The Swanson School of Engineering’s undergraduate programs prepare students for entrance into a diverse spectrum of careers, providing both a strong, fundamental engineering education and a thorough understanding of the broader aspects of society. Students have an opportunity to participate in the highly successful Cooperative Engineering Education Program, an increasing number of study abroad opportunities, joint programs with the University Honors College, and a number of certificate programs. Students also have the option of earning a minor or a dual degree from various Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences programs: minors may also be earned from the other engineering programs. The curricula provide sufficient flexibility to allow graduates to pursue careers in industry, government, or education, including programs in medicine, law, or business.
Full-time Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree programs are offered on the Pittsburgh campus in the following engineering disciplines: bioengineering, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, engineering science, industrial, materials science, and mechanical. Special interdisciplinary programs can be structured based upon individual student interest and ability through the engineering science program. The Cooperative Engineering Education Program, which alternates terms of relevant work experience with course work, is available for students in all programs; approximately half of the graduating seniors complete at least three co-op rotations. There are also certificate programs in nuclear engineering, energy resource utilization, product realization, supply chain management, mining engineering, engineering for humanities, international engineering studies, civil engineering and architectural studies, and sustainable engineering.
Contact Information
Prospective First Year & Transfer Students
University of Pittsburgh
Swanson School of Engineering
Freshman Program
152 Benedum Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
412-624-9825
ssoefrsh@pitt.edu
Academic Issues
University of Pittsburgh
Swanson School of Engineering
Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
152 Benedum Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
412-624-9815
pjr10@pitt.edu
Administrative Issues
University of Pittsburgh
Swanson School of Engineering
Office of Administration
151 Benedum Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
412-624-9800
ssoeadm@engr.pitt.edu
Application Procedures
The Swanson School of Engineering works closely with the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (OAFA). Ultimately, all admissions decisions take place through OAFA following the procedures detailed below:
First Year Engineering Applicants
All admissions to the Swanson School of Engineering are determined by the University’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. (Please see Pittsburgh Campus Freshman Admissions section of this bulletin for details.) Approximately 560 first year students enter the Swanson School of Engineering each fall term.
Transfer Students from Other Colleges and Universities
The Swanson School of Engineering admits applications from transfer students. Currently, approximately a third of the students receiving the BSE degree transferred into the school. Transfer applicants are evaluated according to their academic record and potential for completing the particular engineering program, and conditional upon space available in the program of choice. An applicant for transfer to the Swanson School of Engineering from another college or university should request a transfer application from the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
Contact the Freshman Engineering Program at 412-624-9825 or see the transfer engineering students’ Web site http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/First-Year/First Year/Transfer-Students/External-Transfer-Students for more information on transfer procedures.
A transfer applicant from a two-year or four-year college should have a grade point average (GPA) of at least a 3.00 (for courses that satisfy Swanson School of Engineering’s first-year requirements) on a 4.00 scale at the institution transferring from to be considered for admissions. Students interested in the Bioengineering program need a minimum of 3.5 GPA. Students must also have completed two semesters of Calculus, Calculus-based Physics and Chemistry for consideration. In general transfer students will only be accepted for the upcoming Fall Term; in only special cases will transfers be accepted for the Spring or Summer terms. For more information, visit http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/.
All transfer applicants are required to provide SAT I critical reading and mathematics scores and high school academic records. Advanced standing credits will be granted for college course work at another accredited institution depending on grades received and on the relevance of the courses to the applicant’s proposed program in the Swanson School of Engineering. Only courses in which the applicant received at least a C (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) will be considered for transfer and then only if the courses are an integral part of the proposed degree program.
Transfer Students from another University of Pittsburgh Oakland Campus School
Most transfer applicants from other Pittsburgh campus units to the Swanson School of Engineering come from either the Dietrich College of Arts and Sciences (DSAS) or the College of General Studies (CGS), although students from any of the University’s other schools are eligible for transfer if they meet the Swanson School of Engineering’s requirements.
An applicant for transfer from an Oakland campus school must have a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA (3.50 for Bioengineering) and must have completed no fewer than 7 of the 8 Freshman Engineering courses (MATH 0220 and 0230 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 and 2; PHYS 0174 and 0175 - Physics for Science and Engineering 1 and 2; CHEM 0110 and 0120 - General Chemistry 1 and 2; and ENGR 0015 and 0016 Introduction to Engineering Analysis and Introduction to Engineering Computing) to be considered for admission. Completion of all transfer minimum requirements does not guarantee transfer, as space limitations within each degree program will be considered. For additional information, see the transfer engineering students’ Web site at http://engineering.pitt.edu/First-Year/First-Year/Transfer-Students/Internal-Transfer-Students/.
The GPA for students transferring into the Swanson School of Engineering from another school or campus within the University will be recalculated in accordance with the Swanson School of Engineering’s policy.
Regional Campus Students
Request forms for relocation from the pre-engineering programs at the Bradford, Greensburg, or Titusville campuses or the Engineering Technology Program at the Johnstown campus are available at each regional campus. Pre-engineering students who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher (with the exception of bioengineering, which requires a 3.50 GPA) in the required engineering curricula are able to relocate pending departmental approval. Completion of all transfer minimum requirements does not guarantee transfer, as space limitations within each major will be considered. Students from the Johnstown campus in Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical and Mechanical must complete the first-two years of their degree program before applying to transfer to the Oakland campus. Students wishing to transfer into one of the degree programs not available at the Johnstown campus may apply for transfer upon completion of the first year. See the Transfer within University Schools and Regional Campuses section of this bulletin. For more information see the regional campus transfer Web site at: http://engineering.pitt.edu/First-Year/First-Year/Transfer-Students/Internal-Transfer-Students/
Academic Standing
To be considered in good academic standing, a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) must be at least 2.00 and the student must be making satisfactory progress toward earning an engineering degree. A student who is not in good academic standing will be placed on probation and may be subject to suspension or dismissal if his or her cumulative GPA remains below a 2.00 for two consecutive terms (with the exception of freshman students). Every engineering student’s academic record is reviewed at the end of each term to certify whether or not the student is in good academic standing. Students will be notified by letter if they are no longer in good academic standing and are on probation.
Students in the Freshman Engineering Program (FEP) who enter in the fall term may be suspended or dismissed from the Swanson School of Engineering if they do not attain a cumulative GPA of 1.75 or greater by the end of the spring term and/or if they have not completed the first term of engineering courses.* Furthermore, FEP students with cumulative GPA’s between 1.75 and 1.99 by the end of their first academic year who fail to obtain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 by the end of their third term are subject to suspension or dismissal. A similar timeline will apply to students who begin the FEP in the spring term.
After being suspended, students are not eligible to re-enroll for one calendar year, after which they are required to apply for reinstatement through the Swanson School of Engineering Office of Administration. Students returning from academic suspension are reinstated on academic probation and their academic performance will be reviewed after each subsequent term. If the student’s cumulative GPA remains below 2.00 for two consecutive terms, he or she will be subject to dismissal. Dismissal is a final action. Dismissed students are not eligible at the University of Pittsburgh.
Advanced Standing for Courses Taken Outside the University
Students transferring into the Swanson School of Engineering from other college-level programs will have their academic records reviewed for advanced-standing credit only after they have been admitted and pay their tuition deposit. This determination will be made by the responsible academic department or program in accord with Swanson School of Engineering policy and criteria established by ABET, the engineering accrediting organization. In general, advanced standing for engineering or engineering science courses will be given only if the courses were taken from an ABET-accredited engineering program. Advanced standing for mathematics, science, humanities, and social sciences courses will be awarded to the extent that such courses match specific University of Pittsburgh Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences courses as required by the Swanson School of Engineering. In particular, humanities and social sciences courses must correspond to those on the Swanson School of Engineering’s approved list of humanities and social sciences electives. Contact the Swanson School for information on these approved electives.
