Engineering, B.S.
Program Description
JMU Engineering supports an ABET accredited, 4-year interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree program. The degree program affords a world-class undergraduate engineering experience based on a philosophy of learning by doing. It integrates many traditional engineering disciplines with course work in project management, engineering, design and liberal arts with foci on sustainable design and project delivery.
Admission to the Major
Admission to JMU does not guarantee admission to the engineering major. Full admission to the engineering major is restricted due to the project-intensive nature of the undergraduate engineering curriculum. The Engineering Academic Unit will strive to accommodate all interested students who have demonstrated the potential to succeed in the engineering major, typically at the sophomore-level. If more students meet the standards for admission than there are available seats, then enrollment will be limited.
Any student can declare the engineering major in order to take the prerequisite courses with an ENGR prefix. To progress beyond the prerequisite courses with an ENGR prefix, students must be fully admitted to the engineering major. For full admission to the engineering major, students must meet the standards for admission.
The standards for admission for on-campus students include:
- Being enrolled at JMU.
- Having declared the engineering major.
- Having completed a minimum of 15 credit hours at JMU.
- Having completed the following courses (or approved equivalents): ENGR 112, ENGR 231, MATH 232 or MATH 235, and PHYS 240.
- Having completed the following courses (or approved equivalents) with a grade of “C-” or better: ENGR 112 and ENGR 231.
- Submitting an official application that includes a written response of no more than 250 words that demonstrates the students’ motivation to pursue an engineering academic career.
The standards for admission for transfer students include:
- Being enrolled at JMU.
- Having declared the engineering major.
- Having completed a minimum of 15 credit hours at JMU.
- Having completed the following courses (or approved equivalents): ENGR 301, ENGR 311 or ENGR 312 or ENGR 313 or ENGR 314 or ENGR 315 or ENGR 317 or ENGR 331, and ENGR 321.
- Having completed the following courses (or approved equivalents) with a grade of “C-” or better: ENGR 301 and ENGR 321.
- Submitting an official application that includes a written response of no more than 250 words that demonstrates the students’ motivation to pursue an engineering academic career.
If more students meet the standards for admission than there are seats available, then enrollment will be limited. When enrollment is limited, a committee of engineering faculty members will evaluate students’ potential to succeed in the engineering major by considering the following:
- The average weighted GPA of the highest letter grades earned in ENGR 112 and ENGR 231 (or approved equivalents) for on-campus students; or the average weighted GPA of the highest letter grades earned in ENGR 301 and ENGR 321 (or approved equivalents) for transfer students.
- The average weighted GPA of the highest letter grades earned across MATH 232 or MATH 235, and PHYS 240 (or approved equivalents) for on-campus students; or the average weighted GPA of the highest letter grades earned across ENGR 311 or ENGR 312 or ENGR 313 or ENGR 314 or ENGR 315 or ENGR 317 or ENGR 331 (or approved equivalents) for transfer students.
- A written response within the official application that will be evaluated by a committee of engineering faculty members.
Any of the preceding ENGR courses may be taken for a final letter grade no more than twice to be considered for full admission to the engineering major, excluding final letter grades of W, WP, and WF. The Engineering Academic Unit Head may permit an exception due to extraordinary circumstances, such as illness or other extenuating circumstances.
On-campus students’ ENGR grades will be considered with a stronger emphasis than students’ MATH and PHYS grades. Transfer students’ overall academic performance while at JMU will be considered. Final admission decisions will be made by a committee of engineering faculty members.
Admission for on-campus students occurs at two points during the academic year: at the end of the spring semester and at the start of the fall semester. Admission for transfer students occurs at two points during the academic year: at the end of the fall semester and at the end of the spring semester. Students will be notified of their engineering major admission status no later than May 31st for admission for the upcoming fall semester and no later than January 1st for admission for the upcoming spring semester.
Students who are not admitted during the admission point may elect to be considered at the next admission point, if they so choose, though the same admission criterion applies. Students may apply to the engineering major no more than two times in total. The Engineering Academic Unit Head may permit an exception due to extraordinary circumstances, such as illness or other extenuating circumstances.
