POLICY ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
The Undergraduate Council has established the following standards of academic performance for all engineering majors.
SATISFACTORY/NO CREDIT OPTION
All courses taken in fulfillment of the requirements for an engineering major must be taken for a letter grade if the instructor offers that option.
LETTER-GRADE-INDICATOR
Engineering majors must achieve a Letter-Grade-Indicator (LGI) of at least 2.00 for all courses taken in fulfillment of the Engineering Fundamentals and Engineering Depth requirements. A student's LGI is a weighted average of numerical grade points, equivalent to a grade point average. The calculation is based on a 4-point system, with "+" and "-" modifiers counting as 1/3 of a grade point (e.g., a C+ is counted as 2.33). The grade for each course taken to satisfy the Engineering Fundamentals and Engineering Depth requirements is weighted by the unit value of the course and an average obtained. Thus, courses in which a grade higher than a "C" is earned offset courses in which less than a "C" is earned. The LGI calculation does not include courses taken to satisfy the Math, Science, or Technology in Society requirements.
PETITIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Students have the right to petition for deviations from curricular requirements. If the action requested involves a requirement imposed by the University itself (e.g., General Education Requirements or Foreign Language) the petition process is handled through the Registrar's Office in the Old Union. If the petition involves a Departmental Depth requirement, the request is handled by the major department. Each department has its own procedures and the student is advised to consult with his or her Advisor and with the student services staff within the Departmental Office (see the list of room numbers on the inside back cover of this Handbook) for guidance. A deviation from an Engineering Depth requirement must be initialed by the advisor and dated on the student's final Program Sheet that is submitted before graduation.
If the action requested by the student involves a non-departmental School of Engineering requirement (e.g., Math, Science, Technology in Society, or Engineering Fundamentals), the student must petition the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs in Terman 208. The petition must be submitted on the School's official petition form, which is available on the Terman/School of Engineering File Server-Guest logon, Student Affairs Section. Petition forms are also available on the information rack outside the Engineering Information Office, Terman 202. A sample of this form is shown on the following page. The petition must be accompanied by an up-to-date copy of the student's Program Sheet and must be signed by the student's advisor. When completed, the student should submit the form to Bertha Love in the Office of Student Affairs, Terman 208.
PETITIONS TO ALTER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, FOR TRANSFER CREDIT EVALUATION, OR FOR COURSE SUBSTITUTIONS, WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF REGISTRATION (I.E., THE QUARTER IN WHICH A STUDENT PLANS TO GRADUATE).
PETITION FORM
master copy located in 96/97 ug hd bk file Transfer Credit
Many students elect to take some of their coursework at another institution. In addition, each year a small number of engineering students enter Stanford after completing one or two years at another institution. In either case, there are certain guidelines regarding transfer credits that are outlined below.
All units of transfer credit which are to be applied toward the University graduation requirement of 180 units must be approved by the Registrar's Office. Students must petition for their approval subject to the provisions outlined under "Transfer Credit" in the Stanford Bulletin. In addition, transfer courses may also satisfy general University requirements or School of Engineering requirements. Such credits require specific, case-by-case approval.
Those credits which meet general University requirements will be so noted in a letter from the Registrar's Office to the student when the units are transferred to Stanford. Credits meeting engineering requirements must be approved by the School of Engineering prior to your final quarter. University approval is necessary, but not sufficient. Transfer credit(s) in the areas of:
* Math, Science, Technology in Society and
Fundamentals courses require
approval by the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs in Terman 208.
* Depth coursework requires approval by your Major or Departmental
Advisor.
To evaluate transfer credit(s) in the above areas, your Advisor or the Dean's Office must be supplied with a transcript and a catalog description of the course from the other institution, along with an indication of which Stanford course(s) are considered equivalent. If the equivalence is uncertain, a faculty member from the field in question may be consulted. Approval of transfer credits is indicated by the appropriate initials and date on the student's original Program Sheet under the Approval column. The course should be listed first by its equivalent Stanford course number, followed by its title, followed by the course number at the other school, followed by a check mark in the Transfer column. An official copy of the transcript for all transferred courses must be included in a student's file. Students who do not have a copy of their transcript from other institutions, in their academic file, must go to the Transfer Credit Evaluation Office and request that a copy be forwarded to Bertha Love, Office of Student Affairs, Terman 208.
