Late Entry Accelerated Program (LEAP)
LEAP PHASE I
Aerospace Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Computer Systems Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Photonics
Manager of Financial Aid and LEAP Helaine Friedlander
Faculty Advisors Daniel Cole, Manufacturing; Pierre Dupont, Mechanical; Andrew Jackson, Biomedical; William Oliver, Electrical, Computer Systems, and Photonics
Working professionals who seek new job opportunities recognize engineering as the ideal gateway to a fast-paced career in high technology. Many such opportunities, however, are inaccessible to individuals who lack a degree in engineering. For over twenty-five years, the Late Entry Accelerated Program (LEAP) at Boston University has allowed talented individuals and working professionals who have bachelor’s degrees in non-engineering fields to earn graduate degrees in engineering. Originally funded by a 1980 grant from the National Science Foundation as a means to attract more women into engineering, the program has admitted both men and women since 1985 and is supported by Boston University.
LEAP students may choose from any of the College’s graduate programs in biomedical, computer systems, electrical, manufacturing, mechanical, or photonics engineering. A LEAP student first takes core undergraduate engineering courses to achieve a fundamental level of proficiency (Phase I), then advances to Master’s degree candidacy in a chosen field of engineering (Phase II). The required undergraduate courses are determined individually for each applicant based on prior undergraduate degree coursework and work experience. Some students—physics undergraduates, for example—usually require only three or four undergraduate courses before proceeding to the Master’s program. Other students, such as social science or business majors, typically need additional undergraduate coursework. Undergraduate courses required for LEAP vary with field of study but cover such topics as computer programming, electric circuit theory, engineering mechanics, signals and systems, electronics, fluid mechanics, probability and statistics, engineering electives, and other science or mathematics courses as necessary. Sample core curricula are listed below by engineering major.
Admission to LEAP requires that the applicant have at least one prior college-level calculus course with a grade of B or better, suitable scores on the general Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and a strong motivation for advanced study.
Courses taken to satisfy Phase I LEAP requirements may not be used to satisfy Phase II MS requirements.
After meeting individualized undergraduate core curriculum requirements, LEAP students advance to Master’s degree candidacy in biomedical, computer systems, electrical, manufacturing, mechanical, or photonics engineering. Students with Phase I grade point averages of 3.2 or higher are guaranteed admission to the Master’s program in their chosen fields of study. Students with a grade point average of less than 3.2 must submit an application for admission to be reviewed by the Graduate Committee in the department of choice. Most students who maintain a grade point average of 3.0 for Phase I courses successfully make the transition to the Phase II Master’s program. The academic progress of LEAP students is monitored each semester.
The MS degree program usually can be completed in one year of additional full-time study once all required undergraduate courses have been completed. Upon completion of either Phase I or Phase II studies, LEAP students may also choose to apply to a PhD program in engineering at Boston University. LEAP students may apply for several forms of financial assistance as described in the Financial Information section of this bulletin.
Applicants to the LEAP Program should refer to the Instructions for LEAP (Late Entry Accelerated Program) Applicants in the application.
LEAP PHASE I COURSE REQUIREMENTS BY MAJOR
In addition to the entry requirement of a semester of college-level calculus with a grade of B or better, students must complete the courses listed below or present evidence of previous equivalent coursework. Depending on prior educational performance and background, a student may be asked to complete additional courses as part of the admissions process. The following curricula represent the minimum number of courses necessary to complete Phase I.
Aerospace Engineering
ENG EK 127 Engineering Computation
CAS MA 124 Calculus II
CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus (MA 124)
CAS MA 226 Differential Equations (MA 225)
CAS PY 211 Physics I (coreq. MA 124)
ENG EK 301 Engineering Mechanics I (PY 211 and EK 127; coreq. MA 225)
ENG EK 302 (FS) Engineering Mechanics II (EK 301)
ENG EK 303 (FS) Fluid Mechanics (EK 301)
ENG EK 305 (FS) Mechanics of Materials (EK 301)
ENG AM 400 (FS) Engineering Mathematics (MA 226)
ENG AM 403 (F) Atmospheric Flight Mechanics (EK 302, AM 400, AM 420)
ENG AM 420 (S) Aerodynamics (EK 303, AM 201 waived, AM 400)
Biomedical Engineering
ENG EK 127 Engineering Computation
CAS MA 124 Calculus II
CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus (MA 124)
CAS MA 226 Differential Equations (MA 225)
CAS CH 131 (F) Principles of General Chemistry
