Florida Institute of Technology
High Tech with a Human Touch
College of Engineering
The following selection boxes provide easy access to the digital catalog for the College of Engineering
- Mission Statement and Overview - College of Engineering
- Admission - College of Engineering
- Selection of a Major - College of Engineering
- Course Loads - College of Engineering
- Fast Track Master's Program for College of Engineering Honors Students
- Cooperative Education - College of Engineering
- Research - Chemical Engineering
- Research - Civil Engineering
- Research - Computer Science
- Research - Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Research - Marine and Environmental Systems
- Research - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Minor - Computer Science
- Minor - Oceanography
- Minor - Environmental Science
- Minor - Meteorology
- BS - Chemical Engineering
- General Engineering
- BS - Electrical Engineering
- BS - Computer Engineering
- BS - Civil Engineering
- BS - Construction
- BS - Computer Science
- BS - Software Engineering
- BS - Oceanography
- BS - Ocean Engineering
- BS - Mechanical Engineering
- BS - Aerospace Engineering
- BS - Environmental Science
- BS - Meteorology
- MS - Chemical Engineering
- MS - Computer Engineering
- MS - Electrical Engineering
- MS - Civil Engineering
- MS - Software Engineering
- MS - Computer Science
- MS - Engineering Management
- MS - Oceanography/Biological
- MS - Oceanography/Chemical
- MS - Oceanography/Physical
- MS - Ocean Engineering
- MS - Oceanography/Coastal Zone Mgmt
- MS - Oceanography/Geological
- MS - Earth Remote Sensing
- MS - Systems Engineering
- MS - Environmental Science
- MS - Mechanical Engineering
- MS - Aerospace Engineering
- MS - Environmental Resource Mgmt
- MS - Meteorology
- Ph.D. - Chemical Engineering
- Ph.D. - Computer Engineering
- Ph.D. - Electrical Engineering
- Ph.D. - Civil Engineering
- Ph.D. - Computer Science
- Ph.D. - Oceanography
- Ph.D. - Ocean Engineering
- Ph.D. - Environmental Science
- Ph.D. - Mechanical Engineering
- Ph.D. - Aerospace Engineering
Mission Statement and Overview
The mission of the College of Engineering is to pursue knowledge, truth and excellence in a student-centered academic community characterized by shared values, unity of purpose, diversity of opinion, mutual respect and social responsibility. The college is committed to discovering new knowledge through research, and to enhancing Florida Tech’s position as an independent educational institution with bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs.
The College of Engineering comprises seven departments and the School of Computing that administers the engineering and applied science programs listed on this page. The departments are chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer sciences, electrical and computer engineering, engineering systems, marine and environmental systems, and mechanical and aerospace engineering. The School of Computing houses the department of applied mathematics that teaches all undergraduate mathematics courses.
The College of Engineering supports several research centers and laboratories, including the Center for Remote Sensing, Wireless Center of Excellence, Center for Software Testing, Education and Research, and Wind and Hurricane Impacts Research Laboratory. These centers and laboratories serve to encourage collaborative research activities involving faculty and students from different programs within the college and across colleges. See “Research” in the Institution Overview section of the university catalog for more information about these and other research facilities.
Admission to the College of Engineering
Students who attend a community college for two years before transferring into the College of Engineering should comply with articulation agreements where they exist and refer to the list of “Recommended Courses to be Transferred.” This list is for general guidance only. The detailed curriculum plan for the desired program should be consulted for more specific guidance. If possible, the prospective student should review his/her community college curriculum periodically with an appropriate university faculty member. Some of the courses normally taken during the first two years of a program could be unavailable at some community colleges. As a result, it may take one or more semesters beyond the nominal two years following community college graduation to complete a specific bachelor’s degree program.
Most mathematics, physics, applied mechanics, computer programming and English courses at the first- and second-year levels are offered every semester. A transfer student can usually be registered for a full schedule of courses that are tailored to his or her immediate academic needs. Exceptions, when they occur, are usually the result of the student having completed all course work in some disciplines, such as mathematics and the humanities, without having started course work in other essential areas, such as physics or chemistry.
Students entering majors other than chemical engineering can complete their bachelor’s degree programs at Florida Tech within five semesters by transferring the courses indicated in the following list of “Recommended Courses to be Transferred.” Students majoring in other fields can also expect to graduate in comparable periods of time by transferring appropriate courses, as indicated by the program descriptions in this catalog. Additional transfer credits, such as dynamics or calculus-based electric circuit theory for engineering majors, or a second semester of chemistry for oceanography, environmental science or chemical engineering majors, could reduce the time and credit hours remaining for graduation. Before applying for admission, community college students are urged to contact the appropriate academic unit for assistance in transferring to Florida Tech.
Students transferring from Florida community colleges who meet the conditions established in the articulation agreement between Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida and the Florida State Board of Community Colleges can graduate by completing from 69 to 75 credit hours, depending on the field of study.
For general admission requirements for Florida Tech, see the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Recommended Courses to be Transferred
| SUBJECT AREA | CREDITS |
| Calculus | 12 |
| Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| Differential Equations | 4 |
| General Chemistry* | 4 |
| Physics (Calculus-based)* | 10 |
| Applied Mechanics: Statics | 3 |
| English Composition and Writing | 6 |
| Technical Communication | 3 |
| History of Civilization | 6 |
| Economics | 3 |
| Humanities/Social Science Electives | 6 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 60 |
*Including laboratories
Selection of a Major - College of Engineering
A student typically selects a major at the same time the application for admission is submitted. A faculty adviser affiliated with the major program is assigned prior to the start of classes. A student who prefers to postpone the selection of a major may initially enroll in the first-year nondegree General Engineering program described in the Nondegree Programs section of the university catalog. However, selection of a degree program should occur by the start of the sophomore year.
As long as the requirements for continued enrollment (see Academic Overview section) are met, students are permitted to remain in their selected major. A change of major can be initiated by the student, but is subject to the approval of the new academic department head. Students can generally change majors between any two closely related degree programs during the sophomore year or even during the early part of the junior year without greatly increasing the time needed to complete all degree requirements.
Course Loads
The normal course load taken by students in the College of Engineering is 17 credit hours. Students may enroll for lighter loads and are strongly encouraged to do so if difficulty is experienced in keeping up with all course work when a full load is attempted, even though the duration of the program would of necessity be extended from eight semesters to nine or more semesters.
Fast Track Master's Program for College of Engineering Honors Students
This program allows undergraduate students currently enrolled in the College of Engineering to complete a master’s degree program in one year by earning graduate-level credit hours during their senior year, and applying up to six credit hours to both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The program is available to undergraduates who have completed a minimum of 35 credit hours at Florida Tech with an earned GPA of at least 3.4, and who have completed at least 95 credit hours toward their undergraduate degree by the time the approved student begins taking graduate-level courses. The credit hours are treated as transfer credit (GPA does not apply) when applied toward the master’s degree. Interested students should consult their department head for more information about this program.
Cooperative Education
Students in the College of Engineering are encouraged to participate in a cooperative education program. The Office of Career Services helps students participate in programs that alternate periods of work experience in a chosen field with academic semesters spent on campus as full-time students.
Participants in this program are able to earn some of the funds needed to further their education while gaining valuable, practical experience and a knowledge base that is useful in better defining career goals. The length of time needed to earn a degree is extended by an amount comparable to the number of semesters spent away from the campus. Students in these programs should pay special attention to scheduling their courses well in advance to avoid conflicts between off-campus periods and the semesters when required courses are offered.
Research
Current research activities are within the scope of the areas of specialization previously stated.
Environmental Engineering: Projects include development of a new bioreactor to produce micro-algae for applications in aquaculture and design of systems for controlling contaminants in spacecraft atmospheres. Most projects focus on development of renewable resources, especially alternative sources of energy.
Materials Synthesis, Processing and Modeling: Ongoing activities are primarily in development of new membranes for hydrogen purification, including porous silicon and metal hydride/templated porous carbon composites. Work is being done using molten salt electrolysis for metals production. Other activities include development of polymer/carbon composites for applications in gas sensing and modeling of transport properties in porous media.
Transport and Separation Processes: Current projects include development of computer simulation algorithms for estimating transport properties of porous and composite materials, especially fibrous media, and modeling transport and reaction in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Other recent projects have examined membrane separation of gases and the use of supercritical fluids for extraction of citrus oils.
Computer-aided Modeling, Processing and Control: Research is ongoing in the area of adaptive control for both single loop and multivariable applications. Neural networks are being investigated for use in nonlinear control as well as other areas of model development in which traditional models are constrained. Modeling, analysis and simulation of chemical process for in situ resource use on the moon and Mars are also being conducted to aid NASA’s effort in space exploration. Other topics of research interest include using neural networks in nonlinear control and other areas of model development in which traditional models are constrained.
Research
Research activities of the faculty encompass the major areas of civil engineering. Current research projects in structures and materials are in the areas of structural dynamics and wind engineering. Geotechnical research is concentrated in the areas of stabilization of waste materials for beneficial uses, in situ testing of soils, fiber-optic sensors in soils and evaluation of pavements. Research investigations in hydrology and water resources are related to development of new models and usage of existing models in the areas of numerical groundwater modeling, and design and performance of stormwater management systems. Model development is sometimes supplemented by field and laboratory experiments. Research activities in the environmental area include water treatment using reverse osmosis and activated carbon, biomass production, degradation of consumer products, landfill and compost simulation and solid wastes management.
Laboratories for research and instructional activities are available in the areas of materials and structures, soil mechanics, solid waste, unit operations and interactive graphics. Other campus laboratories can be used by students conducting graduate research. The materials and structures laboratory is equipped with several universal testing machines for physical testing, and equipment and instrumentation for experimental stress analysis. The soil mechanics laboratory contains commercial equipment for evaluating the engineering properties of soils. The solid-waste analysis laboratory is equipped to analyze solid wastes, to degrade solid wastes under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and to process solid wastes by a variety of methods.
Research
Computer sciences faculty members and students are conducting research in the following areas:
Computational Intelligence: computer vision, constraint reasoning, data mining, machine learning, speech recognition, swarm intelligence, spatio-temporal multidimensional reasoning.
Computational Science: bioinformatics, statistical computing.
Computer Security Engineering: cryptology, cryptography and cryptanalysis; secure software development and testing; malicious code, network security and intrusion detection.
Distributed Computing: agents and coordination, Internet computing, negotiations, peer-to-peer networks.
Languages: functional language, internationalization, type systems.
Software engineering faculty and students are currently conducting research in software documentation, evolution, reliability and testing.
Research facilities provide open access to a wide range of computing hardware, operating systems, software development applications and general purpose computing applications. Several research centers and laboratories support specialized research interests of faculty and students.
Center for Computation and Intelligence (CCI): The center studies how to make computers more intelligent as well as how intelligence can change the way we compute. Specifically, CCI investigates algorithms that can help computers learn (machine learning), listen (speech recognition), reason (constraint reasoning, spatio-temporal reasoning) and see (computer vision). Moreover, the center examines how distributed intelligent agents can interact (coordination, distributed constraint reasoning, cryptography). CCI also studies how simple animal behavior can provide a novel way to solve problems (swarm intelligence). Applications of techniques include computational biology, computer security, device monitoring, digital government, surveillance and Web personalization.
Center for Software Testing, Education and Research: One of the key barriers to effective testing in industry is weak education in the practical methods of software testing. The mission of the center is to create effective, grounded, timely materials to support the teaching and self-study of software testing, software reliability and quality-related software metrics. Examples of recent work can be found on the center’s Web site at www.testingeducation.org (see the Academic Overview section in this catalog).
Harris Institute for Assured Information: The center is funded by both industry and government sponsors and concentrates on all aspects of computer hardware and software security. Faculty participants are internationally recognized for their technical contributions, especially in the areas of hardware and software security testing. License agreements in place with a number of industry leaders enable the implementation of research results in commercial quality hardware and software products, focusing on assuring the integrity of computer hardware and software applications from malicious intrusion. The center performs funded hardware and software testing, vulnerability testing, security assessments and basic research in computer security and software development testing.
Software Evolution Laboratory (SEL): The primary mission of this laboratory is to advance the state-of-the-art in evolving complex software systems in a disciplined manner. This includes research related to legacy system re-engineering, reverse engineering, program understanding and software maintenance. The systems in question can be traditional software applications or Web-based applications. The secondary mission of the SEL is to advance the state-of-the-practice in software evolution by transitioning results from the laboratory into widespread use through evidence-based arguments (such as empirical studies) that objectively support the efficacy of the techniques in question. Issues related to technology adoption are necessarily a part of this effort. An example of recent work is the investigation of the impact of test-driven development (TDD) techniques, such as Extreme Programming (XP), on long-term software maintenance costs.
Research
Current areas of research include image processing, electromagnetics, computer vision, neural networks, speech processing, wireless communications and pattern recognition. These activities are being carried out in relation to the following general areas of research interest.
Electromagnetics: Applied and computational research is conducted in order to manipulate electromagnetic fields. Antennas, frequency selective surfaces, high impedance ground planes, and bandgap structures are designed and analyzed using computational tools, then tested for validation. The ability to model electromagnetic properties of complex structures requires full-wave analysis with finite element, method of moments or finite difference techniques. RF measurements are conducted in the antenna laboratory that houses an anechoic chamber and screen room.
Image Processing: Much of the research is directed at basic problems and contributes to the solution of major national problems in vision and image processing. These include automated object detection and perception, computer imaging, modeling and other areas of image analysis. Techniques being used include traditional techniques and others that include wavelets, fractals, higher-order statistics and morphology. Application areas include autonomous inspection in manufacturing and other commercial uses. Projects include the fusion of infrared and visible imagery, and denoising of imagery using advanced methods. In addition, many of the techniques in image processing are being applied to speech processing.
Lightwave and Optronics Laboratory: Research includes unique fiber-optic devices and techniques using modal multiplexing, allowing communications channels to operate with expanded bit rates and optical encryption and switching devices. Fiber-optic sensors are developed for 2-D and 3-D structural health monitoring of strain and material failure; environmental parameters such as temperature, pressure, magnetic field, ammonia, pH and salinity; and other sensors, such as level sensors for cryogenic, combustible and corrosive liquids, hydrogen leak detection and intrusion detection sensors for homeland security applications. Instrumentation includes tunable lasers, optical spectrum analyzers, optical power meters, bit error rate test sets, fiber amplifiers and digitally controlled attenuators, fiber-optic transmitters and receivers, optical time domain reflectometers, fiber splicers and customized data processing systems for data acquisition and signal processing. The work is also used for the design, development and analysis of nano-junction-based electronic and photonic devices.
Microelectronics Laboratory: See the Institution Overview section of the university catalog.
Signal Processing: Research is performed in neural networks, image processing, pattern recognition and speech processing. Algorithms have been developed for near-real-time detection and classification for several applications such as communications, noise reduction, and speaker identification. Techniques being used include traditional techniques and others that include wavelets, fractals, higher-order statistics and morphology. Projects include the analysis and classification of infrasound signals, development of pattern recognizers, denoising of imagery and speech identification.
Wireless Center of Excellence (WiCE): See the Institution Overview section of the university catalog. Research within WiCE focuses on areas related to wireless communication, wireless multimedia communications and wireless sensor systems. Students are involved in research projects evaluating propagation of radio waves, planning and optimization of voice and data services in cellular systems, various aspects associated with wireless sensor networks and topics addressing challenges in providing multimedia communication over wireless links. WiCE is well connected with several industry partners that help in selection of relevant research topics and provide the center with state-of-the-art design tools and CAD software. In recent years the center has been involved in the hurricane research program sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
Research
The department of marine and environmental systems occupies the first and second floors of the Link Building with laboratory, lecture, computer facilities and office space, with additional space in the Frueauff Building and the Surf Mechanics Laboratory.
Research activities in the department are diverse and vary with increased knowledge from current research, changes in demands in the research community and new developments in experimental procedures and instrumentation. Separate laboratories exist for biological, chemical, physical and geological oceanography, and instrumentation investigations.
Environmental Sciences Research
The environmental sciences program offers specialized facilities for instruction and research. The Marine and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory is equipped with standard water and wastewater sampling and analysis equipment. In addition, analytical instruments provided for advanced study include a total organic carbon analyzer, atomic absorption spectrophotometers and scintillation counters. Florida Tech maintains a variety of small and large boats for fieldwork. Analytical capabilities are extended by means of cooperative projects with the departments of biological sciences and chemistry. In addition, an advanced state-of-the-art analytical facility is available to Florida Tech through a cooperative arrangement with the Midwest Research Institute’s Palm Bay laboratories. Instrumentation currently available includes GIS, SEM and ICP/MS.
Faculty and graduate students are actively engaged in a variety of environmental research projects, including effects of agricultural and urban stormwater runoff on river and estuarine water quality, measurement of quantities and quality of groundwater seepage in Florida lakes, dissolved oxygen budgets in aquatic systems, trace metal contamination of natural waters and sediments, acid deposition, lake trophic state classifications, trace organic contamination in coastal systems, hyperspectral remote sensing, decomposition and sedimentation of aquatic macrophytes and use of waste by-products, including ash produced from fossil fuel combustion and municipal incinerators.
Ocean Engineering Research
The ocean engineering program includes facilities for traditional design activities, several stations for computer-aided design techniques and a reference data collection. Ocean engineering provides facilities for structural testing and pressure testing and a Surf Mechanics Laboratory. The materials and corrosion laboratory specializes in design and testing of materials (concrete, composites and plastics) for marine applications. A towing tank is available at the nearby Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Fort Pierce.
Research interests of the faculty center on coastal engineering, corrosion and materials, ocean mineral exploitation, waste disposal, naval architecture and shipbuilding (including small craft), fluid dynamics, instrumentation engineering and development, and marine positioning.
A close relationship is maintained with the Engineering Division of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. Graduate students, especially those having interests in submersibles, exploratory equipment and instrumentation, may have the opportunity to conduct thesis research in conjunction with the Harbor Branch staff and use facilities at the institution.
Ship and marine facilities provide an excellent base for research activities involving all aspects of offshore and coastal ship operations, structures, erosion, and environmental control applications. The sheltered waters and geography of the Indian River Lagoon allow excellent conditions for undertaking control and propulsion research using large models or full-scale craft.
Oceanography Research
Biological Oceanography: The major emphasis in this laboratory is directed toward pelagic and benthonic investigations. Available equipment for student and research needs include fluorometers, collection nets, trawls, grabs, and photographic and microscopic instruments. A controlled environmental room is operated within this laboratory.
Chemical Oceanography: This laboratory is equipped to enable both routine and research-level analyses on open ocean and coastal lagoonal waters. Major and minor nutrients, heavy-metal contaminants and pollutants can be quantitatively determined. Analytical instruments include scintillation counters, organic carbon analyzers, fluorescence spectrometers, ultraviolet and visible light spectrophotometers, an atomic absorption spectrometer and field measurement equipment. Equipment for investigation of physical chemistry of seawater is also available.
