A.JAMES CLARK SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING (ENGR)

3110 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, 301-405-8335
www.eng.umd.edu
Dean: Darryll Pines
Associate Dean(s): William Fourney, Mark Shayman, Alison Flatau

The Clark School, located in close proximity to many of the federal agencies and techcorporations that help shape the field of engineering, offers students exceptional opportunities to prepare for and launch rewarding careers and help make the world a better place.

We combine rigorous classroom learning with initiatives that let students apply concepts through hands-on work, including the autonomous hovercraft project in freshman year and capstone courses in junior and senior years; numerous national and international engineering competitions in which the school is consistently successful; and extensive internship opportunities.

We offer students the chance to engage in cutting-edge research, whether in the many labs run by prominent faculty members in state-of-the-art facilities, or with potential employers in nearby federal research labs and corporations.  Research enables students to dig deeper into their majors or explore new areas of possible interest.

Entrepreneurship is a key characteristic of Clark School students, and the school offers nationally recognized living-learning programs to help students understand and begin the process of tech company formation. The school maintains a strong program to link students with counterparts in the Smith School of Business.

With one of the nation’s most active chapters of Engineers Without Borders, Clark School students can apply their skills and energies in the service of less fortunate people all around the world. Service options closer to home are available through the many student societies, alternative spring breaks and targeted initiatives started by fellow students.

It is this range of opportunities that makes the Clark School so valuable to talented, ambitious students who want a deeper university experience. We encourage you to explore further by visiting www.eng.umd.edu .

Admission Requirements

Direct Admissions Requirements

1. Admission to the Clark School of Engineering is limited. Applicants are reviewed and will be admitted directly on a competitive basis. Evaluation is based on high school grades, standardized test scores, activities, leadership and demonstrations of potential to succeed. An applicant may apply to any of the majors offered within the School. An applicant also has the option of entering as an Undecided Engineering major and will typically choose a degree program in the first year.

2. National Merit and National Achievement Finalists and Semifinalists, Maryland Distinguished Scholar Finalists, and Banneker/Key Scholars are admitted directly to the School Academic Benchmarks

Four Year Plan

The Clark School of Engineering has expectations and policies that are designed to promote the success of its students and to ensure timely progress to the degree.  A student, in consultation with School and departmental advisors, is required to develop an individual plan for timely completion of his/her degree program.  The plan will be reviewed by the student and his/her advisor on a regular basis and revised, if necessary, as individual circumstances change.  Under normal circumstances, a student is expected to complete his/her degree requirements in no more than four years.

Benchmarks

Directly admitted freshmen will be subject to an academic review at the end of the semester in which they attain 45 University of Maryland credits. In order to successfully complete the review, students must have an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and have completed ENES 100, Fundamental Studies English, one Distributed Studies Course from the Humanities or Social Sciences, and the following sequence of Gateway requirements: MATH 141, PHYS 161, and CHEM 113, CHEM 135, or CHEM 271 with a grade of C- or better.

Only one repeat of a single course to the set of Gateway courses, either at the University of Maryland or at any other university or college, will be considered to meet the review requirements. A course in which a grade of W (withdrawn) is earned is counted as an attempt. Students who fail to meet these requirements by the semester in which they attain 45 University of Maryland credits may be dismissed from the Clark School and may not reapply. Dismissed students may appeal in writing directly to the Associate Dean of Retention, Graduation and Career Services in the Clark School.

The second benchmark review occurs two semesters after the 45 credit review, and the third benchmark review occurs two semesters after the second review. Transfer students admitted to the Clark School will be subject to only the second and third benchmark reviews. 

Each academic program has specific benchmark requirements.  Refer to www.eng.umd.edu/advising/advising_4-year-plans.html for program benchmarks.

 

Transfer Admission

Direct Admissions Requirements

Internal and external transfer students will be directly admitted to the Clark School if they meet the Gateway requirements, MATH141, PHYS 161, CHEM113 or CHEM135 with a grade of C- or better, have completed Fundamental Studies English, have completed at least one Humanities or Social Studies course, and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all college-level coursework,  and who have not previously been admitted to the Clark School of Engineering. Only one repeat of a single course to the set of Gateway courses, either at the University of Maryland or at any other university or college, will be considered to meet the review requirements. A course in which a grade of W (withdrawn) is earned is counted as an attempt. Students should wait until all gateway requirements are complete before applying for admission to the School.

