Section Topics

History and Goals

Degree Programs

Requirements for Admission and Retention

Degree Requirements

Opportunities

Facilities

Course Prefixes

Undergraduate Courses

FAMU—FSU College of Engineering

Dean: Ching-Jen Chen; Associate Deans: Reginald Perry, Norman Thagard; Director of Student Services: Sheldon White

The accelerating pace of technological developments has created an ever-increasing demand for highly qualified, professional engineers to maintain the high-tech momentum already achieved and to extend and direct its course. Expanding population and corresponding demands for new products, structures, designs, and improved services have posed new challenges to present and future engineers. Accordingly, the College of Engineering, through its curricula, strives to educate and train engineers to use scientific knowledge and problem-solving skills to determine the best solutions to the problems of today and the future.

It is expected that students who conscientiously apply themselves and successfully complete one of the broad engineering programs will not only be technically trained, but also humanistically and socially educated, and thereby be well prepared to make a significant contribution to the world in which they work.

An engineering student can pursue any one of several career plans, according to personal ambitions, interest, and abilities. The student may pursue the bachelor of science (BS) degree or an advanced research-oriented graduate program leading to the master of science (MS) or doctor of philosophy (PhD) degrees.

An engineer usually works as a member of a team in solving a problem or designing products or processes. The engineer’s responsibility may include some of the following: 1) the conception of an idea, including a careful delineation of the problem; 2) the design of an item or process, including operational and production requirements; 3) the selection of materials; 4) the determination of markets; 5) the assessment of sociological effects and determination of methods for controlling these effects; 6) the design or selection of machines for production; and 7) the control of costs. Currently, over two-thirds of all technical positions and a large percentage of managerial positions in industry are occupied by engineers.

History and Goals

The FAMU—FSU College of Engineering was authorized by the 1982 legislature as a joint program between Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and The Florida State University. The joint nature of the college allows a student to register at either Florida A&M University or The Florida State University and receive a degree in any of the college’s programs. A student entering the college applies for admission through one of the two universities and must satisfy the admission and general degree requirements of that university. The degree is granted through the College of Engineering by the university where the student is registered while completing upper-division studies. All College of Engineering classrooms and administrative and faculty offices are housed in a modern engineering complex located at 2525 Pottsdamer Street adjacent to Innovation Park.

Mission

The mission of the college is to provide an innovative academic program of excellence at the graduate and undergraduate levels judged by the highest standards in the field and recognized by national peers; to attract and produce greater numbers of women and minorities in professional engineering, engineering teaching, and research; and to attain national and international recognition of the college through the educational and research achievements and the professional service of its faculty and students.

Programs and Degrees

The college offers professional programs of study leading to the bachelor of science (BS) degree, the master of science (MS), and doctor of philosophy (PhD) in chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, and mechanical engineering, a bachelor of science in computer engineering, and a master of science and doctor of philosophy in biomedical engineering. The college also offers interdisciplinary specializations in bioengineering, biomedical, environmental and materials engineering.

Facilities

The college occupies over 200,000 ft 2. of classroom, offices and laboratory space in a building complex especially designed for engineering education. It is located off the main campus of each university in an area adjacent to Innovation Park, which also houses the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), the Center for Advanced Power Systems and other university, public and private organizations engaged in research, development and clean industry operations. The college operates for the common use of all programs a computing facility, a library and reading room, and a machine shop. In addition, each department in the college operates specialized laboratories for teaching and research; please refer to each department’s chapter for additional information on these specialized facilities.

Library

The main book and journal collections for engineering are housed in the Dirac Science Library at The Florida State University and in the Coleman Library at Florida A&M University. The college also maintains an engineering library resource and reading room (also referred to as the engineering reading room or the college library) that functions as a satellite to the two university libraries relative to engineering needs. Collections at the college library include monographs, texts and reference works that directly support instruction and research at the college. Library computer facilities enable extensive electronic literature search throughout the university libraries and other sources. Library services include literature search training sessions for students and faculty. The college library is headed by a full-time librarian who is also a staff member of one of the two university libraries. Other college library personnel include assistants supported by the college.

Computing Facilities

Students at the college have access to a large number and variety of computing resources at the College of Engineering. Due to the unique requirements of engineering computing and the off-campus location of the college, the college is relatively autonomous in providing service to engineering students.