No more than 60 credits may be transferred from a two-year college. No more than 90 may be transferred from a four-year college. If 60 or more credits have been earned at a college or university, no transfer credit will be accepted for credits earned subsequently at a two-year school. The Swanson School of Engineering does not accept CLEP credit for course credits. For more information on Swanson School of Engineering transfer credit policies, please refer to http://engineering.pitt.edu/First-Year/First-Year/Transfer-Students/Swanson-School-of-Engineering-Transfer-Policies/
Credits for students transferring from a college that has a 3/2 program articulation agreement with the Swanson School of Engineering (see Combined Liberal Arts-Engineering 3/2 Program), a community college having an articulation agreement with the Swanson School of Engineering, or a pre-engineering program at a University of Pittsburgh regional campus will be accepted in accord with those agreements, University policy, and available space in the program of interest.
Students enrolled in the Swanson School of Engineering may take courses at other universities to satisfy graduation requirements only if the student’s academic advisor or undergraduate coordinator has approved those courses in advance. Such courses must be taken at colleges or universities that offer full four-year degree programs. Engineering and engineering science courses must be taken at an ABET-approved engineering program. Students must earn a grade of C or higher for the course to be accepted for transfer credit. Students must arrange for their transcript to be sent to their undergraduate coordinator. As noted above, once a student is enrolled in the Swanson School of Engineering, he or she is no longer permitted to take courses at a two-year or community college for transfer credit.
Students may also earn advanced standing credit by taking Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes in their high schools. Students who have their AP or IB scores sent to the University of Pittsburgh will have those scores evaluated by an academic advisor, who will determine their transferability. For a complete list of AP scores accepted by the Swanson School of Engineering, please see: http://engineering.pitt.edu/Admissions-Academics/Admissions/Undergraduate/AP-Courses/
Interdepartmental Transfers
A Swanson School of Engineering student whose academic record satisfies the minimum requirements for continued registration may apply for transfer from one engineering department or program to another. To initiate a change of departmental status, the student must complete a Program Change form, available at the Swanson School of Engineering Office of Administration. It is the prerogative of the department or program to which the student desires to transfer to approve or reject a change-of-status transfer request.
Reinstatement
An engineering student in good academic standing who has not attended the University of Pittsburgh for three consecutive terms and has attended no other institution in the intervening period will be considered for reinstatement after making application to the department chair or program director. If the student has attended another institution and completed more than 12 credits, the student must reapply through the University’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid in accordance with the procedure for transfer applicants from other colleges or universities.
A student who has withdrawn while on academic probation may be reinstated only by action of the appropriate faculty committee, typically based upon substantial evidence of a positive change in the student’s attitude toward academic work. The student must initiate the request for reinstatement with the appropriate department chair.
Grading Policies
The following section details the Swanson School of Engineering’s regulations regarding some of the grades that may appear on a student’s transcript. (For a complete discussion of all grades and grading options, see the Grading and Records section of this bulletin.)
G Grade (Incomplete)
An instructor may give the G grade when a student is unable to complete the work of a course during the term because of extenuating personal circumstances.
To remove a G grade, a student is expected to complete the course requirements within the next term of registration or within the time specified by the instructor. The instructor of the course will complete a Grade Change Authorization form and send it to the Swanson School of Engineering Office of Administration for processing. If a G grade is not removed within one year, the instructor may change it to an F grade for the course.
S/NC Option
With the exception of undergraduate seminar courses, which are only offered satisfactory/no-credit (S/NC), the S/NC option cannot be used for any course that is used to meet graduation requirements. This restriction includes humanities/social science electives and other science/engineering electives. Freshmen may not elect to take courses under the S/NC option. Upper-class engineering students man elect to take courses that will not be used to meet graduation requirements as S/NC. Because S/NC courses are not considered in the calculation of the grade point average, the option is appropriate for students wishing to explore disciplines they might not otherwise pursue because of potential negative impact on the grade point average.
A student who wishes to take a course under the S/NC option should first consult his/her advisor to assure that the S/NC option is permissible. A student must register for and complete at least one course for a letter grade to be eligible for an S/NC option course in any term. To register for more than one S/NC option course per term, and a maximum of two, a student must register for 12 or more credits for letter grades.
Calculation of the Grade Point Average
Each credit carried for a letter grade is awarded quality points as noted under the Grading and Records section of this bulletin. A student’s term grade point average (term GPA) is the total quality points earned for the term divided by the total credits assigned letter grades. The cumulative grade point average (cumulative GPA) is determined by dividing the total number of quality points by the total number of credits assigned letter grades. Only credits and quality points for courses taken at the University of Pittsburgh and that count toward the requirement for the BSE degree are used in the calculation of the GPA.
Repeating Courses
The Swanson School of Engineering permits a student to repeat required courses in which grades below C were received. A student may not repeat a course more than twice. If the course is repeated within one academic year following the original registration, the original credits and quality points of these repeated courses will not be included in the student’s cumulative GPA. Keep in mind that any grade earned in the repeated course will be posted to the academic record even if it is lower than the original grade. Also note that a sequence course cannot be repeated and have the grade replaced if a succeeding course in that sequence has been taken (e.g., MATH 0220, 0230, and 0240 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1, 2, and 3; PHYS 0174 and 0175 Basic Physics for Science and Engineering 1 and 2). The same course repeat rules will apply to transfer students from the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, the College of General Studies, and the regional campuses.
Honors Lists
At the end of each term, the academic records of all undergraduate degree students in the Swanson School of Engineering are reviewed to determine eligibility for the Term Honor List and the Dean’s Honor List. Students who qualify for both honor lists will appear only on the Dean’s Honor List.
Term Honor List
To be eligible for the Term Honor List, a student must
- Earn a GPA of at least 3.25,
- Complete a minimum of 15 credits of academic work for letter grades at the University of Pittsburgh, and
- Complete a minimum of 6 credits of work for letter grades in the term of eligibility.
Dean’s Honor List
To be eligible for the Dean’s Honor List, a student must
- Earn cumulative and term GPA’s of 3.25 or higher,
- Complete a minimum of 30 credits of academic work for letter grades at the University of Pittsburgh, and
- Complete a minimum of 6 credits of work for letter grades in the term of eligibility.
Credits
In the Swanson School of Engineering, a credit or credit hour is one of the following:
- One hour of lecture or recitation a week, requiring two hours of outside preparation
- Two hours of laboratory a week, requiring one hour of outside preparation
- Three hours of laboratory a week, requiring no outside preparation
Registration
Each student registers for future terms with the assistance of his or her academic advisor during registration periods specified by the Office of the University Registrar. A student who has registered for a course but has failed to satisfy the prerequisites for that course prior to the beginning of the term may not be permitted to continue attending class and must withdraw from the course if requested to do so. Freshman engineering students register for the fall term during the summer advising sessions. (See Registering for Classes for more information.)
Maximum Credit Registration
All full-time undergraduate engineering students are expected to register for a normal full term of academic courses (i.e., at least 12 credits). No student shall be allowed to register for more than 18 credits without specific written permission from his/her academic advisor and approval by the senior associate dean for academic affairs. Such permission is given only after a review of the student’s academic record in order to verify that an overload is academically justifiable. All credits above 18 for undergraduates will be billed over and above the full-time tuition rate at the prevailing per-credit tuition charge.