Appeal Process
All students denied admission to the Clark School may appeal the decision in writing directly to the Associate Dean of Retention, Graduation and Career Services in the Clark School. External transfer students who are denied admission to the University may appeal to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions of the University.

Special Note
Students with a previous B.A. or B.S. degree will be admitted to the Clark School of Engineering with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all college-level coursework and a completion of MATH140, MATH141, CHEM113 or CHEM135, and PHYS 161 with a grade of C- or higher in each. Post-baccalaureate students must meet all transfer admission requirements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engineering Transfer Programs
Most of the community colleges in Maryland provide one- or two-year programs which have been coordinated to prepare students to enter the sophomore or junior year in engineering at the University of Maryland. These curricula are identified as Engineering Transfer Programs in the catalogs of the sponsoring institutions. The various associate degree programs in technology do not provide the preparation and transferability into the degree curricula as the designated transfer programs. A maximum of one-half of the degree credits (approximately 60 semester hours) may be transferred from a two-year community college program.

There may be some courses which are not offered by the schools participating in the Engineering Transfer program. Students should investigate the feasibility of completing these courses in summer school at the University of Maryland before starting their junior course work in the fall semester.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements/Degree Options

Structure of Engineering Curricula: Courses in the normal curriculum or program and prescribed credit hours leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science (with curriculum designation) are outlined in the sections describing each department in the Clark School of Engineering. No student may modify the prescribed number of hours without special permission from the Dean of the School. The courses in each curriculum may be classified in the following categories:

1.  Courses in the General Education Program,

2.  Courses in the physical sciences, mathematics, chemistry, physics.

3.  Related technical courses, engineering sciences and other courses approved for one curriculum but offered by another department.

4.  Courses in the major department. A student should obtain written approval for any substitution of courses from the department chair and the Dean of the School. The courses in each engineering curriculum, as classified below, form a sequential and developmental pattern in subject matter. In this respect, curricula in engineering may differ from curricula in other colleges. Some regulations which are generally applicable to all students may need clarification for purposes of orderly administration among engineering students (see the Academic Regulations in chapter 4). Moreover, the Clark School of Engineering establishes policies which supplement university regulations.

School Regulations

1.  The responsibility for proper registration and for satisfying stated prerequisites for any course must rest with the student as does the responsibility for proper achievement in courses in which the student is enrolled. Each student should be familiar with the provisions of this catalog, including the Academic Regulations.

2.  Required courses in mathematics, physics, and chemistry have highest priority. It is strongly recommended that every engineering student register for mathematics and chemistry or mathematics and physics each semester until the student has fully satisfied requirements of the Clark School of Engineering in these subjects.

3.  To be eligible for a bachelor's degree in the Clark School of Engineering, a student must have an overall average of at least a 2.0 and a grade of C- or better in all engineering and CMSC courses used to satisfy major requirements.  Responsibility for knowing and meeting all graduation requirements in any curriculum rests with the student.

4.  In addition to the requirement for a C- or better in all engineering and CMSC courses, all students who begin college-level work, either at the University of Maryland or any other institution in the Spring 2005 semester or later, must receive a grade of C- or higher in all technical courses (e.g. mathematics, physics, etc) used to satisfy major requirements.

5.  A course taken at UM in which a grade has been earned may not be repeated via transfer from another institution.

6. Students in the Clark School of Engineering must have a minimum 2.0 University of Maryland GPA to enroll in courses at another institution.

7.  All students are required to complete a number of general education courses and must follow the university's  requirements regarding completion of the General Education Program. Consult the Academic Regulations section of this catalog for additional information. Engineering students who began college-level work (either at the University of Maryland or at other institutions) during the Fall 1989 semester or later are required to complete a junior- level technical writing course regardless of their performance in freshman English classes. This represents a School policy, not a University-wide policy.

8.  All degree programs in the Clark School of Engineering require a minimum of 120 credits plus satisfaction of all department, School, and University general education program requirements. Students should be aware that for all currently existing engineering programs the total number of credits necessary for the degree exceeds 120 by some number that depends on the specific major.

Curricula for the various engineering departments are given in this catalog to illustrate how the programs can be completed in four years. These curricula are rigorous and relatively difficult. Surveys have shown that only about one-third to one-half of the students actually receive an engineering degree in four years. The majority of students (whether at Maryland or at other engineering schools nationwide) complete the engineering program in four and one-half to five years. It is quite feasible for a student to stretch out any curriculum; this may be necessary or desirable for a variety of reasons. However, students should seek competent advising in order to ensure that courses are taken in the proper sequence.