The college has over 2800 computing devices connected to its local network managed by the college’s Computing and Multimedia Services (CMS). Over 230 of these machines for general student use are high-end Pentium class workstations supported by a cluster of Sun Enterprise Series servers and RAID storage system. CMS continues to evaluate and upgrade computer workstation hardware as the computational needs grow. Computer labs connect to the college’s gigabit fiber-optic backbone via 100Mbps Ethernet connections. One of the computer labs is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; the other two are used as classrooms and are maintained with technical support over 70 hours per week. The college has added another multimedia classroom housing over 60 computers in a recently renovated portable equipped with multiple overhead LCD projectors. The college also provides computing facilities in the public areas that are available to students 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Additionally, both universities provide on-campus facilities that are available to all students. Software includes major general purpose packages as well as special applications oriented toward particular disciplines. The college’s research labs contain dozens of machines clustered together to provide enhanced research capabilities as well as Sun and SGI boxes to perform complex number crunching for simulations. The recent addition of a quad processor Sun V880 to the college’s computer facilities offers enhanced parallel computing power to the faculty. CMS maintained a 99.999% up-time availability of computing resources.

The college’s computing infrastructure uses a gigabit core Layer 3 switch to connect all communications via gigabit fiber optic cables. The college internet connection is a gigabit link connecting through the Florida State University backbone (The Florida State University acts as the internet services provider for the college) allowing for faster access to the Internet2 and NSF’s vBNS network. Florida A&M University’s computing facilities also are connected to the Tallahassee MAN, thus providing a link to the college for its students. In addition to local Ethernet network, the college has set up a wireless server infrastructure with access points in the college atriums for students who may want to use their own laptops to connect to the college’s computing resources.

The college also provides remote dial-in capability to all students, faculty and staff. The dial-up hardware consists of remote-access servers allowing up to 70 concurrent dial-up users. This allows the users to perform research and other activities from remote sites.

The college has state-of-the-art instructional classrooms, each equipped with multimedia equipment. Three classrooms are prepared as computer classrooms. The instructional computer facilities include a LCD projector, overhead projector, a document camera, a VCR, an amplifier and a set of high quality speakers. The ceiling-mounted LCD projector is used for large-scale projection, linked to the PC at the instructor’s console with a 100 Mbps Ethernet connection. A special Florida Engineering Education Delivery System (FEEDS) classroom has two studio cameras and one document camera connected to a desktop PC with a scan converter to display web pages. A two-way live videoconferencing link via dedicated Fractional T-1 to the FSU-Panama City campus provides interactivity to synchronous distance delivery of classes to those students.

There is a C-band and KU-band satellite downlink for viewing in multimedia classrooms and in the atrium connectors over the closed-circuit television system. A Real Video G2 server is used to stream live and recorded programs, classes and events from the college. The Poly Com VS4000 provides for 4-point IP videoconferences.

Supporting Facilities

Other nearby resources include the School of Computational Sciences and Information Technology (CSIT), FSU Academic Computing and Network Services (ACNS), the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (the ‘Mag Lab’), the Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS), the Challenger Learning Center in downtown Tallahassee that houses a 3-D IMAX theatre, planetarium and a Challenger Space Mission and Control Center, Northwest Regional Data Center (NWRDC), Florida Department of Transportation research facilities, and WFSU Public Broadcasting television and radio stations as well as FAMU Computing Services.

Opportunities

A limited number of scholarships are available for qualified students. The college also has a satellite office of The Florida State University Career Center to assist students in obtaining internships, co-op jobs and permanent employment with employers nationwide.

Honors in the Major

The College of Engineering offers honors in the major in several departmental programs. For requirements and other information, see the "University Honors Office and Honor Societies" chapter of this General Bulletin.

Requirements for Admission and Retention in an Engineering Major

Engineering is a profession demanding discipline, and students majoring in engineering must follow a required sequence of courses and achieve a high level of proficiency. In accordance with criteria of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), all engineering students are subject to a uniform set of academic requirements agreed to by both universities, and are in addition to any other academic requirements stated in the respective university catalog and bulletin. These requirements have been established to ensure that program graduates receive a quality education and make progress toward satisfying engineering major degree requirements. They are reviewed and revised as needed by the College of Engineering.