Progressing in the Major
Students who are fully admitted to the Engineering major and who fail to meet minimum grade requirements in any course required for the Engineering major across two attempts (excluding final letter grades of W, WP and WF) are subject to losing their status as being fully admitted to the Engineering major. Students who lose their status as being fully admitted to the Engineering major may elect to be considered for full admission at the next admission point, if they so choose, though the same admission criterion applies. Students may apply to the Engineering major no more than two times in total. The Engineering Academic Unit Head may permit an exception due to extraordinary circumstances, such as illness or other extenuating circumstances.
Transfer Information
For students transferring from a program with an existing articulation agreement, the student coordinator will work with the Engineering Academic Unit Head to assess the relative merit of transfer students with qualifying transcripts.
Degree Requirements
| Degree Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| General Education 1 | 41 |
| Quantitative requirement (in addition to General Education) 2 | 3 |
| Scientific Literacy requirement (in addition to General Education) 2 | 3 |
| Major requirements and approved electives | 95 |
| Total | 129 |
- 1
The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some credits may be fulfilled by courses required within the major.
- 2
In addition to course work taken to fulfill General Education requirement. Some credits may be fulfilled by courses required within the major.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR Prerequisites | ||
| Students must earn a minimum grade of “C-” in the following courses (or approved equivalents) to be fully admitted to the engineering major. | ||
| ENGR 112 | Engineering Skills and Decisions | 3 |
| ENGR 231 | Engineering Design I: Product Design and Development | 3 |
| Subtotal | 6 | |
| MATH and PHYS Prerequisites | ||
| Students must complete the following courses (or approved equivalents) to be fully admitted to the engineering major. | ||
| MATH 235 | Calculus I [C3QR] 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 240 | University Physics I [C3PP] | 3 |
| Subtotal | 7 | |
| Required Courses | ||
| The following courses (or approved equivalents) are required to complete the engineering major. | ||
| CHEM 131 & 131L | General Chemistry I [C3PP] and General Chemistry Laboratory [C3L] | 4 |
| CHEM 132 & 132L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| MATH 236 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 237 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 238 | Linear Algebra with Differential Equations 2 | 4 |
| PHYS 240L | University Physics Laboratory I [C3L] | 1 |
| PHYS 250 & 250L | University Physics II and University Physics Laboratory II | 4 |
| ENGR 212 & 212L | Statics and Introductory Solid Mechanics and Statics and Introductory Solid Mechanics Laboratory 3 | 4 |
| ENGR 226 | Engineering Project Management 3 | 3 |
| ENGR 232 | Engineering Design II: Human-Centered Design and Systems Analysis 3 | 3 |
| ENGR 311 & 311L | Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Mechanics Laboratory | 4 |
| ENGR 312 & 312L | Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer and Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer Laboratory | 4 |
| ENGR 313 & 313L | Circuits and Devices and Circuits and Devices Laboratory | 4 |
| ENGR 314 & 314L | Materials and Intermediate Solid Mechanics and Materials and Intermediate Solid Mechanics Laboratory | 4 |
| ENGR 315 | Computational Methods in Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR 317 | Principles of Sustainable Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR 321 | Engineering Practicum I 3 | 1 |
| ENGR 323 | Engineering Practicum II 3 | 1 |
| ENGR 324 | Engineering Project I 3 | 1 |
| ENGR 331 | Engineering Design III: Design Thinking and Fabrication Methods | 3 |
| ENGR 421 | Engineering Practicum III 3 | 1 |
| ENGR 422 | Engineering Project II 3 | 1 |
| ENGR 424 | Engineering Capstone | 2 |
| Subtotal | 67 | |
| ENGR Electives | ||