All students are urged to complete a senior audit using Degree Navigator and review with their departmental advisor at least two semesters prior to graduation.  The purpose of the senior audit is to discuss academic progress and confirm that graduation requirements are being completed.

Departments and Degrees

The Clark School of Engineering consists of eight academic departments and offers the degree of Bachelor of Science in the following fields of study: Aerospace Engineering, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Fire Protection Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. All of the above programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org , 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: (410) 347-7700.

Freshman-Sophomore Years

The freshman and sophomore years in engineering are designed to lay a strong foundation in mathematics, physical sciences, and the engineering sciences upon which the student will later develop a professional program during the upper division (junior and senior) years. During the first two years, students are introduced to the concepts of engineering design and work in multidisciplinary teams. The School course requirements for the freshman and sophomore years are similar for all students, regardless of their intended academic program, thus affording the student maximum flexibility in choosing a specific engineering specialization.

Engineering Sciences

Engineering Science courses represent a common core of basic material offered to students of several different departments. All freshman and sophomore students of engineering are required to take ENES 100. Other ENES courses, 102, 220, and 221, are specified by the different departments or taken by the student as electives. The responsibility for teaching the engineering science courses is divided among the engineering departments. In addition to the core courses noted above, several courses of general interest to engineering or non-engineering students have been given ENES designations. See the List of Approved Courses in chapter 8 for further descriptions of these courses.

Freshman Curriculum

See individual department requirements in the Departments and Majors section of this site. Entering freshman math placement is determined solely by performance on the University math placement exam and not on the Math SAT score. Placement in MATH 115 or lower will delay by a semester eligibility to take certain engineering courses.

Sophomore Year

No later than the sophomore year, a student should select an academic degree program (Aerospace, Bioengineering, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Fire Protection, Mechanical, or Materials Science and Engineering) and this department assumes the responsibility for the student's academic guidance, counseling, and program planning from that point until the completion of the degree requirements of that program as well as the School. For the specific requirements, see the curriculum listing in each engineering department.

 

Advising

Advising is mandatory for all students in the Clark School. Advising for freshmen and undecided engineering students is provided by the Office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Support, located in Room 1131 Glenn L. Martin Hall, 301-405-9973, and is available by appointment Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-in advising is also available at specific times during the week. Appointments for other hours can be made by special request. Students with a declared engineering major should seek advising from their academic department. Refer to the individual program for additional information.

Minors

Engineering Leadership Development: 16 credits.  Preparing engineering students for life-long leadership roles in education, industry, and government is the goal of the minor in engineering leadership development. The minor will complement the technical skills and knowledge students acquire during their academic careers to better prepare them for leadership and collaborative roles in their professional futures. Students may earn the minor and a notation on their official transcript by completing coursework which focuses on communication, global awareness, project management, understanding oneself and working effectively with others. Contact the minor advisor, Ramsey Jabaji( rjabaji@umd.edu ), or visit the web at www.ursp.umd.edu/leadership/index.html for more information.

International Engineering: 15 to 18 credits. In addition to a strong engineering background, there is a need for engineers with cross-cultural experience and foreign language abilities. Students may earn the minor by completing a course in International Business Cultures for Engineering and Technology, a Global Studies Minor Program signature course, and additional courses in language, culture studies, or internationally related studies, plus an engineering experience abroad. Contact the minor advisor, Ramsey Jabaji ( rjabaji@umd.edu , or visit the web at www.ursp.umd.edu/international/index.html for more information. Students who fulfill minor requirements will receive a notation on their official transcript.

Nanoscience and Technology: 15 credits. Explosive growth in the field of nanometer scale science and technology (NS&T) has led in the past few years to many technological advances in devices and materials structured at the nanometer scale. The Interdisciplinary Minor Program of Study in Nanoscience and Technology is intended to prepare participating students for a career in this rapidly developing field. This program draws upon the considerable expertise in nanoscience at the University of Maryland, in departments distributed among three schools, Engineering, Computer, Mathematics and Physical Sciences and Chemistry and Life Sciences. Students take courses in Fabrication/Synthesis and Characterization, which emphasize the experimental side of NS&T, as well as Fundamental Science and Specialization Electives, which teach the underlying principles and directions, and include underlying theory and the motivations for NS&T. Visit the web site www.nanocenter.umd.edu/education/nano_minor/nano_minor.php  for more information.