Pre-Engineering Requirements

1. All entering students who wish to pursue engineering as a major will enroll in a pre-engineering program and be advised by a faculty member or professional staff in engineering;
2. All pre-engineering students will be enrolled in EGN 1004L, First Year Engineering Laboratory, during their first year of enrollment. This requirement may be waived for transfer students at the discretion of the Dean of the College of Engineering; and
3. A grade of "C" or better will be required in EGN 1004L in order to register for any 2000-level or above engineering course for which this is a prerequisite. One repeat is permitted to meet this requirement.

Admission to an Engineering Major

Students must achieve a GPA of 2.5 or better in calculus I, calculus II, physics I, and chemistry I to be admitted to an engineering major. A student may exclude one repeated attempt in any one of these courses when calculating his or her GPA. Students who achieve a GPA in the range of 2.3 to 2.5 may be admitted by an academic department chair after completing additional requirements. Students who achieve a GPA below 2.3 in those four courses cited above will not be admitted into any engineering major. Assignment of discipline- specific engineering major codes will not occur until the student has been formally admitted into the college.

Course Grade Requirement and Practice

1. It is the practice of the College not to use "plus and minus (+/–)" grading for any engineering course;
2. Engineering majors must earn a grade of "C" or better in all engineering courses which apply toward the degree. This requirement may be waived by the academic dean upon recommendation from the department chair for no more than one (1) such course; and
3. A student who is failing a course cannot receive a grade of Incomplete (I). A grade of "I" can only be given to a student who is passing a course and who has completed at least one-half of the course work by the end of the term. The student must make up any missing work during the next term of the student’s enrollment.

Repeated Course Attempts Policy

A student who fails to earn a grade of "C" or better after a second attempt in the same engineering course, or who has more than three (3) repeated engineering course attempts, will be suspended from the engineering program and will not be permitted further registration in the engineering curriculum. A course for which the grade forgiveness policy has been used is still counted as a repeated course.

Engineering Course Prerequisites Policy

It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the prerequisites of an engineering course prior to enrollment in that course. A student may contact the engineering dean or department chair for additional information concerning course prerequisites and this policy. Failure to fulfill course prerequisites may result in the removal of the course from the student’s enrollment at any time during the semester, with no refund of tuition or fees.

Course Withdrawal/Drop Policy

1. Engineering students who seek to withdraw from or drop a course should do so by the end of the seventh week of classes. An engineering student who desires to withdraw from or drop a course after the deadline must have the request evaluated by the College Council of Academic Program Coordinators (CAPC) before a decision is rendered by the engineering dean. All requests for a retroactive withdrawal/drop must be made within one semester of the original course attempt; and
2. A course approved for withdrawal/drop implies the removal of the course attempt. However, a student with three (3) or more courses designated withdrawals/drops will not be allowed to enroll in further engineering courses until he or she has met with an academic advisor to determine what steps are needed to improve the student’s academic persistence.

Engineering Academic Progress Policy

Students are encouraged to make a strong commitment to their engineering studies by making those sacrifices necessary to ensure their academic success. A student who has more than three (3) repeated courses will be suspended from the engineering program and may not register for additional engineering course work. A suspended student, however, is eligible to petition for return into the engineering program. The College of Engineering Council of Academic Program Coordinators (CAPC) will review each applicant. If the student is granted reinstatement, CAPC will determine the conditions the student must satisfy to continue in the engineering program. Any student who does not meet his or her conditions for reinstatement will be dismissed from the engineering program. He or she may not register for engineering course work and may not apply for an additional reinstatement to engineering.

College of Engineering Council of Academic Program Coordinators

The College of Engineering Council of Academic Program Coordinators (CAPC) has been assigned the responsibility to ensure that these academic requirements are equitably and consistently applied to all engineering students.

Transfer Students

Students who plan to enroll in another institution for the first two years and then transfer into the college should use great care in selecting freshman and sophomore course work. To be admitted to an engineering major, students must achieve a GPA of 2.5 or higher in the following courses or their equivalents: MAC 2311 and 2312, PHY 2048C, and CHM1045. Students are advised to consult with the College of Engineering as early as possible concerning their first two years of study. In general, a transfer student must satisfy the same requirements in engineering and related areas as students who take all their course work at the College of Engineering.

