Preparing to Study Engineering at UTA
For students intending to pursue a major in engineering or computer science, the following preparation in high school is recommended. This course work can be completed within the Texas High School Graduation Program options, approved by the State Board of Education for students entering grade 9 beginning with the School Year 2014-2015.
Specifically, the following credits are recommended to prepare students for entry level college courses in engineering.
| Subject and Classes | Credits |
|---|---|
| English Language Arts 4 credits of English Language Arts |
4 |
| Mathematics 4 credits, including 1 credit each in Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry, and 1 credit which includes trigonometry. With the exception of students pursuing Construction Management, an additional year of advanced mathematics, such as calculus, is strongly encouraged. |
4 |
| Science 4 credits, including 1 credit each in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and 1 credit in another science elective |
4 |
| Languages other than English Foreign Language – 2 credits in a single foreign language |
2 |
| Social Studies 2 credits, including 1 credit in U.S. History and 0.5 credit in U.S. Government, and 0.5 credit in Economics. |
2 |
| Computer Science Computer Science – 1 credit in computer science and coding |
1 |
| Total Hours | 17 |
In all areas, students are urged to take advantage of advanced placement opportunities and honors programs. A student who enrolls without having completed the above credits will not be optimally prepared, and the duration of the student’s undergraduate program will likely be extended. In particular, the engineering and computer science programs offered by the college are based upon a student being fully prepared to begin study with the following courses: English 1301, MATH 1426, and CHEM 1441 or CHEM 1465.
Academic Advising and Transition into the College of Engineering
Students entering directly from high school or with fewer than 24 hours of transferable credit are advised initially by the Division of Student Success (DSS). To transition to departmental advising within the College of Engineering, students must meet the following benchmarks by the end of their first two long semesters (fall and spring) at UTA:
- Earn a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
- Complete at least 24 credit hours
Students who do not meet transition criteria after three semesters are strongly encouraged to consult with an advisor to explore alternative majors that may better align with their academic progress. Students who do not meet transition requirements after four semesters must declare a major outside the College of Engineering.
Note: While a 2.0 GPA is the minimum requirement to transition, some departments require a 2.5 GPA to be considered in good academic standing. Students who transition with a GPA below 2.5 will enter the college on probation and will be subject to departmental policies for students not in good standing.
Math Placement Considerations for First-Year Students:
UTA’s engineering curriculum is designed to begin at the Calculus level. Students whose math placement is College Algebra—excluding those in Construction Management—are strongly encouraged to complete College Algebra during the summer prior to their first semester, either at UTA or a community college. Students who begin in College Algebra:- May be unable to enroll in major-specific courses
- Will primarily take general education (core) courses their first year
- Will face a compressed second year with multiple math, science, and engineering courses simultaneously
Completing College Algebra early enables students to begin with Precalculus in the fall, reducing their delay to one semester instead of two and helping balance future course loads.