Registration for Graduate Credit
A Swanson School of Engineering undergraduate student requiring fewer than 15 credits to complete the requirements for the baccalaureate degree and who intends to continue study toward an advanced degree may be permitted during their final term to register for graduate courses that will later apply toward a graduate degree. The student must obtain written permission from the school of proposed graduate study that the courses may count when and if the student is admitted into the graduate program. Although these credits will appear on the undergraduate transcript, they will not count toward fulfilling undergraduate degree requirements. They will be posted as advanced standing credits on the graduate record.
Advanced Standing for Courses Taken Outside the University
Students transferring into the Swanson School of Engineering from other college-level programs will have their academic records reviewed for advanced-standing credit after they have been admitted and pay their tuition deposit. This determination is made by the responsible academic department or program in accord with Swanson School of Engineering policy and criteria established by ABET, the engineering accrediting organization. In general, advanced standing for engineering or engineering science courses will be given only if the courses were taken from an ABET-accredited engineering program. Advanced standing for mathematics, science, humanities, and social sciences courses will be awarded to the extent that such courses match specific University of Pittsburgh Arts and Sciences courses that are required by the Swanson School of Engineering. In particular, humanities and social sciences courses must correspond to those on the Swanson School of Engineering’s approved list of humanities and social sciences electives. Contact the school for information on these approved electives.
No more than 60 credits may be transferred from a two-year college. No more than 90 may be transferred from a four-year college. If 60 or more credits have been earned at a college or university, no transfer credit will be granted for credits earned subsequently at a two-year school. The Swanson School of Engineering does not accept CLEP credit for course credits. For more information on Swanson School of Engineering transfer credit policies, please refer to http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/Freshman/Transfer_Students/SSOE_Transfer_Policies/
Credits for students transferring from a college maintaining a 3/2 program with the Swanson School of Engineering (see Combined Liberal Arts-Engineering 3/2 Program), a community college having an articulation agreement with the Swanson School of Engineering, or a pre-engineering program at a University of Pittsburgh regional campus will be accepted in accord with those agreements and University policy.
Students enrolled in the Swanson School of Engineering may take courses at other universities to satisfy graduation requirements only if the student’s academic advisor or undergraduate coordinator has approved those courses in advance. Such courses must be taken at colleges or universities that offer full four-year degree programs. Engineering and engineering science courses must be taken at an ABET-approved engineering program. Students must earn a grade of C or higher for the course to be accepted for transfer credit. Students must arrange for their transcript to be sent to their undergraduate coordinator. Once a student is enrolled in the Swanson School of Engineering, he or she is no longer permitted to take courses at a two-year or community college for transfer credit.
Students may also earn advanced standing credit by taking Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes in their high schools. Students who have their AP or IB scores sent to the University of Pittsburgh will have those scores evaluated by an academic advisor, who will determine their transferability. For a complete list of AP scores accepted by the Swanson School of Engineering, please see: http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/freshman/advising/AP/
Special Academic Opportunities and Programs
Nuclear Engineering
Strong growth in the global demand for power is projected for the next half-century and beyond. This growth provides great opportunities for the nuclear industry, particularly companies located in southwestern Pennsylvania including Westinghouse Electric, First Energy and Bechtel Bettis. The undergraduate Certificate in Nuclear Engineering is a five-course sequence consisting of three nuclear engineering courses and two discipline specific courses related to nuclear engineering from the various engineering departments. The certificate is open to all undergraduate engineering students in the Swanson School of Engineering and can be earned in conjunction with all nine of the School’s BS engineering degrees. Qualified Arts and Science students may also elect to take the certificate.
The undergraduate Certificate in Nuclear Engineering targets competency gaps that exist in the following educational areas:
- Basic theoretical concepts of nuclear physics, radiation protection, reactor physics, reactor kinetics, fuel depletion and energy removal
- Tasks of the reactor thermal designer, nuclear designer and mechanical designer
- Interfaces among engineering disciplines involved with the design of a reactor core and the reactor coolant system for light water reactors
- Fundamental analytical skills that can aid in understanding nuclear energy problems and solutions Knowledge of important social and technical issues related to nuclear science and technology
- Improvements in c nuclear plants and future designs
- Important fuel cycle operations with uranium from exploration through enrichment including fundamental aspects of spent-fuel reprocessing and fuel-cycle waste management
Course work takes advantage of field trips to state-of-the-art facilities in the Western Pennsylvania region including the Penn State Nuclear Reactor, the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Plant, and various Westinghouse facilities. Interested students should visit http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/nuclear/ or call 412-624-9780 for more information.
Engineering for Humanity Certificate
The Engineering for Humanity certificate is open to all undergraduate students and both guides and formalizes student participation in sustainable engineering projects that serve poor communities. Moreover, the certificate program addresses the significance of cultural, political, and business forces that shape sustainable engineering solutions and empowers poor communities to improve their quality of life.. The center piece of the Certificate is an approved engineering service project that gives the student experience of working for people with basic needs. A total of 15 credits is required to complete this certificate. Students have the option of pursuing either a U.S. or international track. For additional information please contact Dr. Nettleship of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. More information on the Certificate can be found at: http://www.engineeringx.pitt.edu/SubSites/MCSI/MCSIFourColumn.aspx?id=2147502144
Statute of Limitations
All required academic work for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree, including courses for which advanced-standing credit has been granted, must be completed within 12 consecutive calendar years. Under unusual circumstances, a student may, with the approval of the department or program chair, request a waiver of this policy. This policy means that part-time students must progress toward the degree at a minimum rate of 12 credits per calendar year.
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate with a BSE, a student must have satisfactorily completed all degree requirements and earned the total number of credits required by the department or program in which the student is enrolled. The student must also have obtained a minimum GPA of 2.00 for (a) all required courses completed at the University of Pittsburgh and (b) all departmental courses. Students who have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 for all courses taken but have not obtained the minimum 2.00 departmental GPA may be certified for graduation by the program by repeating all program courses in which a grade below C was awarded and earning a grade of C or better for each repeated course.
Advanced-standing credits accepted by the Swanson School of Engineering may partially fulfill course requirements for graduation, but grades and credits earned in such courses are not included in the GPA calculations.
The work of the senior year (a minimum of 24 credits) must be completed while in residence at the Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh. Exceptions to this regulation may be granted for a limited number of credits through petition to the department or program and approval by the senior associate dean for academic affairs. This regulation will be waived for students completing an approved study abroad program during their senior year.
(See the Graduation section of this bulletin for further information on graduation requirements and procedures.)
Academic Integrity
The integrity of the academic process requires fair and impartial evaluation on the part of faculty and honest academic conduct on the part of students. Students are expected to conduct themselves with a high level of responsibility in the fulfillment of their course of study. It is the corresponding responsibility of faculty to make clear to students those standards by which they will be evaluated and the resources permissible for use by students during their course of study. The educational process is perceived as a joint faculty-student enterprise that will involve professional judgment by faculty and may involve, without penalty, reasoned exception by students to the data or views offered by faculty. Consistent with these considerations (and without limiting their scope and application in their entirety to the academic programs of the University), faculty and students are directed to observe established guidelines on academic integrity. Copies of both the Swanson School of Engineering and the University of Pittsburgh Guidelines on Academic Integrity are available to faculty and students in the departmental offices of the Swanson School of Engineering and is also available at: http://www.engr.pitt.edu/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=2147488315.
Assessment
As part of the Swanson School of Engineering’s commitments to student learning and academic achievement, effective teaching, and continuous improvement of our programs, we regularly conduct outcomes assessment activities. To obtain periodic measurements of student perceptions and intellectual growth, students will be expected to participate in surveys, focus groups, interviews, and related activities. While individual input is collected, the data resulting from these assessments will be published only in aggregate form.