All engineering transfer students should arrange to see the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs in Terman 208 during their first year at Stanford for evaluation of transfer credits toward School of Engineering requirements.
While the Senior Associate Dean and the student's Major Advisor evaluate transfer credit requests on a case-by-case basis, the following guidelines are offered:
* Transfer courses should be substantially equivalent to those offered at
Stanford.
* The number of units transferred for a given course is usually equal to
the number of units taken at the other institution, adjusted for different unit
values at the two schools. That is, for example, a 3 semester-unit course at
another school will usually transfer as 4 1/2 units in Stanford's quarter
system.
Planning The Freshman Year
It is very helpful for students intending to major in engineering to begin planning their programs during the freshman year, even though formal declaration of a major is not required until the end of the sophomore year. Entering students who indicate a preliminary academic interest in engineering usually will be assigned a General Advisor, as well as an Advisor Associate, from the School of Engineering. Both of these individuals should be able to assist in this planning. All students are also welcome to seek assistance from the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs and the Assistant Director for Undergraduate Studies in Terman 208.
Even though there are a great many majors possible within the School of Engineering, first year preparation is similar for all of them. The following program can be considered fairly typical, although variations are common, reflecting such matters as Advanced Placement and whether the Math 19, or Math 50 sequence is chosen instead of the Math 41 sequence.
FALL WINTER SPRING
Math 41 5 Math 42 5 Math 43 5
CIV 5 CIV 5 CIV 5
Writing 3 Writing 3 Physics 45 4
Phys 41 3 Physics 43 4 Physics 46 1
16 units 17 units 15 units
Engineering 1, The Nature of Engineering, is a 3 unit course offered in Autumn quarter that introduces students to the engineering process and the people and organizations involved in it. It has no prerequisites and is intended for potential engineering and non-engineering students.
Engineering 1 is highly recommended for either the freshman or sophomore year. Students should find it very helpful in clarifying their understanding of engineering and engineering education.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT CREDITS
AP credits apply toward both the university 180-unit requirement and the School of Engineering requirements in Math, Science, or Computer Science. AP credits in math and physics are only accepted if the parallel Stanford courses are skipped (e.g., to receive 10 units of AP math credit, the first math course taken should be Math 53). AP credits in Computer Science will be accepted only if a course more advanced than CS 106A is subsequently completed. AP credits in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics are accepted as satisfying the School of Engineering Science requirement.
Approval of Advanced Placement is indicated by the appropriate initials and date on the student's original Program Sheet under the Approval column. The initials "AP" should be entered in the title column, followed by the number of units in the Total Units column.
DECLARING AN ENGINEERING MAJOR
Stanford has a long-standing policy that any student may declare any major. Hence, there are no separate "entrance" requirements for the School of Engineering. Students intending to major in engineering should realize that it is a demanding, but rewarding, major. Perhaps the best early indicators of the likely success that a student will have in engineering coursework at Stanford can be obtained in the freshman year physics and calculus courses. However, engineering is not mathematics or natural science, and the correlation between success in math and science courses and success as an engineer is by no means perfect. Additional information for the decision on whether to major in engineering, and in which field to specialize, can be obtained by attending E 1, The Nature of Engineering. Your Advisor and Advisor Associate can also supply important perspectives that you should seek out before making your decision.
Students need to declare a major by the time they achieve junior status (85 units completed). Once you are ready to declare a particular field of engineering as your major, complete the Departmental Interview Form for Prospective Engineering Majors (see next page for a sample). A copy of this form is available on the Terman/School of Engineering File Server-Guest logon, Student Affairs Section. Take this form and an up-to-date copy of your Stanford transcript (available from the on-line AXESS system) to the Departmental Office for the major you wish to declare.
The department will set up an advising interview. This session is intended to give you an opportunity to have your questions answered and to have the department review and comment on your decision. The interviewer will sign your Departmental Interview Form. which you should take to the Graduation Office in Old Union, Room 131. At the Graduation Office pick up and complete an official University Declaration of Major form. Leave the white copy at the Graduation Office, take the yellow copy to your former undergraduate advisor and pick up your undergraduate file. Finally, turn in your undergraduate file along with the Declaration of Major form to the Student Services personnel in your new major department.