| A total of fifteen credit hours of approved electives are required to complete the engineering major, including at least twelve credit hours of engineering technical electives. Students may not use courses required for the engineering major to fulfill approved elective requirements. | ||
| ENGR Technical Electives | ||
| 12 credits of ENGR Technical Electives may include (but are not limited to): 4 | 12 | |
| Foundations of Computer Engineering | ||
| Structural Analysis | ||
| Foundations of Brewery Engineering and Systems | ||
| Product Development and Entrepreneurial Engineering | ||
| Mechatronics | ||
| Embedded System Design | ||
| Mechanisms in Motion: Applied Kinematics | ||
| Machine Design | ||
| Electromechanical Systems Analysis | ||
| Structural Systems Analysis | ||
| Foundations of Structural Engineering Design | ||
| Concrete Infrastructure | ||
| Mechanical Vibrations and Structural Dynamics | ||
| Water in Africa | ||
| Environmental Engineering | ||
| Sustainable Systems Analysis | ||
| Water Resources Engineering | ||
| Principles of Process Engineering | ||
| Brewery Engineering and Systems Practicum | ||
| Other Approved Electives | ||
| At most three credit hours of any other non-required 300- or 400-level courses at JMU (both ENGR and non-ENGR courses are eligible), excluding ENGR 301 and ENGR 401. This may include ENGR 490, ENGR 496, ENGR 497, ENGR 498, ENGR 499A, ENGR 499B and ENGR 499C. This may also include courses that qualify as engineering technical electives and that are not used to meet the engineering technical elective requirement. | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 95 | |
- 1
It is allowable to substitute MATH 235 with both MATH 231 and MATH 232.
- 2
It is allowable to substitute MATH 238 with both MATH 300 and MATH 336.
- 3
A minimum grade of “C-” is required to apply this course towards degree requirements.
- 4
Technical electives must be non-required, 300- or 400-level ENGR courses, excluding ENGR 301, ENGR 401, ENGR 490, ENGR 496, ENGR 497, ENGR 498, ENGR 499A, ENGR 499B and ENGR 499C.
Concentrations
Each student, in consultation with their engineering academic advisor, may choose to pursue one of the following program concentrations.
Civil and Environmental Systems Concentration
The civil and environmental systems concentration prepares engineering students to analyze structural systems as well as to design, model, and build infrastructure that abide by codes, specifications, and responsible stewardship of natural resources. Through projects and coursework, this concentration provides opportunities to learn about computational techniques in analyzing and modeling structures, building codes and construction standards, design of steel and concrete infrastructure, and sustainable practices that protect the natural environment.
Students must take 3 required credit hours and 12 elective credit hours to complete the civil and environmental systems concentration.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Civil and Environmental Systems Concentration Course | ||
| ENGR 360 | Structural Analysis | 3 |
| Subtotal | 3 | |
| Civil and Environmental Systems Concentration Electives | ||
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Structural Systems Analysis | ||
| Foundations of Structural Engineering Design | ||
| Concrete Infrastructure | ||
| Mechanical Vibrations and Structural Dynamics | ||
| Environmental Engineering | ||
| Sustainable Systems Analysis | ||
| Water Resources Engineering | ||
| Advanced Topics in Engineering (Civil and Environmental - must be taken for 3.00 credit hours) | ||
| Subtotal | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Geo-Environmental Systems Concentration
The geo-environmental systems concentration prepares engineering students to analyze environmental systems as well as to design and build engineered processes that control pollution or restore environmental functions to natural ecosystems. Through projects and coursework, this concentration provides opportunities to learn about developing sustainable agricultural practices, designing water treatment systems for sub-Saharan African communities, developing carbon credits for carbon markets, stream and shore restoration projects, and life cycle analysis to engineer more sustainable products and processes.
Students must take 3 required credit hours and 12 elective credit hours to complete the geo-environmental systems concentration.