Advising
All students are assigned an advisor and are expected to meet with their advisor prior to registration. The Freshman Engineering Program’s professional staff serves as the freshmen’s advisors. Throughout the freshman year, students are encouraged to meet with their advisor if they need to register for classes, withdraw from classes, add and/or drop classes, seek out resources, find out about their academic progress, discuss problems they are having in a course, or get help deciding on a program. Freshmen are also assigned a peer advisor from the Freshman Leadership Team, with whom they will meet weekly. Once students are admitted to a department or program, they are then assigned a faculty advisor. Students who wish to change advisors should meet with the department chair, program director, or undergraduate coordinator to request a change. See http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/freshman/advising/ for more information.
General Degree Requirements
The degree requirements are established by the individual departments and programs. Depending on the program, between 126 to 135 credits may be required for the individual degree. Each program’s requirements include the common freshman year, a mathematics sequence (four or five courses depending on the program), and six approved humanities and social science electives (including the W-course requirement). The specific degree requirements are found in the program descriptions below.
Humanities and Social Science Requirement
An important part of the undergraduate engineering student’s education is the humanities and social science component. All Swanson School of Engineering undergraduates must complete at least six humanities and social science elective courses from the school’s approved list of A&S courses, while meeting the school and ABET requirements for breadth and depth. To meet the depth requirement, a student must complete two or more courses in the same area of study only one of which can be considered an introductory course from Arts and Sciences. The depth requirement can also be satisfied by taking two or more courses with a related theme, e.g., courses that focus on a geographic region, historic period, or ideological perspective. For the breadth requirements, it is recommended that the courses include approved offerings from at least three different departments from Arts and Sciences. Students may use one study abroad course that might not otherwise be counted toward satisfying this requirement.
No more than two of the required six elective courses can be satisfied via high school Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and/or GCE-A-Level credits.
Students must also complete one W-designated course, i.e., a course that has a substantial writing component that has been so designated by Arts and Sciences. Depending on the course, it may also count as one of the humanities/social science electives. The senior associate dean for academic affairs maintains a list of approved humanities and social science electives. Students are not permitted to use College of General Studies courses including those indicated as either hybrid, self-paced, or online web courses.
Online Courses
Undergraduate engineering students may take one humanity/social science and one engineering, engineering science, math or science course online subject to the following conditions:
- Student must present a valid reason for taking the course; a comparable course is not available at the University.
- The course must be from a four-year college or university that is accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (or equivalent if outside the region).
- In addition, an engineering or engineering science course must be from an ABET accredited program.
- The humanities/social science courses must be from the arts and science unit of the institution and not from a continuing education, or general studies unit. The course must be taught in English.
- The course must be first approved by the undergraduate coordinator and then by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Major and Degree Options
The following majors (described in the Program Descriptions section) within the Swanson School of Engineering offer the Bachelor of Science in Engineering:
- Bioengineering
- Chemical engineering
- Civil engineering (offered by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering)
- Computer engineering (offered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Computer Science, A&S)
- Electrical engineering (offered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering)
- Engineering Science (administered through the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science)
- Environmental Engineering (administered through the Department of Civil Engineering)
- Industrial engineering
- Materials science and engineering (administered through the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science)
- Mechanical engineering (administered through the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science)
Minors in Engineering
The Swanson School of Engineering offers a number of minors to its students who wish to expand their field of knowledge in engineering. Engineering students may also pursue a minor in Arts and Sciences (see A&S section of this bulletin for details on the minors offered within A&S). Engineering students are not permitted to minor in the same field in which they are majoring. Students from outside the Swanson School of Engineering may pursue one of these minors with the permission of the given department. Any student interested in a minor should consult with the given department to determine the eligibility and completion requirements for each minor. The minors offered by the school are as follows:
- Bioengineering
- Chemical engineering
- Civil engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Environmental engineering
- Industrial engineering
- Materials science and engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Petroleum engineering
- Polymer engineering
Special Academic Opportunities/Programs
The Swanson School of Engineering offers numerous special academic opportunities as detailed in the following pages:
Arts and Sciences-Engineering Dual Degree Program
The Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and the Swanson School of Engineering have developed an undergraduate dual degree program that permits a student to combine a major in arts and sciences with a program in engineering and then receive degrees from both A&S and the Swanson School of Engineering. A student can apply for admission into this program through either A&S or the Swanson School of Engineering and must be admitted into both schools.
While the form of the program is dependent upon the individual student’s interests, the first year’s curriculum is typically the standard engineering program. During the next three years the student may complete the specific requirements for his or her engineering degree while fulfilling certain A&S major and general education requirements. Typically, the fifth year is then used to complete the A&S requirements. Students must complete a minimum of 90 A&S credits, including all A&S skills and general education requirements and an A&S major (but not a related area). Students must also complete all the degree requirements of their chosen engineering program, usually consisting of 70 or more Swanson School of Engineering credits. Each program should be developed with an advisor in Arts and Sciences and an advisor in the Swanson School of Engineering and tailored to the student’s special interests. Students in this program have combined engineering with neuroscience, philosophy, economics, music, and a number of the language programs.
Students must satisfy both schools’ normal progress requirements and criteria for academic standing as long as they remain in the joint degree program. Students also must apply for graduation from both schools. A&S students earn either a BA or BS degree, depending upon the A&S program of study. The student’s GPA for graduation from A&S is calculated based solely upon the credits earned for the A&S degree. For further information, students may contact one of the following: the Freshman Engineering Program Office, 152 Benedum Hall; an engineering departmental undergraduate coordinator; the A&S Office, 140 Thackeray Hall; the A&S Advising Center, 252 Thackeray Hall; or the University Honors College engineering advisor, 3600 Cathedral of Learning.
Bachelor of Philosophy Degree Program with University Honors College
Undergraduate students with exceptional academic ability and motivation may elect to complete the Bachelor of Philosophy degree program in addition to their engineering bachelor of science degree. Students who have completed the freshman year may apply for degree candidacy in the UHC. Outstanding students enrolled in any of the Swanson School of Engineering programs may elect to complete these interschool degree requirements. In addition, students pursuing the five-year joint degree program with Arts and Sciences are also encouraged to pursue the honors college degree.
All of the UHC degree programs require independent scholarship and a competency-based evaluation by faculty in the last year. The requirements for independent scholarship entail the completion and defense of a thesis during the junior and senior years. Qualified engineering students may join with an engineering faculty member to propose an individualized plan of study leading to independent scholarship and an honors college degree, provided the basic graduation requirements of the student’s engineering department are fulfilled. Students interested in the honors college should contact the dean of the honors college, 3500 Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, or call 412-624-6880. (See the University Honors College section of this bulletin.)
Cooperative Engineering Education Program
The school’s Cooperative Engineering Education Program enhances the student engineer’s educational experience through a series of challenging, highly relevant “real world” work sessions. This is accomplished by integrating a rotation of school and employment terms that enables the cooperative education student to complement his or her formal classroom training with additional technical knowledge, hands-on experience, and financial remuneration. The co-op graduate possesses the maturity and assurance of a more seasoned employee and the ability to incorporate academic knowledge and theory into practice. During co-op sessions, students earn competitive salaries, which also makes this program financially rewarding. Almost half of the graduating seniors complete the co-op program requirements. Through the assistance of the Swanson School of Engineering’s Cooperative Education Office, formal arrangements are established with industry that permit students to rotate four-month terms between the workplace and the classroom. At the University of Pittsburgh, this rotation begins during either the sophomore or junior year and extends into the senior year, with the co-op student completing at least three four-month work periods. These employment sessions, which are typically with the same employer, allow job duties to increase as the knowledge and skills of the student engineer progress. The positions can be local, national, or international. This practical work experience has also been found to increase academic motivation and classroom performance. Co-op students become aware of business practice and etiquette and possess a mature, responsible attitude. Thus, upon graduation, students who have successfully completed the three co-op rotations are able to handle more challenging initial assignments with confidence and assurance. A high percentage of co-op students also obtain and accept full-time offers from their co-op employers.