Marine Geology and Geophysics: This laboratory contains state of the art equipment for the compositional and textural analysis of sediment and water samples, including a rapid sediment analyzer and computer-assisted sieve stations. High- and low-temperature ovens, PC-based computer workstations and suspended sediment filtration systems are also available. In addition, the laboratory houses vibracore and sediment grab sampling equipment.
Physical Oceanography: Supports graduate research in ocean waves, coastal processes, tsunamis, climate change, circulation and pollutant transport. In addition, current meters, tide and wind recorders, salinometers, wave height gauges, a side-scan sonar, CTD system, ADCP and other oceanographic instruments are available.
Ocean Engineering: Ocean engineering facilities support both traditional design activities and computer-aided design. The Underwater Technologies Laboratory has facilities for the design and construction of surface and underwater vehicles such as ROVs and AUVs. The Instrumentation Laboratory is equipped with testing and calibration equipment, machining and construction tools, and deployment facilities.
Evinrude Marine Operations Center and Research Vessels: This facility houses small outboard-powered craft and medium-sized workboats. These vessels are available to students and faculty for teaching and research use in the freshwater tributaries and the lagoon. Chartered research vessels are the focal point of research in the Indian River Lagoon and coastal areas, as well as teaching in oceanography and marine meteorology.
Vero Beach Marine Laboratory: An oceanfront marine research facility, owned and operated by Florida Tech and located in Vero Beach, just 40 minutes from campus. Laboratory and office space total approximately 4,500 square feet. Flowing seawater allows research in such areas as aquaculture, biofouling and corrosion. See the Academic Overview section in the university catalog.
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI): The department maintains a close working relationship with HBOI, located about an hour from campus between Vero Beach and Fort Pierce. Scientists and engineers from HBOI interact with Florida Tech’s students and faculty, and make their facilities and expertise available in directing student research.
Midwest Research Institute, Palm Bay Laboratories: Florida Tech cooperates with MRI, Florida, in the use of state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation. Current areas of research at this center (eight miles south of Florida Tech’s main campus) include inductively coupled argon plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Surf Mechanics Laboratory: The wave channel in the laboratory supports teaching and research in wave mechanics, marine hydrodynamics, ocean instrumentation, and coastal processes.
Research
Mechanical and aerospace engineering facilities include laboratories for energy research, fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, combustion and propulsion, metallurgy and solid mechanics, system dynamics and control, instrumentation and applied laser research, computer-aided design and computational research. Other laboratories around the campus can also be used by mechanical engineering graduate students performing advanced research.
Funded research activities of mechanical and aerospace engineering faculty have recently included studies of efficient heat transfer/insulation mechanisms in building environments, advanced HVAC and fuel cell systems, integration of renewable energy sources into residential and utility applications, computation of radiative transport, computational mechanics with emphasis on nano-devices and damage mechanisms in laminated composite structures, development of experimental techniques for mechanical behavior of advanced materials systems, biomechanics, laser applications in bioengineering, turbulent boundary-layer structure, condition monitoring and fault diagnosis in rotating machinery and turbulent transport of moisture contained in air streams. Other studies have involved combustion in porous media, novel spatial and spherical mechanisms for part-orienting tasks, design and control of mobile robots, response of occupants in automobile collisions, smart composite structures with embedded sensors and optimization of composites. Research projects have been variously supported through grants from NASA, National Science Foundation, Defense Nuclear Agency, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Edith Bush Charitable Foundation, Florida Solar Energy Center, Florida Space Grant Consortium, Department of Energy and a number of industrial affiliations.
Laboratories include the Robotics and Spatial Systems Laboratory (RSSL); Laser, Optics and Instrumentation Laboratory (LOIL); Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and the Aerospace Structures Laboratory. RSSL is equipped with several industrial robots as well as a state-of-the-art autonomous mobile robot. In LOIL, the current technologies in continuous wave and short-pulse lasers and optics are used to develop new techniques for measuring and characterizing material properties for biomedical and material processing applications. The Fluid Dynamics Laboratory features a low-speed, low-turbulence wind tunnel of open-return type, with a square test section 0.535 m on a side and 1.6 m long. The speed range is from zero to 42 m/s. The mean turbulence level is a few hundredths of one percent at the lowest tunnel speeds. The Aerospace Structures Laboratory features a drop-tower for impact testing of structures and materials. This laboratory also has a shaker table for the vibration testing of structures. There are also ovens, vacuum pumps and other paraphernalia needed for the custom preparation of material specimens from advanced composite materials.
See the Institution Overview section of the university catalog for further information regarding the Dynamic Systems and Controls Laboratory; the Laser, Optics and Instrumentation Laboratory; and the Robotics and Spatial Systems Laboratory.
Computer Science Minor
A minor in computer science is offered through the computer sciences department. A complete policy statement regarding minors can be found in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog. Information about current minor offerings is available through the individual colleges/departments.
| CREDITS | ||
| CSE 1001 | Fundamentals of Software Development 1* | 4 |
| CSE 1002 | Fundamentals of Software Development 2* | 4 |
| CSE 1400 | Applied Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| CSE 2010 | Algorithms and Data Structures* | 4 |
| Restricted Electives | 6 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 21 | |
*Requires a minimum grade of C.
Note: This minor is not available to Department of Computer Sciences majors or information systems majors in the College of Business. A list of recommended elective courses is available from the department office. At least 12 credit hours used in the minor must be earned in the Florida Tech Department of Computer Sciences.
Oceanography Minor
Minors in environmental science, meteorology and oceanography are offered through the marine and environmental systems department. A complete policy statement regarding minors can be found in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog. Information about current minor offerings is available through the individual colleges/departments.
| CREDITS | ||
| OCN 1010 | Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 2602 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| OCN 3401 | Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 3411 | Physical Oceanography Lab | 1 |
| One or more of the following: | ||
| OCN 3101 | Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 3201 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| OCN 3301 | Geological Oceanography | 3 |
| Remaining credit hours from the following: | ||
| OCN 2407 | Meteorology | 3 |
| OCN 3111 | Biological Oceanography Lab | 1 |
| OCN 3211 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| OCN 3311 | Geological Oceanography Lab | 1 |
| OCN 3430 | Fundamentals of Geophysical Fluids | 3 |
| OCN 4102 | Marine and Estuarine Phytoplankton | 3 |
| OCN 4103 | Marine and Estuarine Zooplankton | 3 |
| OCN 4104 | Marine and Estuarine Benthos | 3 |
| OCN 4106 | Mitigation and Restoration of Coastal Systems | 3 |
| OCN 4204 | Marine and Environmental Pollution | 3 |
| OCN 4704 | Remote Sensing for Oceanography | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 19 | |
Environmental Science Minor
Minors in environmental science, meteorology and oceanography are offered through the marine and environmental systems department. A complete policy statement regarding minors can be found in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog. Information about current minor offerings is available through the individual colleges/departments.
| CREDITS | ||
| Choose 19 credit hours from the following: | ||
| ENS 1001 | The Whole Earth Course | 3 |
| ENS 3101 | Atmospheric Environments | 3 |
| ENS 4004 | Aquatic Environmental Toxicology | 3 |
| ENS 4010 | Geographical Information Systems | 3 |
| ENS 4300 | Renewable Energy and the Environment | 3 |
| ENS 4700 | Environmental Hydrology | 3 |
| ENS 4800 | Limnology | 3 |
| ENS 4901 | Special Topics in Environmental Science | 1 |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 19 | |
Meteorology Minor
Minors in environmental science, meteorology and oceanography are offered through the marine and environmental systems department. A complete policy statement regarding minors can be found in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog. Information about current minor offerings is available through the individual colleges/departments.
| CREDITS | ||
| Choose 19 credits from the following: | ||
| ENS 1001 | The Whole Earth Course | 3 |
| MET 1999 | Weather Briefing | 1 |
| MET 3401 | Synoptic Meteorology 1 | 3 |
| MET 3402 | Synoptic Meteorology 2 | 3 |
| MET 4305 | Dynamic Meteorology 1 | 3 |
| MET 4306 | Dynamic Meteorology 2 | 3 |
| MET 4310 | Climatology | 3 |
| OCN 2407 | Meteorology | 3 |
| OCN 3430 | Fundamentals of Geophysical Fluids | 3 |
| SPS 4030 | Atmospheric Physics | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 19 | |
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering is primarily the application of chemical principles to industrial processes and environmental problems to effect a change in the composition and properties of matter to benefit society and the environment. A graduate in chemical engineering has the basic training to solve problems in transport and separation processes, process dynamics and control, energy production, food and petrochemical processing, materials synthesis and processing, and chemical equipment and plant design.
The freshman and sophomore years emphasize basic mathematics, science and communication skills; the junior year, fundamentals of chemical engineering; and the senior year, integration of those fundamentals in capstone design courses. Elective course work also allows students to broaden their knowledge in other technical fields, to deepen their understanding in an area of specialization, or to participate in a technical research project under the direction of an individual faculty member.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission should have one year of high school biology, chemistry and physics, in addition to at least three years of mathematics, including algebra, geometry and trigonometry.
Degree Requirements
A Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering requires a minimum of 135 credit hours as specified below. Because general chemistry and mathematics are critically important foundations for all chemical engineering courses, chemical engineering majors must pass CHM 1101, CHM 1102, MTH 1001 and MTH 1002 with grades of at least C before taking any 2000-level chemical engineering courses.
Students must successfully complete all courses listed for the Freshman year before registering for CHE 3101. Students must successfully complete all courses listed for the sophomore year before registering for CHE 4181.
Freshman Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| BUS 1301 | Basic Economics | 3 |
| CHE 1101 | Introduction to Chemical Engineering 1 | 2 |
| CHM 1101 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| 17 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| CHE 1102 | Introduction to Chemical Engineering 2 | 1 |
| CHM 1102 | General Chemistry 2 | 4 |
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| MTH 1002 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHY 1001 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2091 | Physics Lab 1 | 1 |
| 17 | ||
Sophomore Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CHE 2101 | Chemical Process Principles 1 | 3 |
| CHM 2001 | Organic Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHM 2011 | Organic Chemistry Lab 1 | 2 |
| MTH 2201 | Differential Equations / Linear Algebra | 4 |
| PHY 2002 | Physics 2 | 4 |
| PHY 2092 | Physics Lab 2 | 1 |
| 17 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| CHE 2102 | Chemical Process Principles 2 | 3 |
| CHE 3260 | Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| CHE 3265 | Materials Lab | 1 |
| CHM 2002 | Organic Chemistry 2 | 3 |
| HUM 2051 | Civilization 1 | 3 |
| MTH 2001 | Calculus 3 | 4 |
| 17 | ||
Junior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CHE 3101 | Transport Processes | 3 |
| CHE 3170 | Introduction to Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CHM 3001 | Physical Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHM 3011 | Physical Chemistry Lab 1 | 2 |
| HUM 2052 | Civilization 2 | 3 |
| Technical Elective* | 3 | |
| 17 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| CHE 3103 | Heat Transfer Processes | 3 |
| CHE 3104 | Mass Transfer Processes | 3 |
| CHE 3110 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | 3 |
| CHE 3115 | Chemical Engineering Processes Lab 1 | 2 |
| CHE 4151 | Chemical Engineering Reactor Design | 3 |
| COM 2223 | Scientific and Technical Communication | 3 |
| 17 | ||
Senior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CHE 4115 | Chemical Engineering Processes Lab 2 | 2 |
| CHE 4122 | Chemical Process Control | 4 |
| CHE 4131 | Separation Processes | 3 |
| CHE 4181 | Chemical Engineering Plant Design 1 (Q) | 2 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective (Advanced Chemistry) | 3 | |
| 17 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| CHE 4182 | Chemical Engineering Plant Design 2 (Q) | 4 |
| Free Elective* | 3 | |
| Humanities or Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective (CHE) | 3 | |
| Technical Elective* | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 135
*BUS 3xxx may be taken in place of three credit hours of Technical Elective. CWE 1001 may be taken as the Free Elective; CWE 2001 may be taken in place of three credit hours of Technical Elective.
Electives
The Restricted Elective (Advanced Chemistry) should be satisfied by completion of one of the following courses:
| BIO 2010 | Microbiology |
| BIO 4010 | Biochemistry 1 |
| CHM 3002 | Physical Chemistry 2 |
| CHM 3301 | Analytical Chemistry 1 |
| CHM 4222 | Environmental Chemistry |
| CHM 4550 | Polymer Chemistry |
A list of other recommended electives is available in the chemical engineering office. The list also identifies electives that provide an emphasis in each of the following fields. Students interested in any of these areas for either graduate study or professional employment are encouraged to contact the chemical engineering office for more information.
Emphasis in Biochemical Engineering: Because chemical engineers are often responsible for the design and operation of equipment used to grow microorganisms and to separate products of microbial growth, many students majoring in chemical engineering choose one or more courses in biology and related disciplines as electives.
Emphasis in Business: Because chemical engineers often take graduate-level course work in business or management at some point in their careers, many students majoring in chemical engineering choose one or more courses in business as electives.
Emphasis in Environmental Engineering: Because chemical engineers are often responsible for design and operation of pollution-control equipment, many students majoring in chemical engineering choose one or more courses in environmental engineering as electives.
Emphasis in Materials Science and Engineering: Because chemical engineers are often responsible for development and production of materials for uses ranging from spacecraft to electronics, many students majoring in chemical engineering choose one or more courses in materials science and engineering as electives.
Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Dual Degree Program: Because the chemical engineering curriculum requires much of the same course work required by the chemistry curriculum, a student may wish to pursue a program that satisfies Degree requirements for both majors. This program normally requires one additional year of residency. The bachelor’s degree in chemistry may be awarded after completing the first four years. Interested students should contact either the chemistry office or the chemical engineering office for more information.
Five-Year Master’s Degree Program
More than one-fourth of all chemical engineering graduates choose to continue their education beyond the bachelor’s degree. The five-year program offers students the opportunity to complete a master’s degree in one calendar year following completion of requirements for the bachelor’s degree. To qualify, a student must possess a grade point average of 3.0 or above following his or her junior year. Additional information concerning this program may be obtained by contacting the department head.
Nondegree Program in General Engineering
A student who wishes to postpone the selection of a major may enroll for up to one year as a general engineering student, following the curriculum described below. This curriculum is designed to allow students more time to become familiar with all College of Engineering academic programs. Students are urged to select degree programs as early in the year as possible; those who take the courses listed below and no others for the entire freshman year may have up to 9 credit hours of course work to make up later.
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| CHM 1101 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| EGN 1000 | Introduction to Engineering | 3 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| 15 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| CSE 1502 | Introduction to Software Development with C++ or | |
| CSE 1503 | Introduction to Software Development with FORTRAN | 3 |
| MTH 1002 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHY 1001 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2091 | Physics Lab 1 | 1 |
| 15 | ||
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
The goal of the electrical engineering program is to provide the student with a total learning experience. It is designed to expose the entire spectrum of electrical engineering concepts from the basic building blocks of transistors and gates, through communications, control, electromagnetic, computer and photonic systems. Students develop an extensive knowledge of hardware, along with skills in software simulation and analysis. In the senior year, students design, build and test complete systems as part of their senior design course.
The educational objectives for electrical engineering are to create in our students the passion for engineering that will allow them to understand and correct the increasingly diverse problems facing modern society; to graduate quality engineers who are forward-thinking and equipped with the leadership skills needed to make tomorrow’s world a better place through their desire for lifelong learning; to provide our students with the broad-based interdisciplinary education that will allow them to excel in the global marketplace; to give our undergraduates opportunities for hands-on research that not only advances the state-of-the-art in their field but also allows them in-depth study of specialization areas that lead the growing knowledge base in the profession; and to ingrain in our students the desire to better serve society’s needs, to search for better ways to solve the world’s problems, and to give them the tools to raise the standards of engineering worldwide.
A major component of the electrical engineering program at Florida Tech involves hands-on learning. The electrical engineering student begins taking electrical engineering courses during his/her freshman year. The freshman-level courses include programming and interfacing an embedded microcontroller. Laboratory experience and computer-based analysis are integrated into most classes and all laboratories.
In electrical engineering, a strong emphasis is on the mastery principle. It is assured that electrical engineering students not only know the material critical to engineering, but also can demonstrate mastery of the material, which is the goal of everyone in the program.
During the freshman and sophomore years, students learn the basics of electrical engineering along with college-level mathematics and physics. In addition, courses in computer design with hands-on lab experiences are taken both terms of the freshman year.
Throughout the sophomore and junior years, students learn the basic analytical techniques of engineering—ways in which the engineer views physical situations and uses mathematical techniques to design basic subsystems. Many of the courses taken by students at this level offer integrated lab experiences. In this way, students can visualize the practical aspects of various electronic theories they encounter.
During the senior year, students continue to build their knowledge base to develop a systems approach to engineering design. They gain a deeper knowledge in at least two specializations through combination lecture/lab courses, followed by advanced courses in related areas. Through electives, students may explore various topics within electrical engineering for which they have developed specific interests.
Degree Requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering must complete the minimum course requirements as outlined in the following full-time curriculum. Deviations from the recommended program may be made only with the approval of the student’s adviser and concurrence of the department head, in accordance with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) criteria. Students may complete these requirements on a part-time basis.
Proficiency in certain key areas is of primary importance to success as electrical engineers. For this reason, a student who receives a grade of D in any of the following courses is strongly urged to repeat the course to attain a grade of at least C: ECE 2111, ECE 2112, ECE 3111, ECE 3222, ECE 3442; MTH 1001, MTH 1002, MTH 2001, MTH 2201; PHY 1001, PHY 2002, PHY 2003.
Students must successfully complete a minimum of 90 percent of all the courses listed below under the freshman and sophomore years before being allowed to register for upper-level (3000/4000) courses.
Students who have completed 24 credit hours and have not passed COM 1101 will register for this course in the next available semester. Students who have completed 48 credit hours and have not passed COM 1102 will register for this course in the next available semester.
Courses that are acceptable as humanities/social science electives are identified as such in the Course Descriptions section of the university catalog. Definitions of electives for engineering programs are presented in the Academic Overview section.
Additional policies and procedures governing degree requirements may be found in the program’s student handbook and online in the learning management system (Angel).