The 12 elective credit hours may be fulfilled from the geo-environmental systems concentration ENGR electives. Or students may fulfill the 12 elective credit hours with 9 elective credit hours from the geo-environmental systems concentration ENGR electives and an additional 3 elective credit hours from the geo-environmental systems concentration GEOL electives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Geo-Environmental Systems Concentration Course | ||
| ENGR 472 | Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| Subtotal | 3 | |
| Geo-Environmental Systems Concentration ENGR Electives | ||
| Select 9-12 credit hours of the following: | 9-12 | |
| Water in Africa | ||
| Sustainable Systems Analysis | ||
| Water Resources Engineering | ||
| Principles of Process Engineering | ||
| Advanced Topics in Engineering (Geo-Environmental - must be taken for 3.00 credit hours) | ||
| Subtotal | 9-12 | |
| Geo-Environmental Systems Concentration GEOL Electives | ||
| Select 0-3 credit hours of the following: | 0-3 | |
| GIS for the Geoscientist 1 | ||
| Engineering Geology (2, 2) 1 | ||
| Hydrogeology (2, 2) 1 | ||
| Subtotal | 0-3 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
- 1
GEOL 210 is a prerequisite.
Electro-Mechanical Systems Concentration
The electro-mechanical systems concentration prepares engineering students to design, analyze, and build engineered systems that exist at the intersections of mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering. Through projects and coursework, this concentration provides opportunities to learn about various electromechanical systems such as autonomous/electric vehicles, robotics, industrial internet of things, process control design, or any other system that senses, responds physically or electrically, and is under computational control.
Students must take 15 elective credit hours to complete the electro-mechanical systems concentration.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Electro-Mechanical Systems Concentration Electives | ||
| Select 15 credit hours of the following: | 15 | |
| Foundations of Computer Engineering | ||
| Mechatronics | ||
| Embedded System Design | ||
| Mechanisms in Motion: Applied Kinematics | ||
| Machine Design | ||
| Electromechanical Systems Analysis | ||
| Mechanical Vibrations and Structural Dynamics | ||
| Advanced Topics in Engineering (Electro-Mechanical Systems - must be taken for 3.00 credit hours) | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Recommended Schedule for Majors
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| ENGR 112 | Engineering Skills and Decisions | 3 |
| MATH 235 | Calculus I [C3QR] | 4 |
| PHYS 240 & 240L |
University Physics I [C3PP] and University Physics Laboratory I [C3L] |
4 |
| General Education | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGR 231 | Engineering Design I: Product Design and Development | 3 |
| MATH 236 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 250 & 250L |
University Physics II and University Physics Laboratory II |
4 |
| General Education | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ENGR 232 | Engineering Design II: Human-Centered Design and Systems Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 131 & 131L |
General Chemistry I [C3PP] and General Chemistry Laboratory [C3L] |
4 |
| MATH 237 | Calculus III | 4 |
| General Education | 6 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGR 212 & 212L |
Statics and Introductory Solid Mechanics and Statics and Introductory Solid Mechanics Laboratory |
4 |
| ENGR 226 | Engineering Project Management | 3 |
| CHEM 132 & 132L |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory |
4 |
| MATH 238 | Linear Algebra with Differential Equations | 4 |
| General Education | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ENGR 311 & 311L |
Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Mechanics Laboratory |
4 |
| ENGR 313 & 313L |
Circuits and Devices and Circuits and Devices Laboratory |
4 |
| ENGR 315 | Computational Methods in Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR 321 | Engineering Practicum I | 1 |
| ENGR 331 | Engineering Design III: Design Thinking and Fabrication Methods | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGR 312 & 312L |
Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer and Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer Laboratory |
4 |
| ENGR 314 & 314L |
Materials and Intermediate Solid Mechanics and Materials and Intermediate Solid Mechanics Laboratory |
4 |
| ENGR 323 | Engineering Practicum II | 1 |
| ENGR 324 | Engineering Project I | 1 |
| Approved engineering elective | 3 | |
| General Education | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ENGR 317 | Principles of Sustainable Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR 421 | Engineering Practicum III | 1 |
| ENGR 422 | Engineering Project II | 1 |
| Approved engineering elective | 3 | |
| General Education | 7 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGR 424 | Engineering Capstone | 2 |
| Approved engineering elective | 3 | |
| Approved engineering elective | 3 | |
| Approved engineering elective | 3 | |
| General Education | 6 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Total Credits | 129 | |