Students earn transcript certification and a total of three credits towards departmental graduation requirements upon satisfactory completion of the program requirements. The co-op program offers resume preparation, interviewing skills, workshops and job fairs in order to facilitate appropriate placements for students.
Sample Co-op Schedules
SCHEDULE A
|
Fall
(Sept.-Dec.) |
Spring
(Jan.-April) |
Summer
(May-Aug.) |
| First Year |
School |
School |
|
| Second Year |
School |
School |
|
| Third Year |
Work |
School |
Work |
| Fourth Year |
School |
Work |
School |
| Fifth Year |
School |
|
|
SCHEDULE B
|
Fall
(Sept.-Dec.) |
Spring
(Jan.-April) |
Summer
(May-Aug.) |
| First Year |
School |
School |
|
| Second Year |
School |
School |
Work |
| Third Year |
School |
Work |
School |
| Fourth Year |
Work |
School |
Work |
| Fifth Year |
School |
|
|
SCHEDULE C
|
Fall
(Sept.-Dec.) |
Spring
(Jan.-April) |
Summer
(May-Aug.) |
| First Year |
School |
School |
|
| Second Year |
School |
Work |
School |
| Third Year |
Work |
School |
Work |
| Fourth Year |
School |
Work |
School |
| Fifth Year |
School |
|
|
For more information, please contact: Cooperative Engineering Education Program, 152 Benedum Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, 412-624-9826, paub2m@pitt.edu, or see www.engineering.pitt.edu/coop/.
Engineering-School of Education Certification Program
The Swanson School of Engineering realizes the need to provide program flexibility and a variety of career options to undergraduate engineering majors. Careers in the teaching of mathematics, chemistry, and physics present one such option to students who have acquired a knowledge base in engineering. Through an articulated agreement with the University of Pittsburgh School of Education, a five-year Program of Study combines course work in engineering with Content Core Studies for the teaching of chemistry, mathematics, or physics; additionally, general education courses and pre-educational professional credits are included in the program. During the program’s fifth year (after completion of the BS in engineering degree), students will complete the requirements for the Instructional I Certificate in their area of choice. This two-term program will enable them to teach in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
For more information regarding scheduling and the admission policy of the agreement, talk with your advisor, or call 412-648-2230 to schedule a pre-admission meeting with a School of Education representative. See also http://www.education.pitt.edu/programs/certificates.aspx
Certificate Programs
Swanson School of Engineering undergraduate students are encouraged to broaden their educational experience by electing to take one of the certificate programs currently offered by Arts and Sciences, the University Center for International Studies (UCIS), or the Swanson School of Engineering. These certificate programs may be used by the engineering student to partially fulfill the humanities/social sciences requirement, thereby allowing specialization in an area of interest while pursuing an engineering degree. The requirements for each certificate vary, and students should contact the appropriate certificate program director.
The Swanson School of Engineering offers ten certificates at the undergraduate level:
Civil Engineering and Architectural Studies
Recognizing the close relations between architects and structural engineers, in particular, a special program of cooperation was established in 1990 between the Department of Architectural Studies of the School of Arts and Sciences, and the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department. Students from the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department may elect to study for a certificate in architectural studies. The certificate is described at the following location: http://www.arch.pitt.edu/program/related-areas.php#civil-engineeringcertificate
Interested students should work with their respective advisor to select the most appropriate classes for this opportunity.
Related Area in Architectural Studies for Engineering Students
The related area in architectural studies is intended to offer students majoring in engineering an opportunity to explore the aesthetic side of problem-solving design activity. The selection of courses can be formulated to fit the interests and goals of the individual student. The related area may range from 12 to 15 credits that may be used to partially satisfy the 18-credit Swanson School of Engineering humanities/social sciences requirements. Engineering students selecting this option must take HA&A 0040 Introduction to Architecture, and HA&A 1040 History of Architecture Theory is strongly recommended. Students may elect either two or three courses in the history of architecture, e.g., HA&A 0045 Introduction to Modern Architecture, HA&A 1306 High Renaissance Architecture, and HA&A 1160 Roman Architecture or HA&A 1480 Architecture Since 1945 and HA&A 1913 Senior Seminar for Architectural Studies Majors. Please contact the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/civil/ or by calling 412-624-9870.
Energy Resource Utilization
The Energy Resource Utilization Certificate is designed for those students interested in both the development of new energy resources and the study of existing ones. Students in the Swanson School of Engineering may earn a certificate in energy resource utilization by completing two 6-credit courses. The first course, Energy Today, offered by the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department at the University of Pittsburgh, examines current technologies that supply energy from coal, petroleum, gas, and uranium. The second course, Energy Beyond 2000, offered by the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, examines energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and those techniques that will be used in the future to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Both courses are offered in the summer term: Energy Today from mid-May to mid-June, and Energy Beyond 2000 from late June to early August.
International Engineering Studies
An innovative International Engineering Certificate Program has been created for those students who wish to enhance their degree program with an education abroad experience. Students in the Swanson School of Engineering may earn a Certificate in International Engineering Studies (IES) by completing a minimum set of requirements that include completion of an approved education abroad program or co-op work experience and associated cultural enrichment and language studies. A total of 16 credits are required to complete this certificate. Students who study or work in English-speaking countries are also eligible to earn the certificate by fulfilling special requirements. The certificate appears on the student’s transcript upon graduation. Please contact the Office of Engineering International Programs at international@engr.pitt.edu or by calling (412) 624-5942 for additional information.
Mining Engineering
The Minerals Industry is a vital and growing part of the US economy and the demand for professionals with knowledge and skills in the field of mining engineering is high. To help address this demand the Swanson School of Engineering offers three Mining Engineering Certificates. One certificate is for undergraduate engineers and geologists and requires three mining courses and two department specific courses. A second is for graduate engineering students and a third is for Post-Baccalaureate students with a BS degree. Both of these certificates require five mining engineering courses. Many of the mining engineering courses are offered via the distance learning format so professionals working in the minerals industry can participate from remote locations. Course work focuses on health and safety and environmental issues in the minerals industry and utilizes field trips to operating mines to demonstrate important principles. Interested students should check http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/mining/ for updated information on this program.
Nuclear Engineering
Strong growth in the global demand for power is projected for the next half-century and beyond. This growth provides great opportunities for the nuclear industry, particularly companies located in southwestern Pennsylvania including Westinghouse Electric, First Energy and Bechtel Bettis. The undergraduate Certificate in Nuclear Engineering is a five-course sequence consisting of three nuclear engineering courses and two discipline specific courses related to nuclear engineering from the various engineering departments. The certificate is open to all undergraduate engineering students in the Swanson School of Engineering and can be earned in conjunction with all nine of the School’s BS engineering degrees. Qualified Arts and Science students may also elect to take the certificate.
The undergraduate Certificate in Nuclear Engineering targets competency gaps that exist in the following educational areas:
- Basic theoretical concepts of nuclear physics, radiation protection, reactor physics, reactor kinetics, fuel depletion and energy removal
- Tasks of the reactor thermal designer, nuclear designer and mechanical designer
- Interfaces among engineering disciplines involved with the design of a reactor core and the reactor coolant system for light water reactors
- Fundamental analytical skills that can aid in understanding nuclear energy problems and solutions
- Knowledge of important social and technical issues related to nuclear science and technology
- Improvements in nuclear plants and future designs
- Important fuel cycle operations with uranium from exploration through enrichment including fundamental aspects of spent-fuel reprocessing and fuel-cycle waste management
Course work takes advantage of field trips to state-of-the-art facilities in the Western Pennsylvania region including the Penn State Nuclear Reactor, the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Plant, and various Westinghouse facilities. Interested students should visit http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/nuclear/ or call 412-624-9720 for more information.
