College of Engineering

Undergraduate Academic Policies / Student Organizations

College of Engineering Undergraduate Academic Policies

The academic status of every student in the College of Engineering is reviewed at the end of each semester. Full-time students maintain good academic standing when they (1) earn at least 12 academic credits in the semester just completed; (2) achieve a semester grade point average of at least 2.00; and (3) maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00.

Credit and Grading System

Academic work is graded on a letter scale and is interpreted in accordance with the University grading system.

Course Definition

A minimum of 4 quarter hours or 2.66 semester hours of credit constitutes a course.

Advanced Placement Credit or Credit by Examination

College of Engineering students may receive advanced placement credit by earning a qualifying score on the appropriate advanced placement examination administered by the College Board. Students who have taken the advanced placement examinations must have the official CEEB score reports submitted to the Admissions Office at Boston University in order to determine eligibility for advanced placement credit.

Note that if a student chooses to enroll in the same or equivalent course for which AP credit has been awarded, duplicate credits cannot be applied to the degree. A Boston University course takes precedence over AP credit.

Credit is also awarded for satisfactory performance on the General Examinations administered through the United States Armed Forces Institute.

International Baccalaureate Examinations Students in the College of Engineering may receive International Baccalaureate credit by attaining a qualifying score on the appropriate International Baccalaureate subject-matter examination. Course credit is determined by the Office of International Admissions, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.

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Transfer Credits

It is generally expected that undergraduate students in the College of Engineering will complete their degree requirements at Boston University. During the academic year (fall and spring semesters), courses will not be considered for transfer from another institution in the Boston area when the equivalent course is offered at Boston University.

Boston University students cannot satisfy program requirements through the transfer of credit earned during the summer at other institutions located within the greater Boston area, unless the credit involved is for a required course not offered through Boston University's Summer Term, and prior approval has been obtained from both the responsible department and dean of the requesting student. "Greater Boston area" is defined as that region inside of Route 128.

Transfer and Freshman Admissions Incoming freshmen and transfer students have their previous credits and coursework evaluated by the Undergraduate Programs Office in conjunction with the appropriate academic departments. The College does not ordinarily grant transfer credit for courses in which the student has received grades lower than C nor for courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis. All Engineering (ENG) upper-division transfer courses must be from an ABET accredited program. Students wishing to transfer an ENG course from a non-ABET accredited program may be required to provide additional documentation to determine course equivalence. Students who have questions concerning transfer credit evaluations should contact the Undergraduate Programs Office. All transfer credit and AP issues must be resolved within 6 months of matriculation in the College of Engineering.

Intra-University Transfers Boston University students in good standing who wish to transfer to the College of Engineering must apply through the Undergraduate Programs Office. Students without the appropriate mathematics and science background are required to successfully complete specified courses before the application for transfer will be reviewed. A grade point average of 2.7 is required to transfer into the College of Engineering. Students should contact the Undergraduate Programs Office for further information.

Transfer Credit for Continuing Students With prior approval, students may take courses at another college or university for credit toward their degree program. To ensure that credit for a course taken at another institution will transfer to Boston University and will satisfy the student's degree requirements, the student should complete a transfer credit approval form before taking the class. The transfer credit approval form must be accompanied by a course description from the other institution. A separate approval form must be submitted for each course for which the student is requesting transfer credit. For all chemistry, computer science, and engineering courses, a course syllabus may also be required for the evaluation. All Engineering (ENG) upper-division transfer courses must be from an ABET accredited program. Students wishing to transfer an ENG course from a non-ABET accredited program may be required to provide additional documentation to determine course equivalence.

Credit is posted only after an official transcript is received showing successful completion of the course(s). Official transcripts should be received in the semester following that in which the course(s) was taken. Students are reminded that a 3-credit course taken at another institution will transfer as 3 credits. Students are responsible for making up any credit deficiency which results from transfer credit. The College does not ordinarily grant transfer credit for courses in which the candidate has received grades lower than C or for courses which the candidate has taken on a Pass/Fail basis. It is generally expected that undergraduate students in the College of Engineering will complete their degree requirements at Boston University. During the academic year (fall and spring semester), courses will not be considered for transfer from another institution in the Boston area when the equivalent course is offered at Boston University.

Boston University students may not satisfy program requirements through the transfer of credit earned in the summer offerings of other institutions located within the greater Boston area, unless the credit involved is for a required course, not offered through Boston University's Summer Term, and prior approval has been obtained from both the responsible department and dean of the requesting student. "Greater Boston area" is defined as that region inside Route 128. A list of these schools is available through the Summer Term Office.

