FAQ

The GPA requirements for each engineering major are reevaluated every year.  The current requirements can be found on our College Admission page. 

To be admitted, you must have the following core courses completed:

• MTH 132 and MTH 133.  Students have a minimum 2.0 grade point average or higher in all mathematics courses completed at the time of admission (this does not include MTH 1825)
• Chemisry 141 or 151, except for Computer science majors
• Physics 183 or 183B
• Engineering 100 and Engineering 102. Students in Computer Engineering and Computer Science are required to take EGR 100 only.
• Computer Science 231 for Computer Engineering and Computer Science majors only.

And you must achieve the necessary GPA requirements:

• There are specific GPA requirements that you need to meet for admission to each Engineering program. Admission is based on a combined cumulative/technical grade point average calculation, please click here for more information.
• Students attaining the required GPAs are guaranteed admission.  In certain majors, additional students may be considered for admission. on a space available basis.
• The average combined cumulative/technical GPA required for upper school admission to each degree program changes from year to year depending on the demand for that program

The College of Engineering, and MSU in general, provides multiple access points for you to get assistance with coursework, through tutoring and/or supplemental instruction.  Besides the many MSU resources available, such as the Math Learning Center, the Writing Center and the Office of Supportive Services, to name just a few, the College’s Guided Learning Center (GLC) in the Diversity Programs Office (DPO) has, for about 15 years, provided peer tutoring.  Also, the Engineering Residential Experience (ERE) provides tutoring in the residence hall in which the students in the program live.  Currently, supplemental instruction for students in key math and science courses is also being provided through an NSF grant from the STEP program. You should also check with your course professor and teaching assistant for additional help.  Your academic advisor can help you with general time management and study skills.

Freshmen and sophomores currently in majors outside Engineering who wish to pursue an engineering major should complete a major change at the UUD Office at the location serving your housing location.After your major is changed to Engineering, you will automatically be considered for admission at the end of every semester.  If all requirements are met, you will be admitted into the College in your current major preference.  If you do not meet the criteria for admission you will continue to be reviewed each semester until you reach 56 credits, at which time you must be admitted to an engineering major or you will be denied admisson and required to change out of engineering to another degree-granting program at MSU.

The University requirements for bachelor's degree are described in the Undergraduate Education section of the catalog.  All course requirements for the degree must be met, as well as a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA and 120 credits (for Applied Engineering Sciences Fall 2010 curriculum version and later, and Computer Science) or 128 credits (all other Engineering majors) in order for your degree to be conferred. You must also apply to graduate.  You should do this no later than the first week of your final semester.  If you are completing a concentration, specialization, or minor in addition to your bachelor degree, you must complete a separate graduation application for each major, concentration, specialization, and minor you will earn.  Diplomas are mailed to students about six weeks after your degree has been conferred, which occurs one to two weeks after final exams.

Freshmen and sophomore students are free to change majors at any time until 56 total college credits (MSU and transfer) are earned.  Freshmen and sophomores should visit an Undergraduate University Division (UUD) Office to change majors.  Students who are already admitted to the college in an engineering major and change to another engineering major will lose their college admission status and must be reviewed again for admission to the new major.  If all requirements are met, you will be admitted into the College in your major choice.  If you do not meet the requirements of admission, you will be denied admission. 

The College of Engineering admits students at whatever time they meet the academic requirements in the university catalog ("Academic Programs"), without waiting to complete 56 credits.At the end of every semester, the records of all freshmen and sophomore engineering students will be reviewed to determine if they:

• have completed 12 MSU credits, including at least six technical credits;
• have declared a specific engineering major (other then Engineering No-Preference);
• have completed core courses or equivalents (MTH 132 and PHY 183, CEM 141, and a computing course specific to the major; CEM not required for computer science); and
• have the required combined cumulative/technical GPA for admission to the declared major.

Transfer students with junior standing who entered majors other than engineering must complete a minimum of 12 total credits, including a minimum of 10 technical credits, with the sum of total and technical credits no less than 24 (e.g. 14 credits with 10 technical, or 12 credits all technical).The application is available on our College Admissions page. 