Product Realization
Employers now seek engineers with skills in these technologies and who are able to work under the added pressure of moving products from conception to market in extremely short time periods. With this increased emphasis on minimizing the time to market, it has become essential for engineers to integrate marketing and business strategies with new products design skills. The Product Realization Certificate cuts across the Swanson School of Engineering and into the College of Business Administration of the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. The objectives of the certificate in product realization are to close the current competency gaps that exists between academia and industry in the areas of design and product creation and to create a benchmark educational program that can serve as a model throughout academia.
The Certificate in Product Realization specifically targets competency gaps that exist in the following educational areas:
computational analysis methods, virtual and rapid prototyping techniques, micro-electronic mechanical systems (MEMS), digital control systems and wireless communication, and business aspects of product creation. Course work takes advantage of state-of-the-art facilities that currently exist in the Swanson Center for Product Innovation (SCPI). The certificate is designed for undergraduate engineering students, as well as qualified students in the College of Business Administration with an interest in new product development. Students from the bio, industrial, mechanical, and electrical/computer engineering programs may be most interested in obtaining the certificate. Students take a total of five courses to include at least one College of Business Administration course, two engineering courses, and the capstone design course, Product Realization.
For information contact:
Mary Besterfield Sacre
1040 Benedum Hall
412-624-9836
mbsacre@pitt.edu
Supply Chain Management
The Certificate in Supply Chain Management (CSCM) provides undergraduate engineering students with the opportunity to understand important concepts in supply chain management and develop technical and managerial skills which are highly valued in today’s corporate environment. The program also offers an international travel experience for students to gain hands-on exposure to global supply chain organizations.
Supply chain management encompasses not only the design and planning of supply chain activities, but also the execution, control and monitoring that help companies build a competitive infrastructure and create net value. The supply chain covers all areas, not just manufacturing and services, but also includes suppliers, retailers, warehouses, logistics and customer service; all functional areas involved in receiving and filling a customer’s order with a repeatable and satisfying experience. This certificate requires 15 credits to complete.
Enrollment is open to students in all of the undergraduate engineering programs in the Swanson School of Engineering. Students interested in the program should contact Dr. Karen Bursic (kbursic@pitt.edu) for more details.
Engineering for Humanity Certificate
The Engineering for Humanity certificate is open to all undergraduate students and both guides and formalizes student participation in sustainable engineering projects that serve poor communities. Moreover, the certificate program addresses the significance of cultural, political, and business forces that shape sustainable engineering solutions and empowers poor communities to improve their quality of life. The center piece of the Certificate is an approved engineering service project that gives the student experience of working for people with basic needs. A total of 15 credits is required to complete this certificate. Students have the option of pursuing either a U.S. or international track. For additional information please contact Dr. Nettleship of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. More information on the Certificate can be found at: http://www.engineeringx.pitt.edu/SubSites/MCSI/MCSIFourColumn.aspx?id=2147502144
Sustainable Engineering
An undergraduate Certificate in Sustainable Engineering is available to all undergraduate engineering students. The certificate is housed in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and administered through the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation. The certificate provides interested students with an awareness and sensitivity to environmental issues and consequences of engineering systems consistent with their engineering major. The certificate builds upon an increasing number of courses being offered with an emphasis on sustainability and requires 12 credits to complete.
For information on this program contact:
Melissa Bilec
153 Benedum Hall (MCSI)
(412) 648-8075
mbilec@pitt.edu
Engineering International Programs
As the world around us grows ever more connected, it has become evident that engineering students must be prepared to engage in an increasingly globalized world, and, upon graduation, to compete in an increasingly international jobs market. Accordingly, the Swanson School of Engineering (SSOE) has placed a tremendous emphasis on the development of exciting and academically enriching international programs for its students.
All students in SSOE are encouraged to add a global dimension to their education by pursuing one or more international programs as part of their academic study. At present, SSOE students may elect to participate in study, research, co-op, internship, or service learning abroad. Most of these opportunities are offered on a for-credit basis, and many can be used to satisfy major, minor, technical elective, or other degree requirements. Foreign language study is helpful, but not required, as many courses are on offer in English. Depending on their academic and personal interests, students may elect to participate in dozens of individual international programs. Some of these may last for only a week or two, either during spring break or over the summer term. Others may involve a commitment of a semester or even an entire academic year abroad.
The Swanson Signature Study Abroad Programs are short term opportunities that focus on a relevant engineering topic in detail over the course of 10 to 14 days. Recently, Swanson Signature programs have occurred in Brazil, Uruguay, Peru, Italy and Germany, studying such diverse topics as renewable energy and sustainability, engineering of pre-Columbian civilizations, and global supply networks. Plus3 is another innovative short term program designed for first year SSOE students, and which has gone to such locations as Chile, Brazil, Germany, China and Viet Nam. Meanwhile, students who wish to invest in longer term language or cultural study may decide to participate in an exchange program. This affords them the opportunity to study engineering, social sciences or humanities at a foreign college or university for one or two consecutive academic terms, and for little more than the cost of a regular term in Pittsburgh. Finally, scholarships and other funding opportunities are also available, and financial aid administered by the University of Pittsburgh may apply.
Current and prospective SSOE students and their parents are welcome to contact the Office of Engineering International Programs for more information. Please visit: http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/international.
Combined Liberal Arts-Engineering 3/2 Program
The Swanson School of Engineering has developed combined liberal arts/engineering dual degree programs with a number of accredited liberal arts colleges. In these “3/2 programs,” students first complete a three-year structured course of study at the liberal arts college, including that college’s general education requirements, specific introductory courses required for the engineering program of interest, and other courses necessary for acceptance into a Swanson School of Engineering program. With the recommendation of the faculty advisor at the liberal arts college, the student applies for transfer to the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, spending the final two years in an engineering program. Such programs typically enable the student to earn both a liberal arts degree and an engineering degree.
Swanson School of Engineering-Diversity Initiatives
The Engineering Office of Diversity exists to create and sustain learning and working environments where differences and similarities are valued and respected, and all students, especially underrepresented students, are included and empowered to excel in engineering education. The office provides diversity education to undergraduates, graduate students, staff and faculty. The office also provides continuous academic and community support services through the its pre-college, undergraduate and graduate student programming.
Pre-College and Undergraduate Diversity Programs
The Swanson School of Engineering pre-college and undergraduate diversity programs develop and implement activities that promote and support the academic excellence of high achieving pre-college and undergraduate students from groups historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. These initiatives provide a continuous pipeline for students to prepare for, enter and graduate from the University of Pittsburgh as STEM majors.
Global Engineering Preparedness Scholarship (GEPS) Programs
Educating Engineers in Cultural and Societal Contexts
Thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation, the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering and its Office of Diversity (EOD) have established the Global Engineering Preparedness Scholarship program (GEPS). GEPS helps to support the recruitment, retention and graduation of low-income students from underrepresented minorities and majority populations. GEPS also prepares students for the global marketplace by offering international opportunities that students would not normally be able to participate without additional supporting funds.
Because the engineering career of the 21st century is more globally competitive than ever, GEPS also provides an integrative framework that focuses on access, continuous academic support, development of global competency and leadership experience. International experience is now an integral part of engineering education, and highly sought after by employers across all engineering disciplines. GEPS Scholars will have access to Pitt’s exceptional education abroad programs to experience international skills sought by the engineering profession.