Course Load

Students are expected to be enrolled on a full-time basis. To be considered a full-time degree candidate, a student must be registered in a minimum of three 4-credit courses (12 credits). Students ordinarily are expected to proceed at the rate of 16–18 credits per semester.

Prior approval by a student's faculty advisor and the Undergraduate Records Office is required for any student to register for more than 18 credits; a student must be in good academic standing and have no incomplete grades on the academic record. Approval is not normally granted for more than 20 credits in a semester. Continuing students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better are eligible for a waiver of tuition charges beyond 18 credits, but for no more than an additional 2 credits. Any student in good academic standing with a minimum of 96 credits toward his/her degree (senior status) may apply to take a total of 20 credits per semester in the senior year without incurring additional tuition charges. First semester freshmen are not permitted to overload. Second semester freshmen are permitted to overload only if they have achieved a grade point average of 3.30 or higher. A Course Overload Authorization form must be filled out by the student indicating all classes for which the student is registering. It must be signed by the student's faculty advisor and submitted to the Undergraduate Records Office with the student's registration form.

Enrollment in fewer than three courses (12 credits) in any semester requires advance approval for part-time status from the Undergraduate Programs Office.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend each class session. A student may be required at any time to account for any undue irregularity in attendance. Any student who has been excessively absent from a course may be asked to withdraw from that course.

Declaring a Major

All undergraduate engineering students are required to declare their major by spring semester of their sophomore year during the pre-registration period for the following fall semester.

Class Standing

Class standing is determined at the beginning of each fall semester based on the number of academic credits earned which fulfill requirements in the student's degree program as follows:

Information on class standing can be obtained from the Undergraduate Records Office. Please note that grades of W, I, X, and AU are not included in computing class standing.

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Adding or Dropping a Course

To add or drop a course, students must complete a course adjustment form, available in the Undergraduate Records Office, or use the WebReg system. Students should consult with their advisors before adding or dropping a course.

A course may be added only during the first two weeks of classes. A module section change in a course such as ENG EK 131/132 may only occur during the first week of instruction.

A course dropped during the first five weeks of classes will not appear on the student's permanent record. After the first five weeks, a dropped course will appear on the student's record as a W (Withdrawal).

Courses may be dropped up to the deadline posted on the Registrar's Office website, typically mid-semester. After that point, no course may be dropped.

Residence Requirement

A minimum of 48 credits of coursework must be taken at Boston University in a student's upper-division program within five years preceding graduation, with the exception of absence for military service. A student's upper-division program consists of the program requirements and/or program electives required for the student's major as listed on the Program Planning Sheet for the junior and senior years. Social science, humanities, or writing seminar courses taken during the junior or senior years cannot be counted toward a student's residence requirement.

Examinations

Course examinations are given at the discretion of the instructor. Final examinations are required in most undergraduate courses and are given during the scheduled examination period.

A student who is unable to attend an examination should contact the instructor as early as possible prior to the examination to discuss the possibility of alternate arrangements. A student who is absent from an examination may request a make-up examination only if the examination was missed for a serious reason (such as illness or family emergency). Students with family emergencies or illnesses should contact the Undergraduate Programs Office as soon as possible so that instructors can be notified. Please be aware that special or make-up examinations will not be scheduled to accommodate a student's travel plans.

Final examinations are administered according to the official final examination schedule determined by the Undergraduate Records Office in conjuction with the schedule published by the University Registrar's office and posted on the StudentLink. Scheduling conflicts regarding final examinations should be brought to the attention of the Manager of the Undergraduate Records Office, ERB 108.

Incomplete Coursework

A temporary grade of Incomplete (I) is given when, for reasons acceptable to the instructor, a student fails to complete any of the required coursework by the end of the semester. An incomplete contract is a formal agreement between the student and instructor which includes:

1. The coursework that remains to be completed.
2. The date by which the specified work must be completed (no later than one calendar year).
3. The final grade to be substituted for the I grade if the specified work is not completed by the specified date.

The incomplete contract should be filed by the instructor with the Undergraduate Records Office when the grade sheet is submitted.

If the student completes the specified work by the specified time, the instructor completes a grade change form indicating the final grade earned. The student should check with the instructor to ensure that a grade change form has been submitted.