You will automatically be considered for admission in your current engineering major (except Engineering No-Preference) at the end of the term you reach 56 credits.  If you wish to change your current major, contact the UUD Office at the location serving your housing location.

No application is required unless you wish to select an alternate major prefeence or want to submit a statement describing extenuating curcumstances which have affected your ability to complete all admission requirements.  You may submit an application by clicking here.

If all requirements are met, you will be admitted into the College in your current major preference.  In certain majors, addiitional students may be considered for admission, on a space-available basis.  If you are denied admission, you will be required to change out of engineering to another degree grating program at MSU.

Because you will be reviewed for admission to your current major, you must be officially declared in the engineering major of your choice by the last day of final exams for the semester.  Major changes are accomplished by contacting the University Undergraduate Division (UUD) Office at the location serving your housing location.

You will automatically be considered for admission at the end of every semester.  If all admission requirements are met, you will be admitted into the College in your current major preference.  If you do not meet the criteria for admission you will continue to be reviewed each semester until you reach 56 credits, at which time you must be admitted to a degree-grating program at MSU.

If you have been admitted to the college in your current engineering major and wish to change to another engineering major, you must complete an application.  Your request for major change will be reviewd at the end of the semester which you applied.  If you meet the admission criteria you will be admitted to the new major.  If you are denied admission, you will remain admitted to your current major.

You can graduate with an engineering degree in four years, but this requires eight semesters averaging 16 credits per semester.  Engineering courses are time intensive as well as academically challenging.  Both your grade point average and your co-curricular experiences are critical in a competitive job market; therefore for engineering students take 4 1/2 or 5 years.

Yes.  Fill out a new graduation application.

You should always check with your academic advisor before you drop below 12 credits (full-time status).  Dropping to part time can affect your financial aid, scholarships and loans, health insurance, and your on-campus status. 

If you are an international student, be sure to also check with the Office for International Studies & Scholars in the International Center before dropping to part-time status.

Your diploma will be sent to the mailing address you provided on your Application for Graduation, and will be mailed to you approximately four weeks after the end of the semester that you graduate.

If your name has changed, you may have your diploma and records adjusted.  Visit the Registrar's Office with documentation or mail your request.  The replacement diploma will cost $50.  Payment by cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express is accepted.  The original diploma needs to be returned to the Registrar's Office.

The GPA requirements for each engineering major are reevaluated every year.  The current requirements can be found on our College Admission page.

Both current and archived engineering degree requirements may be found at our Degree Programs page.  MSU's official catalog, Academic Programs, also lists engineering degree requirements.  Engineering programs are dynamic and change often to reflect the needs of society.  Degree requirements, courses, prerequisites, and policies change; you should meet with your academic advisor each semester to stay abreast of these changes as they occur. You can always see your progress toward your degree by using Degree Navigator and choosing the "Audit - Full Report with Course Status" from the pull-down menu near the top left.  Prospective students can also use Degree Navigator to search for degree requirements by clicking "Search" then "Degrees" and entering the engineering major in which you are interested. 

Switching sections is considered a Drop/Add.  "Free adds" (you go to computer enrollment and add any course for which you are eligible and which is open) occur during the first week of class.  After that, its up to the discretion of the department/professor.  Many feel that if you missed the first couple of weeks of class that you will not be able to catch up, or it may disrupt on going group activities.

Last day to drop a course and receive a full refund is the 18th day of the semester.  The last day to drop a course (no refund) with no grade reported is the middle of the semester.  The specific dates can be found on the MSU Schedule of Courses (click on the section number).

You should email your adviser only when you have a question that you think your adviser can answer in a couple of sentences, and your adviser will normally get back to you within 2 business days. If you are unsure if your adviser can give you a "quick answer," go ahead and email us. If we believe the topic requires further discussion, we will suggest you schedule an appointment.And by the way, "what classes should I take next semester?" is not a question we will answer over email. Each student is different and there are many variables that must be taken into account when you choose your courses. We suggest you start by reviewing the curriculum requirements and course prerequisites.

If you have been admitted to the college in your current engineering major and wish to change to another engineering major, you must complete an application.  Your request for major change will be reviewd at the end of the semester which you applied.  If you meet the admission criteria you will be admitted to the new major.  If you are denied admission, you will remain admitted to your current major.