GEPS Benefits
- Academic Counseling and Advising -Structured on-on-one academic counseling and advising for all first-year students. Students will meet with an Academic Counselor regularly, as well as with the Associate Dean for Diversity at the beginning of each semester to set goals and at the end of each semester to review goal attainment.
- Academic Living/learning Community (ALC): All GEPS Scholars participate in ALC program activities in the first year at Pitt. This provides Scholars the opportunity to live and learn from each other and develop and cultivate cross-cultural lifelong friendships.
- Academic Tutoring - Tutoring support will be provided for all GEPS Scholars in physics, chemistry and math courses through the EXCEL office.
- Exceptional Education: The Swanson School of Engineering is ranked among the top 25 public university engineering programs by US News and World Report, while the University of Pittsburgh was named a “Best Value College” by The Princeton Review and USA TODAY for the fourth consecutive year; and Best Value In Public Higher Education in Pennsylvania by Kiplinger’s for the ninth consecutive year (2014).
- Faculty Mentoring: Students will be matched with faculty who will engage in a professional one-on-one relationship to further challenge students in scholarly activities.
- Global Leadership Competency Development for Engineers (GLE) - After the first year, Scholars will participate in GLE activities designed to enrich global leadership experience and global preparedness. GLE activities are supported through partnerships with employers, international study abroad, and career development programs, allowing Scholars to engage in engineering design and problem solving in cultural and societal contexts, both at home and abroad.
- Peer Mentoring: GEPS will provide a more structured and effective peer mentoring program by pairing GEPS first-year students with Engineering Ambassadors selected from a group of outstanding engineering juniors and seniors. The Engineering Ambassadors will help students develop good study skills, capacity building skills, and communication skills critical during the first year at the Swanson School.
- Summer Engineering Academy (SEA): A rigorous two-week pre-college program designed to assist students in making a smooth transition from high school to college.
Scholarship Eligibility, Selection, and Retention
GEPS Scholars will be selected from the pool of admitted students or transferring students meeting US citizenship or permanent residency requirements and having unmet financial needs as determined through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. Student should be in to top 10-20 percent of class high school ranking, ACT/SAT above 27/1300, or college transfer GPA of 3.0 or above.
Beyond scores and academic performance students are offered GEPS admission by committee review of GPA, SAT/ACT scores, strength of high school courses, class ranking, teacher recommendations for overall potential for success, extracurricular activities, honors and awards, professionalism, leadership, and personal statement.
All GEPS Scholars must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to retain the Scholarship. All GEPS Scholars who complete the second year of the program with GPA of 3.0 and above are eligible for the GEPS International Study Abroad Scholarship
How to Apply
High School Students/Prospective First-Year Students: engineering.pitt.edu/geps/firstyear
Transfer Students: engineering.pitt.edu/geps/tranfer
For more information contact:
University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering
Engineering Office of Diversity
128 Benedum Hall
3700 O’Hara Street
Pittsburgh PA 15261
eodadmin@pitt.edu
412-624-9842
Investing Now
INVESTING NOW, created in 1988, is a college preparatory program created to stimulate, support, and recognize the high academic performance of pre-college students from historically underrepresented groups. The purpose of this program is to expose high achieving students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers and prepare them to be successful at the University of Pittsburgh or other highly competitive universities.
The program’s primary goals are to:
- Create a pipeline for well-prepared students to enter college and pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors;
- Encourage and support student’ enrollment and achievement in advanced mathematics and science courses;
- Ensure that the participants make informed college choices;
- Support and encourage parents in their role as advocates for their children; and
- Coordinate partnerships between the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering and local and regional schools.
Membership in INVESTING NOW a student’s commitment to attend year-round programming from ninth through twelfth grade.
For further information, contact:
INVESTING NOW
Swanson School of Engineering
University of Pittsburgh
152C Benedum Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
412-624-0224
http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/InvestingNow/
Pitt EXCEL Program
Pitt EXCEL is a comprehensive diversity program committed to the recruitment, retention and graduation of academically excellent engineering undergraduates, particularly individuals from groups historically underrepresented in the field. Program activities include academic counseling, peer mentoring, engineering research opportunities, graduate school preparation and career development workshops, as well as a two-week intensive study skills, math and science review session for pre-freshmen.
The goals of the Pitt EXCEL programs are to:
- Collaborate with the INVESTING NOW program, the First Year Engineering Program Office and the Office of Admissions & Financial Aid in order to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups enrolled in the Swanson School of Engineering.
- Provide students with support activities and enrichment opportunities that will make them marketable to corporations and graduate schools.
- Provide community building activities that will help students to develop a supportive and diverse peer network.
Programming offered to Pitt EXCEL students includes:
The Summer Engineering Academy (SEA) is a residential program that enables students to make a smooth transition from high school to college. During SEA, students learn essential study skills for college and receive an intensive review of chemistry, pre-calculus and physics concepts, with an introduction to engineering problem solving. By attending this program students can prepare for success during their first year of college.
Summer Research Internships (SRI) focuses on the preparation of underrepresented students for graduate education and professional careers in engineering. The goals of the program are to identify motivated students and match them with faculty mentors. The mentors assist the students through the completion of a summer research project.
For further information, please contact:
Pitt EXCEL Program
Swanson School of Engineering
University of Pittsburgh
152C Benedum Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Phone: 412-624-9625
Fax: 412-624-2827
http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/EXCEL/
Swanson School of Engineering Faculty
STEVEN D. ABRAMOWITCH, Associate Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
MURAT AKCAKAYA, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, Washington University
MOHAMMAD M. ATAAI, Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, Cornell University
ANNA C. BALAZS, Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering and Robert von der Luft Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
IPSITA BANERJEE, Associate Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, Rutgers University
AARON P. BATISTA, Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, California Institute of Technology
ERIC J. BECKMAN, George M. Bevier Chair Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, University of Massachusetts
MOSTAFA BEDEWY, Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, University of Michigan
MARY BESTERFIELD-SACRE, Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
KYLE BIBBY, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, Yale University
BOPAYA BIDANDA, Chair and Ernest E. Roth Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, Pennsylvania State University
HODA BIDKHORI, Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MELISSA M. BILEC, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
HARVEY S. BOROVETZ, Professor and Former Chair, Bioengineering, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University
J. ROBERT BOSTON, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, Northwestern University
JOHN C. BRIGHAM, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, Cornell University
BRYAN N. BROWN, Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
DANIEL D. BUDNY, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Director, Freshman Engineering Program, PhD, Michigan State University
ANDREW P. BUNGER, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, University of Minnesota
KAREN BURSIC, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Director, Industrial Engineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
LEONARD W. CASSON, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, University of Texas at Austin
RAKIE CHAM, Associate Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
MARKUS CHMIELUS, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Technical University, Berlin, Germany
KEVIN P. CHEN, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, University of Toronto
YIRAN CHEN, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, Purdue University
SUNG KWON CHO, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Seoul National University, Korea
YOUNGJAE CHUN, Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
MINKING CHYU, Associate Dean for International Initiatives; Leighton E. and Mary N. Orr Chair Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, University of Minnesota
WILLIAM W. CLARK, Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
DANIEL G. COLE, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
XINYAN CUI, Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Michigan
LANCE A. DAVIDSON, Associate Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of California at Berkeley
ANTHONY J. DEARDO, Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University
RICHARD E. DEBSKI, Associate Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
SAMUEL J. DICKERSON, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
AMRO EL-JAROUDI, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, Northeastern University
MAHMOUD EL NOKALI, Interim Chair and Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, McGill University
ROBERT M. ENICK, Covestro Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
WILLIAM FEDERSPIEL, Professor, Graduate Coordinator, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Rochester
SUSAN FULLERTON, Assistant Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, The Pennsylvania State University
GIOVANNI P. GALDI, Leighton E. and Mary N. Orr Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, University of Naples, Italy
NEERAJ J. GANDHI, Associate Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of California, San Francisco