If the student does not complete the specified work by the specified time, the I grade is replaced with the final grade specified by the instructor on the incomplete contract. If a final grade is not specified, or if an incomplete contract is not filed, the I grade automatically converts to an F grade after one year.

Since incomplete grades are not included in credit hours used to determine good academic standing, a student with incomplete grades may be placed on academic probation if completed coursework falls below 12 credits. Incomplete grades can also affect eligibility for financial aid, as well as on-campus housing, if a minimum of 12 credits are not completed in the semester.

It is important to note that the College of Arts and Sciences' (CAS) policy on incomplete coursework may differ from the College of Engineering's policy. An I grade in a CAS course is subject to the College of Arts and Sciences' policy.

Academic Status

The academic status of every student in the College of Engineering is reviewed at the end of each semester. Failure to make satisfactory progress can result in academic probation, suspension for a stated time or until stated conditions are met, academic withdrawal, or permanent suspension.

Full-time students maintain good academic standing when they: (1) earn at least 12 academic credits in the semester just completed; (2) earn a semester grade point average of at least 2.0; and (3) maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. (Note: Academic credits do not include PDP credits.)

Dean's List

The top 30 percent of students are placed on the Dean's List of academic honor each semester. They must achieve a semester grade point index of at least 3.0 for all courses taken with at least 12 credit hours and no incomplete, missing, or unresolved grades.

Academic Probation

Students are placed on academic probation when their academic performance in the semester just completed fails to meet the criteria for good standing (see above). Being placed on academic probation may affect a student's eligibility to hold an office in a College or University organization, participate in intercollegiate events or programs, including athletics, and/or otherwise represent the College or University. A student on probation is not excluded from membership in a student organization.

To be removed from probationary status, students must meet the criteria for good academic standing in the next semester for which they register. Students who fail to meet the criteria to be removed from probation are subject to suspension from the University.

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College-Initiated Withdrawal, Suspension, and Dismissal

The College of Engineering reserves the right to academically withdraw, suspend, or dismiss a student at any time for academic misconduct or for failure to maintain a satisfactory academic record. A student on academic probation may be placed on academic suspension if s/he does not meet the criteria for good standing in the next semester for which s/he is registered. A student can also be suspended when the associate dean judges that academic progress toward a degree has virtually ceased.

College of Engineering students who intend to transfer to another College at Boston University may only register through the College of Engineering for two semesters while completing the intra-university transfer process. After two semesters of coursework at another College, such students may be suspended by the College of Engineering for failure to make satisfactory progress toward an engineering degree.

Reinstatement

A suspended student is eligible to apply to be considered for reinstatement in the College of Engineering after the requirements specified for reinstatement are met. Students must submit a letter to the associate dean requesting reinstatement. This letter must be accompanied by an official transcript indicating improved academic performance. Reinstatement of a suspended student is always to a probationary status. In the event a student is reinstated, it is important for the student, faculty advisor, and academic counselor to review and assess the student's program. This review should also consider any curricular changes that may have occurred during the student's absence.

A student who has been reinstated following academic suspension must achieve good academic standing in the next semester in which he or she is registered at Boston University. Failure to achieve good academic standing will result in permanent suspension from the University.

Student-Initiated Leave of Absence, Withdrawal, and Reinstatement

Students wishing to withdraw or take a leave of absence from the College must submit their requests in writing to the University Service Center, 881 Commonwealth Avenue (lower level), Boston, Massachusetts 02215. A withdrawal or leave of absence is effective on the day the signed request is received; tuition and fees are canceled in accordance with the University's refund schedule, which is published by the Office of the University Registrar. Exit interviews are conducted with students who visit the University Service Center.

Undergraduate students who have left the College voluntarily for one or more semesters must contact the Undergraduate Programs Office, College of Engineering, before returning.

Students who matriculate at another institution and wish to return must apply for transfer admission through the Office of Admissions.

Academic Conduct

For College of Engineering students, charges of academic misconduct, such as cheating on examinations, theft of examinations, plagiarism, alteration of work after submission, or alteration of records, are referred to the College of Engineering Academic Conduct Committee.

In all charges of academic misconduct against a student, the student is entitled to a full and fair hearing for any disciplinary proceedings that may be conducted. For more information, consult the College of Engineering Undergraduate Handbook and the Academic Conduct Code .