Freshman Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| CHM 1101 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| ECE 1551 | Digital Logic | 4 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| ECE 1552 | Computer Design | 4 |
| MTH 1002 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHY 1001 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2091 | Physics Lab 1 | 1 |
| 16 | ||
Sophomore Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 2111 | Circuit Theory 1 | 4 |
| ECE 2551 | Software/Hardware Design | 3 |
| MTH 2201 | Differential Equations/Linear Algebra | 4 |
| PHY 2002 | Physics 2 | 4 |
| 15 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 2112 | Circuit Theory 2 | 4 |
| HUM 2051 | Civilization 1 | 3 |
| MTH 2001 | Calculus 3 | 4 |
| MTH 2401 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| PHY 2003 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| 17 | ||
Junior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 2223 | Scientific and Technical Communication | 3 |
| ECE 3111 | Electronics | 4 |
| ECE 3222 | Signals and Systems | 3 |
| ECE 3331 | Electron Devices | 3 |
| ECE 3441 | Electromagnetic Fields | 3 |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 3240 | Junior Design (Q) | 1 |
| ECE 3442 | Electromagnetic Waves | 3 |
| ECE 3551 | Microcomputer Systems 1 | 4 |
| ECE 4221 | Communication Systems | 3 |
| HUM 2052 | Civilization 2 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 17 | ||
Senior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 4231 | Control Systems | 3 |
| ECE 4241 | System Design 1 (Q) | 3 |
| Restricted Electives* (Electrical Engineering) | 6 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| 18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 4242 | System Design 2 (Q) | 3 |
| ECE 4332 | Electrooptic Devices and Systems | 3 |
| Humanities/Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 130
*A list of approved electives is available from the department.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
The goal of the computer engineering program is to provide the student with a total learning experience. The program is designed to expose the entire spectrum of computer engineering concepts from the basic building blocks of transistors and gates, through the progression of embedded controllers, computer architectures and high-performance digital signal processors. Students develop an extensive knowledge of hardware, along with a strong education in programming techniques to provide them with a complete understanding of computer systems. In the senior year, they design, build and test computer systems as part of their senior design course.
The educational objectives for computer engineering are to create in our students the passion for engineering that will allow them to understand and correct the increasingly diverse problems facing modern society; to graduate quality engineers who are forward-thinking and equipped with the leadership skills needed to make tomorrow’s world a better place through their desire for lifelong learning; to provide our students with the broad-based interdisciplinary education that will allow them to excel in the global marketplace; to give our undergraduates opportunities for hands-on research that not only advances the state-of-the-art in their field but also allows them in-depth study of specialization areas that lead the growing knowledge base in the profession; and to ingrain in our students the desire to better serve society’s needs, to search for better ways to solve the world’s problems, and to give them the tools to raise the standards of engineering worldwide.
A major component of the computer engineering program at Florida Tech involves hands-on learning. The computer engineering student begins taking computer engineering courses during the freshman year. The freshman-level courses include programming and interfacing an embedded microcontroller. Laboratory experience is integrated into most of our classes. In the junior year students are introduced to interfacing with a high-performance digital signal processor.
In computer engineering, a strong focus is on the mastery principle. It is assured that computer engineering students not only know the material critical to engineering, but also can demonstrate mastery of the material, which is the goal of everyone in the program.
During the freshman and sophomore years, students learn the basics of computer engineering along with college-level mathematics and physics. In addition, courses in computer design with hands-on laboratory experience are taken both terms of the freshman year. In these courses, students program and create an interface to an embedded microcontroller.
Throughout the sophomore and junior years, students learn basic analytical techniques of the engineer—ways in which the engineer views physical situations and uses mathematical techniques to design basic subsystems. Many of the courses taken by students at this level offer integrated laboratory experiences. In this way, students can visualize the practical aspects of the various theories they encounter.
During the senior year, students continue to build their knowledge base to develop a system approach to engineering design. Through electives that emphasize applications using digital signal processors, students may explore various topics within computer engineering for which they have developed specific interests.
Degree Requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering must complete the minimum course requirements as outlined in the following full-time curriculum. Deviations from the recommended program may be made only with the approval of the student’s adviser and concurrence of the department head, in accordance with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) criteria. Students may complete these requirements on a part-time basis.
Proficiency in certain key areas is of primary importance to success as computer engineers. For this reason, a student who receives a grade of D in any of the following courses is strongly urged to repeat the course to attain a grade of at least C: ECE 2111, ECE 2112, ECE 3111; MTH 1001, MTH 1002, MTH 2001, MTH 2201; PHY 1001, PHY 2002, PHY 2003.
Students must successfully complete a minimum of 90 percent of all the courses listed below under the freshman and sophomore years before they will be allowed to register for upper-level (3000/4000) courses.
Students who have completed 24 credit hours and have not passed COM 1101 will register for this course in the next available semester. Students who have completed 48 credit hours and have not passed COM 1102 will register for this course in the next available semester.
The engineering science elective is limited to courses that help develop an appreciation of other branches of engineering. Courses that are acceptable as humanities/social sciences electives are identified as such in the Course Descriptions section of the university catalog. Definitions of electives for engineering programs are presented in the Academic Overview section.
Freshman Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| CHM 1101 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| ECE 1551 | Digital Logic | 4 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| ECE 1552 | Computer Design | 4 |
| MTH 1002 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHY 1001 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2091 | Physics Lab 1 | 1 |
| 16 | ||
Sophomore Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 2111 | Circuit Theory 1 | 4 |
| ECE 2551 | Software/Hardware Design | 3 |
| HUM 2051 | Civilization 1 | 3 |
| MTH 2201 | Differential Equations/Linear Algebra | 4 |
| PHY 2002 | Physics 2 | 4 |
| 18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 2112 | Circuit Theory 2 | 4 |
| ECE 2552 | Software/Hardware Integration | 3 |
| HUM 2052 | Civilization 2 | 3 |
| MTH 2001 | Calculus 3 | 4 |
| PHY 2003 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| 17 | ||
Junior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 3111 | Electronics | 4 |
| ECE 3551 | Microcomputer Systems 1 | 4 |
| ECE 3541 | Digital State Machines | 3 |
| ECE 3553 | Multifarious Systems 1 | 4 |
| MTH 2401 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| 18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 2223 | Scientific and Technical Communication | 3 |
| CSE 2410 | Introduction to Software Engineering | 3 |
| ECE 3240 | Junior Design (Q) | 1 |
| ECE 3552 | Microcomputer Systems 2 | 4 |
| ECE 4112 | Digital Electronics | 3 |
| Engineering Science Elective* | 3 | |
| 17 | ||
Senior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CSE 4001 | Operating Systems Concepts | 3 |
| ECE 4241 | System Design 1 (Q) | 3 |
| ECE 4551 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective (ECE/CSE) | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| 18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 4242 | System Design 2 (Q) | 3 |
| ECE 4561 | Computer Communications | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 12 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 132
*A list of approved Engineering Science Electives is available from the department.
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
The civil engineering curriculum is designed to prepare students for professional careers and graduate school. During the first two years, emphasis is placed on foundation courses in chemistry, mathematics, physics and engineering mechanics, augmented by practice-oriented civil engineering courses. The introductory civil engineering courses include field trips and introduction to various disciplines of civil engineering. The CAD lab course, using the latest CAD software, provides knowledge that is applied in the rest of the curriculum, as do the engineering materials and construction measurement courses.
During the second and third years, emphasis is on courses in the main disciplines of civil engineering (construction, environmental/water resources, geotechnical, structures and transportation) that further develop analytical skills in preparation for design courses in the last two years. The emphasis in the third and fourth years is on design. The curriculum provides flexibility in the form of restricted electives and a technical/business elective that allow further depth in a discipline of choice, or further breadth.
Altogether, students are required to take five civil engineering laboratory courses to understand concepts and to learn, firsthand, what works and what does not. Each student is also required to be part of a multidisciplinary design project team that identifies, formulates and designs a real-world project. In this course, students must assemble information from previous courses. To enhance the application of their engineering skills to accomplish societal goals, technical courses in the third and fourth years incorporate leadership, teamwork, oral and written communication and ethics. Mandatory electives in the humanities and social sciences provide a broader understanding of the professional work environment, human history and culture.
Freshman Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| CHM 1101 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| CVE 1000 | Introduction to Civil Engineering | 3 |
| CVE 1001 | Computer Applications Lab | 1 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| CVE 2080 | Construction Measurements | 3 |
| MTH 1002 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHY 1001 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2091 | Physics Lab 1 | 1 |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| 18 | ||
Sophomore Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 2223 | Scientific and Technical Communication | 3 |
| MAE 2081 | Applied Mechanics: Statics | 3 |
| MTH 2001 | Calculus 3 | 4 |
| PHY 2002 | Physics 2 | 4 |
| PHY 2092 | Physics Lab 2 | 1 |
| 15 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| HUM 2051 | Civilization 1 | 3 |
| MAE 2082 | Applied Mechanics: Dynamics | 3 |
| MAE 3083 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| MTH 2201 | Differential Equations/Linear Algebra | 4 |
| Business or Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 1 | |
| 17 | ||
Junior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CVE 3012 | Engineering Materials | 3 |
| CVE 3013 | Engineering Materials Lab | 1 |
| CVE 3015 | Structural Analysis and Design | 3 |
| CVE 3030 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| CVE 3033 | Hydraulics Lab | 1 |
| CVE 3042 | Water and Wastewater Systems for Land Development | 3 |
| HUM 2052 | Civilization 2 | 3 |
| 17 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| CVE 3020 | Soils and Foundations | 3 |
| CVE 3021 | Soil Mechanics Lab | 1 |
| CVE 401x | Structures Elective | 3 |
| CVE 4032 | Hydraulics and Hydrology | 3 |
| MTH 2401 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| Science Elective* | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
Senior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CVE 4060 | Transportation Engineering | 3 |
| CVE 4070 | Construction Engineering | 3 |
| CVE 4091 | Design Project 1 (Q) | 1 |
| ECE 4991 | Electric and Electronic Circuits or MAE 3191 Engineering Thermodynamics | 3 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective (CVE) | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| CVE 4000 | Engineering Economy and Planning | 3 |
| CVE 4074 | Leading Construction Operations | 3 |
| CVE 4092 | Design Project 2 (Q) | 3 |
| Free Elective | 1 | |
| Restricted Electives (CVE) | 6 | |
| 16 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 131
Note: Restricted electives may be selected, with approval, from other upper-division courses in civil engineering or related fields.
*Approved Science Electives include Meteorology (OCN 2407), Environmental Geology (OCN 2602) and Atmospheric Environments (ENS 3101).
Environmental Engineering Emphasis
Students selecting the environmental engineering emphasis should select three of the following five courses as their restricted electives: CVE 3050, CVE 4035, CVE 4050, ENS 3101, OCN 3201.
Bachelor of Science in Construction
Mission Statement
The construction degree program at Florida Tech is administered by the College of Engineering and has been developed to provide a curriculum that meets the specific needs of the expanding construction industry in Florida and throughout the United States. The construction industry requires professionals who understand the basics of civil engineering coupled with a substantial understanding of business subjects such as project management, contracting, budgeting and cost control. This program has been designed with input from senior construction industry professionals who are members of the Construction Industry Advisory Board at Florida Tech. The curriculum meets Florida Tech’s core requirements, functions within the institutional framework established for all Florida Tech programs and is consistent with the institutional mission and assessment procedures of the university.
The main objective of the construction program is to provide an education that will lead to a leadership role in the construction industry, while preparing students to become responsible members of society. The curriculum is responsive to current social, economic and technical developments in the field of construction, and reflects the application of evolving knowledge in construction and the behavioral and quantitative sciences. The program incorporates current and developing curricula that reflect evolving changes in construction technology and management trends, and the goals of the program closely reflect the needs of society and the construction profession.
CURRICULUM
The curriculum consists of 12 courses designed specifically for the construction industry and 29 existing courses, for a total of 41 courses and 125 credit hours of instruction. The program is designed to prepare students for immediate employment as construction management professionals, rather than as civil engineering design professionals.
The construction degree program is designed to prepare students for professional careers and graduate school. During the first two years, the emphasis is on foundation courses in chemistry, mathematics, physics, engineering mechanics and business, augmented by practice-oriented civil engineering courses. The introductory construction courses include field trips and introduce the various disciplines of engineering and business management employed in the construction industry. The CAD laboratory course uses the latest CAD software, provides knowledge that is applied in the rest of the curriculum and serves as the basis for understanding, interpreting and using construction plans and specifications in construction operations.
During the second and third years, emphasis is on specific technical courses designed to provide a working knowledge of civil, electrical and mechanical engineering methods used in the design of both horizontal and vertical projects and in construction practice. In addition, business and management courses are added to develop analytical skills needed for making business and technical decisions during construction operations. The technical and business courses in the third and fourth years emphasize leadership, teamwork, oral and written communication, and ethics. The fourth year focuses on the application of these skills to real-world problems with emphasis on societal impacts and the integration of all skills into a seamless and profitable project scenario.
During the senior year, students are required to be part of a multidisciplinary design project team that identifies, formulates and designs a real-world construction project. In this capstone course, students must assemble information from previous courses to enhance the application of their technical and management skills to accomplish project and societal goals. Mandatory electives in humanities and social sciences provide a broader understanding of the professional work environment, human history and culture. The curriculum provides flexibility in the form of restricted and technical/business electives that allow further depth and breadth in a discipline of choice.
Freshman Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| CHM 1101 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| CON 1001 | CAD Applications and Construction Plans | 3 |
| CVE 1000 | Introduction to Civil Engineering | 3 |
| MTH 1000 | Precalculus | 3 |
| 17 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| AVS 2101 | Aviation Physical Science | 3 |
| BUS 1601 | Computer Applications for Business | 3 |
| COM 1102 | Writing About Literature | 3 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| OCN 2602 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| 16 | ||
Sophomore Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| BUS 2211 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | 3 |
| COM 2223 | Scientific and Technical Communication | 3 |
| CON 2000 | Statics and Materials for Construction | 4 |
| CVE 2080 | Construction Measurements | 3 |
| HUM 2051 | Civilization 1 | 3 |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| BUS 1301 | Basic Economics | 3 |
| BUS 2212 | Introduction to Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| CON 2001 | Construction Methods and Operations | 3 |
| CON 2002 | Construction Materials Lab | 1 |
| CVE 3012 | Engineering Materials | 3 |
| HUM 2052 | Civilization 2 | 3 |
| 16 | ||
Junior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| BUS 2601 | Legal and Social Environments of Business | 3 |
| BUS 2703 | Statistics for Business | 3 |
| CON 3000 | Construction Soils | 3 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| BUS 3501 | Management Principles | 3 |
| BUS 3705 | Managing Small Business | 3 |
| CON 3001 | Building Structures and Structural Systems | 3 |
| CON 3002 | Building Mechanical and HVAC Systems | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
Senior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CON 4000 | Construction Controls: Budget, Schedule and Quality | 3 |
| CON 4001 | Building Electrical and Electronic Systems | 3 |
| CON 4002 | Construction Equipment and Safety | 3 |
| CVE 4000 | Engineering Economy and Planning | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| CHE 4284 | Industrial Safety | 3 |
| CON 4003 | Construction Estimating, Bidding and Value Engineering | 3 |
| CON 4004 | Construction Senior Capstone Project (Q) | 3 |
| CVE 4074 | Leading Construction Operations | 3 |
| Business Elective | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 125
Electives
| BUSINESS ELECTIVES | CREDITS | |
| BUS 3401 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| BUS 3504 | Management Information Systems | 3 |
| BUS 3601 | Marketing Principles | 3 |
| BUS 4212 | Environmental Auditing | 3 |
| BUS 4425 | Environmental and Urban Planning | 3 |
| BUS 4426 | Environmental and Resource Economics | 3 |
| BUS 4503 | Business Ethics | 3 |
| HUMANITIES ELECTIVES | CREDITS | |
| HUM 3351 | History of Science and Technology: Ancient and Medieval | 3 |
| HUM 3352 | History of Science and Technology: Renaissance to Present | 3 |
| TECHNICAL ELECTIVES | CREDITS | |
| AVM 3201 | Aviation Planning | 3 |
| AVT 4301 | Aviation Safety | 3 |
| CHE 3170 | Introduction to Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CHE 4284 | Industrial Safety | 3 |
| ENS 4010 | Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| ENS 4300 | Renewable Energy and the Environment | 3 |
| ENS 4701 | Environmental Regulations and Impact Assessment (senior standing | |
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Computer scientists are deeply involved in activities that are essential in our modern civilization. These activities include basic research, design, development and testing of software and information systems that serve society and its many needs. Computer technology is found in every aspect of today’s world. Common uses include word processors, spreadsheets, computer games and entertainment, communications and information systems, transportation, education and training, medicine, criminology, factory automation, space exploration and assistive devices for the disabled. Computers have led to significant quality of life improvements, and yet their potential is still to be fully realized. Professionals in computer science design and develop computer systems that are, insofar as possible, free from defects and protected from misuse that would harm the health or welfare of society or the environment.
The educational objectives of the bachelor of science degree program are to prepare students so that within a few years after graduation they will be well-respected computational problem solvers and recognized as algorithmic specialists contributing to the development of new technology and software products; they will be actively engaged in continual professional development; and will be using their technical knowledge, interpersonal and personal skills and professional attitude to advance their careers, the careers of others and the organizations for which they work.
The computer science curriculum at Florida Tech is a unique and well-rounded program that provides a solid technical background for careers in the computing profession or for graduate studies. Undergraduate students study the structure of typical computer systems, the techniques and theories supporting software development and specialized areas such as computer graphics, artificial intelligence, networks and information management. After graduation, they are equipped to enter the work force as systems analysts, application programmers or software specialists, and are provided with the background necessary for graduate study.
Because the subject matter of programming, algorithms and data structures forms a critically important foundation for all advanced computer science courses, the minimum grade for satisfying the prerequisite requirements is a grade of C for each of the following courses: CSE 1001, CSE 1002 and CSE 2010.
Students must complete the following minimum course requirements:
Freshman Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| CSE 1001 | Fundamentals of Software Development 1 | 4 |
| CSE 1101 | Computing Disciplines and Careers 1 | 1 |
| CSE 1400 | Applied Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| ECE 1551 | Digital Logic | 4 |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| CSE 1002 | Fundamentals of Software Development 2 | 4 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| HUM 2510 | Logic | 3 |
| Restricted Elective (Science) | 3 | |
| 17 | ||
Sophomore Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 2012 | Research Sources and Systems | 1 |
| COM 2223 | Scientific and Technical Communication | 3 |
| CSE 2010 | Algorithms and Data Structures | 4 |
| MTH 1002 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHY 1001 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2091 | Physics Lab 1 | 1 |
| 17 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| CSE 2050 | Programming in a Second Language | 3 |
| CSE 2400 | Applied Statistics | 3 |
| CSE 2410 | Introduction to Software Engineering | 3 |
| HUM 2051 | Civilization 1 | 3 |
| PHY 2002 | Physics 2 | 4 |
| PHY 2092 | Physics Lab 2 | 1 |
| 17 | ||
Junior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CSE 3030 | Legal, Ethical and Social Issues in Computing | 3 |
| CSE 3101 | Machine and Assembly Language | 3 |
| CSE 4250 | Programming Language Concepts | 3 |
| HUM 2052 | Civilization 2 | 3 |
| Restricted Elective (MTH) | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| CSE 4001 | Operating Systems Concepts | 3 |
| CSE 4083 | Formal Languages and Automata Theory* | 3 |
| ECE 4551 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| Liberal Arts Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective (Science) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 18 | ||
Senior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CSE 4081 | Introduction to Analysis of Algorithms* | 3 |
| CSE 4101 | Computer Science Projects 1 (Q) | 3 |
| Restricted Elective (CSE) | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective or CWE 2001 | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| CSE 4102 | Computer Science Projects 2 (Q) | 3 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Electives (CSE) | 6 | |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 130
*One additional 3-credit restricted elective (computer science) may be taken in place of CSE 4081 or CSE 4083.
Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
The software engineering program prepares students for careers as practicing professionals in software architecture, design, implementation, testing and evolution, or for graduate study. The engineering of software is multidisciplinary, spanning computer science, engineering economics, engineering problem solving, epistemology, human factors management, mathematics, quality control and safety.
The educational objectives of the software engineering bachelor of science program are to graduate students who will be leaders in the development of software where their primary role may be in requirements elicitation, software design, application development, software testing or software evolution; be actively engaged in continual professional development; and who will use their technical knowledge, interpersonal and personal skills and professional attitude to advance their careers, the careers of others, the organizations for which they work and the profession of software engineering.
Candidates for a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering must complete the minimum course requirements outlined in the following curriculum. Because the subject matter of programming, algorithms and data structures form a critically important foundation for all advanced computer science and software engineering courses, the minimum grade for satisfying the prerequisite requirements for these advanced courses is a grade of C for each of the following courses: CSE 1001, CSE 1002 and CSE 2010.
Freshman Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| CSE 1001 | Fundamentals of Software Development 1 | 4 |
| CSE 1101 | Computing Disciplines and Careers 1 | 1 |
| CSE 1400 | Applied Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| CSE 1002 | Fundamentals of Software Development 2 | 4 |
| HUM 2510 | Logic | 3 |
| MTH 1002 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PSY 1411 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| 17 | ||
Sophomore Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 2223 | Scientific and Technical Communication | 3 |
| CSE 2010 | Algorithms and Data Structures | 4 |
| CSE 3411 | Software Testing 1 | 3 |
| PHY 1001 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2091 | Physics Lab 1 | 1 |
| 15 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| CSE 2050 | Programming in a Second Language | 3 |
| CSE 2400 | Applied Statistics | 3 |
| CSE 2410 | Introduction to Software Engineering | 3 |
| PHY 2002 | Physics 2 | 4 |
| PHY 2092 | Physics Lab 2 | 1 |
| Restricted Elective (Science) | 3 | |
| 17 | ||
Junior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 2012 | Research Sources and Systems | 1 |
| CSE 3101 | Machine and Assembly Language | 3 |
| CSE 4415 | Software Testing 2 | 3 |
| CSE 4621 | Software Metrics and Modeling | 3 |
| HUM 2051 | Civilization 1 | 3 |
| Restricted Elective (Science) | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| AHF 3101 | Introduction to Human Factors | 3 |
| CSE 3030 | Legal, Ethical and Social Issues in Computing | 3 |
| CSE 3421 | Software Design Methods | 3 |
| CSE 4610 | Requirements Engineering | 3 |
| HUM 2052 | Civilization 2 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 18 | ||
Senior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CSE 4001 | Operating Systems Concepts | 3 |
| CSE 4201 | Software Development Projects 1 (Q) | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective (CSE) | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| CSE 4083 | Formal Languages and Automata Theory | 3 |
| CSE 4202 | Software Development Projects 2 (Q) | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective (CSE) | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 129
Bachelor of Science in Oceanography
The Department of Marine and Environmental Systems integrates the expertise and skills of ocean scientists, engineers and managers. The oceanography faculty includes highly qualified individuals devoted to research involving the study of ocean currents and waves, coastal processes, planktonic and benthonic organisms, marine meteorology, hydroacoustic applications, and trace-metal pollution identification and distribution. How these research efforts impact the deep-sea, coastal and estuarine environment is the subject of numerous publications and technical reports, which have been prepared by both faculty and students.
Much of the instructional work on estuarine and coastal waters is conducted as part of applied research contracts that use the program’s small motor-powered skiffs and chartered vessels for river, estuarine and offshore work. Access to the ocean is through Port Canaveral and/or Sebastian Inlet; the Gulf Stream can be reached in about three hours. These routes to the sea also provide convenient access to the Bahamas and the Florida Keys.
The program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Oceanography combines classroom and laboratory work at the main campus in Melbourne with the analysis of oceanographic data collected by students using program research vessels and boats.
During the first two years, the student concentrates on building a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics and the humanities. The student can then choose one of five concentrations: biological, chemical or physical oceanography, coastal zone management or marine environmental science. Transferring from one concentration to another during the first two years will incur little or no loss of academic credits. In all concentrations, emphasis is placed on a strong scientific background for the student so that he or she is prepared for more advanced studies in graduate school or employment by industry or government. The program promotes the concept of applied research through a summer Marine Field Project. Both programs are conducted under the direction of faculty members and are designed to help the student use previous academic course work in a relevant manner. The marine studies/oceanography undergraduate curricula are designed to prepare the graduate for a professional scientific career and graduate studies, exploring the scientific implications of human activities in and near the oceans.
Oceanography offers five program concentrations:
Biological Oceanography: Provides training in all areas of oceanography with emphasis on biological aspects. Advanced courses in biology supplement those in oceanography.
Chemical Oceanography: Includes practical training in marine and environmental chemistry. Advanced courses in chemistry supplement those in oceanography.
Coastal Zone Management (CZM): Provides training in all areas of oceanography, while providing knowledge of decision-making and management concepts.
Marine Environmental Science: Offers a flexible curriculum that can be tailored to meet specific educational/professional goals within the broad field of marine science.
Physical Oceanography: The most quantitative concentration, it includes advanced courses in mathematics and engineering as well as oceanography.
Students interested in environmental sciences should also see “Environmental Sciences.”
CURRICULUM
Freshman Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| BUS 1301 | Basic Economics* | 3 |
| CHM 1101 | Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| ENS 1001 | The Whole Earth Course | 3 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| 18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| BIO 1020 | Biological Discovery 2 | 4 |
| CHM 1102 | Chemistry 2 | 4 |
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| MTH 1002 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| OCN 1010 | Oceanography | 3 |
| 18 | ||
Sophomore Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| HUM 2051 | Civilization 1 | 3 |
| OCN 2602 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| PHY 1001 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2091 | Physics Lab 1 | 1 |
| Concentration Courses | 3–6 | |
| 14–17 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| MTH 2401 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| OCN 2407 | Meteorology | 3 |
| PHY 2002 | Physics 2 | 4 |
| PHY 2092 | Physics Lab 2 | 1 |
| Restricted Elective (CSE 15xx) | 3 | |
| Concentration Courses | 0–1 | |
| 14–15 | ||
Junior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 2223 | Scientific and Technical Communication | 3 |
| OCN 3201 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| OCN 3211 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| OCN 3401 | Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 3411 | Physical Oceanography Lab | 1 |
| Concentration Courses | 4–7 | |
| 15–18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| OCN 3101 | Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 3111 | Biological Oceanography Lab | 1 |
| OCN 3301 | Geological Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 3311 | Geological Oceanography Lab | 1 |
| OCN 3911 | Marine Field Projects: Proposal (Q) | 1 |
| Concentration Courses | 6–8 | |
| 15–17 | ||
SUMMER
| CREDITS | ||
| OCN 4911 | Marine Field Projects 1** (Q) | 1 |
| OCN 4912 | Marine Field Projects 2 (Q) | 2 |
| OCN 4913 | Marine Field Projects 3*** (Q) | 3 |
| 6 | ||
*or Social Science Elective
**CZM students may take a free elective
***CZM students may take OCN 4996 (Internship) or a Technical Elective
Senior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| HUM 2052 | Civilization 2 | 3 |
| OCN 4704 | Remote Sensing for Oceanography | 3 |
| Restricted Elective (OCN/ENS) | 3 | |
| Concentration Courses | 6–7 | |
| 15–16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| OCN 4204 | Marine and Environmental Pollution | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Concentration Courses | 3–6 | |
| 12–15 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 133
Concentration Courses (28 credit hours)
Biological Oceanography
| CREDITS | ||
| BIO 1010 | Biological Discovery 1 | 4 |
| BIO 3510 | Invertebrate Zoology | 4 |
| BIO 4710 | Marine Biology | 4 |
| CHM 2001 | Organic Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHM 2002 | Organic Chemistry 2 | 3 |
| OCN 4106 | Mitigation and Restoration of Coastal Systems | 3 |
| Technical Electives | 7 | |
Chemical Oceanography
| CREDITS | ||
| CHM 2001 | Organic Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHM 2011 | Organic Chemistry 1 Lab | 2 |
| CHM 2002 | Organic Chemistry 2 | 3 |
| CHM 2012 | Organic Chemistry 2 Lab | 2 |
| CHM 3301 | Analytical Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHM 3311 | Analytical Chemistry 1 Lab | 2 |
| OCE 4518 | Protection of Marine Materials | 3 |
| Technical Electives | 10 | |
Coastal Zone Management
| CREDITS | ||
| BIO 1501 | Introduction to Aquaculture | 1 |
| BIO 3550 | Applications of Aquaculture Technology | 3 |
| BUS 2211 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | 3 |
| BUS 3501 | Management Principles | 3 |
| ENS 4010 | Geographical Information Systems | 3 |
| ENS 4701 | Environmental Regulations / Impact Assessment | 3 |
| OCN 4106 | Mitigation and Restoration of Coastal Systems | 3 |
| OCN 4996 | Internship (or Technical Elective) | 3 |
| Restricted Electives (Science, Engineering, Business) | 6 | |
Marine Environmental Science
| CREDITS | ||
| BIO 1010 | Biological Discovery 1 | 4 |
| ENS 4600 | Radiation and Environmental Protection | 3 |
| ENS 4701 | Environmental Regulations / Impact Assessment | 3 |
| OCN 4106 | Mitigation and Restoration of Coastal Systems | 3 |
| Restricted Electives (OCN / ENS) | 3 | |
| Technical Electives | 12 | |
Physical Oceanography
| CREDITS | ||
| MTH 2001 | Calculus 3 | 4 |
| MTH 2201 | Differential Equations / Linear Algebra | 4 |
| MTH 2101 | Boundary Value Problems | 3 |
| OCE 3521 | Hydromechanics and Wave Theory | 3 |
| OCE 3522 | Water Wave Lab | 1 |
| OCN 3430 | Fundamentals of Geophysical Fluids | 3 |
| OCN 3433 | Geophysical Fluids Lab | 1 |
| OCN 4405 | Dynamic Oceanography | 3 |
| Technical Electives | 6 | |
Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering
The Department of Marine and Environmental Systems combines the expertise of both scientists and engineers. The ocean engineering faculty includes highly qualified researchers engaged in the study of port and harbor facilities, the modeling of estuarine environments, the design and construction of marine vehicles, the impact of waste disposal in the sea, the effects and prevention of coastal erosion and sediment transport, offshore engineering, hydrographic surveying and corrosion in the marine environment. In addition to these studies, various scientific investigations in the bioenvironmental, chemical, physical and geological oceanographic fields incorporate ocean engineering expertise.
Educational Objectives
The ocean engineering program offers education that is unique among engineering disciplines in providing an intimate and practical knowledge of the environment in which the graduate will operate. The result is a diverse curriculum with a strong foundation in all relevant engineering fields as well as in oceanography. The educational objectives of the program are:
Academic Fundamentals: Graduates will have sufficient mastery of the academic fundamentals that underpin a successful career related to ocean engineering. These fundamentals include knowledge of chemistry, calculus-based physics, advanced mathematics, engineering sciences, humanities, social sciences, information technology and experimental methodologies.
Engineering Practice: Graduates will have sufficient competence in the application of engineering skills for the practical solution of problems related to the ocean engineering profession. These skills include systematic problem formulations, techniques for their solutions, and methodologies for designing systems in the main stems of Florida Tech ocean engineering: coastal processes, hydrographic engineering, materials and structures, instrumentation, and naval architecture and ocean systems/underwater technologies.
Teamwork and Communication: Graduates will possess confidence and ability to work both independently and as productive members of a team. Graduates are to attain a mastery of technical communication, and practice the interpersonal and organizational skills required to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
Professional Development: Graduates will be instilled with the desire to contribute to the profession and to society on a continuing basis. They are encouraged to pursue various options consistent with lifelong learning, maintain ethical professional conduct, have knowledge of contemporary issues, participate in professional organizations and contribute to diversity in the community.
The first two years of study are devoted to developing a foundation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, mechanics, computer programming and humanities. During the junior year, the student acquires knowledge of ocean science and the basics of engineering analysis. The fourth year is oriented toward the application of these basic techniques to ocean engineering problems. All students are required to obtain firsthand field and sea experience during the marine field projects held during the summer between the junior and senior years. These projects encourage the student to learn to analyze, design, construct, install and operate equipment in the marine environment for a particular designated task. The university operates several small boats and charters a well-equipped vessel for offshore, estuarine and river work.
Degree Requirements
Candidates for a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering must complete the minimum course requirements outlined in the following curriculum.
For definition of electives for engineering programs, see the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Freshman Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| BUS 1301 | Basic Economics* | 3 |
| CHM 1101 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| OCN 1010 | Oceanography | 3 |
| 18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| MTH 1002 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| OCE 1001 | Introduction to Ocean Engineering | 3 |
| PHY 1001 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2091 | Physics Lab 1 | 1 |
| 15 | ||
*or Social Science Elective
Sophomore Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| HUM 2051 | Civilization 1 | 3 |
| MAE 2081 | Applied Mechanics: Statics | 3 |
| MTH 2001 | Calculus 3 | 4 |
| OCE 2002 | Computer Applications in Ocean Engineering 1 or Restricted Elective (CSE) | 3 |
| PHY 2002 | Physics 2 | 4 |
| PHY 2092 | Physics Lab 2 | 1 |
| 18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| HUM 2052 | Civilization 2 | 3 |
| MAE 2082 | Applied Mechanics: Dynamics | 3 |
| MTH 2201 | Differential Equations/Linear Algebra | 4 |
| OCE 3011 | Engineering Materials | 3 |
| OCE 3012 | Engineering Materials Lab | 1 |
| Restricted Elective (OCN) | 3 | |
| 17 | ||
Junior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 2223 | Scientific and Technical Communication | 3 |
| MAE 3083 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| OCE 3030 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| OCE 3033 | Fluid Mechanics Lab | 1 |
| OCN 3401 | Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| Free Elective | 2 | |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 4991 | Electric and Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| MAE 3191 | Engineering Thermodynamics 1 | 3 |
| OCE 3521 | Hydromechanics and Wave Theory | 3 |
| OCE 3522 | Water Wave Lab | 1 |
| OCE 4541 | Ocean Engineering Design (Q) | 3 |
| OCE 4571 | Fundamentals of Naval Architecture 1 | 3 |
| 16 | ||
SUMMER
| CREDITS | ||
| OCE 4911 | Marine Field Projects 1 (Q) | 1 |
| OCE 4912 | Marine Field Projects 2 (Q) | 2 |
| OCE 4913 | Marine Field Projects 3 (Q) | 3 |
| 6 | ||
Senior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CVE 3015 | Structural Analysis and Design | 3 |
| OCE 4518 | Protection of Marine Materials | 3 |
| OCE 4525 | Coastal Engineering: Structures | 3 |
| OCE 4545 | Hydroacoustics | 3 |
| Restricted Elective (OCE)* | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| CVE 4000 | Engineering Economy and Planning | 3 |
| OCE 4561 | Fundamentals of Offshore Engineering | 3 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective (OCE)* | 3 | |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 135
*At least two OCE restricted electives must be chosen from the following:
| OCE 4531 | Instrumentation Design and Measurement Analysis |
| OCE 4542 | Ocean Engineering System Design |
| OCE 4563 | Port and Harbor Design |
| OCE 4573 | Ship Design |
| OCE 4575 | Design of High-Speed Small Craft |
Note: Lists of recommended elective courses are available from the department office.
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineers are deeply involved in activities that are essential to our modern civilization. These activities include the research, development, design and testing of materials, structures and machines for the generation of power, for transportation and for the production of electricity by the conversion of energy from various sources including chemical, nuclear, solar and geothermal; conception and design of all types of machines that serve humans and their many needs; construction and operation of production machinery for the manufacture of materials and consumer products; and instrumentation, control and regulation of these and other types of manual and automatic mechanical systems.
The mechanical engineering undergraduate curriculum at Florida Tech presents the fundamentals underlying modern mechanical engineering and prepares the student for a lifetime of continued learning. During the freshman and sophomore years, the emphasis is placed on mathematics and physics. An introduction to engineering in the freshman year previews the field and gives the students their first experience in engineering design. The sophomore and junior years direct the student toward the engineering sciences, including mechanics of solids, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. During the junior and senior years, the study becomes progressively centered on the specific issues facing practicing mechanical engineers. The student uses the basic tools imparted during the first two years and applies them in studies of machine systems, instrumentation, automatic controls, thermal systems and design projects. Other courses taken during the last two years expand the student’s knowledge in the fields of heat transfer, electronics, vibrations and mathematics. Technical electives taken during the senior year allow the student to direct the program toward specific areas of personal interest.
Laboratory experiences are essential to the education of engineers, and these are provided in chemistry, physics, computer-aided design, materials, fluids and heat transfer. The capstone of the educational process is the senior mechanical engineering design project, which synthesizes and focuses elements from the various disciplines into a design activity of current mechanical engineering interest. The faculty serve jointly in the supervision and consultation for these projects.
After graduation, the mechanical engineering student is prepared to pursue a career either in industry or government as a practicing engineer, or to enter graduate work in engineering, applied mechanics or mathematics. In some cases, mechanical engineering graduates also enter professional schools of medicine, law or business.
Students are encouraged to define career objectives early in the program (preferably during the sophomore year) so that in consultation with faculty advisers, electives can be selected that are best suited to the achievement of specific goals.
Educational Objectives
The broad educational objectives of the mechanical engineering program at Florida Tech are:
Academic Fundamentals: Graduates are to achieve a sufficient mastery of the academic fundamentals that underpin a successful career related to mechanical engineering. These fundamentals include knowledge of chemistry, calculus-based physics, advanced mathematics, engineering sciences, humanities, social sciences, information technology and experimental methodologies.
Engineering Practice: Graduates are to develop sufficient competence in the application of engineering skills for the practical solution of problems related to the mechanical engineering profession. These skills include systematic problem formulations, techniques for their solutions, and methodologies for designing systems in the two main stems of mechanical engineering: energy systems and mechanical systems.
Teamwork and Communication: Graduates are to develop the confidence and ability to work both independently and as productive members of a team. Graduates are to attain a mastery of communication skills and practice the interpersonal and organizational skills required to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
Professional Development: Graduates are instilled with the desire to contribute to the profession and to society on a continuing basis. They are encouraged to pursue various options consistent with lifelong learning: maintain ethical professional conduct, have knowledge of contemporary issues, participate in professional organizations, and contribute to diversity in the community.
