Ben G. Streetman
PhD, PE
Dean

Neal E. Armstrong
PhD, PE
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

John R. Howell
PhD, PE
Associate Dean

Alvin H. Meyer
PhD, PE
Associate Dean

Cynthia M. Brown
BBA, CPA
Assistant Dean

John C. Halton III
MA
Assistant Dean

Glenn Y. Masada
ScD, PE
Assistant Dean

General Information

History

The College of Engineering was established in 1884 as the Department of Engineering, an outgrowth of work in applied mathematics first offered in the Department of Literature, Science, and Arts. The first degree in engineering, a Bachelor of Science with a major in civil engineering, was conferred in 1888. Civil engineering degrees have been conferred since 1894 and electrical engineering degrees since 1896.

Degrees in architecture were conferred in the College of Engineering from 1909 through 1951, when the School of Architecture became an autonomous division of the University. Degrees in chemical engineering have been conferred since 1916; degrees in mechanical engineering since 1919; degrees in architectural engineering since 1928; degrees in petroleum engineering since 1931; degrees in aeronautical engineering from 1943 to 1959 and in aerospace engineering since 1960; degrees in ceramic engineering from 1948 to 1961; degrees in meteorology from 1951 to 1963; and degrees in geosystems engineering and hydrogeology, offered jointly with the College of Natural Sciences, since 1996. A degree in engineering science was offered from 1960 until 1988.

Engineering Education

Engineering education affords individuals the opportunity to prepare themselves for life in an era when human well-being depends more than ever before on the ability to apply technology for the benefit of society. It has become clear that in producing the goods and services demanded by an expanding population, we must consider the effects of technology on the environment. Solution of many of the problems faced by society today will involve a high level of technology.

Engineers are involved with all the devices and systems made by and for people--buildings and factories, transportation and communication systems, equipment for generating and distributing electrical energy, computers and electronic devices; indeed, all of the manufactured products we see around us. Engineers of diverse backgrounds working together and with other professionals have produced heart pumps, surgical lasers, robotics for manufacturing and construction, polymers, safer and more efficient nuclear reactors, advances in space research and in environmental protection, safe and attractive bridges, satellites and telecommunication systems, and small but powerful computers. Just as much of the technology being applied today has been developed within the past ten years, the solution of tomorrow's problems will require the development of new technology through engineering research.

In addition to its traditional function of giving men and women the opportunity to prepare for careers as professional engineers, the College of Engineering also has a second function: providing the opportunity to acquire a technical background to students who plan to continue their education in areas such as business, public affairs, law, medicine, and scientific disciplines related to engineering. The engineering faculty willingly accepts its obligation to enhance cooperation between engineers and others working to improve the quality of life.

The College of Engineering is organized into academic departments that offer a variety of degrees. Although there are distinct differences among the degree programs, they have much in common; all are based on a foundation of mathematics, natural sciences, and basic engineering subjects. Following the development of an adequate foundation during the first two years, an engineering student begins concentrated study in a particular area. During the senior year the student delves into practical engineering problems, developing skills in defining a problem, translating available information into equations that can be analyzed logically, creating additional information when necessary, and choosing a course of action that has a reasonable chance of producing the desired results.

The college seeks to give students the knowledge necessary to take advantage of opportunities in a number of areas. The engineer who begins a professional career immediately following graduation usually will find opportunity for a variety of responsible positions in industry and government. The first assignments usually are of a technical nature. Later, one may choose to become a technical specialist or to move into positions involving administration and management. Either choice can lead to a rewarding professional career.

Many engineering graduates elect to continue their education. Studies by the American Society for Engineering Education indicate that nearly 50 percent of all engineering graduates eventually earn a master's degree. Most do their graduate work in engineering, either in a professional program where advanced design techniques are emphasized or in a graduate school where the emphasis is on research. Others elect to enroll in graduate programs in other disciplines. The flexibility to accommodate a broad spectrum of educational objectives has been incorporated into the degree structure of the College of Engineering through technical area options and electives that permit students to define programs of study that best suit their needs.

Instructional Facilities

The College of Engineering occupies five buildings on the central campus, with a total of 927,000 square feet for classrooms, laboratories, and offices. The Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory and a substantial number of other engineering research laboratory facilities are housed at the J. J. Pickle Research Campus, about six miles north of the central campus.

Libraries

The University library system, one of the largest academic libraries in the United States, includes the General Libraries, the Tarlton Law Library, and the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center. The General Libraries consist of the Perry-Castañeda Library, the Undergraduate Library, nine branch libraries, and special collections such as the Wasserman Public Affairs Library; these units together house more than six million volumes, covering almost all fields of academic and scientific research.

