D. Huddleston, Interim Dean
R.C. Loutzenheiser, Associate Dean for Basic Engineering, Recruiting and Retention
S. Deivanayagam, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research
T.D. Marable, Director of Minority Engineering
Departments and Programs
Vision
The College of Engineering will be an acknowledged leader in engineering and technology education.
Mission
Through education, research and service, we will prepare our graduates to integrate their expertise as engineers and technologists with cultural understanding to improve life in the region and the world.
Undergraduate Studies
The College of Engineering offers seven programs with curricula leading to Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Industrial Technology. Most students entering the College may select a particular major. However, if a student is not sure which major to enter, a common first-year curriculum for most majors is provided by the Basic Engineering Program, allowing additional time for the student to select a field of specialization.
The undergraduate programs in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, INC. The Industrial Technology program is accredited by the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE).
The normal load in the Engineering or Industrial Technology curricula is approximately 16 semester hours. Students may enroll for lighter loads, which will result in an increase in the number of terms necessary to complete requirements for graduation.
Graduate Studies
The College of Engineering offers programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
The Master of Science, a research-oriented degree program, is offered with majors in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Some programs include a non-thesis option. A full-time student usually completes the degree in 18 to 24 months.
The Doctor of Philosophy, coordinated by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, is under the direction of faculty advisory committees which are interdepartmental in nature. A highly qualified student, possessing an M.S. degree in Engineering, will normally need three to four years of full-time study to complete the degree.
For more information see the Graduate Catalog.
The Cooperative Education Programs
Students of all curricula of the College of Engineering are eligible to participate in the University’s Cooperative Education program. This program is one in which classroom study is integrated with practical industrial experience in an organized program under which students alternate on-campus study with off-campus employment in industry or with a governmental agency.
A student on the cooperative education program must complete the same course work as required of the regular four-year students. For a common program, a student initially attends college full-time for three semesters, has an off-campus COOP assignment for one to three semesters, returns to the campus for two or three semesters, has a second off-campus COOP assignment, and then returns to the campus to complete graduation requirements. The COOP program provides an excellent hands-on experience, but usually adds one or two additional years to complete the BS degree requirements. See Cooperative Education for more details.
Minority Engineering Program
The College of Engineering is committed to development of minority engineers through scholarships and special cooperative education opportunities. Several scholarships are offered for minority applicants in conjunction with a COOP experience.
Centers of Excellence
The College operates three State-supported accomplished Centers of Excellence: the Center for Manufacturing Research; the Center for the Management, Utilization and Protection of Water Resources; and the Center for Energy Systems Research. These Centers provide financial support and state-of-the-art facilities for undergraduate and graduate research projects.
Admission of Freshmen
In addition to meeting the requirements for admission to the University, students seeking admission to an Engineering major must have at least a 2.35 high school average and must have achieved a composite score of at least 20 and a mathematics subtest score of at least 20 on the ACT Test. It is advisable for engineering students to have completed 4 units of science (including physics, if possible) and at least 3 1/2 units of college preparatory mathematics, including a study of trigonometric identities, in high school. Applicants who have met the necessary prerequisites and have scored at least 27 on the mathematics ACT subtest will be admitted to Calculus I (MATH 1910 ). Precalculus courses ( MATH 1710 , MATH 1720 , or MATH 1730 ) or other math courses intended as preparation for MATH 1910 may not be utilized to satisfy any curricular requirement for graduation in an Engineering major. Students with less than the recommended preparation in mathematics are encouraged to enter the College of Engineering during summer semester immediately following high school graduation. Course offerings are normally available during the summer semester for students with deficiencies and for students who wish to begin their studies early.
Students selecting the Industrial Technology curriculum must have completed two units of high school algebra.
Admission of Transfer Students
In addition to meeting the requirements for admission to the University, transfer students seeking admission to an Engineering major must have
- a cumulative higher education QPA of at least 2.0 (excluding credit for remedial and developmental courses) and
- a grade of “C” or higher in a pre-calculus mathematics course that includes a study of the trigonometric identities.
The College of Engineering will assist transfer students in making the transition to Tennessee Tech at any point in their academic programs.
These requirements also apply to current TTU students desiring to change their major from a non-engineering program to Engineering. Tennessee Tech’s engineering curricula are designed so that the needs of students who choose to initially attend a community college or other college/university not offering a B.S. engineering program may be met. Students who complete the following list of approved courses at another institution may complete curricular requirements for a B.S. degree in Engineering at Tennessee Tech in approximately two years.
Students who wish to transfer to the Industrial Technology program should consult with the Chairperson of the Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology.
| Suggested Courses for 2-year Pre-engineering Program |
Semester Hours
|
|
| General Chemistry with Laboratory1 |
8 |
|
| English: Composition |
6 |
|
| Speech |
3 |
|
| Engineering Graphics |
2 |
|
| |
(must include CAD experience)2 |
|
|
| Introduction to Engineering3 |
1 |
|
| Computer Programming4 |
2 |
|
| Calculus |
12 |
|
| Differential Equations |
3 |
|
| English: American, British or World Literature |
3 |
|
| Physics (Calculus-based) with Laboratory5 |
8 |
|
| Mechanics – Statics6 |
3 |
|
| Mechanics – Dynamics6 |
3 |
|
| Social/Behavioral Sciences7 |
6 |
|
| Humanities and Fine Arts7 |
6 |
|
|
1
|
Students intending to major in Computer or Electrical Engineering do not need to take Chemistry II. |
| |
|
| 2 |
Students intending to major in Chemical, Computer or Electrical Engineering do not need to take Graphics. |
| |
|
| 3 |
Students intending to major in Computer, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering do not need to take Introduction. |
| |
|
| 4 |
Students should see the specific discipline for requirements. |
| |
|
| 5 |
This varies from 3 to 8, see the specific discipline to determine requirements. |
| |
|
| 6 |
Students planning to major in Chemical, Computer or Electrical Engineering should see the specific discipline for requirements. |
| |
|
| 7 |
See subsequent section on B.S. Degree and General Education Requirements. |
B.S. Degree and General Education Requirements
The student must complete the curriculum for the major subject chosen and must comply with General Requirements for a Baccalaureate Degree and the General Education Requirements. However, students majoring in engineering who completed one unit of American history in high school are exempt from the requirement of six semester hours of American history. Industrial Technology majors are not exempt and must take American History. If a student is deficient in high school history and/or other subjects, the student must remove the deficiency before earning 60 credit hours.
Studies in the General Education Requirements serve not only to meet the objectives of a broad education but also to meet the objectives of the professional accreditation agencies – ABET and ATMAE. In the interest of making engineering/technology students fully aware of their social responsibilities and their ability to consider related factors in decision-making, courses in the humanities/fine arts and the social/behavioral sciences are required. Each student is obligated to understand these requirements and know any special requirements within their particular major.
The courses offered in the “major subject” (used to calculate Major QPA) include all courses taken which bear the student’s departmental designation. This excludes courses listed as not for credit for these students. For computer engineering, ECE and CSC courses will constitute the “major subject.” Transfer courses that are equivalent to TTU courses will be considered in the QPA in the major but not in the QPA in the major at TTU. The departmental chairperson, or faculty member designated by the chairperson, serves as the student’s academic advisor.
