Engineering
Semester Hour Requirements
The engineering degrees require a minimum of 127 semester hours. A semester hour is generally one fifty-minute classroom or one three-hour laboratory session per week. Some engineering courses have additional sessions scheduled to facilitate non-lecture group project activities or testing sessions.
Program Overview
Engineering graduates design and implement products and systems that touch virtually every aspect of our lives. They are involved with telecommunications, computer systems, automobiles, aircraft and spacecraft, power plants, robotics, machinery of all types, medical equipment and prosthetics, home appliances, and manufacturing systems, to name a few. Many graduates continue their professional education by attending graduate school programs in engineering, law, medicine, or business.
Each of the three engineering programs builds on a common core of basic sciences and mathematics, humanities and social sciences, and engineering sciences developed primarily in the first two years of study. Mathematics and basic sciences provide the technical foundation for the engineering curriculum. The engineering sciences introduce basic areas of engineering and represent the bridge between the basic sciences and mathematics, on which they build, and the more advanced engineering applications and engineering design to which they lead. The humanities and social sciences component of the curriculum helps to prepare the student for the human and social influences on engineering applications and design and for increased appreciation and fulfillment in the broader aspects of life and culture. Other requirements include courses that contribute to communication and computer skills, ethics, engineering economics, and additional electives.
The Baylor engineering programs integrate design throughout the curriculum, with special emphasis in specific courses usually taken in the first freshmen semester, the first junior semester, and final senior semester, as well as in other courses in the program. Juniors take an engineering design course that teaches design methodology and the creative aspects of engineering. In addition, all students complete other courses with design content in their chosen major as well as a senior design course which emphasizes design of open-ended projects by multidisciplinary teams. These broadly-based engineering programs prepare students for the complex and multidisciplinary problems that face our contemporary society. These programs are designed to be completed in four years.
The Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering programs contain a twenty-one hour mathematics core which meets the course requirements for a mathematics minor. The minor must be approved by the Department of Mathematics.
Requirements for Incoming Engineering Students
Most engineering courses require the use of a programmable calculator or software-based engineering tools typical of those used in the engineering profession. The most up-to-date equipment requirements can be found at www.ecs.baylor.edu/equipment. The laptop’s software must include the currently adopted MS-Windows operating system and a number of other software packages. From time to time, each student will be required to purchase additional software as required for specific classes. Each student is required to maintain his or her laptop and its software in good working order until they graduate from the engineering program. Each student is solely responsible for software upgrades and the resolution of any compatibility problems related to the laptop’s hardware.
Pre-Engineering Status
The School of Engineering and Computer Science offers three engineering majors: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Engineering. Students who wish to pursue engineering at Baylor will be required to begin in the non-degree-granting Pre-Engineering major. Incoming Pre-Engineering majors must be eligible to register for MTH 1321 Calculus I by meeting the prerequisite established by the Department of Mathematics. Credit or concurrent enrollment in is required to enroll in MTH 1321 Calculus I is required to enroll in EGR 1301 Introduction to Engineering. Students who are unable to qualify for MTH 1321 Calculus I must declare a major other than Pre-Engineering until they are eligible to register for this course.
To register for MTH 1321 Calculus I, you must meet any ONE of the following criteria:
1. A qualifying SAT/ACT score: RSAT math of at least 650 or SAT math of at least 630 or ACT math of at least 27;
2. A grade of B- or better in MTH 1320 (Pre-Calculus);
3. A score of 80 or better on the ALEKS math placement test.
To move into one of the degree-granting majors (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or Engineering), Pre-Engineering students must successfully complete the progression requirements below:
- Complete EGR 1301 Introduction to Engineering and EGR 1302 Introduction to Engineering Analysis with a grade of "B" or better
- Complete first-year mathematics courses (including at least one of the following courses: MTH 1321 Calculus I, MTH 1322 Calculus II, MTH 2311 Linear Algebra, or MTH 2321 Calculus IIIwith a grade of "C" or better
Students who fail to meet these progression requirements will not be allowed to continue as a Pre-Engineering major. They will be transitioned to the "BA Undecided" major and encouraged to explore other major options at the University that may better fit their God-given strengths.
Internal Transfer Policy into Pre-Engineering
Students who wish to enter Pre-Engineering after matriculating to Baylor must earn 12 credit hours in residence and a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in order to apply. Overall proficiency in math and science courses will be evaluated, and students must either have earned credit for or be eligible to enroll in MTH 1321 (Calculus 1). Internal transfer students are subject to all Pre-Engineering policies and procedures. Students can submit a Change of Major Request Form through Bearweb to be reviewed for eligibility for Pre-Engineering. The Director of Advising will review requests in accordance with the established policy.
External Transfer Policy into Pre-Engineering
All external transfer students must begin in Pre-Engineering and may only enter with a minimum 3.0 transfer GPA. Students must either have earned credit or be eligible to enroll in MTH 1321 Calculus I. External transfer students are subject to all Pre-Engineering policies and procedures. Upon entering Pre-Engineering, external transfer students who are transferring any engineering courses will be reviewed for eligibility to declare a degree-granting major.