Degree Requirements
Candidates for a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering must complete the minimum course requirements as outlined in the following curriculum.
For definitions of electives for engineering programs, see the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Freshman Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| CHM 1101 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| MAE 1024 | Introduction to Mechanical Engineering | 3 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| 18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| CSE 150x | Introduction to Software Development | 3 |
| MTH 1002 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHY 1001 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2091 | Physics Lab 1 | 1 |
| 15 | ||
Sophomore Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CHE 3260 | Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| CHE 3265 | Materials Lab | 1 |
| COM 2223 | Scientific and Technical Communication | 3 |
| MAE 2081 | Applied Mechanics: Statics | 3 |
| MTH 2001 | Calculus 3 | 4 |
| PHY 2002 | Physics 2 | 4 |
| 18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| MAE 2024 | Solids Modeling and 3-D Mechanical Design Principles | 3 |
| MAE 2082 | Applied Mechanics: Dynamics | 3 |
| MAE 3083 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| MAE 3191 | Engineering Thermodynamics 1 | 3 |
| MTH 2201 | Differential Equations/Linear Algebra | 4 |
| PHY 2092 | Physics Lab 2 | 1 |
| 17 | ||
Junior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| HUM 2051 | Civilization 1 | 3 |
| MAE 3064 | Fluid Mechanics Lab | 1 |
| MAE 3090 | Design of Machine Elements | 3 |
| MAE 3161 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| MAE 3192 | Engineering Thermodynamics 2 | 3 |
| MTH 3201 | Boundary Value Problems | 3 |
| 18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| HUM 2052 | Civilization 2 | 3 |
| MAE 3024 | Computer-Aided Engineering | 3 |
| MAE 3091 | Theory of Machines | 3 |
| MAE 4171 | Principles of Heat Transfer | 3 |
| MAE 4190 | Design Methodologies and Practice (Q) | 1 |
| Restricted Elective (Engineering) | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
Senior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 4991 | Electric and Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| MAE 4024 | Mechanical Vibrations | 3 |
| MAE 4071 | Thermal Systems Design | 3 |
| MAE 4074 | Heat Transfer Lab | 1 |
| MAE 4193 | Mechanical Engineering Design 1 (Q) | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| MAE 4014 | Control Systems | 3 |
| MAE 4175 | Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning | 3 |
| MAE 4194 | Mechanical Engineering Design 2 (Q) | 4 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 132
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
The field of aerospace engineering has grown rapidly in recent decades to assume a vital role in modern human endeavors. Ranging from manned lunar excursions, exploration of the solar system and ecological study of Earth, to beneficial commerce on space stations and high-quality products for humans and military concerns, the contributions from the aerospace engineering profession have been profound. Accomplishments in airframe materials, computational fluid dynamics and propulsion system designs have resulted in the circumnavigation of Earth by an airplane without recourse to refueling. Aerospace engineers are currently involved in space station operations and are expected to take part in future moon-base and space station missions, as well as manned exploration of Mars. The many spin-offs from their involvement in these activities in space will surely benefit humanity here on Earth just as their previous space involvement has.
The aerospace engineering undergraduate curriculum at Florida Tech presents the fundamentals underlying modern aerospace engineering and prepares the student for a lifetime of continued learning. During the freshman and sophomore years, emphasis is placed on mathematics and physics, while aerospace engineering is introduced through a sequence of three courses. The sophomore and junior years direct the student toward the engineering sciences, including materials science, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. During the junior and senior years, the study becomes progressively centered on the specific issues facing practicing aerospace engineers. The student uses the basic tools imparted during the first two years and applies them in studies of aerodynamics, propulsion systems, aerospace structures and design projects. Other courses taken during the last two years expand the student’s knowledge in the fields of mechanics of solids, electric circuits, flight stability and control, and mission analysis. Technical electives taken during the junior and senior years allow the student to direct the program toward specific areas of personal interest, such as flight training and human factors engineering, space science, mathematics, computer science or other engineering disciplines.
Laboratory experiences are essential to the education of engineers, and these are provided in chemistry, physics, computers, materials, fluids, structures and experimental aerodynamics. The capstone of the educational process is embodied in the aerospace engineering design project, which synthesizes and focuses elements from the various disciplines into a design activity of current aerospace engineering interest. The faculty of the program serve jointly in the supervision and consultation for these projects.
Students are encouraged to define career objectives early in the program (preferably during the sophomore year), so that in consultation with faculty advisers, electives can be selected that are best suited to the achievement of specific goals.
Students may also choose to benefit from the experience gained through the cooperative education program.
After graduation, the aerospace engineering student is prepared to pursue a career in either industry or government as a practicing engineer, or to enter graduate study in engineering, applied mechanics or mathematics.
Educational Objectives
The broad educational objectives of the aerospace engineering program at Florida Tech are:
Academic fundamentals: Graduates are to achieve a sufficient mastery of the academic fundamentals that underpin a successful career related to aerospace engineering. These fundamentals include classical and modern topics in mathematics, chemistry, physics, engineering sciences, humanities, social sciences, information technology and experimental methodologies.
Engineering practice: Graduates are to develop sufficient competence in the application of engineering skills for the practical solution of problems related to the aerospace engineering profession. These skills include systematic problem formulations and techniques for their solution. Topic areas include aerodynamics, aerospace propulsion, aerospace structures and materials, stability and control, theoretical and experimental techniques, modern computational tools, innovative design practice and realization, manufacturing methods and economic considerations.
Teamwork and communication: Graduates are to develop the confidence and ability to work both independently and as productive members of a team. They are to engage in the effective research, assimilation and reporting of literary information relevant to engineering projects. Graduates are to attain a mastery of communication skills that include oral, written and graphical components. Graduates are to learn and practice the interpersonal and organizational skills required to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
Professional development: Graduates are instilled with the desire to contribute to the profession and to society on a continuing basis. They are encouraged to pursue various options consistent with lifelong learning: graduate education, professional employment, and membership in technical societies and obtaining a professional license. Graduates are guided toward ethical professional conduct, knowledge of contemporary issues, participation and leadership in professional organizations and contributions to diversity in the community.
Degree Requirements
Candidates for a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering must complete the minimum course requirements outlined in the following curriculum.
Note: This program plan (Senior Year - Fall and Spring Semesters) contains updates approved too late for inclusion in the printed 2009-2010 University Catalog.
Freshman Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| CHM 1101 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| CSE 150x | Introduction to Software Development (May be either CSE 1502 or CSE 1503) | 3 |
| MAE 1201 | Introduction to Aerospace Engineering | 1 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| MAE 1202 | Aerospace Practicum | 2 |
| MTH 1002 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHY 1001 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2091 | Physics Lab 1 | 1 |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| 17 | ||
Sophomore Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| HUM 2051 | Civilization 1 | 3 |
| MAE 2081 | Applied Mechanics: Statics | 3 |
| MAE 2201 | Aerospace Fundamentals | 2 |
| MTH 2001 | Calculus 3 | 4 |
| PHY 2002 | Physics 2 | 4 |
| PHY 2092 | Physics Lab 2 | 1 |
| 17 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| CHE 3260 | Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| CHE 3265 | Materials Science and Engineering Lab | 1 |
| HUM 2052 | Civilization 2 | 3 |
| MAE 2082 | Applied Mechanics: Dynamics | 3 |
| MAE 3191 | Engineering Thermodynamics 1 | 3 |
| MTH 2201 | Differential Equations/Linear Algebra | 4 |
| 17 | ||
Junior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 2223 | Scientific and Technical Communication | 3 |
| ECE 4991 | Electric and Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| MAE 3161 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| MAE 3064 | Fluid Mechanics Lab | 1 |
| MAE 3083 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| MTH 3201 | Boundary Value Problems | 3 |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| MAE 3150 | Aerospace Computational Techniques | 3 |
| MAE 3162 | Compressible Flow | 3 |
| MAE 3241 | Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics | 3 |
| MAE 3291 | Junior Design (Q) | 1 |
| MAE 4281 | Aerospace Structural Design | 3 |
| MAE 4284 | Aerospace Structures Design Lab | 1 |
| Technical Elective* | 3 | |
| 17 | ||
Senior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| MAE 3260 | Experimental Aerodynamics | 3 |
| MAE 4014 | Control Systems | 3 |
| MAE 4262 | Rockets and Mission Analysis | 3 |
| MAE 4291 | Aerospace Engineering Design 1 (Q) | 3 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective* | 3 | |
| 18 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| MAE 4242 | Aircraft Stability and Control | 3 |
| MAE 4261 | Air-breathing Engines | 3 |
| MAE 4292 | Aerospace Engineering Design 2 (Q) | 3 |
| Humanities/Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 133
*A list of recommended Technical Electives is available from the Aerospace Engineering Program Office. Up to six credit hours of Technical Electives may be replaced by the following: AVF 1001 Flight 1, AVF 1002 Flight 2, AVT 1001 Aeronautics 1, AVT 1002 Aeronautics 2
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
The environmental sciences are those areas of applied science concerned with the relationship between human activities and the supporting environment; they provide the scientific framework for rational environmental decisions.
Environmental sciences offerings at Florida Tech include two programs, both solidly based on course work in chemistry, mathematics and physics, combined with specialized environmental science courses and courses in either biology or meteorology, as well as the humanities. Technical electives during the junior and senior years allow flexibility to meet individual interests while building a strong foundation in the environmental sciences. Theoretical concepts are reinforced by laboratory programs and multidisciplinary field studies.
The undergraduate environmental science program is designed to provide graduates with opportunities to pursue careers and advanced academic studies in the use, control and preservation of environmental resources and the enhancement of the quality of life. Graduates have a strong background in biological, chemical and physical sciences, coupled with basic and applied environmental science field, laboratory and course work to help develop solutions to current and future environmental problems. Needs exist throughout the private sector and in local, state and federal agencies for the talents and expertise developed by graduates of this program.
Candidates for a bachelor’s degree in environmental science complete a minimum program of 132 credit hours as outlined below. Elective course options from other programs enable the student to either broaden the scope of coverage of the curriculum or to develop a concentration of courses in some specific area of interest. For example, the curriculum can be designed to emphasize biological, chemical or remote sensing studies. The curriculum was developed to give students the solid, well-rounded background necessary to meet the needs of the numerous career opportunities available to graduates.
Freshman Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| CHM 1101 | Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| ENS 1001 | The Whole Earth Course | 3 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| 15 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| BIO 1020 | Biological Discovery 2 | 4 |
| CHM 1102 | Chemistry 2 | 4 |
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| MTH 1002 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| 15 | ||
Sophomore Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CHM 2001 | Organic Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| COM 2223 | Scientific and Technical Communication | 3 |
| HUM 2051 | Civilization 1 | 3 |
| OCN 1010 | Oceanography | 3 |
| PHY 1001 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2091 | Physics Lab 1 | 1 |
| 17 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| BIO 2010 | Microbiology | 4 |
| CHM 2002 | Organic Chemistry 2 | 3 |
| OCN 2407 | Meteorology | 3 |
| PHY 2002 | Physics 2 | 4 |
| Restricted Elective* | 3 | |
| 17 | ||
Junior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| CHM 3301 | Analytical Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| ENS 3101 | Atmospheric Environments | 3 |
| HUM 2052 | Civilization 2 | 3 |
| OCN 3201 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| OCN 3211 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| BIO 2801 | Biometry | 4 |
| ENS 3105 | Atmospheric Pollution Lab | 1 |
| ENS 3911 | Environmental Field Projects Proposal (Q) | 1 |
| ENS 4010 | Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective* | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
SUMMER (Senior Status Required)
| CREDITS | ||
| ENS 4911 | Environmental Field Projects (Q) | 1 |
| ENS 4912 | Environmental Field Projects (Q) | 2 |
| ENS 4913 | Environmental Field Projects (Q) | 3 |
| 6 | ||
Senior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| BIO 3410 | General Ecology | 4 |
| BUS 4426 | Environmental and Resource Economics | 3 |
| ENS 4800 | Limnology 1 | 3 |
| Restricted Elective* | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| ENS 4004 | Aquatic Environmental Toxicology | 3 |
| ENS 4600 | Radiation and Environmental Protection | 3 |
| ENS 4701 | Environmental Regulation and Impact Assessment | 3 |
| OCN 4204 | Marine and Environmental Pollution | 3 |
| Restricted Elective* | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 132
*Science (including aviation science), engineering or business courses, subject to the approval of the environmental sciences program chair before registering.
Bachelor of Science in Meteorology
Meteorology is a joint program between the College of Engineering, the College of Science and the College of Aeronautics, administered by the environmental sciences program. A related degree program in aviation meteorology is offered by the College of Aeronautics.
Candidates for a bachelor’s degree in meteorology complete a minimum of 133 credit hours as outlined below. A student completing at least 24 credit hours including MET 3401, MET 3402, MET 4233, MET 4305, MET 4306, SPS 4030, and six credit hours from among AVS 3201, ENS 3101, MET 4310 and OCN 3401, is eligible to be certified as a professional meteorologist by the American Meteorological Society and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and is thus qualified for entry into positions in NOAA National Weather Service, NASA and the U.S. Armed Forces.
Freshman Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ASC 1000 | University Experience | 1 |
| CHM 1101 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| COM 1101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| ENS 1001 | The Whole Earth Course | 3 |
| MTH 1001 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| 15 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| AVS 1201 | Aviation Meteorology | 3 |
| CHM 1102 | General Chemistry 2 | 4 |
| MTH 1002 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHY 1001 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2091 | Physics Lab 1 | 1 |
| 16 | ||
Sophomore Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| MTH 2001 | Calculus 3 | 4 |
| PHY 2002 | Physics 2 | 4 |
| PHY 2092 | Physics Lab 2 | 1 |
| Restricted Elective (CSE) | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| COM 2223 | Scientific and Technical Communication | 3 |
| HUM 2051 | Civilization 1 | 3 |
| MTH 2201 | Differential Equations/Linear Algebra | 4 |
| OCN 2407 | Meteorology | 3 |
| PHY 2003 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| 16 | ||
Junior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ENS 3101 | Atmospheric Environments | 3 |
| MET 3401 | Synoptic Meteorology 1 | 3 |
| MTH 2401 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| OCN 3430 | Fundamentals of Geophysical Fluids | 3 |
| OCN 3433 | Geophysical Fluids Lab | 1 |
| PHY 3060 | Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory and Statistical Mechanics | 4 |
| 17 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| ENS 3105 | Atmospheric Pollution Laboratory | 1 |
| ENS 3911 | Environmental Field Projects Proposal (Q) | 1 |
| HUM 2052 | Civilization 2 | 3 |
| MET 3402 | Synoptic Meteorology 2 | 3 |
| MTH 3201* | Boundary Value Problems* | 3 |
| SPS 4030 | Physics of the Atmosphere | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| 17 | ||
SUMMER
| CREDITS | ||
| ENS 4911 | Environmental Field Projects 1 (Q) | 1 |
| ENS 4912 | Environmental Field Projects 2 (Q) | 2 |
| ENS 4913 | Environmental Field Projects 3 (Q) | 3 |
| 6 | ||
Senior Year
FALL
| CREDITS | ||
| ENS 4700 | Environmental Hydrology | 3 |
| MET 4233 | Remote Sensing for Meteorology | 3 |
| MET 4305 | Atmospheric Dynamics 1 | 3 |
| OCN 3401 | Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 3411 | Physical Oceanography Lab | 1 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
SPRING
| CREDITS | ||
| MET 4306 | Atmospheric Dynamics 2 | 3 |
| MET 4310 | Climatology | 3 |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
*Students should note that beginning with Fall 2010, Boundary Value Problems (MTH 3201) will be replaced by a Restricted Elective (ENS, COM, MET, MTH, OCN) for three credits.
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 133
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering
The objective of the master of science program is to study the basic principles of chemical engineering in greater depth, including transport phenomena, thermodynamics, reactor design and process control. Electives in other areas to broaden the students’ exposure are also required. The program’s emphasis is research and the writing of a thesis on a current problem. The results of the thesis must be publishable in a technical journal. Students are advised to see members of the faculty to determine compatibility of interests before selecting a research area. Program policies are available in the program office.
Admission Requirements
The applicant must have a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering or its equivalent. Applicants with degrees in other fields of engineering, or in science or mathematics, are ordinarily required to take preparatory undergraduate courses before starting the master of science program. These courses are established by the faculty adviser and the department head when the student obtains admission to the program.
General Admission requirements and the application process are detailed in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Chemical Engineering requires satisfactory completion of 30 credit hours, including six credit hours of thesis, as shown below. Required courses include the zero-credit Chemical Engineering Seminar (CHE 5100) that all graduate students are required to register for and attend every semester. The 12 elective credits may be satisfied by taking chemical engineering graduate courses, or other courses approved by the graduate adviser. The degree also requires completion of an independent research project, the writing of a thesis and its successful defense.
Curriculum
Prior to the completion of nine credit hours of graduate study each student establishes an appropriate program of study with the guidance of a graduate committee, subject to final approval by the department head.
| CREDITS | ||
| CHE 5100 | Chemical Engineering Seminar | 0 |
| CHE 5101 | Transport Phenomena 1 | 3 |
| CHE 5110 | Equilibrium Thermodynamics | 3 |
| CHE 5120 | Process Control | 3 |
| CHE 5150 | Chemical Reactor Design | 3 |
| CHE 5999 | M.S. Thesis in Chemical Engineering | 6 |
| Electives | 12 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 30 | |
Areas of Specialization
The student may select electives and the thesis topic to provide an emphasis in any of the following areas:
- Environmental Engineering
- Materials Synthesis, Processing and Characterization
- Transport and Separation Processes
- Computer-aided Modeling, Processing and Control
Master of Science in Computer Engineering
The computer engineering program is committed to excellence in teaching, innovative and challenging research programs, and providing opportunities for the student’s development of professional engineering competence and scholarly achievement. A commitment to innovative research stimulates an excellent teaching and research program that allows graduates to use imaginative solutions to engineering problems. The program offers opportunities for graduates to pursue positions in research, development and manufacturing for industry and government.
The curriculum is flexible to allow opportunities to design an education program that is suited to individual academic goals. Background is provided in a variety of topics, including computer architecture, signal and image processing, high-performance computing and telecommunications. Effective interaction between related topics is an important aspect of the program. Faculty are engaged in research of significance and regularly collaborate with prominent scientists and engineers from industry and government. The low student-faculty ratio fosters a close relationship between faculty and students.
The opportunities for graduate education and research in computer engineering are wide-ranging. Although specific research areas are listed in this section, there is a great deal of overlap in both technical content and faculty interest. As a result, there is considerable interaction among students and faculty across these areas, and a student may pursue studies that combine a variety of topics. Students with backgrounds in computer engineering may wish to inquire about study in the biomedical engineering option of the mechanical engineering master’s degree program.