ENG BE 209 (S) Principles of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology (CH 101)
ENG BE 200 (S) Introduction to Probability (EK 126, MA 225)
or
CAS MA 381 Elementary Probability (MA 225)
CAS PY 211 Physics I (MA 123; coreq. MA 124)
ENG EK 301 Engineering Mechanics I (PY 211 and EK 126; coreq. MA 225)
or
ENG EC 410 Introduction to Electronics
ENG EK 307 Electric Circuit Theory (EK 126; coreq. MA 226)
ENG BE 401 (F) Signals and Systems in Biomedical Engineering (BE 200, EK 307, MA 226)
and
ENG BE 491 (F) Engineering Physiology Lab I, 2 cr, (coreq. BE 401)
One of the following (a, b, or c):
a. ENG BE 402 (S) Control Systems in Biomedical Engineering (BE 401)
b. ENG BE 420 (S) Introduction to Solid Biomechanics (MA 226, EK 301)
c. ENG BE 436 (F) Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics (MA 226, EK 301)
Computer Systems Engineering
ENG EK 127 Engineering Computation
CAS MA 124 Calculus II
CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus
CAS MA 226 Differential Equations
ENG EK 102 Introduction to Linear Algebra for Engineers (2 cr)
or
CAS MA 142 Linear Algebra (2 cr)
and
CAS MA 193 Discrete Mathematics (2 cr)
ENG EC 327 Programming with C++
ENG EK 307 Electric Circuit Theory (EK 126; coreq. MA226)
ENG EC 311 Introduction to Logic Design (Prereq. or coreq. EK 307)
ENG EC 312 Computer Organization (EC 311)
ENG EC 401 Signals and Systems (MA 226, EK 307)
Choose two of the following:
ENG EC 381 Probability Theory in ECE (MA 225)
ENG EC 440 (FS) Introduction to Operating Systems (CS 112 and EC 312)
ENG EC 441 (FS) Computer Communication and Networks (MA 381, EC 401)
ENG EC 447 Software Design
ENG EC 450 Microprocessors
Electrical Engineering
ENG EK 127 Engineering Computation
CAS MA 124 Calculus II
CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus (MA 124)
CAS MA 226 Differential Equations (MA 225)
Choose a or b:
a. ENG EC 381 Elementary Probability (MA 225)
b. ENG EK 102 Introduction to Linear Algebra for Engineers (2 cr)
or
CAS MA 142 Linear Algebra (2 cr)
and
CAS MA 193 Discrete Mathematics (2 cr)
CAS PY 211 Physics I
ENG EK 307 Electric Circuit Theory (EK 126; coreq. MA 226)
ENG EC 401 Signals and Systems (MA 226, EK 307)
ENG EC 410 Introduction to Electronics (EK 307)
Choose one of tracks (a) through (d):
a. Electromagnetics Track
CAS PY 212 Physics II
ENG EC 455 Electromagnetic Systems I (PY 212, MA 225, MA 226)
ENG EC 456 Electromagnetic Systems II
b. Information Systems Track
Three of the following:
ENG EC 402 Control Systems
ENG EC 412 Analog Electronics
ENG EC 415 Communication Systems
ENG EC 416 Introduction to Digital Signal Processing
c. Solid State Electronics Track
CAS PY 212 Physics II
CAS PY 313 Elementary Modern Physics
ENG EC 471 Physics of Semiconductor Devices
d. Computer Track
ENG EC 311 Introduction to Logic Design (coreq. EK 307)
ENG EC 312 Computer Organization
ENG EC 450 Microprocessors
Manufacturing Engineering
ENG EK 127 Introduction to Engineering Computation (coreq. MA 123)
CAS MA 124 Calculus II
CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus
CAS MA 226 Differential Equations
CAS PY 211 Physics I (MA 123; coreq. MA 124)
and
ENG EK 301 Engineering Mechanics I (PY 211 and EK 126; coreq. MA 225)
ENG MN 345 (FS) Automated Manufacturing (EK 156)
ENG EK 304 (FS) Energy and Thermodynamics (PY 211, coreq. MA 225)
or
ENG EK 424 (S) Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (CH 102, MA 226, PY 212)
ENG EK 305 (FS) Mechanics of Materials (EK 301)
ENG EK 306 (FS) Materials Science (PY 212)
ENG MN 308 (FS) Statistics and Quality Engineering (MA 225)
or
ENG EK 500 Probability with Statistical Applications (MA 226)*
ENG MN 415 (F) Product Design (coreq. [Ebner] MN 345, EK 409 or prior business experience)
Mechanical Engineering
ENG EK 127 Engineering Computation
CAS MA 124 Calculus II
CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus (MA 124)
CAS MA 226 Differential Equations (MA 225)
CAS PY 211 Physics I (coreq. MA 124)
ENG EK 301 Engineering Mechanics I (PY 211 and EK 127; coreq. MA 225)
ENG EK 302 (FS) Engineering Mechanics II (EK 301)
ENG EK 303 (FS) Fluid Mechanics (EK 301)
ENG EK 305 (FS) Mechanics of Materials (EK 301)
ENG AM 400 (FS) Engineering Mathematics (MA 226)
Choose two of the following:
ENG EK 304 (FS) Energy and Thermodynamics (PY 211, coreq. MA 225)
ENG AM 404 (S) Dynamics and Control of Mechanical Systems (EK 302)
ENG AM 419 (S) Heat Transfer (EK 303, EK 304, coreq. AM 400)
Photonics
ENG EK 127 Introduction to Engineering Computation (coreq. MA 123)
CAS MA 124 Calculus II
CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus
CAS MA 226 Differential Equations
CAS PY 211 Physics I (MA 123; coreq. MA 124)
CAS PY 212 Physics II
CAS PY 313 Elementary Modern Physics (MA 124, PY 211, PY 212)
ENG EK 307 Electric Circuit Theory (EK 126; coreq. MA 226)
ENG EC 401 Signals and Systems (MA 226, EK 307)
ENG EC 410 Introduction to Electronics (EK 307)
ENG EC 455 Electromagnetic Systems I (PY 212, MA 225, MA 226)
ENG EC 456 Electromagnetic Systems II (EC 455)
*Courses taken to satisfy the LEAP I requirements cannot be used to fulfill the MS degree requirements.)
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10 September 2007
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