Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering Sophomore/Transfer Advising

ADVISING - SOPHOMORES / TRANSFERS

PROFESSIONAL COMPONENT STANDING FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

All departments in the College of Engineering require Professional Component Standing (PCS) for most 300- and 400-level courses. PCs is awarded by the appropriate department chair when the student does the following:

1.	Completes a required set of fundamental courses;
2.	Has at least a 2.00 GPA (and a C-grade minimum in all EE/CIS courses in the Computer Engineering Degree) or "C" level competency for certain departmentally specified courses taken at the University of South Alabama; and
3.	Has at least a 2.00 GPA overall at the University of South Alabama.

Students who fail to maintain PCs criteria will lose PCs and may be required to take or repeat appropriate courses as specified by the department chair to correct their deficiencies and may not be permitted to continue in the 300- and 400-level engineering courses. See departmental policy statements for additional details.

COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

The College of Engineering also offers an attractive five year cooperative Education Program. This program allows the student to gain valuable engineering experience as he or she pursues his or her degree. The freshman year is spent as a full time student at the university. During the sophomore and junior years the student alternates working full time with an excellent salary for one semester and taking full time course work the next semester. The student returns to school full time for the senior year.

This program offers many advantages for the student. Interested students should consult with either Career Services Center or the College of Engineering.

PROFESSIONAL COMPONENT STANDING FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

All departments in the College of Engineering require Professional Component Standing (PCS) for most 300- and 400-level courses. PCS is awarded by the appropriate department chair when the student does the following:

1.	Completes a required set of fundamental courses; for Mechanical Engineering that includes EH 101 & EH 102 English Composition, MA 125 & MA 125, Calculus I & II and CH 131, Chemistry I.
2.	Has at least a 2.00 GPA or "C" level competency for certain departmentally specified courses taken at the University of South Alabama; and
3.	Has at least a 2.00 GPA overall at the University of South Alabama.

Students who fail to maintain PCS criteria will lose PCS and may be required to take or repeat appropriate courses as specified by the department chair to correct their deficiencies and may not be permitted to continue in the 300- and 400-level engineering courses. See departmental policy statements for additional details.

HOURS IN RESIDENCE/RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

A candidate for graduation must complete a minimum of 32 credit hours of University of South Alabama upper-division course work (300 and 400 levels). Upon the recommendation of the dean of the appropriate college and approval of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, other credit may be substituted to meet the residency requirement.
A student must complete a minimum of 128 approved semester hours, including both general education requirements and major requirements. In some colleges/degree programs a minor is also required. Degree requirements in some programs may exceed the minimum of 128 semester hours.

Minimum number of semester hours that must be completed in the major and minor at the University of South Alabama: A minimum of 15 credit hours of courses at the 300/400 level in the major discipline must be completed at the University of South Alabama. If a minor is required in the particular degree program, 9 credit hours of courses in the minor must be completed at the University of South Alabama.

Any deviation from these residency policies must be approved by the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Students should consult the University Bulletin for additional regulations in each academic unit.

DOUBLE MAJOR

Undergraduate students may elect to fulfill the requirements for two majors concurrently. To do so, the student must declare a primary major and a secondary major on the Declaration of Program form that is filed with the Registrar’s Office. The student’s principal academic file will be maintained in the department of the primary major. A second file should also be maintained in the department of the second major. Both departments must prepare graduation completion check sheets. Students who declare a double major must participate in academic advising in each major. Completion of a minor is not required of students completing two majors. Students who declare two majors from different colleges will be required to fulfill all requirements for each major and to fulfill all degree requirements, including those for general education, that apply in the college of the primary major. Students who complete requirements for two majors from different colleges will be awarded the degree granted by the college of the primary major, and transcripts will designate that both the primary and secondary majors were completed.

SECOND MAJOR

Students who have been awarded a bachelors degree at the University of South Alabama may return to study for a second major as an non-degree student (see unclassified). Such students must fulfill the following requirements to have a second major recorded on their academic record:

1.	They must complete the appropriate form in the Admissions Office prior to undertaking any course work toward the second major.
2.	They must be enrolled in the college in which the major is administered.
3.	They must meet all the requirements of the second major.
4.	At least half the total number of hours required for the second major must be satisfactorily completed in residence at the University of South Alabama.
5.	At least nine hours of the work in the second major satisfactorily completed in residence at the University of South Alabama must be in addition to work completed as part of the bachelor’s degree.
6.	The appropriate dean’s office is responsible for notifying the Registrar’s office of satisfactory completion of the second major.

When these requirements have been met, a notation will be entered on the student’s record to indicate that the student has “completed work equivalent to a major in _____”. Students completing a major equivalency in this fashion may not apply the additional course work toward a second bachelor’s degree.

DUAL BACHELOR'S DEGREES

Students currently enrolled in a degree program, may pursue a dual degree. A dual degree differs from a double major in that the dual degree has additional requirements beyond those of a second major's as specified below. To earn a dual degree, students must fulfill the following requirements:

1.	They must complete the appropriate form(s) in the Registrar's Office.
2.	They must be enrolled in the college(s) in which both degrees are administered.
3.	They must complete at least 160 total semester hours.
4.	They must complete a course of study, approved by the appropriate dean, consisting of at least 32 credit hours in upper division course work in residence over and above the requirements for the first bachelor's degree including a recognized major program.
5.	They must satisfy all degree requirements of the college(s) awarding each degree.
6.	They must comply with all other University regulations.

SECOND BACHELOR'S DEGREE

Students who have been awarded a bachelor's degree from any institution may seek a second bachelor's degree. To earn a second bachelor's degree, students must fulfill the following requirements:

1.	They must complete the appropriate form(s) in the Admissions Office.
2.	They must be enrolled in the college in which the second degree is administered.
3.	They must complete a course of study, consisting of at least 32 credit hours in upper division course work in residence over and above the requirements for the first bachelor's degree, including a recognized major program.
4.	They must satisfy all degree requirements of the college awarding the second degree.
5.	They must comply with all other University regulations.

Students returning for a second degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must meet the requirements for a second major and meet the University requirements for a second degree. Students seeking a second degree in the area of the minor used for their first degree must have an additional minor.

PREREQUISITES
Students must have the prerequisites for the courses in which they enroll; students who enroll without prerequisites are subject to administrative withdrawal. Prerequisites are satisfied by courses taken either at South Alabama or by acceptable transfer credit. Students not exempted from EH 101 will be required to take it as a prerequisite to EH 102

REGISTRATION
Registration (making course selections and enrolling in classes) occurs prior to the beginning of each term. All students obtain registration appointment times ("time tickets") and register utilizing USA's Personal Access Web System (PAWS) at http://paws.southalabama.edu/. (See the University Schedule of Classes for additional information.)
Registration is not complete until all fees have been paid and all admissions documents and examinations furnished. Failure to satisfy any of the admission or registration requirements is sufficient cause for dropping a student from all classes. Enrollment status can be found in PAWS.

REPORTING OF GRADES
Final grades are available only through PAWS (Personal Access Web System at http://paws.southalabama.edu) at the completion of each term.

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