The Richard W. McKinney Engineering Library, a branch of the General Libraries located in Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall, contains more than 150,000 volumes and some 1,500 current serial subscriptions. It supports teaching and research in all fields offered by the college. Extensive facilities are available for computer retrieval of technical literature. Special files include manufacturing catalogs on microfilm, industry standards on microfiche, Federal Specifications (military standard), United States patents, and selected technical material issued by NASA and other government agencies.

Other branch libraries of special interest to engineers are the Architecture and Planning Library, the Mallet Chemistry Library (which includes chemical engineering), the Walter Geology Library, the Kuehne Physics-Mathematics-Astronomy Library, and the Life Science Library.

All units of the General Libraries offer reference services, circulation and reserve, access to computer-based information and electronic media, and interlibrary loan services.

Office of Student Affairs

The Office of Student Affairs (SAO) manages new-student programs, a mentor program, and a supplemental instruction program and oversees student organizations. The associate dean for student affairs and the office staff represent the college dean in most student matters. The Office of Student Affairs also offers academic advising and other services to students.

Academic advisers assist students with the evaluation of career and academic alternatives, time management, finances, and personal problems. The advisers help students identify campus resources such as study skills courses and tutoring services to improve academic performance. The SAO administers the Engineering Students with Disabilities Program, the Freshman Engineering Honors Program, the Engineering Honors Program, Orientation, and the Freshman Fall Gathering Mentor program among others. The SAO also serves as a liaison between the student and other campus offices, such as the Office of Admissions, the Engineering Career Assistance Center, the Counseling and Mental Health Center, the Office of the Dean of Students, Student Financial Services, University Health Services, and the academic departments.

Frequent adviser contact can help any student develop educational opportunities that will improve his or her academic performance. It is important, therefore, for any student with questions or concerns to ask for help from the SAO advising staff.

The SAO advises all newly admitted first-year students during Orientation; after that first enrollment, however, the college requires students to be advised each semester to fulfill the engineering advising requirement. The departmental faculty advisers answer questions about course selection, basic and major sequence requirements, technical option blocks, and other major-specific or departmental requirements.

For more information, call (512) 471-4321 or visit the SAO at Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall 2.200. The e-mail address is engrsao@mail.utexas.edu.

Equal Opportunity in Engineering Program

The Equal Opportunity in Engineering Program (EOE) seeks to promote academic excellence by offering supplemental instruction classes, tutoring, and research opportunities to all engineering students. Students from groups that traditionally have been underrepresented in the engineering profession, such as African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans, may benefit particularly from the program. EOE encourages community support and involvement in the promotion of academic excellence by conducting mentoring programs and by being available to assist student engineering organizations, including the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and the Pi Sigma Pi Minority Academic Engineering Society, with their activities.

EOE also promotes career and professional development by providing engineering students contact with industry and federal and state agencies. EOE helps students find summer, co-op, and permanent employment by conducting an annual job fair.

In addition, EOE works to encourage precollege students to pursue careers in engineering through outreach initiatives such as the World of Engineering campus visitation program and the nationwide MITE summer residential program.

For more information about EOE programs, contact the EOE office at (512) 471-5953.

Women in Engineering Program

The Women in Engineering Program (WEP) was established by the college in 1992 to recruit more women into engineering, to increase the percentage of female engineering graduates, and to provide a supportive structure that encourages the success of women in the college. WEP serves as an advocate for women students and offers precollege enrichment programs, first-year student programs, tutoring assistance, mentoring opportunities, graduate school seminars, and career development workshops.

The WEP office is located in Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall 2.108. For more information, call (512) 471-5650, e-mail wep@popmail.ce.utexas.edu, or visit the WEP web site at http://www.utexas.edu/coe/student/wep/.

Engineering Students with Disabilities

The Engineering Students with Disabilities Program (ESD) is administered through the College of Engineering Office of Student Affairs (SAO). ESD seeks to facilitate the academic progress of students with disabilities by making them aware of the accommodations available to them. The student is counseled about registration with the Dean of Students and how to interact with the faculty.

Students with a known disability that can hinder academic performance are encouraged to visit the SAO, Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall 2.200, to discuss the ESD program. Information is also available by phone at (512) 471-4321 and by e-mail at engrsao@mail.utexas.edu.

Engineering Study Abroad

Each semester, a growing number of students in the college pursue their interest in traveling abroad and studying in a foreign country. Several exchange programs, with various language requirements, offer courses that may be counted toward the engineering degree.

Students are able to earn a certificate in international engineering studies by completing requirements that include a study abroad experience and associated cultural enrichment studies. For more information on the International Engineering Studies Certification Program, contact the Study Abroad Liaison, Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall 10.326.

Financial Assistance Available through the College of Engineering

Undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, research assistantships, student assistantships, loans, and other kinds of financial aid are available to students in the College of Engineering. Information and application forms are available from the Scholarship Office, Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall 2.106, and department offices.

