School of Engineering and Computer Science
General Information
Vision
Advancing as a premier School of Engineering and Computer Science in research and education with a commitment to Christian values.
Mission
- Educate and train future engineering and computer science leaders with a Christian worldview
- Discover new knowledge for worldwide impact
- Engage worldwide communities through scholarship and service
Accomplishing the mission of the School of Engineering and Computer Science will:
- Produce graduates with
- a broad-based technical education and research experience in engineering and in computer science, capable of thinking clearly, being creative, and communicating effectively
- professional ethics and a sense of civic responsibility, becoming leaders in their churches, their communities, and society
- an appreciation for the role of the sciences and humanities in society and a commitment to Christian values
- Positively influence the world with discovery of new knowledge and engagement through strong alliances with industry, the corporate community, and government.
History
In 1973, the first computer science faculty member joined the Department of Mathematics to teach and develop programs in computer science. By 1974, the Department of Mathematics offered both the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts degrees in computer science. By 1980, the Computer Science Program in the Department of Mathematics was combined with the Engineering Science Program in the Institute of Engineering Science to form the Department of Engineering and Computer Science.
The School of Engineering and Computer Science was established in 1995 with two departments, the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Engineering. In 2001, EAC/ABET granted separate accreditation to the Department of Engineering’s three baccalaureate programs: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Engineering. By 2005, the Department of Engineering was reorganized into the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Within the next ten years, Ph.D. programs were added to Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering, and the General Engineering major was restructured and enhanced to include the choice of four concentrations (biomedical, geo-petro, environmental, and humanitarian engineering) and a minor option.
Since 2001, numerous concentrations have been added to the baccalaureate programs, expanding opportunities for students to specialize in emerging fields. Additionally, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering were created to meet industry demands and student interests. The School of Engineering and Computer Science continues to evolve, consistently exploring new programs and initiatives to stay at the forefront of technological innovation.
Course Repetition
Students taking a course in the School of Engineering & Computer Science will have a maximum of two attempts of any one ECS course to fulfill a prerequisite or requirement for a degree, major, or minor. An insufficient earned grade or receiving a “W” notation counts as an unsuccessful attempt. A course receiving a “W” notation for a semester in which the student withdraws from all courses is not counted as an unsuccessful attempt. Additional attempts will not be granted except by permission from the student’s Dean (or his/her representative).
Class Attendance Policy
Class attendance is expected at all regularly scheduled course sessions. Faculty members may choose to have class attendance requirements and may also establish penalties for excessive absences or tardiness. The department chair and dean will endorse the attendance policies outlined in the instructor’s syllabus. If an absence is unavoidable, due to a university-sponsored activity, illness, accident, or death in the family, students are expected to make advanced or immediate contact with the faculty member to decide when to complete scheduled assignments and coursework.
Academic Advisement
To complement the mentoring provided by faculty, students are required to meet with a professional staff advisor each semester before registering for classes. ECS advisors monitor students' progress toward graduation and provide appropriate referrals. An advisor will review each student's academic progress along with student success resources and discuss course recommendations for the upcoming semester. Starting in the student’s third year at Baylor, students must submit their graduation plans for review by their advisor.
Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program
The Accelerated BS/MS Program option is now available to Baylor University undergraduate students pursuing any of the following degree programs: BSAE, BSBME, BSCE, BSCS, BSE, BSECE, BSI, BSME.
This program enables currently enrolled undergraduate engineering students who apply and are admitted to a master’s program in the School of Engineering and Computer Science to select up to six hours of coursework taken at the graduate level to simultaneously fulfill elective credit in their undergraduate and graduate programs of study. The MS programs of study remain the same.
By enabling dual credit for those courses, students can accelerate their MS program of study to complete it in one year. Students graduating from one of the approved Baylor ECS degree programs are eligible to apply for the ECS Dean’s Graduate Scholarships for Master’s level coursework, resulting in a cost per credit hour comparable to the rates at public universities in Texas.
Students interested in the Accelerated program should submit the Accelerate Program Interest Form when they are no less than 2 semesters away from graduation.
Engineering Licensure (P.E.)
The engineering faculty encourages students to seek licensure as professional engineers (P.E.) during their careers. Before graduation, students are encouraged to take the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying’s (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. This test, a comprehensive knowledge exam given nationally, is the first step toward professional licensure. Baylor engineering seniors have had an excellent pass rate for this exam.
ABET Accreditation
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (B.S.C.S.) degree program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
The following degree programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (http://www.abet.org):
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (B.S.E.C.E.)
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.)
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.)
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (B.S.C.E), the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (B.S.B.M.E), and the Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering (B.S.A.E.) have been designed to align with ABET accreditation criteria and will be eligible for review following the graduation of their first class.