Nuclear Engineering:  15 credits. The need for engineers with knowledge of nuclear engineering topics will grow significantly in the coming years, with new nuclear plants being planned, existing plants continuing operation, and increasing industrial and medical uses of radiation sources. The minor in Nuclear Engineering provides an engineering student with an understanding of nuclear engineering and its application to many different fields, such as power generation, reactor operation, and industrial uses. Students in the minor will learn the fundamentals of nuclear reactor engineering, radiation interactions and measurement, power plant design concepts, and reactor safety and risk assessment. The minor is open to any student in the Clark School of Engineering. Contact Dr. G.A. Pertmer (pertmer@umd.edu) for further information.  Students who fulfill minor requirements will receive a notation on their official transcript.

Project Management: 15 credits. A basic understanding of project management is becoming increasingly important for engineers. Such knowledge enables them to contribute immediately to employers, and to advance their careers. In addition to a strong engineering background, there is significant need for engineers to understand the fundamentals of managing projects in order to effectively participate as members of project teams. Students who successfully complete minor requirements will receive a notation on their official transcript. Contact Dr. Qingbin Cui, Project Management Minor Advisor (cui@umd.edu) or visit the web site: http://pm.umd.edu/page.php?id=642

Technology Entrepreneurship: 15 credits. The goal of the Minor in Technology Entrepreneurship is to infuse technology-creating students with that knowledge and its accompanying skills. The Minor in Technology Entrepreneurship prepares students for launching successful technology ventures and bringing life-changing products and services to market. The minor develops the entrepreneurial mind-set and functional skillsets of students to improve their ability to create, launch, and manage technology ventures. Students earn the minor by completing coursework which focuses on entrepreneurial opportunity analysis, marketing high-technology products, strategies for managing innovation, and international entrepreneurship and innovation. For details and contact information, visit www.mtech.umd.edu/educate/minor/ .

Living-Learning Programs

Flexus:  The Dr. Marilyn Berman Pollans Women in Engineering Living & Learning Community
Women in Engineering Program
1131 Glenn L. Martin Hall
301-405-3931
Director: Paige Smith

The Women in Engineering Living & Learning Community (WIE LLC) is open to any first-year female engineering student with an interest in promoting gender diversity in the field of engineering. Students who complete the first year of the program are invited to participate in a second year. The program seeks to promote community among first and second year engineering students committed to gender diversity in the field and to provide encouragement and support for academic and professional success by:

1. introducing students to women mentors and role models;
2. offering professional and personal development opportunities;
3. helping students make connections with peers in engineering and
4. reinforcing important technical skills needed to succeed in engineering.

The components of this living and learning community include a one credit seminar course, course clustering, residential housing on a common floor in Easton Hall and resources provided in the residence hall. Participants will also have the opportunity to work closely with Virtus: a Living and Learning Community for Success in Engineering

Virtus: A Living and Learning Community for Success in Engineering
Successful Engineering Education and Development Support Program
1131 Glenn L. Martin Hall
301-405-3936
Coordinator: Tamara Fuller

Virtus provides first-year male engineering students access to an engineering based living and learning environment. The primary goal of Virtus is to promote community among first and second year engineering students and to provide support for academic and professional success. Living in Easton Hall, participants will be introduced to a diverse range of mentors and role models and offered professional and personal development opportunities. In addition to a common residence floor, the components of this living and learning community include a one credit seminar, course clustering, and resources provided in the residence hall. Participants also have the opportunity to make connections with peers in engineering and work closely with Flexus: the Dr. Marilyn Berman Pollans' Women in Engineering Living and Learning Community. Virtus is funded through the National Science Foundation's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP, Award# 0969232).

College Park Scholars - Science, Technology, and Society
1125 Cumberland Hall
301-405-0527; www.sts.umd.edu
Director: Dr. Betsy Mendelsohn
Co-sponsored by the Clark School of Engineering, the Science, Technology and Society (STS) program is one of 11 living-learning programs offered by the College Park Scholars Program. This 2-year program for academically talented freshmen and sophomores welcomes all majors, who live together in Chestertown Hall. In small courses, students examine the ways that social processes shape scientific research and technological development, and conversely, the ways that science and technology shape society. Students learn and practice skills of group work, peer review, public speaking, and academic writing, which serve them well in major-related courses.  Outside the classroom, students volunteer as science demonstrators, tour nearby research laboratories, and mentor children in STEM.  Students are able to earn credit for completing internships, volunteering with after school robotics clubs, or becoming teaching assistants. STS program activities build community, cultivate leadership, connect coursework with real world needs, prepare students to seek internships, and help students to thrive in college.