Admission Requirements
The applicant should have a bachelor of science degree from a computer or electrical engineering program accredited by ABET. In evaluating an international application, consideration is given to academic standards of the school attended and the type of undergraduate degree obtained. Applicants whose bachelor’s degrees are in other engineering fields, mathematics or the physical sciences may be accepted, but they will be required to remedy any deficiencies by satisfactorily completing a number of undergraduate courses in preparation for graduate study in computer engineering.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Computer Engineering requires a minimum of 30 approved credit hours chosen in accordance with a program plan arranged in consultation with the student’s adviser and approved by the department head. Students who choose the thesis option may apply only six credit hours of research/thesis work toward their degree requirements. Students who choose the nonthesis option are encouraged to engage in faculty-supervised research through a special topics course and are required to pass the master’s final program examination. The master’s final program exam measures the student’s understanding of the technical concentration area they have chosen and corresponds to the department research areas.
Curriculum
To earn the master of science degree, the student must complete an approved program plan for a total of 30 semester credit hours. The program plan must include:
At least five ECE 5000-level courses, including a minimum of three at the 55xx-level.
At least two, but not more than three, courses other than those with the ECE prefix, including one mathematics course at the 5000-level.
Program for Graduates from Other Fields
A student admitted to this program is expected to have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent, with an undergraduate major in an engineering discipline, mathematics or the physical sciences, and an academic and/or professional record indicating a high probability of success in graduate work. Preparatory courses required to provide a student with the background necessary for successful graduate study in computer engineering are listed below. Depending on the individual’s background, other courses (e.g., differential equations and linear algebra) may also be required. Proficiency in these areas may be demonstrated by either successful course completion or by passing an equivalency examination. When possible, a student will be notified of deficiencies at the time of acceptance. In addition to the preparatory work described, all degree requirements listed above for the master of science degree must be fulfilled.
| ECE 1552 | Computer Design |
| ECE 2112 | Circuit Theory 2 |
| ECE 2551 | Software/Hardware Design |
| ECE 3111 | Electronics |
| ECE 4112 | Digital Electronics |
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
The master of science program can be taken on either a full-time or part-time basis. A two-year projection of course offerings is available on request. Course offerings are arranged to permit the master’s program to be completed in three semesters for full-time students and in two calendar years for part-time students.
Admission Requirements
The undergraduate backgrounds of applicants for admission to the master’s degree programs vary considerably. An applicant from a U.S. school should have a bachelor of science or equivalent degree from an electrical engineering program accredited by ABET. In evaluating an international application, consideration is given to academic standards of the school attended and the content of the courses leading to the degree obtained.
Applicants whose bachelor’s degrees are in other engineering fields, mathematics or the physical sciences may be accepted, but will be required to remedy any deficiencies by satisfactorily completing a number of undergraduate courses in preparation for graduate study in electrical engineering. Students with backgrounds in electrical engineering may wish to inquire about study in the biomedical engineering option of the mechanical engineering master’s degree program.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Electrical Engineering is offered with both thesis and nonthesis degree paths. Each requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved graduate study; however, course choices vary considerably depending on the student’s area of interest. Prior to the completion of nine credit hours, a student must submit for approval a master’s degree program plan to indicate the path chosen and the specific courses to be taken. Up to six credit hours of thesis may be included in the 30-credit-hour requirement. A nonthesis candidate must pass the master’s final program examination. The master’s final program exam measures the student’s understanding of the technical concentration area they have chosen and corresponds to the department research areas.
Curriculum
To earn the master of science degree, the student must complete an approved program plan for a total of 30 credit hours. The program may be tailored to a specific area of study or it may follow the requirements for one of the available specialization areas.
Electromagnetics
This area of specialization provides a background in applied and computational electromagnetics. Students develop analytical and computational tools needed to understand and solve complex field interactions including antennas and radiating structures, radar, field and wave propagation, scattering and interaction with materials. The curriculum requirements are provided as follows:
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 5410 | Electrodynamics 1 | 3 |
| ECE 5425 | Antennas 1 | 3 |
| ECE 5431 | Computational Electromagnetics | 3 |
| Approved electives (may include 6 credit hours of thesis) | 21 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 30 | |
Photonics
Recent advances in optical communications and sensing have been largely due to the development of photonic devices and systems. This specialization is oriented to both devices and systems encompassing a wide range of areas including fiber-optic communication and sensing, lasers and laser system applications, and optical computing and signal processing. The study and research of these advanced devices and systems comprise the direction of this program.
Students are highly recommended to take the following three introductory courses:
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 5301 | Semiconductor Device Theory | 3 |
| ECE 5350 | Optical Electronics | 3 |
| ECE 5351 | Optical Communication Systems | 3 |
| Approved electives (may include 6 credit hours of thesis) | 21 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 30 | |
Recommended Electives
| ECE 5311 | Microelectronics Fabrication Laboratory |
| ECE 5333 | Analog IC Design |
| ECE 5352 | Fiber-optic Sensor Systems |
| ECE 5354 | Acoustooptic and Electrooptic Devices |
| ECE 5355 | Electrooptics Laboratory |
| ECE 5356 | Optical Waveguides and Devices |
| ECE 5410 | Electrodynamics 1 |
| ECE 5418 | Field Theory of Guided Waves 1 |
| MTH 5201 | Mathematical Methods in Science and Engineering |
| MTH 5202 | Mathematical Methods in Science and Engineering 2 |
| PHY 5020 | Optics |
Systems and Information Processing
Within this area of specialization, courses are selected to allow concentrations in areas that include systems, digital signal and image processing, neural networks and controls. Each student plans a program of study with a member of faculty whose professional field is related to student’s interest.
The curriculum requirements for this area are provided as follows:
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 5201 | Linear Systems 1 | 3 |
| ECE 5234 | Communication Theory or ECE 5223 Digital Communications | 3 |
| ECE 5245 | Digital Signal Processing 1 | 3 |
| MTH 5425 | Theory of Stochastic Signals | 3 |
| Mathematics Elective | 3 | |
| Approved Electives (may include 6 credit hours of thesis) | 15 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 30 | |
Wireless Systems and Technology
This area is focused on technologies surrounding wireless communication. It covers a wide range of topics both on the system level and the component level. On the system level, some of the studied areas include 2G and 3G cellular communication systems, wireless sensor networks, radars systems, smart antenna and MIMO communication systems, multi-media communication, radars, WLAN and WiMAX. On the component level, this specialization covers topics in electronics, electromagnetics and antenna design. Additionally, enabling signal processing, linear system theory and radio propagation topics are covered.
The curriculum requirements are separated into two parts as follows:
| CREDITS | |
| All courses from the core curriculum list | 15 |
| Approved electives (may include 6 credit hours of thesis) | 15 |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 30 |
Core Curriculum
| CREDITS | ||
| ECE 5111 | Radio Frequency Propagation | 3 |
| ECE 5201 | Linear Systems | 3 |
| ECE 5234 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| ECE 5245 | Digital Signal Processing 1 | 3 |
| MTH 5425 | Theory of Stochastic Signals | 3 |
Recommended Electives
| ECE 5113 | Wireless Local Area Networks |
| ECE 5115 | Modern Wireless System Design |
| ECE 5117 | Multimedia Communications |
| ECE 5118 | Wireless Sensor Systems |
| ECE 5221 | Personal Communication Systems |
| ECE 5223 | Digital Communications |
| ECE 5238 | Error Control Coding |
| ECE 5246 | Digital Signal Processing 2 |
| ECE 5248 | Advanced Filtering |
| ECE 5251 | Radar Systems |
| ECE 5333 | Analog IC design |
| ECE 5418 | Field Theory of Guided Waves |
| ECE 5425 | Antennas 1 |
| ECE 5426 | Antennas 2 |
| ECE 5450 | Automated RF Measurements |
| ECE 5451 | Microwave Circuit Design |
With the approval of the student’s adviser, other 5000-level courses may be added to the list of the approved electives.
Master of Science in Civil Engineering
The master of science program in civil engineering allows the engineer the opportunity to apply recent technological developments to the solution of current civil engineering problems. The objective of the program is to provide opportunities for the student’s development of professional engineering competence and scholarly achievement. Construction management, environmental, geo-environmental, geotechnical, structures and water resources are the areas of major emphasis for graduate study. The program is structured so that the student will attain an academic mastery in one of the areas of study within civil engineering.
The Master of Science in Civil Engineering may be earned on either a full-time or part-time basis. A student may begin graduate studies in any semester except summer. Fewer scheduling problems will occur for those who begin in the fall semester. International students who wish to improve their English proficiency may choose to enroll in English language classes during the summer before beginning their graduate studies. Graduate courses are offered in the evening to allow part-time students to complete the degree requirements.
Admission Requirements
An applicant should have a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. An applicant whose degree is in another field of engineering, or mathematics or the physical sciences, may be accepted but will be required to remedy any deficiencies by satisfactorily completing undergraduate courses in preparation for graduate study in civil engineering. Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from academic references and a “statement of purpose” addressing reasons for graduate study in civil engineering. General Admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
Civil engineering offers the master of science program with areas of specialization in construction, environmental, geo-environmental, geotechnical, structures and water resources. The master of science degree is conferred on students who have successfully completed a minimum of 30 credit hours in either a thesis or nonthesis program consisting of required and elective course work. All graduate students on full or part assistantships (either teaching or research) are required to enroll in the thesis program. Students in the thesis program must successfully defend their theses, while students in the nonthesis program are required to pass final program examinations.
Curriculum
Thesis students enroll in 12 credit hours of required civil engineering courses (any of the following combinations of four specialization courses), six credit hours of thesis and 12 credit hours of elective courses. Nonthesis students enroll in 12 credit hours of required courses and 18 credit hours of elective courses. Three to six credit hours of elective courses should be in the areas of mathematics and/or operations research.
| Construction Management | |
| CVE 5035 | Design Concepts in Urban Hydrology or CVE 5060 Highway Design |
| CVE 5072 | Construction Contracts, Law and Specifications |
| CVE 5073 | Construction Cost Engineering |
| ENM 5200 | Project Engineering |
| Environmental | |
| CVE 5035 | Design Concepts in Urban Hydrology |
| CVE 5050 | Design of Remediation Systems |
| CVE 5052 | Solid Waste Management |
| ENS 5101 | Introduction to Air Pollution |
| Geo-Environmental | |
| CVE 5020 | Geotechnical Engineering |
| CVE 5037 | Numerical Groundwater Modeling |
| CVE 5039 | Groundwater Hydrology and Contaminant Transport |
| CVE 5050 | Design of Remediation Systems |
| Geotechnical | |
| CVE 5020 | Geotechnical Engineering |
| CVE 5025 | Foundation Design |
| CVE 5060 | Highway Design |
| OCE 5526 | Advanced Coastal Engineering Structures |
| Structures | |
| CVE 5014 | Advanced Steel Design |
| CVE 5015 | Structural Systems Design |
| CVE 5019 | Design of Timber Structures |
| CVE 5020 | Geotechnical Engineering or CVE 5025 Foundation Design |
| Water Resources | |
| CVE 5035 | Design Concepts in Urban Hydrology |
| CVE 5037 | Numerical Groundwater Modeling |
| CVE 5039 | Groundwater Hydrology and Contaminant Transport |
| ENS 5700 | Introduction to Water Resources |
Graduate elective courses in civil engineering and in other engineering disciplines are listed in the Course Descriptions section of the university catalog and should be chosen in concert with the student’s adviser. Numerous elective courses for each area of specialization are available, as posted on our Web site at www.fit.edu.
Master of Science in Software Engineering
The master of science in software engineering serves students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in software engineering, computer science or a related discipline, as well as working software engineers who want to broaden their perspective while deepening their skills in software development. The program also accepts students who are already competent programmers wanting to prepare for careers in software engineering. Courses in this program are taught at a level that assumes that all students have a technical undergraduate degree and significant programming experience.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have taken courses in differential and integral calculus, discrete mathematics, statistics and data structures and algorithms, as well as at least 12 credit hours of advanced course work in undergraduate computer science. Admission may be granted with the stipulation that deficiencies are made up by taking necessary extra courses. GRE scores (General Test only) are recommended.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Software Engineering requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved graduate study. Students are required to complete and successfully defend a thesis or pass a final program examination. The curriculum includes four required courses:
| SWE 5001 | Software Engineering 1 |
| SWE 5002 | Software Engineering 2 |
| SWE 5411 | Software Testing 1 |
| SWE 5621 | Software Metrics and Modeling |
All students are required to register for Computer Science Seminar (CSE 5500) or Computer Sciences Internship (CSE 5501) twice during the degree program. The internship is completed with an information technology business or industrial organization and is available only for students without prior experience in a practical information technology setting.
Each student selects elective courses to fulfill their credit hour requirements. One elective must be selected from courses that require significant programming and another must be a fundamental course in computer science. A list of courses fulfilling these requirements is available from the department.
The department excels in several specializations of software engineering and students are encouraged to concentrate in one of these areas by careful selection of elective courses.
Software Testing
Software testing is the process of technical investigation of a software product, usually to discover quality-related information (such as defects or product state data) about the product. This subfield of software engineering is undergoing rapid change, demanding more technical knowledge and more insight into the product and its risks. Florida Tech offers unusual breadth and depth of course work and research opportunities in software testing. A specialization in software testing is best suited for those who have already worked in the field and want to become leaders in the testing community, perhaps as consultants, test automation architects or managers. Software engineering students who do not have significant experience should plan to take at least one, and preferably two, internships.
The specialization in software testing requires completion of both Human-Computer Interaction (AHF 5302) and Software Testing 2 (SWE 5415).
Additionally, the student must either complete a thesis on a software-testing-related topic or must take two optional courses that address software test related issues.
Master of Science in Computer Science
This program offers a student the opportunity to pursue advanced studies in various areas of computer science. The program is designed for students with bachelor’s degrees in computer science and provides a solid preparation for those who may pursue a doctorate. Master’s students are encouraged to concentrate their studies in research areas of interest to faculty in the department.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have taken courses in differential and integral calculus, discrete mathematics, statistics and data structures and algorithms, as well as at least 12 semester credit hours of advanced course work in undergraduate computer science. Admission may be granted with the stipulation that deficiencies are made up by taking the necessary extra courses. GRE scores (General Test only) are required.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Computer Science requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved graduate study. Students are encouraged to complete and successfully defend a thesis. Students who decide not to write a thesis must pass a final program examination.
To ensure students are exposed to a variety of areas in computer science, they must pass one course in each of three categories: applications, foundations, and software and systems, as listed below:
| Applications | |
| CSE 5260 | Database Systems |
| CSE 5280 | Computer Graphics |
| CSE 5290 | Artificial Intelligence |
| Foundations | |
| CSE 5210 | Formal Languages and Automata Theory |
| CSE 5211 | Analysis of Algorithms |
| Software and Systems | |
| CSE 5231 | Computer Networks |
| CSE 5251 | Compiler Theory and Design |
| SWE 5001 | Software Engineering 1 |
Students are exempted from this breadth requirement only if they can show evidence that they have passed courses equivalent to all of those on the category lists. A listed course can be replaced by another appropriate course only with permission of the student’s adviser and department head.
The other course requirements are:
| CREDITS | ||
| CSE 5500 | Computer Science Seminar* or CSE 5501 Computer Sciences Internship* | 0 |
| CSE 5999 | Thesis in Computer Science or Advanced Electives (CSE 5600 or higher) | 6 |
| Electives (at least 6 credit hours must be in Computer Science, numbered CSE 5600 or higher) | 12 | |
| MTH 5051 | Applied Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
* All students are required to register for Computer Science Seminar (CSE 5500) or Computer Sciences Internship (CSE 5501) twice during the degree program. The internship is completed with an information technology firm or industrial organization and is provided for students with no prior experience in a practical information technology setting.
All electives that apply to the program must be approved by the student’s adviser. The computer science office maintains an approved set of courses, including courses in other disciplines, from which electives can be selected. At most, six approved elective credits can be from other disciplines.
The department excels in several specializations of computer science, for example, computer security, computational intelligence and software testing. Students are encouraged to concentrate in a specialization by careful selection of elective courses.
Master of Science in Engineering Management
The Master of Science in Engineering Management meets the professional needs of the engineer who, although working in a technical field, finds it necessary to update his or her skills in engineering, as well as acquire knowledge in the management of engineering. Typically, the technical person finds that as he or she advances in the chosen field, the challenges of management increase as part of the overall responsibilities of the position. Many find that their careers would best be served by a program addressing both areas of their job responsibilities. This interdisciplinary program is designed for those individuals.
Admission Requirements
An applicant for the master’s program in engineering management should have a bachelor’s degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program. Applicants with bachelor’s degrees in physical sciences, computer science and mathematics will also be considered. In evaluating an international application, consideration is given to the academic standards of the school attended and the content of the courses. Letters of recommendation and a statement of educational objectives reflecting the applicant’s professional experience and career goals are encouraged. Applicants should also take the GRE.
General Admission requirements and the process for applying are discussed in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The master of science degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours. Courses taken to satisfy admission prerequisites cannot be counted toward the Degree requirements. Students without adequate undergraduate courses in accounting, statistics, linear algebra, differential equations, computer applications and economics will be required to make up these deficiencies. Applicants whose bachelor’s degrees are not in engineering will also be required to remedy any additional deficiencies by satisfactorily completing a number of undergraduate courses selected to meet the prerequisites for graduate study in their engineering area of specialization.
Curriculum
The program requires five courses from the management area and five courses from the engineering or technical area. At least four courses should be taken from the engineering management (ENM) list and can be applied toward either the management or engineering requirement. The ENM course list includes courses that are considered engineering and/or management. Faculty will assist the student with the selection of courses.
Management
Five courses with a clear focus on management are required. These courses may be from the foundation, core or elective courses offered by the College of Business; courses with a management emphasis from the ENM course list; or from other academic units in the university. Each student meets with a designated adviser with expertise in the field of management to select the five-course management sequence. A student must meet any prerequisites needed for a graduate course in management that may be required by the academic unit that offers the course.
Engineering
An engineering specialization is taken by every student based on his or her need for graduate education in technology. A specialization track can be drawn from any of the programs within the College of Engineering or closely allied disciplines such as mathematics or operations research. Some engineering courses may be selected from the ENM course list. Each student meets with a designated adviser familiar with the area of technical emphasis to form a sequence of five courses. A student must meet any prerequisites listed for a graduate engineering course.
A full-time student may complete an internship with an industrial, government or service organization, or elect to prepare and defend a thesis to account for up to six credit hours of the 30 credit hours required for graduation. In order to meet graduation requirements, a nonthesis student must present a portfolio of competencies and a summary of the career relevance of his or her academic study as part of the master’s final program examination.
Master of Science in Oceanography – Biological Oceanography Option
Admission Requirements
General Admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Students may be admitted during any semester, but for optimal scheduling, the fall term is recommended. Students with deficiencies in their undergraduate preparation (up to 12 credit hours) may take deficiencies and courses for graduate credit concurrently. Graduate Record Examination General Test scores and a statement of objectives are required and should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Although not required for admission, an on-campus interview is highly recommended.