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Academic Advising and Counseling

Faculty Advising The faculty advisor plays a central role in guiding the student's academic program, assisting in course selection, and providing guidance and counseling in all academic matters. Upon entering the College of Engineering, each student is assigned a faculty advisor. In order to register each semester, students are required to meet with their faculty advisor, discuss their academic progress and course selection, and obtain the faculty advisor's signature on the registration form. A list of each faculty member's research interests and areas of expertise is available in the department offices.

Academic Counseling Academic counselors are available at the Undergraduate Programs Office. They provide resources and services to assist students throughout their undergraduate studies with all issues that may affect their academic performance.

Other Resources Additional academic support and counseling services are provided through the Educational Resource Center and the Danielsen Institute. The University chaplain, the staff of religious counselors, and the residence hall counselors are also available to students of the College for guidance and counseling.

Tutoring

The College of Engineering offers free tutoring for undergraduates enrolled in an engineering degree program. The office is typically open Monday through Thursday evenings. Additional information is available at the Undergraduate Programs Office.

Cross-Registration

Students may cross-register for one course per semester. Students may cross-register at Boston College, Brandeis University, Tufts University, Hebrew College, and the Boston Architectural Center. Contact the Office of the University Registrar for more information.

Special Students

Non-degree students who wish to take an undergraduate engineering course may request special student status from the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs. If approved, registration will be processed through the College of Engineering Undergraduate Programs Office, ERB 107. Degree-seeking/matriculated Boston University students have first priority for course registration and enrollment. Special students may be denied enrollment if the course is oversubscribed.

Graduation

The BS degree requires 130 to 136 semester credits of prescribed curricular courses, depending on the program selected. No more than 12 credits with a grade of D may be applied toward a degree. This graduation requirement applies only to the set of courses presented for graduation and not to all courses that appear on the transcript. In addition, a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for all courses taken at Boston University is required.

Students who have transferred courses from another college or university and have satisfied all program requirements, but are deficient in the required number of credit hours to graduate, are required to make up the deficiency by taking an academic course which carries Boston University credit, with the exception of PDP courses, and is graded on the basis of A, B, C, or D. Courses graded Pass/Fail are not acceptable unless approved by the College of Engineering Undergraduate Committee. Duplicate course credit and courses below the level of the minimum degree requirements cannot be used to fulfill this credit deficiency. A minimum of 24 credits in the social sciences and humanities is required. A credit deficiency in the mathematics and natural science requirements must be satisfied by a mathematics or natural science course. A minimum of 16 credits in mathematics and 16 credits in natural science is required. A credit deficiency in the social science and humanities requirement must be satisfied by a social science or humanities course, or by a modern foreign language course for non-native speakers.

A graduation application must be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Records at least six months prior to the date of graduation. The applicant is required to have a formal graduation review with the Undergraduate Records Office. This is to ensure that all curricular and credit requirements have been, or will be, met in time for graduation.

Graduation with Honors

Among graduating seniors, 5% will be awarded degrees summa cum laude, 10% degrees magna cum laude, and 15% cum laude. In no case will students be awarded Latin honors for grade point averages below 3.0.

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Student Organizations

Tau Beta Pi Association

This national engineering honor society was founded in 1885 to offer appropriate recognition for superior scholarship and exemplary character to engineering students and professional persons. Tau Beta Pi has collegiate chapters at 205 institutions and a total initiated membership of more than 358,000.

Alpha Eta Mu Beta Honor Society

This organization is an honor society for biomedical engineering. The society promotes an understanding of the profession and recognizes and encourages excellence in the field. The purpose of the society is to bring into closer union and to mark in an outstanding manner those biomedical engineers who have manifested a deep interest and marked ability in their chosen life work so as to promote an understanding of their profession and to develop its members professionally. There are currently twenty chapters of this society in the country.

Eta Kappa Nu

This organization is the national honor society for Electrical and Computer Engineering. The organization was founded in 1904 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Currently, there are over 200 chapters in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Eta Kappa Nu recognizes scholarship and aims to assist members in becoming better professionals.

Student Branch, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

AIAA is the principal society for the aerospace profession, providing for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge of the theory and practice of the aeronautical and astronautical sciences. It affords students the opportunity to explore interests in the aerospace industry and encourages professional consciousness and fellowship. The student branch sponsors plant trips, lectures by industry professionals, and an alumni/student social event. Members can also participate in projects such as remote-control aircraft design. Membership is open to all students at Boston University.

Student Chapter, Biomedical Engineering Society

This professional society is concerned with the application of all engineering specialties to health care and the life sciences. The student chapter sponsors lectures and collects information about graduate training and career opportunities. Membership is open to all engineering and science students at Boston University.

