College of Engineering

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The College of Engineering offers engineering programs leading to the BS degree in Bioengineering, Civil, Computer, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering and the BS in Physics or Computer Science.

Engineering students acquire a strong foundation in the basic sciences and mathematics along with applied sciences associated with their major. Subsequently, a progression of innovative design experiences culminates in a senior design project. Beginning in the freshman year students in the college use high-tech laboratories and sophisticated computer systems. The many faculty involved with significant research projects bring excitement into the classroom and tie theory to practical applications.

Students develop the knowledge, creativity and expertise to succeed in today’s rapidly changing technical world. Graduates recruited by industry find rewarding careers; others earn advanced degrees in competitive graduate programs around the country.

Through cooperation with industry and government agencies, the college also offers students the opportunity to obtain valuable work experience before graduation. Qualified students can participate in internships or cooperative education programs, gaining practical engineering experience, a taste of the “real world” and significant income to help offset college expenses.

All undergraduate engineering programs in Civil, Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission; the program in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the ABET, 415 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201.

Mission, Goals and Objectives of the College of Engineering

The mission and goals of the College of Engineering are molded by the history of the region and the institution, by the existing needs of the region and its people, and by the emerging opportunities for regional economic growth. The college provides educational opportunities that emphasize teaching and learning and increased access that will support economic growth in the region, the Commonwealth, and beyond.

Given this mission, the educational goals of the college are to provide graduates with a solid foundation of knowledge, a level of skill that will allow them to function successfully in their professions upon graduation, and to a breadth of education that will allow them to meet the needs of the contemporary workplace and to be life-long learners.

In particular, it is our intention to demonstrate that a graduate of the College of Engineering will have met the following objectives:

• the ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
• the ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
• the ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs;
• the ability to function on multidisciplinary teams;
• the ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering and science problems;
• the understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
• the ability to communicate effectively;
• the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering and scientific solutions in a global/societal context;
• a recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning;
• a knowledge of contemporary issues; and,
• the ability to use techniques, skills, and modern engineering and science tools necessary for professional practice.
   

The knowledge and skills represented in the list above, which are consonant with those of the ABET, are essential in contemporary engineering and science endeavors, and contribute significantly to a graduate’s ability to function successfully in the ever-challenging and exciting engineering and science professions.

Transfer Agreements

The College of Engineering has agreements that facilitate the transfer of students from community colleges and four-year institutions that lack the engineering baccalaureate.

• Course and program articulation matrices facilitate planning and transfer between UMass Dartmouth engineering curricula and the courses and programs at Bristol, Massasoit and Cape Cod Community Colleges. Transfer applicants from other institutions are assessed individually.
• Students at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Framingham State College and Worcester State College who complete a specified 2-year curriculum and meet performance standards receive guaranteed admission to identified engineering programs at UMass Dartmouth.

Cooperative Education and Internships in the College of Engineering

The college offers an optional Co-operative Education program. Co-operative education provides an excellent opportunity for students to obtain valuable experience while studying at the university. Students enrolled in co-op spend two semesters and two summer sessions working at companies, engineering firms and government agencies. During these sessions, students are paid by their employers while applying their engineering knowledge. Participation in the co-op program extends the typical four-year BS degree for engineering and computer science programs to five years; however, it provides experience students need to successfully compete for highly sought-after jobs. It also provides an opportunity to earn money while enhancing their education.

Enrollment

Students enroll in the co-op program at the beginning of their sophomore year. To start, students participate in an informational meeting to learn how co-op works and the conditions for admission to the program. During the spring semester of the sophomore year students who have been admitted to the program participate in a series of seminars that prepare them to interact with employers and be hired to their co-op positions.

Requirements for Acceptance

Students must have a minimum GPA to be admitted to the co-op program and to have satisfied additional departmental requirements. A student will be denied further co-op participation if his/her GPA falls below the required GPA or if other requirements are not met.

Placement

The College of Engineering will assist students in finding an industry placement. Placement is not automatic. Students are responsible for preparing their resumes and posting them in the formats provided by the Career Development Center; furthermore, they are responsible for interviews with prospective companies and convincing the company that they will be a successful co-op employee.

On the Job Performance

Co-op students in the field are required to submit a report at the end of each work session to their department chairs. Students are also expected to follow the rules and regulations set by their employers and perform all duties assigned to them professionally.

Graduation Requirement

To graduate with a co-op certificate each student must have successfully completed the following sessions:

CO-OP-1: Participation in co-op seminars
CO-OP-2: First co-op work session
CO-OP-3: Second co-op work session
CO-OP-4: Third co-op work session
CO-OP-5: Fourth co-op work session

CO-OP-1 requires participation in a set of seminars presented by the college and the preparation and posting of a resume according to the specified format. Students then register for the zero-credit CO-OP-2 through CO-OP-5, successfully complete the work sessions and submit work session reports.  Performance is graded by the faculty co-op coordinator.

Co-op Work Sessions

The typical schedule for co-op students is shown below:

Each co-op student’s specific schedule is to be approved by the department Co-op Coordinator and the college Co-op Office.

Internships

Many faculty in the College of Engineering have excellent relationships with engineering employers in the region and nation, generating many opportunities for engineering internships. In addition, students often contact employers directly and arrange internships with the assistance of faculty advisors.

An internship is a supervised, practical learning experience, usually scheduled during the last two years of the student’s program. Interns engage in engineering work and earn credit for their experience. Immediate supervision is by the company or agency, and except in unusual circumstances the work is done outside the university. A faculty advisor monitors the internship and works with the company or agency to see that the work is appropriate for the course credit.

Internship may be used as a technical elective, with prior approval from the department chair and Dean’s office. Before the internship begins, students must submit a proposal detailing the work and learning experience for the approval of the internship advisor. Students should keep daily journal of their work and send copies or a written summary to the faculty advisor each week. A report summarizing the internship is required at the conclusion of the experience. There may be other requirements which must also be met. Co-op students can use one of these engineering internship courses to obtain credit for a qualified work experience.

Internships are usually undertaken on a part-time basis while the student continues taking classes; however, some internships are full-time and may be far from campus. In those cases the intern may not be able to enroll in other courses, but they must maintain appropriate health insurance as specified by the university.

Special Admission Programs

Alternative Paths

The engineering programs are rigorous, requiring strong high school preparation and high motivation. Students who have demonstrated an aptitude for engineering based upon SATs, or have demonstrated the ability and motivation for engineering studies as evidenced by their high school record, but have some deficiencies in their high school program, may still be offered admission to the College of Engineering.

Depending on the results of placement tests in mathematics, students may be placed into one of three courses in the fall semester: (a) MTH 151 (or 153), Calculus; (b) MTH 150, Precalculus; or (c) MTH 100, Basic Algebra. In the first case, the students will follow one of the standard programs shown on the following pages for each major. In cases (b) and (c), for the first year the student will enroll in the courses shown for Precalculus-ready and Algebra-ready students under each major. Some students in cases (b) and (c) may be able to raise their mathematics standing by taking courses during the summer. If they are able to improve their Accuplacer scores sufficiently on a re-test, they will be placed in a higher-level math course and curriculum. Starting the program in Precalculus or Algebra will extend the time to complete the program beyond four years.

Reduced Load

Students may carry a lighter course load than that defined by the standard curriculum. A five-year schedule is recommended for those students who need time for a part time job, sports or other time-consuming extracurricular activities. Some students who start on the standard curriculum later find it necessary to extend their program to 4 1/2 or 5 years. Some students may find it better adopt a 5-year schedule from the beginning. Personalized programs can be arranged through consultation with the student’s faculty advisor.

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