The applicant should have an undergraduate major in one of the physical or life sciences with a background that includes computer science, mathematics through calculus and at least one year each of college biology, chemistry and physics. The biological background should include invertebrate zoology.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Oceanography is conferred on students who have successfully completed a minimum of 30 credit hours (including thesis, if required) of required and elective course work.
Curriculum
To earn the master of science degree, the student must complete the following courses or their equivalents. Equivalent course work can be substituted for required courses as recommended by the student’s adviser and program chair. Representative electives for each option are available from advisers. At least six credit hours of thesis or internship is required, and an additional three credit hours can be granted in place of the three credit hours of elective, subject to approval by the program chair. Thesis or internship registration must be continuous from the initial registration until graduation.
| CREDITS | ||
| OCN 5101 | Principles of Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5210 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| OCN 5301 | Principles of Geological Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5401 | Principles of Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5990 | Oceanography Seminar (each semester) | 0 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Option Requirements | 15 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 30 | |
Option Courses (15 credit hours)
| CREDITS | ||
| OCN 5709 | Numerical Analysis of Biological Data | 3 |
| Two of the following three courses: | 6 | |
| OCN 5102 | Marine Phytoplankton | |
| OCN 5103 | Marine Zooplankton | |
| OCN 5104 | Marine Benthos | |
| Thesis | 6 | |
Master of Science in Oceanography – Chemical Oceanography Option
Admission Requirements
General Admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Students may be admitted during any semester, but for optimal scheduling, the fall term is recommended. Students with deficiencies in their undergraduate preparation (up to 12 credit hours) may take deficiencies and courses for graduate credit concurrently. Graduate Record Examination General Test scores and a statement of objectives are required and should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Although not required for admission, an on-campus interview is highly recommended.
The applicant’s undergraduate major should be in chemistry, mathematics, physical science or engineering. The academic background should include computer science, mathematics through calculus, and organic, physical and analytical chemistry.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Oceanography is conferred on students who have successfully completed a minimum of 30 credit hours (including thesis, if required) of required and elective course work.
Curriculum
To earn the master of science degree, the student must complete the following courses or their equivalents. Equivalent course work can be substituted for required courses as recommended by the student’s adviser and program chair. Representative electives for each option are available from advisers. At least six credit hours of thesis or internship is required, and an additional three credit hours can be granted in place of the three credit hours of elective, subject to approval by the program chair. Thesis or internship registration must be continuous from the initial registration until graduation.
| CREDITS | ||
| OCN 5101 | Principles of Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5210 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| OCN 5301 | Principles of Geological Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5401 | Principles of Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5990 | Oceanography Seminar (each semester) | 0 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Option Requirements | 15 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 30 | |
Option Courses (15 credit hours)
| Electives | 9 | |
| Thesis | 6 |
Master of Science in Oceanography – Physical Oceanography Option
Admission Requirements
General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Students may be admitted during any semester, but for optimal scheduling, the fall term is recommended. Students with deficiencies in their undergraduate preparation (up to 12 credit hours) may take deficiencies and courses for graduate credit concurrently. Graduate Record Examination General Test scores and a statement of objectives are required and should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Although not required for admission, an on-campus interview is highly recommended.
The applicant should have an undergraduate major in physics, mathematics, physical science or engineering. The background should include computer science, at least one year of chemistry, mathematics through differential equations, statistics, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Oceanography is conferred on students who have successfully completed a minimum of 30 credit hours (including thesis, if required) of required and elective course work.
Curriculum
To earn the master of science degree, the student must complete the following courses or their equivalents. Equivalent course work can be substituted for required courses as recommended by the student’s adviser and program chair. Representative electives for each option are available from advisers. At least six credit hours of thesis or internship is required, and an additional three credit hours can be granted in place of the three credit hours of elective, subject to approval by the program chair. Thesis or internship registration must be continuous from the initial registration until graduation.
| CREDITS | ||
| OCN 5101 | Principles of Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5210 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| OCN 5301 | Principles of Geological Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5401 | Principles of Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5990 | Oceanography Seminar (each semester) | 0 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Option Requirements | 15 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 30 | |
Option courses (15 credit hours)
| CREDITS | ||
| OCN 5403 | Ocean Wave Theory | 3 |
| OCN 5405 | Dynamic Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5409 | Geophysical Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| Thesis | 6 | |
Master of Science in Ocean Engineering
The curriculum is designed to allow the ocean engineer to broaden professional expertise in preparation for a challenging career in industry or for further graduate study. Although emphasis is placed on a core of required courses, the student is encouraged to concentrate efforts in one of several areas of interest through a choice of elective courses. Both thesis and nonthesis tracks are available.
The Master of Science in Ocean Engineering can be earned on either a full-time or part-time basis. Although a full-time student may complete course work within two or three semesters, thesis activities normally involve a further one or two semesters of study. Graduate student assistants normally require additional time. A student can start graduate studies in either the fall or spring semester, but fall semester is recommended.
Admission Requirements
An applicant should normally have an undergraduate degree in some field of engineering or in one of the physical sciences. Every applicant should have a mathematics background through differential equations along with introductory courses in physics, chemistry and computer programming. A student who has graduated from a nonengineering program will be required to complete additional course work as part of the master’s degree program. Although not required for admission, an on-campus interview is highly recommended.
Applications from international students are invited and will be evaluated with consideration given to academic standards in the country where baccalaureate studies were taken.
General Admission requirements and application procedures are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The degree of Master of Science in Ocean Engineering is conferred on students who have successfully completed a minimum of 30 credit hours (including thesis) of required and elective course work. Thesis work may be primarily analytical or experimental in nature, or a comprehensive design study, or a computational investigation involving state-of-the-art computer modeling techniques. The thesis may be replaced by three courses (nine credit hours) following approval of a written petition to the program chair. The nonthesis track requires a minimum of 33 credit hours, an oral final program examination and a technical paper. A thesis is usually required for any student receiving financial support through the Department of Marine and Environmental Systems.
Curriculum
| CREDITS | ||
| MTH xxxx | Mathematics | 3 |
| OCE 5515 | Materials for Marine Applications | 3 |
| OCE 5570 | Marine Hydrodynamics and Wave Theory | 3 |
| OCE 5990 | Ocean Engineering Seminar (each semester) | 0 |
| OCE 5999 | Thesis Research* | 6 |
| OCN 5401 | Principles of Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| Subject Area Courses | 9 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 30 | |
*May be replaced by nine credit hours of course work and a major paper.
Recommended Electives
An additional course to meet the minimum total requirements for the degree can be selected from the following list of recommended electives. Other courses can also be elected with approval of the student advisory committee.
| CVE 5025 | Foundation Design |
| ENS 5701 | Environmental Regulation and Impact Assessment |
| MAE 5610 | Advanced Dynamics |
| OCE 4575 | Design of High-speed Small Craft |
| OCN 5204 | Marine Pollution |
| OCN 5210 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry |
| OCN 5405 | Dynamic Oceanography |
| OCN 5409 | Geophysical Fluid Dynamics |
| ORP 5041 | Reliability Analysis |
| ORP 5042 | Reliability, Availability and Maintainability |
Areas of Specialization
The subject area requirement is met by taking at least three courses from one of the following groups:
Coastal Processes and Engineering
| OCE 5525 | Coastal Processes and Engineering |
| OCE 5526 | Advanced Coastal Engineering Structures |
| OCE 5563 | Port and Harbor Engineering |
| OCE 5586 | Ocean Engineering Data Analysis |
Hydrographic Engineering
| ECE 5245 | Digital Signal Processing 1 |
| ECE 5246 | Digital Signal Processing 2 |
| ENS 4010 | Geographic Information Systems |
| OCE 4545 | Hydroacoustics |
| OCE 5550 | Bathymetry |
| OCE 5571 | Naval Architecture |
| OCE 5586 | Ocean Engineering Data Analysis |
| OCN 5704 | Oceanic Remote Sensing |
Materials and Structures
| MAE 5050 | Finite Element Fundamentals |
| OCE 4574 | Structural Mechanics of Marine Vehicles |
| OCE 5519 | Corrosion Engineering |
| OCE 5526 | Advanced Coastal Engineering Structures |
Naval Architecture and Ocean Systems/Underwater Technology
| MAE 5316 | Mechatronics |
| MTH 5320 | Neural Networks |
| OCE 4531 | Instrumentation Design and Measurements Analysis |
| OCE 4573 | Ship Design |
| OCE 5542 | Ocean Engineering Systems |
| OCE 5571 | Naval Architecture |
| OCE 5573 | Dynamics of Marine Vehicles |
| OCE 5575 | Applied Marine Hydrodynamics |
| OCE 5586 | Ocean Engineering Data Analysis |
Ocean Instrumentation
| MAE 5316 | Mechatronics |
| OCE 4531 | Instrumentation Design and Measurement Analysis |
| OCE 5542 | Ocean Engineering Systems |
| OCE 5586 | Ocean Engineering Data Analysis |
Master of Science in Oceanography – Coastal Zone Management Option
Admission Requirements
General Admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Students may be admitted during any semester, but for optimal scheduling, the fall term is recommended. Students with deficiencies in their undergraduate preparation (up to 12 credit hours) may take deficiencies and courses for graduate credit concurrently. Graduate Record Examination General Test scores and a statement of objectives are required and should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Although not required for admission, an on-campus interview is highly recommended.
The applicant should have an undergraduate major in one of the natural or physical sciences or engineering with course work to include computer science, mathematics through calculus, chemistry, physics, and biology or geology.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Oceanography is conferred on students who have successfully completed a minimum of 30 credit hours (including thesis, if required) of required and elective course work.
Curriculum
To earn the master of science degree, the student must complete the following courses or their equivalents. Equivalent course work can be substituted for required courses as recommended by the student’s adviser and program chair. Representative electives for each option are available from advisers. At least six credit hours of thesis or internship is required, and an additional three credit hours can be granted in place of the three credit hours of elective, subject to approval by the program chair. Thesis or internship registration must be continuous from the initial registration until graduation.
| CREDITS | ||
| OCN 5101 | Principles of Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5210 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| OCN 5301 | Principles of Geological Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5401 | Principles of Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5990 | Oceanography Seminar (each semester) | 0 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Option Requirements | 15 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 30 | |
Option Course (15 credit hours)
| CREDITS | ||
| OCN 5801 | Coastal Systems Planning | 3 |
| Internship | 6 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
Master of Science in Oceanography – Geological Oceanography Option
Admission Requirements
General Admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Students may be admitted during any semester, but for optimal scheduling, the fall term is recommended. Students with deficiencies in their undergraduate preparation (up to 12 credit hours) may take deficiencies and courses for graduate credit concurrently. Graduate Record Examination General Test scores and a statement of objectives are required and should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Although not required for admission, an on-campus interview is highly recommended.
The applicant should have an undergraduate major in physical or natural science or engineering. The background should include computer science, mathematics through calculus, and at least one year each of chemistry and physics. The geological background should include mineralogy, petrology, sedimentation and stratigraphy.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Oceanography is conferred on students who have successfully completed a minimum of 30 credit hours (including thesis, if required) of required and elective course work.
Curriculum
To earn the master of science degree, the student must complete the following courses or their equivalents. Equivalent course work can be substituted for required courses as recommended by the student’s adviser and program chair. Representative electives for each option are available from advisers. At least six credit hours of thesis or internship is required, and an additional three credit hours can be granted in place of the three credit hours of elective, subject to approval by the program chair. Thesis or internship registration must be continuous from the initial registration until graduation.
| CREDITS | ||
| OCN 5101 | Principles of Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5210 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| OCN 5301 | Principles of Geological Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5401 | Principles of Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5990 | Oceanography Seminar (each semester) | 0 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Option Requirements | 15 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 30 | |
Option Courses (15 credit hours)
| CREDITS | ||
| OCN 5304 | Coastal and Estuarine Processes | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Thesis | 6 | |
Master of Science in Earth Remote Sensing
Earth remote sensing is the science, engineering and art of quantitative measurement from satellites, aircraft, marine vehicles, buoys and moorings, radar and other platforms removed from the target. It includes understanding the instrumentation, software, radiative transfer, hydroacoustics and principles of systems designed to acquire, process and interpret information about Earth for application to vital contemporary problems in agriculture, coastal zone management, ecology, engineering, environmental science and resource management, forestry, land use, meteorology, natural hazards, oceanography, urban planning and other issues.
Admission Requirements
Students applying for admission to the Earth remote sensing program should have undergraduate majors in the physical or life sciences with strong backgrounds in computer science. Students with bachelor’s degrees in other scientific or engineering fields may need to complete certain preparatory course work before starting the master of science program, and completion of such courses may require additional time. Any such requirements will be determined by the program chair and graduate faculty before admission. The prospective student will be advised of these requirements prior to acceptance. Applicants must submit Graduate Record Exam General Test scores for evaluation, a statement of interests, a résumé and three letters of recommendation.
General Admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Earth Remote Sensing is offered with thesis and nonthesis options. The thesis option requires the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours of required and elective credits (includes six credit hours of thesis) and the nonthesis option requires a minimum of 33 credits hours (includes a written final program examination), based on an approved program plan developed in conjunction with the faculty adviser. Included in the total are at least nine credit hours of core remote sensing courses as listed below.
Core Courses
| CREDITS | ||
| ENS 5000 | Environmental Science Seminar (each semester) | 0 |
| ENS 5010 | Environmental Optics and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| MET 5233 | Atmospheric Remote Sensing | 3 |
| OCE 5550 | Bathymetry | 3 |
| OCN 5704 | Oceanic Remote Sensing | 3 |
Electives
A list of restricted electives is available from the department.
The curriculum is modified to meet the student’s needs, background and chosen area of emphasis, which may be atmospheric, land, submarine or oceanic remote sensing. Students are required to attend the graduate seminar.
Master of Science in Systems Engineering
Today, an engineer or scientist who joins the workforce in the public or private sector, especially in the high-tech realm, is faced with the challenge of integrating design and development work with the work of other inter-company or intra-company groups. Courses taught in the systems engineering curriculum prepare the engineer to meet this system design and integration challenge with emphasis on technical as well as cost and schedule requirements.
The master of science program in systems engineering meets the systems engineering and system integration needs of a student who has an undergraduate degree in engineering, physical science, computing or mathematics. It draws on expertise and experience in these multidisciplinary areas, preparing the engineering or science graduate in such key advanced subjects as modeling and analysis, systems engineering principles, computer networks, digital communications, software testing, decision and risk analysis, human-machine interface and operations research.
A key aspect of the program, and an alternative to completing a thesis, is the team-oriented capstone design project course (SYS 5380), in which the team formulates and solves an industry problem and submits a project team paper. All nonthesis students are required to take this course in the graduating semester.
An applicant for admission must have earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical science, computing or mathematics. An applicant whose undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale may be asked to submit two letters of recommendation, a statement of objectives, a résumé and GRE results.
General admission requirements and the process of applying are discussed in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
A minimum of 30 credit hours is required for graduation, including all courses on the following list of required courses and at least three courses from the list of elective courses. Thesis students must also earn six credit hours of thesis (SYS 5999). Nonthesis students must take two additional courses from the electives list, including SYS 5380. Thesis topics may be selected from the fields of computer science, electrical engineering, systems engineering or other suitable areas. The electives list below is partial, as courses from other disciplines continue to be added. The student should check with his or her adviser about additional elective courses.
To meet graduation requirements, a nonthesis student must present a portfolio of competencies and a summary of the career relevance of his or her academic study as part of the master’s final program examination.
Required Courses
| CREDITS | ||
| SYS 5310 | Systems Engineering Principles | 3 |
| SYS 5350 | System Modeling and Analysis | 3 |
| SYS 5365 | Decisions and Risk Analysis | 3 |
| SYS 5370 | Research Methods in Systems Engineering | 3 |
| SYS 5385 | System Life Cycle Cost Estimation | 3 |
| TOTAL REQUIRED COURSE CREDITS | 15 | |
Elective Courses
| Select 15 credit hours from the following: | CREDITS | |
| AHF 5101 | Human Factors in Man-Machine Systems | 3 |
| ECE 5223 | Digital Communications | 3 |
| ECE 5272 | Special Topics in C3I | 3 |
| ECE 5534 | Computer Networks 1 | 3 |
| ECE 5535 | Computer Networks 2 | 3 |
| ECE 5595 | Special Projects in Computer Engineering | 3 |
| SWE 5411 | Software Testing 1 | 3 |
| SWE 5440 | Introduction to Software Architecture | 3 |
| SYS 5375 | Military Operations Research | 3 |
| SYS 5380 | Systems Engineering Design Project* | 3 |
| SYS 5420 | System Architecture Fundamentals | 3 |
| SYS 5430 | Enterprise Architecture Integration and Implementation | 3 |
| SYS 5440 | Enterprise Architecture Project Planning, Management and Documentation | 3 |
| SYS 5450 | Service-oriented Architecture Concepts and Theory | 3 |
| SYS 5460 | Systems Requirements Analysis | 3 |
| TOTAL ELECTIVE CREDITS | 15 | |
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 30
*Required for nonthesis students during the graduating semester.
Master of Science in Environmental Science
Today’s increasingly complex technological society has placed new demands on our understanding of human interaction with the environment. In fact, the need has never been greater for highly skilled scientists capable of developing basic data from which far-reaching decisions can be made regarding the intelligent use and protection of our natural environment. Recognizing these needs, the environmental science master’s program provides a thorough background in the biological and chemical fundamentals of natural environmental systems with specific areas of emphasis related to water and air resources, water and wastewater treatment, hazardous and toxic materials including nuclear wastes and basic processes governing the interaction of humans and the natural environment.
Admission Requirements
Students applying for admission to the environmental science program should have undergraduate majors in the physical or life sciences with strong backgrounds in chemistry and biology. Students with bachelor’s degrees in other scientific or engineering fields may need to complete certain preparatory course work before starting the master of science program, and completion of such courses may require additional time. Any such requirements will be determined by the program chair and graduate faculty before admission. The prospective student will be advised of these requirements prior to acceptance. Applicants must submit Graduate Record Exam General Test scores for evaluation, a statement of interests, a résumé and three letters of recommendation.
General Admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
A Master of Science in Environmental Science requires the satisfactory completion of 30 credit hours of required and elective credits based on an approved program plan developed in conjunction with the faculty adviser. Included in the total are 15 credit hours of core environmental courses as listed below and six credit hours of thesis research under the supervision of a member of the graduate faculty. Students are required to attend the graduate seminar. A student registers for graduate seminar each semester and makes an oral presentation of research results after completing thesis research. A nonthesis option is also available. In lieu of the thesis, the student completes an additional nine credit hours of course work and must pass a written master’s final program examination.