Student Chapter, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

This professional society serves the broad spectrum of engineering applications of the electrical and computer sciences. More than 30 professional groups within IEEE cover a wide range of disciplines including all of the academic programs offered at the College of Engineering. Membership is open to all engineering and science students at Boston University.

Student Chapter, Society of Manufacturing Engineers

This professional society stimulates research and disseminates knowledge in all phases of manufacturing engineering. Student members participate in field trips, technical seminars, and lecture series, and are upgraded automatically to regular society membership one year after graduation. Student membership is open to undergraduate and graduate students.

Student Section, American Society of Mechanical Engineers

This national society, with more than 100,000 regular members and 250 student sections, is dedicated to advancing the profession of mechanical engineering. Members are active at all levels of almost every segment of business, industry, education, and government. Membership in the student section brings students into contact with practicing engineers through technical meetings with guest speakers, field trips to local industries, and regional and national society functions, including the regular meetings of the Boston section of ASME. Upon graduation, student members can become associate members of the society. Student membership is open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students.

Student Section, Society of Women Engineers

This professional society is a nonprofit, educational service organization of graduate women engineers and women with equivalent engineering experience. The objectives of the society are: to inform young women, their parents, counselors, and the general public of the qualifications and achievements of women engineers and the opportunities open to them; to assist women engineers in readying themselves for a return to active work after temporary retirement; to serve as a center of information on women in engineering; to encourage women engineers to attain high levels of educational and professional achievement. Membership is open to all students in the College of Engineering.

FIRST Robotics Team

FIRST stands for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology" and is a national organization (www.usfirst.org) that aims to encourage high school students to get excited about science and technology. Every spring hundreds of teams across the country design and build robots to play in a game specified by the FIRST organization. The robots compete in regional competitions in March/April; winners then go to Atlanta, Georgia for the national competition at the end of April.

The BU FIRST Robotics team (Team 246) has been in existence since 1998. The team is run by BU undergraduates who work with high school pupils from the BU Academy and other area high schools. Students can be involved in a number of activities within the team including: fund-raising, mechanical design and fabrication, electrical design and fabrication, software design, and management.

Institute of Industrial Engineers

The Institute of Industrial Engineers aims to promote a better environment for successful engineers by bridging the gap between school and industry. Members familiarize themselves with the intricacies of industry though plant tours, speakers, and hands-on experiences. The organization helps to provide students with insight into careers in industrial engineering.

Minority Engineers Society

The Minority Engineers Society is a student organization founded to foster the academic and social development of minorities by informing them of opportunities open to them. The society sponsors a guest speakers series, a career fair, various workshops, an academic reference library, tutoring services and tutorial study sessions, industrial field trips, a résumé book, and the annual awards banquet where scholarships are presented. MES is a chapter of the National Society for Black Engineers and is open to all students of Boston University.

Pi Tau Sigma Honor Society

Pi Tau Sigma is the national mechanical engineering honor society. The objectives of this society are to encourage and recognize the achievements of undergraduate students in mechanical engineering, to foster high ideals in the engineering profession, to develop leadership and citizenship, to stimulate and support departmental activities, and to honor practicing engineers for distinguished technical attainments.

Society of Automotive Engineers

The Society of Automotive Engineers comprises 50,000 engineers and scientists working together to advance the field of mobility. With their diverse educational backgrounds, members are dedicated to furthering the research, development, design, manufacture, and utilization of land, sea, air, and space vehicles.

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association represents the College of Engineering undergraduate population. Its purpose is to promote School and class interest. The Engineering Student Government Association is comprised of class officers and the executive board. It is a subgroup of the University's Student Union.

Sigma Gamma Tau Honor Society

Sigma Gamma Tau is the honor society for Aerospace Engineering. The objective of the society is to recognize and honor those individuals in the field of aeronautics and astronautics who have, through scholarship, integrity, and outstanding achievement, been a credit to their profession. The society seeks to foster a high standard of ethics and professional practice and to create a spirit of loyalty and fellowship, particularly among students of aerospace engineering.

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

The society promotes the development of Hispanics in engineering, science, and other technical professions to achieve educational excellence, economic opportunity, and social equity. Its objectives are to increase educational opportunities; promote professional and personal growth; implement the social responsibilities related to education, business, and government issues; and enhance the reputation of, and students' pride in, the organization and its vital contributions.

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Sherborn Street
Boston, MA 02215

22 October 2007
Boston University
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