Engineering Career Assistance Center

The College of Engineering feels a responsibility to provide all possible assistance to its students as they pursue suitable professional career opportunities. This assistance includes a comprehensive on-campus recruiting/interviewing program as well as individual counseling offered by the Engineering Career Assistance Center. The center's main goal is to assist the engineering student to become aware of professional career alternatives and to prepare for the job search. Assistance is also offered in identifying summer internships and summer jobs.

Located in Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall 2.400, the center provides services and programs to both students and alumni of the College of Engineering. Although there is no registration deadline, students should register with the center the first week in September before they plan to graduate to receive full benefit of the services.

As a complement to the assistance available from the college, the University Career Center provides assistance to students in choosing or changing their majors or careers, seeking an internship, and planning for the job search or for graduate study.

The college tries to maximize employment opportunities for its students, but cannot secure employment for each graduate.

Cooperative Engineering Education Program

Since its inception in 1966, the Cooperative Engineering Education Program has been an effective way for engineering students to prepare for professional practice. By spending part of each academic year in an engineering firm, students in the program are able to make reasonable academic progress while acquiring hands-on knowledge of the engineering profession.

The diversity of companies involved gives co-op students an assortment of engineering employment opportunities. The co-op faculty and administrative staff provide assistance to co-op prospects, applicants, work-tour participants, and students returning to classes after completing work tours. In 1996-1997, the co-op program counseled more than sixteen hundred students.

Students interested in participating in the co-op program may apply as early as the beginning of the sophomore year; they should apply before they complete ninety semester hours of coursework. Co-op students alternate semesters of academic study with work tours; upon completion of the three required work tours, they receive three hours of course credit for participation in the program.

More information is available from the co-op office, Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall 2.502, or (512) 471-5954.

Research Organizations

Faculty members and students of the College of Engineering may participate in a wide variety of research projects conducted under the Bureau of Engineering Research. The bureau and its component research units are supported by federal, state, and industrial research contracts and grants that provide part-time employment for selected undergraduate and graduate students and for some faculty members. Over six hundred individual research projects are usually underway at any one time. In addition to providing students with experience in research methodology and with the chance to contribute to basic knowledge, these research projects enable faculty members to keep abreast of developments in their principal areas of interest.

Research units currently operating within the Bureau of Engineering Research are the Center for Aeromechanics Research, Texas Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics, Computer Engineering Research Center, Center for Mechanics of Solids, Structures, and Materials, Construction Industry Institute, Electrical Engineering Research Laboratory, Electronics Research Center, Center for Energy Studies, Geotechnical Engineering Center, Center for Materials Science and Engineering, Microelectronics Research Center, Offshore Technology Research Center, Center for Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, Center for Space Research, Phil M. Ferguson Structural Engineering Laboratory, Center for Transportation Research, and Center for Research in Water Resources.

The Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory is an academic unit of the College of Engineering. Other research units include the Center for Biotechnology, Center for Control and Systems Research, Center for Electromechanics, Manufacturing Systems Center, and Center for Synthesis, Growth, and Analysis of Electronic Materials. Interdisciplinary research units operated cooperatively by the College of Engineering and other colleges are the Center for Biological and Medical Engineering, Center for Computational Finance, and Texas Materials Institute. These research organizations are located both on the central campus and at the J. J. Pickle Research Campus.

Engineering Foundation

In 1955, the University's Board of Regents authorized establishment of the Engineering Foundation and the Engineering Foundation Advisory Council to promote academic excellence in engineering education. Since then, the generous contributions of alumni and individual and corporate friends of the college have enabled the Engineering Foundation to develop a program of excellence through the encouragement and support of innovation in teaching and research; the creation of academic and leadership enhancement programs for engineering students; the establishment of funds for scholarships and fellowships; the recognition of outstanding engineering faculty members with meritorious service awards; and the endowment of chairs, professorships, faculty fellowships, lectureships, and named rooms, laboratories, library collections, and book collections.

The Engineering Foundation office supports the work of the Engineering Foundation Advisory Council, a body of corporate leaders who volunteer to advise and assist the college. Through the Engineering Foundation, the college conducts fund-raising efforts in five areas of emphasis: the Industrial Program and Centers for Excellence, which seeks corporate support; Friends of Alec (alumni support); Student Engineering Gift Campaign (student-led fund-raising); endowments; and bequests and estate planning. The staff of the Engineering Foundation coordinates these efforts, and the Engineering Foundation Advisory Council provides strategic leadership.

Contents  |  Next File

Undergraduate catalog

Contents  |  Chapter 1  |  Chapter 2  |  Chapter 3  |  Chapter 4
Chapter 5  |  Chapter 6  |  Chapter 7  |  Chapter 8  |  Chapter 9
Chapter 10  |  Chapter 11  |  Chapter 12  |  Chapter 13
Texas Common Course Numbering System (Appendix A)
Appendix B

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