You are a senior when you reach 88 total credits (including MSU and transfer credits).  When you reach senior standing, you should schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to make sure you're on track for graduation.  You should also be sure to see the Career Services and Placement coordinator for engineering - Ms. Jennifer Jennings in The Center, room 1340 Engineering Building - to get resume preparation information and to get started on your career search.

College of Engineering admission requirements may be found here.  All students must be admitted to a degree-granting major (not Engineering No-Preference, for instance) upon reaching junior standing (56 total MSU and transfer credits). If you are not admitted to engineering you must be admitted to a major in another MSU college. You have until the 5th day of classes in the following semester to complete your major change. Meet with your advisor to discuss why you were not admitted and how you can gain admission at a later date. If you are concerned you might not meet admission requirements, it is crucial that you work with your academic advisor, who can help you locate and utilize resources to improve your grades, or to clarify your educational goals. 

You must apply to graduate and you must apply separately for each major, concentration, specialization, and/or minor you will earn.  You should do this no later than the first week of your final semester (the first week of spring semester, if you intend to graduate in summer).  Diplomas are mailed to students about six weeks after your degree has been conferred, which occurs one to two weeks after final exams.

You need 28 total credits (including MSU and transfer credits) to be a sophomore.  If you do not have 28 credits at the end of your first two semesters, it is not a problem.  You are not required to have 28 credits within any specific time frame.

We will notify you by email about a week after final exams end for the current semester. Students who meet specific criteria may be granted or denied early admission to the College.

You need 56 total credits (including MSU and transfer credits) to be a junior.  You are not required to have 56 credits at the end of your second year.  Freshmen, sophomores, and those engineering students just reaching junior standing are reviewed for admission in their current major at the end of each semester.  Therefore, it is important to choose your major quickly and make sure you are officially coded in the engineering major in which you plan to graduate.  If you will reach junior standing at the end of the current major, you may apply for admission, where you will be able to choose a first major choice, and a second and third major choice, if you wish, as well as submit a statement explaning extenuating circumstances that may affect your admissibility. 

Freshmen and sophomores currently in majors outside Engineering who wish to pursue an engineering major should complete a major change at the University Undergraduate Division (UUD) Office at the location serving your housing location. If you are a Junior or Senior and wish to change your major to Engineering or wish to change to a different major within Engineering, you must follow the formal application process (see application on our College Admission page). You must meet all current requirements for admission including grade point average for chosen major and class requirements. All applications will be reviewed at the end of the semester of application and students will be notified of their status through the Confidential Message System (via email).

You are welcome to see your adviser as often as is necessary to have your questions answered!  We strongly encourage you to meet with your adviser once a semester.  The better your adviser knows you, the better she/he can help you. Your adviser can assist you with concerns about classes, admission to your major, repeating classes, course selection, finding learning resources across campus, exploration of engineering and some other majors, possible careers in engineering, information on co-op, internships and Study Abroad, contacts for engineering student groups, tutoring, volunteer opportunities, and placement resources (to name just a few).

First, see your academic advisor to make sure that the course(s) you are planning to take will help you progress toward your degree.  Check MSU's transfer equivalency web page to see if the course transfers to MSU. You also need to fill out a guest student application form and take it to the Registrar's Office in 150 Administration Building. If your institution or the course(s) you wish to take does not appear on the transfer page see your academic advisor.

Diploma sizes are as follows:

• Bachelor, Masters, EDS: 8 1/2" x 11"
• PhD, DMA, Medical: 12" x 15"

No college admission action will be taken until you have declared an engineering degree-granting major.  If you reach 56 credits and your major is still Engineering No-Preference, you will be denied admission and you will have to change your major to another degree-grating program at MSU.

Students in the Honors College, Academic Scholars, and students who graduate with honor or high honor are recognized in the commencement program.  More information can be found on the Office of the Registrar's Graduation Honors web page, click here.

The list is posted in the MSU Union and on the web.

The Dean's Honors List honors all full-time undergraduates in the University who earn a 3.50 or better grade-point average for the courses totaling 12 or more numerically graded credits for a given semester.