Pre-Engineering Courses
The basic (non-major) courses in the computer science and pre-engineering curricula are similar in content. Thus, it is usually possible to transfer from one field to another during the first few semesters with little or no loss of credit. Students who initially pursue a degree other than those offered by the School of Engineering are likely to lose some credits if they transfer to engineering or computer science.

Curricular Guidance
Engineering majors need academic advising assistance to ensure that their academic and career goals are met. The overall goal of the academic advising process is to help students develop meaningful educational plans that are consistent with their academic, personal and professional goals.

 

Freshmen students interested in engineering who placed below Math 19500, Calculus I, will receive academic advising from professional staff in the CCNY Gateway Program (NA 1/220).

All engineering students are assigned to an academic advisor (either an engineering faculty member or professional staff depending on their credit level). These are your PRIMARY advisors.

Engineering majors with 0-44 credits receive academic advising from professional staff through the Office of Student Development (OSD). An academic advising session must be scheduled at least once per semester with a staff member from this office (ST 2M-7, 212-650-8040).

Engineering majors who have earned 45 or more credits receive academic advising from faculty members in their departments. An academic advising session must be scheduled at least once per semester with a faculty advisor from the department. To find the name of a faculty advisor, students should consult the list posted in the office of the department chair (e.g., CE, ChE, BME). Additional advising throughout the year is handled by the professional staff in the Office of Undergraduate Affairs (OUA). Each semester, an engineering advisement stop code (EA) will be placed on the student's record until the student has completed the required once per semester advising session. Students will then be permitted to register.

Committee on Course and Standing
The Committee enforces academic standards and graduation requirements. It monitors the academic performance of students and serves as an arbiter in evaluating transfer credits, second degree candidates' programs, petitions for substitution of courses, and other problems related to grades, attendance, guidance, and graduation. All requests to the Committee must be in writing. The Committee is the final authority on questions of courses and standing. In many cases, the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Affairs can act for the Committee or advise more appropriate action, so students may discuss their problems with him/her before filing a formal appeal to the Committee. Any decision of the Associate Dean when he/she acts for the Committee may be appealed to the full Committee.

Grade Point Average (GPA)
One requirement for graduating is an average of C (GPA of 2.0) or better for all courses relevant to the student’s degree. Calculation of the GPA is described in the Academic Requirements section of the Undergraduate Bulletin. Note that once a student passes a course, only the first passing grade is counted in the GPA. Since a grade of D is passing, students who receive a grade of D and subsequently retake the course will not have the new grade included in the GPA except for courses requiring a minimum grade of C. In these courses all grades will count, up to and including the C.

Quality Point Accumulation (QPA)
Another requirement for graduation is a Quality Point Accumulation (QPA) of zero or better in the student’s major courses. Unless stated otherwise, major courses include only courses offered by the student’s department and no other courses.

Computing the QPA
In calculating QPA, the following weighting factors apply:
A = +2
B = +1
C = 0
D = -1
F = -2
Pluses and minuses following the grade letter are ignored. F represents here all failing grades including F, FAB, FIN, FPN, WF, and WU. The weighting factors are multiplied by the number of credits for each course, and the results of all multiplications are added together. A final score of zero is equivalent to a C average. Negative scores are equivalent to averages lower than C; positive scores are equivalent to averages higher than C. One advantage of this method is that it allows failing or marginal students to determine the grades required in their remaining major courses to graduate.

Note that the CUNY-wide “F” Repeat policy, by which certain failing grades are omitted from the GPA, does not apply to Engineering QPA calculations.

Use of Graduate Courses
Permission to substitute a graduate course for an undergraduate course requires a GPA of 2.75 or better plus the approval of the Associate Deans of Undergraduate Affairs and Graduate Studies and the departmental graduate advisor.

Retaking Engineering Courses
On application by the student, the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Affairs will allow students in their senior year to repeat courses in order to improve their major QPA. Only five such retakes will be allowed (not more than two per semester) and these must be courses for which the previous passing grade was D. Courses with grades of C or better may not be retaken, and no course, once passed with a grade of D, may be retaken more than once. If a student is permitted to retake a course, both the new grade and the original grade of D will be counted in the major QPA.

Pass-Fail Option
Students enrolled in the Grove School of Engineering must take all courses for a qualitative letter grade. That is, they are not allowed to take the pass-fail option except when it is the only option of grade for a course.

College-Wide Examinations
All City College students, including those majoring in Engineering, are required to pass a number of collegewide examinations including the CUNY/ACT Basic Skills Tests in Reading and Writing, the Mathematics Placement Test, and the CUNY Proficiency Examination (CPE). Descriptions of these examinations, including their applicability to second degree students, are located in the Academic Requirements section of the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Probation and Dismissal
Students who do not maintain a C average overall or a minimum QPA of zero in their major will be placed on academic probation. As long as they are on academic probation they will not be allowed to take more than twelve credits per semester. Students on academic probation whose grades do not improve will be dismissed from the School of Engineering. Definitions of probation and satisfactory academic progress are located in the Academic Requirements section of the Undergraduate Bulletin.

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