Foreign Language & Culture (FLC) Requirement
The Foreign Language and Culture (FLC) requirement can be satisfied by any of the following means:
- Completing second-level proficiency (1302/1412 or higher) in a Foreign or Classical Language (minimum 3 hours)
- ARB, CHI, FRE, GER, ITA, JPN, KOR, POR, RUS, SPA, SWA, GKC, HEB, LAT
- Completing second-level proficiency (1406 or higher) in American Sign Language (minimum 3 hours)
- CSD
- Taking 3 hours of a Culture course included on the FLC Distribution List for Engineering Programs
Foreign Language & Culture (FLC) Distribution List for Engineering Programs
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANT 1305 | Introduction to Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 1306 | Cultural Anthropology in Global Context | 3 |
| ANT 1325 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
| ANT 3301 | Science, Society, and Culture | 3 |
| ANT 3340 | Indigenous Cultures of Modern Mexico and Central America | 3 |
| ANT 3350 | Native North Americans | 3 |
| ANT/AST 4310 | Societies and Cultures of East Asia | 3 |
| ANT/GEOG 1310 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| ANT/GEOG 1310 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| ANT/SOC 4320 | Culture, Personality and Identity | 3 |
| ARB 2320 | Arabic Popular Culture | 3 |
| AST 2380 | The Peoples and Culture of Asia | 3 |
| AST/HIS 3305 | Traditional China | 3 |
| AST/HIS 3307 | Japan | 3 |
| AST 4388 | Contemporary Chinese Society and Culture | 3 |
| CHI 2320 | Intermediate Chinese for Communication | 3 |
| CHI 3305 | Chinese for Business I | 3 |
| CHI 3306 | Chinese for Business II | 3 |
| CHI 3310 | Chinese Language and Culture through Films | 3 |
| CLA 3301 | Roman History and Civilization | 3 |
| CLA 3302 | Greek History and Civilization | 3 |
| FAS 1311 | Freshman Academic Seminar: Modern Languages, Cultures, and Global Communities | 3 |
| FRE 2320 | Passport to the French-Speaking World | 3 |
| FRE 2321 | French for Health Professions | 3 |
| FRE 3301 | Advanced French Grammar | 3 |
| FRE 3302 | Conversational French | 3 |
| FRE 3308 | French and Francophone Pop Culture | 3 |
| FRE 3310 | Introduction to French Literature | 3 |
| FRE 3330 | Introduction to French Cinema | 3 |
| FRE/FDM 4330 | Survey of French Cinema | 3 |
| GER 2320 | German for Modern Life | 3 |
| GER 3301 | German Conversation and Composition | 3 |
| GER 3341 | Introduction to German Culture: Germany in the Making | 3 |
| GER 3345 | Introduction to German Film: German Culture from Berlin to Hollywood | 3 |
| GRK 2320 | Intermediate Greek Poetry | 3 |
| HEB 2320 | Intermediate Hebrew II | 3 |
| ITA 2320 | Pathways in Italian Culture | 3 |
| ITA 3301 | Advanced Italian Grammar | 3 |
| ITA 3302 | Italian Conversation, Reading, and Composition | 3 |
| ITA 3310 | Introduction to Italian Literature | 3 |
| ITA 3330 | Italian Through Film | 3 |
| JPN 2320 | Exploring Japan | 3 |
| JPN 3301 | Advanced Japanese I | 3 |
| JPN 3302 | Japanese Culture through Reading | 3 |
| JPN 3305 | Japanese for the Professions | 3 |
| JPN 3306 | Japanese Cinema | 3 |
| JPN/THEA 3352 | Japanese Theatre and CultureJapanese Theatre and Culture | 3 |
| KOR 2320 | Intermediate Korean II | 3 |
| LAS 1301 | Latin American Nations and People | 3 |
| LAS 2301 | An Introduction to Latin American Studies | 3 |
| LAT 2320 | Intermediate Latin Poetry | 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 |
| POR 2320 | Exploring the Portuguese-Speaking World | 3 |
| PSC 3315 | 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 | The Governments and Politics of the Asia-Pacific Region | 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 |
| RUS 2320 | Russian Culture in Context | 3 |
| RUS 3301 | Russian Conversation and Composition | 3 |
| SEES/HIS 2380 | Introduction to Slavic and East European Studies I | 3 |
| SEES/HIS 2381 | Introduction to Slavic and East European Studies | 3 |
| SOC 3318 | Mexican-Americans in U.S. Society | 3 |
| SPA 2304 | Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers | 3 |
| SPA 2320 | Exploring the Spanish-Speaking World | 3 |
| SPA 2321 | Intermediate Spanish for Health Professions | 3 |
| SPA 2322 | Spanish for Christian Ministry | 3 |
| SPA 2324 | Spanish for Business | 3 |
| SPA 3302 | Conversation and Composition | 3 |
| SPA 3309 | Introduction to Spanish Linguistics | 3 |
| SWA 2320 | Intermediate Swahili II | 3 |
| THEA/JPN 3352 | Japanese Theatre and Culture | 3 |
Engineering & Computer Science (ECS)
Provides insights into a student's present leadership strength and development needs. Prepares students for leadership positions, focusing on topics such as a philosophy of leadership, the role of power and authority in leadership, ethics, and goal setting for leadership development.
A Renaissance Scholar is someone who is conversant across the entire range of human knowledge, from science to philosophy and technology to literature. Through the ages, people have strived to find meaning in their lives, to understand the world around them, and to use their creativity and ingenuity to improve both. Baylor's summer Renaissance Scholar program starts students on the path toward joining the ranks of the great scholars of the past. Issues of both historical and contemporary interest are considered from the perspectives of science, technology, literature, philosophy, theology, and even contemporary film. Students complement readings in the great texts of the world with the design, development, and implementation of two ancient engineering projects. Emphasis is placed on the theory and practical application of scientific and engineering concepts such as the harnessing of energy and the mythical stories that have inspired such activity, the desire for exploration, and the quest for knowledge ranging from ancient tales of self-discovery to the modern exploration of the cosmos.
Introductory topics in engineering or computer science. The course may be repeated when topics vary.
Personal development and branding, professional etiquette, resume production, career research, and interviewing skills. Exploration of career options, including assessments, internships, job search process, and graduate school admission. Topics will be customized for students pursuing majors in the School of Engineering and Computer Science.
The class equips students to serve as peer leaders to new students in their first semester at Baylor.