DI GAO, Associate Professor and William Kepler Whiteford Faculty Fellow, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, University of California at Berkeley
LEEANNE GILBERTSON, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, Yale University
PEYMAN GIVI, Distinguished Professor and James T. MacLeod Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University
BRIAN M. GLEESON, Chair and Harry S. Tack Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science PhD, University of Los Angeles BRANDON GRAINGER, Visiting Research Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
KILICHAN GURLEYIK, Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, DSc, Washington University in St. Louis
JOEL M. HAIGHT, Associate Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, Auburn University
KENT A. HARRIES, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, McGill University
ALAN HIRSCHMAN, Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University
GERALD D. HOLDER, USX Dean, Swanson School of Engineering; Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, University of Michigan
TIN-KAN HUNG, Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Iowa
ANTHONY T. IANNACCHIONE, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
TAMER S. IBRAHIM, Associate Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, The Ohio State University
STEVEN P. JACOBS, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, DSc, Washington University
TEVIS D. B. JACOBS, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
DANIEL R. JIANG, Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, Princeton University
J. KARL JOHNSON, William Kepler Whiteford Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, Cornell University
ALEX K. JONES, Associate Professor and COE Undergraduate Program Director, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, Northwestern University
IRVIN R. JONES, JR, Assistant Professor and EE Undergraduate Program Director, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, University of Colorado at Boulder
VIKAS KHANNA, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, The Ohio State University
JOHN A. KEITH, Assistant Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, California Institute of Technology
JEFFREY P. KHAROUFEH, Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, The Pennsylvania State University
HONG KOO KIM, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University
GEORGE E. KLINZING, Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University
TAKASHI DANIEL YOSHIDA KOZAI, Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Michigan
GEORGE L. KUSIC, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University
PRASHANT N. KUMTA, Edward R. Weidlein Chair Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Arizona
ALEXIS KWASINSKI, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
JUNG-KUN LEE, William Kepler Whiteford Faculty Fellow, Associate Professor, MSE Graduate Director, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Seoul National University, Korea
SANGYEOP LEE, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
PAUL LEU, Associate Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, Stanford University
CHING CHUNG LI, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, Northwestern University
GUANGYONG LI, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, Michigan State University
HAI (HELEN) LI, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, Purdue University
LEI LI, Assistant Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, University of Michigan
XU LIANG, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, University of Washington
JEEN-SHANG LIN, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, ScD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
STEVEN LITTLE, Chair and William Kepler Whiteford Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
PATRICK J. LOUGHLIN, Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Washington
NIATIKUN LOUIS LUANGKESORN, Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, Northwestern University
SPANDAN MAITI, Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Illinois, Champaign
LISA M. MAILLART, Associate Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, University of Michigan
SCOTT X. MAO, William Kepler Whiteford Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Tohoku University
ZHI-HONG MAO, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MARK MAGALOTTI, Professor of Practice, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
JOSEPH J. McCARTHY, William Kepler Whiteford Professor and Vice Chair for Education, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, Northwestern University
JAMES R. McKONE, Assistant Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, California Institute of Technology
RAVI S. MEENAKSHISUNDARAM, Associate Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, Purdue University
GERALD H. MEIER, William Kepler Whiteford Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Ohio State University
IRENE MENA, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Purdue University
NATASA MISKOV-ZIVANOV, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University
KARTIK MOHANRAM, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, University of Texas at Austin
BADIE I. MORSI, Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, ScD, Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine-Ecole Nationale Superieure des Industries Chimiques
SEYED MOHAMMAD MOUSAVI, Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, Stanford University
GIANNIS MPOURMPAKIS (Ioannis Bourmpakis), Assistant Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, University of Crete, Greece (Heraklion)
IAN NETTLESHIP, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, University of Leeds
CARLA NG, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, Northwestern University
BRYAN A. NORMAN, Associate Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, University of Michigan
ROBERT S. PARKER, Professor and B.P. America Faculty Fellow, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, University of Delaware
JOHN F. PATZER II, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator, Bioengineering, PhD, Stanford University
OLEG A. PROKOPYEV, Associate Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, University of Florida
JAYANT RAJGOPAL, Professor and Graduate Program Director, Industrial Engineering, PhD, University of Iowa
MARK S. REDFERN, Vice Provost for Research, Swanson School of Engineering; Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Michigan
GREGORY F. REED, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
PIERVINCENZO RIZZO, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, University of California at San Diego
ANNE M. ROBERTSON, William Kepler Whiteford Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, University of California at Berkeley
PARTHA ROY, Associate Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Texas, Southern Medical Center
JOSEPH T. SAMOSKY, Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
WISSAM SAIDI, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Ohio State University
DAVID SCHMIDT, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University
JOHN SEBASTIAN, Professor of Practice, Civil and Environmental Engineering, MBA, University of Pittsburgh
ERVIN SEJDIC, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, Columbia University
NITIN SHARMA, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, University of Florida
JASON SHOEMAKER, Assistant Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara
SANJEEV G. SHROFF, Chair, Distinguished Professor of and Gerald E. McGinnis Chair, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
LARRY J. SHUMAN, Senior Associate Dean, Swanson School of Engineering; Distinguished Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, The Johns Hopkins University
WILLIAM S. SLAUGHTER IV, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Director, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Harvard University
PATRICK SMOLINSKI, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Northwestern University
WILLIAM E. STANCHINA, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, University of Southern California
GEORGE DEWITT STETTEN, Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of North Carolina
ALBERT C. F. TO, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, University of California at Berkeley
MORTEZA A.M. TORKAMANI, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, University of California at Los Angeles
GELSY TORRES, Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University
LUIS E. VALLEJO, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, University of Wisconsin
JONATHAN VANDE GEEST, Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
JULIE M. VANDENBOSSCHE, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, University of Minnesota
SACHIN S. VELANKAR, Associate Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, University of Delaware
GÖTZ VESER, Nickolas A. DeCecco Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, Fritz-Haber-Institute of the Max-Planck-Society
NATASA VIDIC, Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
RADISAV D. VIDIC, Chair and Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, University of Cincinnati
JUAN PABLO VIELMA, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology
JEFFREY S. VIPPERMAN, Professor and Vice Chair, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Duke University
DAVID VORP, Associate Dean for Research, Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
GUOFENG WANG, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, California Institute of Technology
QING-MING WANG, Professor and ME Graduate Director, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Pennsylvania State University
YADONG WANG, Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, Stanford University
DOUGLAS WEBER, Associate Professor, Bioengineering, PhD, Arizona State University
JOHN WHITEFFOT, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
JÖRG M. WIEZOREK, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, PhD, University of Cambridge
CHRISTOPHER E. WILMER, Assistant Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, Northwestern University
SAVIO L.Y. WOO, University Professor of Bioengineering, PhD, University of Washington
SYLVANUS N. WOSU, Associate Dean for Diversity; Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, University of Oklahoma
WEI XIONG, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
JUDITH C. YANG, Nickolas A. DeCecco Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD, Cornell University
JUN YANG, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, University of Arizona
QIANG YU, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD, Northwestern University
MIN HEE YUN, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD, Arizona State University
BO ZENG, Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering, PhD, Purdue University
XUDONG ZHANG, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, PhD, University of Michigan
Program and Course Offerings
Students enter one of the specific engineering major programs below at the sophomore level after successfully completing the Freshman Engineering Program.