College Honors Program

Students in the A. James Clark School of Engineering may participate in the University's Honors College, College Park Scholars, Gemstone, the Clark School Honors Program, and/or departmental honors programs (see the individual department section for details).

Clark School Engineering Honors Program

The Clark School offers an Engineering Honors Program that provides eligible students the opportunity to pursue an enriched program of studies that will broaden their perspectives and increase the depth of their knowledge. Engineering students meeting all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:

    1.  Upper fourth of engineering juniors and seniors;

    2.  Junior standing or 60 applicable credits;

    3.  Completion of at least one semester at UMCP.

The requirements for completing the program are as follows:

1.  An Honors Research Project which often can be used as a technical elective, a written report, and an oral presentation to a faculty panel of the EHP;

2.  Successful completion of both Engineering Honors Seminars (ENES 480 and ENES 481, one credit hour each);

 

3.  Maintenance of a GPA to remain in the upper third of the class.

For more information see www.eng.umd.edu/current/honors-program

Approved Student Societies and Professional Organizations

Professional Societies

Each of the engineering departments sponsors student chapters or student sections of a national engineering society. The student chapters sponsor a variety of activities including technical meetings, social gatherings, and School or University service projects. All students are strongly encouraged to join one or more of these chapters.

These organizations are: American Helicopter Society-Intl.: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics: American Ceramic Society; American Institute of Chemical Engineers; American Nuclear Society; American Society of Civil Engineers; American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineering; American Society of Mechanical Engineers; ASM International; Black Engineers Society; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; Materials Engineering Society; Materials Research Society; Minerals, Metals and Materials Society; Society of Asian Engineers; Society of Automotive Engineers; Society of Fire Protection Engineers; Society of Hispanic Engineers; Society of Manufacturing Engineers; and Society of Women Engineers.

Honor Societies

The Clark School of Engineering and each of the engineering departments sponsor honors societies. Nominations or invitations for membership are usually extended to junior and senior students based on scholarship, service, and/or other selective criteria. Some of the honors organizations are branches of national societies; others are local groups: Tau Beta Pi (College Honorary); Alpha Nu Sigma (Nuclear Engineering); Alpha Sigma Mu (Materials Science Engineering); Chi Epsilon (Civil Engineering); Eta Kappa Nu (Electrical and Computer Engineering); Omega Chi Epsilon (Chemical Engineering); Pi Tau Sigma (Mechanical Engineering); Salamander (Fire Protection Engineering); and Sigma Gamma Tau (Aerospace Engineering).
 

Financial Assistance

The Clark School offers scholarships to talented undergraduate engineering students. This is a competitive scholarship program with scholarships awarded for merit. Financial need and a variety of other factors may also be considered.  New freshmen are automatically considered for most Clark School scholarships.  Current and new transfer students must complete the online scholarship application by May 31st for best consideration.  Visit the website www.ursp.umd.edu/scholarships/index.html for more information.

The Benjamin T. Rome Scholarship is a full-ride scholarship awarded to a new freshman student each year. The Rome Scholarship covers all expenses (tuition and fees, room and board) plus a book allowance and a stipend. The award is renewable for up to three additional years provided the recipient maintains good academic standing and makes progress toward an engineering degree.  

The Herbert Rabin Scholarship is awarded to one or two entering freshman students each year based on merit. The Rabin Scholarship, in conjunction with other university scholarships, covers tuition and fees, and room and board. The award is renewable for three additional years provided the recipient  is an undergraduate engineering student, maintains good academic standing and makes progress toward an engineering degree.

The Office of Student Financial Aid (OFSA) administers all types of federal, state, and institutional financial assistance programs and, in cooperation with other University offices, participates in the awarding of scholarships to deserving students. For more information, visit: www.financialaid.umd.edu .

Research Units

Undergraduate Research Programs

Undergraduate research programs allow qualified undergraduate students to work with research laboratory directors in departments, thus giving students a chance for a unique experience in research and engineering design. Projects in engineering allow undergraduate students to do independent study under the guidance of faculty members in an area of mutual interest. For more information, contact the department.

Student Engagement and Service Units

 

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