1. When you have decided to declare an engineering major, take this form and an up-to-date copy of your transcript to your intended major department. Obtain a copy of your Stanford transcript from the on-line AXESS system.
2. After consultation with and obtaining a signature from an interviewer in your intended major department, take this form to the Graduation Office, Old Union, Room 131 and officially declare your engineering major.
3. You will receive an official Declaration of Major form which you should complete. Leave the white copy at the Graduation Office, Old Union 131, take the yellow copy to your former undergraduate advisor and pick up your undergraduate file. At this point turn in your undergraduate file along with the Declaration of Major form to the Student Services personnel in your new major department.
4. Welcome to the School of Engineering!
To: Registrar
From:
(Department)
talked to on
(Student's Name) (Departmental Interviewer)
and received advice about majoring in our department.
(Date)
(Departmental Interviewer's Signature)
GRADUATION PROCEDURES
Four separate approvals are needed for certification of completion of all requirements for conferral of the bachelor's degree:
1) Academic Advisor, and in some cases the Departmental Representative
|
Signature
required on Program Sheet.
|
| 2)
School of Engineering Terman 208
|
For
completion of School/department requirements.
|
| 3)
Graduation Office
Old Union, Room 131
|
For
completion of University requirements
(Writing, Language, Distribution).
|
| 4)
Graduation Office
Old Union, Room 131
|
For
completion of required units and final approval for degree conferral.
|
Students nearing the completion of their degree programs must do the following to assure graduation on time:
1. School of Engineering Program Sheet - This form must be in the student's academic file, complete, current, and signed by the student's advisor at the beginning of quarter prior to the quarter which he/she intends to graduate. (Mechanical Engineering majors are required to submit their Program Sheet by the first quarter of their junior year.) The Program Sheet is available on the Terman/School of Engineering File Server-Guest logon, Student Affairs Section. Computer Science, Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering majors are also required to obtain a departmental signature. If the student's approved program has deviated in any way from what is on the signed Program Sheet, he/she must have the change approved to graduate. Current courses must be included. Grades in those courses will be checked at the end of the quarter.
Transfer Credit - Transfer credit(s) meeting engineering requirements must be approved by the School of Engineering as well as by the University. University approval is necessary, but not sufficient. Transfer credit(s) in the areas of:
* Math, Science, Technology in Society, and Fundamentals courses
require approval by the Senior Associate Dean or Assistant Director for
Undergraduate Studies.
To evaluate transfer credit(s), the student's advisor or the Dean's Office must be supplied with a transcript and a catalog description of the course from the other institution, along with an indication of which Stanford course(s) are considered equivalent. If the equivalence is uncertain, a faculty member from the field in question may need to be consulted. Approval of transfer credit(s) is indicated by the appropriate initials and date on the original Program Sheet under the Approval column. The course should be listed first by its equivalent Stanford course number and title, followed by the course number at the other school, followed by a check mark in the Transfer column. An official copy of the transcript for all transferred courses must be included in the student's file.
Students who do not have a copy of their transcript from other institutions, in their academic file, must go to the Transfer Credit Evaluation Office and request that a copy be forwarded to Bertha Love, Office of Student Affairs, Terman 208.
* Depth coursework requires approval by Major or Departmental
Advisor.
Program Deviation - Program deviations in an already approved program will not be made automatically. Deviations in the Math, Science, Technology in Society, and Fundamental areas need to be petitioned for approval by the Dean's Office. Petition forms are available on the Terman/School of Engineering File Server-Guest logon, Student Affairs Section. Deviations in Engineering Depth must be approved by the student's departmental advisor. Approval of a deviation is indicated by the appropriate signature/initials and date on the original Program Sheet under the Approval column.
2. At the appropriate time as listed in the University Calendar, an Intent to Graduate application should be filed through AXESS.
3. Status for completion of the University Writing, Distribution, and Foreign Language requirements should be verified through AXESS.
4. Completion of Engineering Requirements must be verified with Bertha Love, Assistant Director for Undergraduate Studies, Office of Student Affairs, Terman 208.