculum, a student must have a minimum GPA of 2.00 in a department-designated group of 200-level and above courses known as the Core. These courses will total no fewer than 24 nor more than 48 semester credits.
Engineering Minors
The College of Engineering offers an undergraduate minor in Nondestructive Evaluation. It is open only to engineering students who have met the basic program requirements and are not on temporary enrollment. The NDE minor consists of one common core course, at least two NDE specific technique courses and at least two supporting courses. Both technique and supporting courses must be selected from lists approved by the advisory committee. A student’s minor program in Nondestructive Evaluation must include at least nine credits which are beyond the total used to meet curriculum requirements. The minor is supervised by an interdisciplinary faculty committee. Interested students may contact the AEEM department to obtain more specific guidelines and requirements.
Undergraduate Majors and Minors Outside the College of Engineering
In addition to the engineering degree program, students may earn majors or minors in other colleges of the university. A major or minor program must meet all requirements of the offering department or program and its college and contain credits beyond the requirements for a B.S. degree in engineering. A minimum of 15 additional credits is required for each major area of study and an additional 9 credits for each minor.
Advising System
The purpose of the advising system in the College of Engineering is to work constructively with students in developing their individual academic programs and to maintain close contact with students during their college careers.
The college offers an orientation program during the spring and summer for students planning to enter in the fall and during the fall for students planning to enter in the spring. All entering students are encouraged to attend an orientation session. Tests given during the orientation program help determine the student’s level of achievement and enable the adviser to prepare an appropriate program for the student.
Special Programs
All engineering students are strongly encouraged to participate in either the cooperative education or internship programs. Students who are qualified to participate in the engineering honors program are also urged to do so. These programs are integrated into the professional engineering curricula and may require additional work. However, both these professional and academic programs offer opportunities that will enrich the standard academic experience.
a. Cooperative Education Program—The College of Engineering offers, through its curricula, a cooperative education program. Enrollment in the program allows students to gain practical experience in their career field while attending college. In general, students enrolled in the co-op program will require an additional year to complete curriculum requirements.
These programs are arranged so that the student alternates academic work with employment periods. The student has the opportunity to assess career paths within her/his chosen curriculum and the employer evaluates the student’s potential as a future full-time employee. Both domestic and international co-op programs are available.
Cooperative education students pay no fees to the university during their work periods and do not receive credit hours for their work experience. Students register for a non-credit cooperative education course (298, 398, or 498) for each work period and are considered full time students while enrolled in these courses. For additional information contact your academic adviser and the Office of Engineering Career Services.
b. Internship Program. Internships are a mechanism by which a student may work full-time for one semester while maintaining her/his status as a full-time student.
Internship students pay no fees to the university during their work periods and do not receive credit hours for their work experience. Students may register for the internship course (397) for a fall or spring semester work period or (396) for the summer term are considered to be full time students. For additional information contact your academic adviser and the Office of Engineering Career Services.

c. Honors Program. The College of Engineering participates in the University Honors Program (see Index). In summary, the Honors Program is designed for students with above average ability who wish to individualize their programs of study. For further details consult the chair of the Engineering College Honors Program Committee or your departmental Honors Program adviser.

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