School of Engineering and Computer Science Leadership
Dean's Office
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Daniel J. Pack, Ph.D. | Dean |
| Anne Spence, Ph.D. | Associate Dean for Academic Affairs |
| Alexandre F.T. Yokochi, Ph.D. | Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education |
| Ida Jamshidi, Ed.D. | Assistant Dean of Student Success |
| Lauren Muhl, M.A. | Assistant Dean of Operations |
Computer Science Department
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Jean Gao, Ph.D. | Chair |
| Benjamin Kelley, Ph.D. | Interim Associate Chair |
| Eunjee Song, Ph.D. | Graduate Program Director |
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Jeong Bong (JB) Lee, Ph.D. | Chair |
| Ian Gravagne, Ph.D. | Associate Chair |
| Keith Evan Schubert, Ph.D. | Graduate Program Director |
Mechanical Engineering Department
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Stephen T. McClain, Ph.D. | Interim Chair |
| Jill Patterson, Ph.D. | Assistant Chair |
| David Jack, Ph.D. | Interim Graduate Program Director |
Foreign Language and Culture Distribution List for ECS
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Language Course Options | ||
| Higher-level proficiency (1302-4399) in the language options listed below will also fulfill the foreign language and culture requirement. Includes any 3-hour course with a foreign language prefix (CSD included). | ||
| ARB 1301 | Introduction to Arabic | 3 |
| CHI 1301 | Elementary Chinese | 3 |
| FRE 1301 | Elementary French | 3 |
| GER 1301 | Elementary German | 3 |
| GRK 1301 | Elementary Greek I | 3 |
| HEB 1301 | Introductory Hebrew I | 3 |
| ITA 1301 | Elementary Italian | 3 |
| JPN 1301 | Introductory Japanese | 3 |
| KOR 1301 | Elementary Korean | 3 |
| LAT 1301 | Elementary Latin I | 3 |
| POR 1301 | Elementary Portuguese | 3 |
| RUS 1301 | Elementary Russian | 3 |
| SPA 1301 | Elementary Spanish | 3 |
| SWA 1301 | Elementary Swahili | 3 |
| CSD 1305 | American Sign Language I | 3 |
| Cultural Competency Course Options | ||
| AST 2380 | The Peoples and Culture of Asia | 3 |
| AST/HIS 3305 | Traditional China | 3 |
| AST/HIS 3307 | Modern Japan | 3 |
| AST 4388 | Contemporary Chinese Society and Culture | 3 |
| BIC 4374 | World Cultures V: Differing Visions and Realities | 3 |
| CLA 3301 | Roman Republic | 3 |
| CLA 3302 | Greek History and Civilization | 3 |
| FAS 1311 | Freshman Academic Seminar: Modern Languages, Cultures, and Global Communities | 3 |
| FDM 4330 | Survey of French Cinema | 3 |
| GBL 1101 | Developing Intercultural Competence | 1 |
| GBL 1102 | Intercultural Competence Abroad | 1 |
| GBL 1103 | Reentry From Study Abroad | 1 |
| HIS 2381 | Introduction to Slavic and East European Studies | 3 |
| LAS 2301 | An Introduction to Latin American Studies | 3 |
| LING/ENG 3319 | Language and Culture | 3 |
| MES 2301 | Introduction to the Middle East | 3 |
| MUS 3321 | Music in World Cultures | 3 |
| MUS 4361 | Traditional Music and Culture in Africa | 3 |
| MUS/AST 4362 | Traditional Music and Culture in Asia | 3 |
| MUS/LAS 4364 | Traditional Music and Culture in Latin America | 3 |
| PHI 4331 | Latin American Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 4341 | Contemporary Continental Philosophy | 3 |
| PSC 2315 | Fundamentals of International Politics | 3 |
| PSC 4303 | International Human Rights | 3 |
| PSC 4304 | Governments and Politics of Latin America | 3 |
| PSC 4305 | International Law | 3 |
| PSC 4314 | Government and Politics of Mexico | 3 |
| PSC/AST 4325 | Asian International Relations | 3 |
| PSC 4334 | Governments and Politics of the Middle East | 3 |
| PSC 4344 | Government and Politics of Russia | 3 |
| PSC 4365 | International Political Economics | 3 |
| PSC/AST 3314 | Politics and Problems of Developing Countries | 3 |
| PSC/AST 4364 | Asia-Pacific Politics | 3 |
| PSC/AST 4374 | Governments and Politics of East Asia | 3 |
| REL 4343 | Topics in Islam | 3 |
| REL 4347 | Topics in African Religions | 3 |
| REL 4348 | Modern Judaism | 3 |
| REL/AST 3345 | World Religions | 3 |
| REL/AST 4346 | Topics in Asian Religions | 3 |
| SEES/HIS 2380 | Introduction to Slavic and East European Studies I | 3 |
| SOC 3318 | Mexican-Americans in U.S. Society | 3 |