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

A student who has taken a college preparatory curriculum in high school including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, physics, and chemistry can complete the requirements for the bachelor of science (BS) degree in four years and one summer with an average load of sixteen (16) hours per semester. A student with superior high school training may take advantage of opportunities for advanced placement through the University’s programs for acceleration. In order to satisfy the State of Florida, Division of Colleges and Universities, requirement of summer attendance, it is recommended that students enroll in the summer session at the end of the first year. Students who are not prepared to begin with calculus I (MAC 2311) may need to attend one additional summer session.

The engineering curriculum is made up of four components: liberal studies, engineering core, required courses in the engineering major area and technical electives.

Liberal Studies

All students must meet University requirements for baccalaureate degrees stated in the "Undergraduate Degree Requirements" chapter of this General Bulletin. Of the thirty-six (36) semester hours required in liberal studies, thirteen (13) of these semester hours are automatically satisfied by the engineering core courses listed herein. The engineering student must take a total of twenty-four (24) semester hours in the areas of English, history, humanities, and social sciences. Students unprepared to begin calculus at the university level must, of course, also complete the necessary mathematics course work preparatory to calculus. All prospective engineering students should select humanities and social science courses to meet the above requirements.

Engineering Core

All graduates of the college must master a common body of knowledge about their profession. This has been addressed by the adoption of an engineering core for all students seeking the BS in engineering. Some of these courses may be completed at a community college that offers a pre-engineering track. Others are only offered within the college.

The engineering core, which consists of basic science, mathematics, and professional courses, ensures that every student is provided with a solid background education regardless of his or her option. The required courses are listed below:

1. * Except for chemical and mechanical engineering majors.
2. ** Except for mechanical engineering majors.
3. *** Except for electrical engineering majors.

Engineering Major Area

Course requirements for engineering major areas consist of additional mathematics and basic science courses, engineering science courses, and engineering design courses. A current statement of requirements for engineering major areas is available as advising materials in the academic departments.

Definition of Prefixes

EEL — Electrical Engineering

EGM — Engineering Mechanics

EGN — General Engineering

EML — Mechanical Engineering

Undergraduate Courses

EEL 3003. Introduction to Electrical Engineering (3). Prerequisites: MAC 2312; PHY 2048; Corequisite: EEL 3003L. This course is an introduction to electrical engineering concepts for nonelectrical engineering majors. It covers a broad range of topics, including basic circuit theory, semiconductor devices, microprocessors, instrumentation amplifiers, and machines.

EEL 3003L. Introduction to Electrical Engineering Laboratory (1). Prerequisites: MAC 2312; PHY 2048. Corequisite: EEL 3003. Laboratory in support of EEL 3003. Must be taken concurrently with first enrollment in EEL 3003. Must be dropped if EEL 3003 is dropped.

EGM 3512. Engineering Mechanics (4). Prerequisites: MAC 2312; PHY 2048. Corequisite: MAC 2313. Course topics include statics and dynamics of particles and rigid bodies using vector analysis, free body diagrams, equilibrium of particles and rigid bodies, particle and general rigid body motion, work/energy, impulse and momentum methods.

EGN 1004L. First Year Engineering Laboratory (1). An emphasis on student time management, a variety of products and processes, and computer-aided problem solving. Product/process involves sketching and drawing pertinent diagrams by hand, and learning the history and engineering concepts involved.

EGN 2123. Computer Graphics for Engineers (2). Prerequisite: MAC 2311. Course covers principles of engineering graphics: visualization, spreadsheet applications, graphical calculus, and descriptive geometry. Also introduces the engineering design process and CAD systems.

EGN 3613. Principles of Engineering Economy (2). Prerequisite: MAC 2313. An emphasis on discrete cash flow diagrams, cash flow equivalence factors, standard criteria for comparing project proposals, special cash flow topics, special analysis, and case studies.

EML 3100. Thermodynamics (2). Prerequisites: MAC 2312; PHY 2049. An introduction to engineering thermodynamics; basic concepts, properties of pure substances, work and heat; first and second laws of thermodynamics, closed and open systems, formulations, engineering applications.