Core Courses
| CREDITS | ||
| ENS 5000 | Environmental Science Seminar (each semester) | 0 |
| ENS 5010 | Environmental Optics and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| ENS 5101 | Introduction to Air Pollution | 3 |
| ENS 5700 | Introduction to Water Resources | 3 |
| ENS 5800 | Limnology 1 | 3 |
| OCN 5210 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
The remaining course work in the master’s program is normally developed by the degree candidate, his/her adviser and the program chair. A list of restricted electives is available from the department.
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
All master of science options can be earned on either a full-time or a part-time basis. A two-year projection of course offerings is available on request. Course offerings are arranged to permit the master’s program to be completed by full-time students in a maximum of two calendar years.
Admission Requirements
The undergraduate backgrounds of applicants for admission to the master’s degree programs vary considerably. For this reason, a variety of master’s degree options are available. The applicant should have a bachelor of science or equivalent degree from a mechanical engineering program accredited by ABET. In evaluating an international application, consideration is given to academic standards of the school attended and the content of the courses leading to the degree obtained. Master’s applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (General Test).
Applicants whose bachelor’s degrees are in other engineering fields, mathematics, or the physical sciences may be accepted, but will be required to remedy any deficiencies by satisfactorily completing a number of undergraduate courses in preparation for graduate study in mechanical engineering.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering is offered with both thesis and nonthesis options. Each option requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved graduate study; however, within each option, course choices vary considerably. Prior to the completion of nine credit hours, the student must submit for approval a master’s degree program plan to indicate the path chosen and the specific courses to be taken.
The minimum program requirements consist of nine credit hours of core courses, six credit hours of mathematics and 15 credit hours of electives (which may include six credit hours of thesis). Within the 15 credit hours of electives, six credit hours of course work are restricted electives. The department maintains a list of restricted electives for each specialization.
Curriculum
Regardless of which degree path the student chooses, the degree candidate must choose one of four areas of specialization. Listed below are required and elective courses for the master of science specializations.
Biomedical Engineering
Four core courses selected in consultation with the student’s adviser from the list below:
| BIO 5501 | Cell and Molecular Biology |
| CHE 5103 | Transport Processes in Bioengineering |
| CHE 5569 | Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration |
| ECE 5259 | Medical Imaging |
| MAE 5710 | Biomechanics |
| MAE 5720 | Biomedical Instrumentation |
Biomedical engineering applies engineering and science methodologies to the analysis of biological and physiological problems and the delivery of healthcare. The biomedical engineer serves as an interface between traditional engineering disciplines and living systems, and may focus on either, applying the patterns of living organisms to engineering design or engineering new approaches to human health. A biomedical engineer may use his/her knowledge of engineering to create new equipment or environments for such purposes as maximizing human performance or providing non-invasive diagnostic tools. Students can choose elective courses in their area of interest offered by other engineering disciplines.
Dynamic Systems, Robotics and Controls
Three core courses selected in consultation with the student adviser from the list below:
| MAE 5316 | Mechatronics |
| MAE 5318 | Instrumentation and Measurement Systems |
| MAE 5480 | Structural Dynamics |
| MAE 5610 | Advanced Dynamics |
| MAE 5630 | Modeling and Simulation of Dynamic Systems |
| MAE 5650 | Robotics |
| MAE 5660 | Robot Control |
The student’s program of study in this area will be tailored to provide the background and training to pursue a career in a desired and related area of interest. Examples of related areas include design and control of dynamic systems, robotics, vibration, automotive engineering, energy and power systems, etc.
Structures, Solid Mechanics and Materials
Three core courses selected in consultation with the student adviser from the list below:
| MAE 5050 | Finite Element Fundamentals |
| MAE 5060 | Applications in Finite Element Methods |
| MAE 5410 | Elasticity |
| MAE 5420 | Advanced Mechanical Design |
| MAE 5460 | Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue of Materials |
| MAE 5470 | Principles of Composite Materials |
Specialization in this area focuses on analytical and computational techniques as they apply in design. Each student plans a program of study in consultation with a member of the faculty whose professional field is related to the student’s interests.
Thermal-Fluid Sciences
Three core courses selected in consultation with the student adviser from the list below:
| MAE 5130 | Viscous Flows |
| MAE 5210 | Conduction Heat Transfer |
| MAE 5220 | Convection Heat Transfer |
| MAE 5230 | Radiation Heat Transfer |
Specialization in this area focuses on heat transfer, combustion and energy systems. Analytical, computational and experimental techniques are emphasized.
Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering
The master of science degree can be earned in one of three major areas: aerodynamics and fluid dynamics, aerospace structures and materials, and combustion and propulsion. Because the purpose of each program is to prepare the student for either a challenging professional career in industry or for further graduate study, the programs do not permit narrow specialization. Emphasis is on required course work in several disciplines in which an advanced-degree engineer in a typical industrial position is expected to have knowledge and problem-solving expertise beyond that normally obtained during an undergraduate engineering education.
The master of science degree can be earned on either a full-time or a part-time basis. Full-time students can complete the program in a minimum of three semesters (four in the case of graduate student assistants). Students beginning their course work during the spring semester will be able to register for full course loads, although the commencement of thesis work will normally be delayed.
Graduate student assistants are required to take the one-week teaching seminar offered in mid-August each year.
Admission Requirements
An applicant should have an undergraduate major in a field related to aerospace engineering. Applicants whose bachelor’s degrees are in other fields are normally required to take some undergraduate course work in addition to the program described below, as determined by the department head. Applications are also invited from graduates with undergraduate majors in the physical sciences or mathematics. In these cases, at least one year of undergraduate course work in aerospace engineering is normally required before starting the master of science program. In evaluating an international application, due consideration is given to academic standards in the country where the undergraduate studies have been performed.
Master’s applicants should take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. Applicants from foreign countries must meet the same requirements as applicants from the United States.
General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering is offered with both thesis and nonthesis options. Each option requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work. Prior to the completion of nine credit hours, the student must submit for approval a master’s degree program plan to indicate the path chosen and the specific courses to be taken. For the thesis option, up to six credit hours of thesis work may be included in the 30 credit hours’ requirement. The thesis can be primarily analytical, computational or experimental; or it can be some combination of these. In each case, students must demonstrate the ability to read the appropriate engineering literature, to learn independently and to express themselves well technically, both orally and in writing. For the nonthesis option, a student may replace the thesis with additional elective courses and a final program examination, following approval of a written petition submitted to the department head. Generally, students wishing to pursue an academic career are encouraged to choose the thesis option.
Curriculum
The program of study leading to the master’s degree in aerospace engineering is offered in the three listed areas of specialization. The minimum program requirements consists of nine credit hours of core courses, six credit hours of mathematics and 15 credit hours (which may include six credit hours of thesis) of electives. Within the 15 credit hours of electives, six credit hours of course work are restricted electives. The department maintains a list of restricted electives for each specialization.
The nine credit hours of core courses must be chosen in consultation with the student’s adviser from one of the lists below.
Aerodynamics and Fluid Dynamics
| MAE 5110 | Continuum Mechanics |
| MAE 5120 | Aerodynamics of Wings and Bodies |
| MAE 5130 | Viscous Flows |
| MAE 5140 | Experimental Fluid Dynamics |
| MAE 5150 | Computational Fluid Dynamics |
| MAE 5180 | Turbulent Flows |
Aerospace Structures and Materials
| MAE 5050 | Finite Element Fundamentals |
| MAE 5410 | Elasticity |
| MAE 5430 | Design of Aerospace Structures |
| MAE 5460 | Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue of Materials |
| MAE 5470 | Principles of Composite Materials |
| MAE 5480 | Structural Dynamics |
Combustion and Propulsion
| MAE 5130 | Viscous Flows |
| MAE 5150 | Computational Fluid Dynamics |
| MAE 5310 | Combustion Fundamentals |
| MAE 5320 | Internal Combustion Engines |
| MAE 5350 | Gas Turbines |
| MAE 5360 | Hypersonic Air-breathing Engines |
Electives are selected from these course offerings and appropriate courses in mathematics, in consultation with the student’s adviser and committee. The topics of emphasis for aerospace engineering in the three areas of specialization include aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics, experimental fluid dynamics, flow instability theory, combustion, aerospace propulsion and power, aerospace structures, composite materials, fracture mechanics and fatigue of materials.
Master of Science in Environmental Resource Management
Environmental resource management has become an area of national and international significance. Resource managers, typically in the public and private developmental sectors, face increasingly complex technical problems that cut across several of the more traditional educational disciplines. In addition to the fundamentals of biological and chemical environmental processes, managers must be knowledgeable in local and global cause and effect relationships of human activities in the development and use of environmental resources. Resource managers must also understand the legal and regulatory aspects of resources management. Recognizing these multidisciplinary needs, the master’s degree program in environmental resource management is closely associated with the environmental science program at Florida Tech and includes both university course work and an internship with a regulatory agency, NGO or private company that manages environmental resources. Graduates are well prepared to effectively interact with engineers, scientists, managers and politicians.
Admission Requirements
Students applying for admission to the environmental resources management program should have undergraduate majors in science or engineering, or sufficient course work in the physical and life sciences and engineering to readily understand the fundamental biological, chemical and physical relationships important in environmental resource management. In some instances, additional preparatory work in some areas may be required at the beginning of the program. The prospective student is advised of such requirements before final acceptance. Each applicant is strongly encouraged to arrange for a conference regarding program content and qualifications with faculty and the program chair or other faculty member before arriving on campus to begin an academic program.
General Admission requirements and application procedures are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The degree requires satisfactory completion of 30 credit hours of required and elective courses. Included in the total are 24 credit hours of required courses and internship, and six credit hours of selected elective topics as specified in a master’s program plan developed in conjunction with the student’s adviser. An internship document is required by the academic unit, and the student makes an oral presentation of the internship assignment to the graduate seminar or a professional society meeting and to the student’s internship advisory committee. Thesis or internship registration must be continuous from the initial registration until graduation.
Required Courses
| CREDITS | ||
| BIO 5030 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| ENS 5000 | Departmental Seminar (each semester) | 0 |
| ENS 5001 | Global Environmental Problems and Solutions | 3 |
| ENS 5004 | Aquatic Environmental Toxicology | 3 |
| ENS 5009 | Internship | 6 |
| ENS 5700 | Introduction to Water Resources | 3 |
| ENS 5701 | Environmental Regulation and Impact Assessment | 3 |
| OCN 5210 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
Electives
| CREDITS | ||
| BUS 4425 | Environmental and Urban Planning | 3 |
| BUS 4426 | Environmental and Resource Economics | 3 |
| CVE 4000 | Engineering Economy and Planning | 3 |
| EDS 5430 | Issue Investigation and Evaluation | 3 |
| ENS 4001 | The Earth System | 3 |
| ENS 4010 | Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| ENS 5010 | Environmental Optics and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| ENS 5101 | Introduction to Air Pollution | 3 |
| ENS 5600 | Radiation and Environmental Protection | 3 |
| OCN 5801 | Coastal Systems Planning | 3 |
Note: Electives listed above are accepted in both environmental resource management and coastal zone management master’s degree programs.
Master of Science in Meteorology
Atmospheric science is focused on understanding Earth’s gaseous envelope, predicting its evolution and mitigating human impacts. The M.S. program at Florida Tech is uniquely interdisciplinary, drawing on expertise from the College of Aeronautics, the College of Engineering and the College of Science. As such, the M.S. in meteorology can have special emphasis in areas such as marine meteorology, water resources, atmospheric chemistry, aviation meteorology or remote sensing. Collaborative research is conducted with specialists from the nearby NASA Kennedy Space Center, the USAF 45th Weather Squadron, the NOAA National Weather Service, the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Wind and Hurricane Impacts Research Laboratory (WHIRL) and local government agencies or corporations.
Admission Requirements
A student applying for admission to the graduate meteorology program should have an undergraduate major in the physical sciences or engineering. Preparatory course work may need to be completed before starting the master of science program, and completion of such courses may require additional time. Any such requirements will be determined by the program chair and graduate faculty before admission. The prospective student will be advised of these requirements before acceptance. Applicants must submit GRE General Test Scores for evaluation.
Degree Requirements
The M.S. degree requires satisfactory completion of 30 credit hours of required and elective courses including thesis, based on an approved plan developed in conjunction with the faculty adviser. A nonthesis option is also available, where in lieu of a thesis the student completes an additional nine credit hours of course work (for a total of 33 credit hours) and must pass a written master’s final program examination. Students with bachelor’s degrees in meteorology normally take the core courses plus electives emphasizing their areas of special interest. Students with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than meteorology are required to complete the core and other graduate courses in addition to appropriate courses necessary for certification as a professional meteorologist by the American Meteorological Society (see undergraduate curriculum). Students are required to attend the graduate seminar. A student registers for graduate seminar each semester and makes an oral presentation of research results after completing thesis research.
Required Courses
| CREDITS | ||
| ENS 5000 | Environmental Sciences Seminar (each semester) | 0 |
| MET 5001 | Principles of Atmospheric Science | 3 |
| MET 5233 | Atmospheric Remote Sensing | 3 |
| MET 5305 | Dynamic Meteorology 1 | 3 |
| MET 5306 | Dynamic Meteorology 2 | 3 |
Electives
| CREDITS | ||
| AVS 5201 | Aviation Meteorology Theory and Practice | 3 |
| ENS 4001 | The Earth System | 3 |
| ENS 4010 | Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| ENS 5001 | Global Environmental Problems and Solutions | 3 |
| ENS 5101 | Introduction to Air Pollution | 3 |
| ENS 5700 | Introduction to Water Resources | 3 |
| ENS 5800 | Limnology | 3 |
| MET 4310 | Climatology | 3 |
| MET 4410 | Mesoscale Meteorology | 3 |
| MET 5310 | Numerical Weather Prediction | 3 |
| OCE 5570 | Marine Hydrodynamics and Wave Theory | 3 |
| OCE 5586 | Ocean Engineering Data Analysis | 3 |
| OCN 5001 | Principles of Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5210 | Marine and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| OCN 5401 | Principles of Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5403 | Ocean Wave Theory | 3 |
| OCN 5405 | Dynamic Oceanography | 3 |
| OCN 5407 | Marine Meteorology | 3 |
| OCN 5409 | Geophysical Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| OCN 5704 | Oceanic Remote Sensing | 3 |
| PHY 5080 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| SPS 4030 | Physics of the Atmosphere | 3 |
| SPS 5031 | Planetary Science 2: Atmospheres | 3 |
Note: Electives listed above are accepted in the M.S. Meteorology degree program, but no more than six credit hours of 4000-level courses from the department (ENS, MET, OCE, OCN) may be used for the master’s degree.
Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering
The doctoral program is primarily for students who wish to develop independent research or problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. Research areas must be related to the faculty’s interests.
Admission Requirements
General admission requirements and the application process are covered in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Admission to the doctoral program normally requires the completion of a master’s degree in chemical engineering. However, students enrolled in the Florida Tech master’s program may apply to be admitted directly to the doctoral program after completing 18 credit hours with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or more, if there is evidence of the ability to pursue problems independently.
Doctoral applicants must demonstrate outstanding scholastic achievements and aptitude, provide letters of recommendation from previous professors, including the M.S. thesis adviser and provide results of a recent GRE test including both the General Test and Subject Test in Engineering.
Degree Requirements
The doctor of philosophy degree is recognition of one’s independent creative ability to research, delineate and solve novel, significant scientific and/or engineering problems. Results of such work must be publishable in refereed journals. Course work is also included in support of these objectives.
Each student is expected to complete an approved program of study, pass both oral and written examinations, propose and complete an original research project, and write and defend a dissertation on the research work.
The Ph.D. in chemical engineering requires a minimum of 72 credit hours (42 credit hours after the completion of a master’s degree), including at least 18 credit hours of formal course work in chemical engineering (six after the master’s degree) and six credit hours in mathematics, and satisfaction of the general doctoral degree requirements presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog. The written examination covers chemical engineering and related mathematical, physical and chemical sciences. The oral examination includes the presentation of a research proposition developed independently by the student to demonstrate ability to create and develop a research idea. The written and oral examinations are normally taken before the end of the fourth academic semester, counted from the semester of admission to the doctoral program. The dissertation may be theoretical, computational, experimental or a combination of the three in any of the areas of specialization shown for the master’s degree.
Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering
Admission Requirements
Admission to doctoral study is granted to a limited number of applicants who have received master’s degrees in computer engineering from accredited institutions or from international institutions that provide suitable preparation for doctoral-level studies.
The doctoral program in computer engineering can be completed with a minimum of 48 credit hours beyond the master’s degree; however, typically 48 to 54 credit hours are necessary. A list of elective courses is available on request.
General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering is conferred primarily in recognition of creative accomplishment and ability to investigate engineering problems independently, rather than for completion of a definite course of study. The work should consist of advanced studies and research leading to new knowledge and significant contribution to a chosen research area.
General degree requirements are presented under the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
| Course Work and Dissertation Summary | CREDITS |
| Doctoral course work (minimum beyond the master’s degree) | 24 |
| Doctoral research and dissertation | 24 |
| TOTAL MINIMUM BEYOND THE MASTER’S DEGREE | 48 |
Curriculum
A minimum of 24 credit hours of course work beyond the master’s degree and at least 24 credit hours of Dissertation Research (ECE 6999) are required.
The student’s adviser and the department head must approve a program of study. A wide degree of latitude is allowed in course selection and research interest within the capability of the university and the student’s academic background. This requirement is imposed at the discretion of the doctoral committee.
After admission to doctoral candidacy, a yearly seminar demonstrating progress must be presented to the graduate faculty.
Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering
The doctor of philosophy degree is offered to students who want to pursue advanced research in an area of existing faculty expertise. The doctoral degree is granted in recognition of high achievement in a program of study, required examinations and original research in the field of electrical engineering.
Admission Requirements
Admission to doctoral study is granted to applicants who have received master’s degrees in electrical engineering or related fields from accredited institutions or from international institutions that provide suitable preparation for doctoral-level studies.
Included with the application should be a short, clear statement of the applicant’s interests and objectives. An on-campus interview is highly recommended, although not required for admission.
General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The degree of doctor of philosophy is conferred primarily in recognition of creative accomplishment and ability to investigate scientific or engineering problems independently, rather than for completion of a definite course of study. The work will consist of advanced studies and research leading to a significant contribution to a chosen research area.
The doctoral program in electrical engineering may be completed with a minimum of 48 credit hours beyond the master’s degree. Each student must complete an approved program of study beyond that required for a master’s degree, pass a comprehensive written examination, complete a program of significant original research, and prepare and defend a dissertation concerning the research.
General degree requirements are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
| Course Work and Dissertation Summary | CREDITS |
| Doctoral course work (minimum beyond master’s degree) | 24 |
| Doctoral research and dissertation | 24 |
| TOTAL MINIMUM BEYOND THE MASTER’S DEGREE | 48 |
Curriculum
A minimum of 24 credit hours of course work and at least 24 credit hours of Dissertation Research (ECE 6999) beyond a master’s degree are required. Up to nine credit hours outside of electrical and computer engineering can be counted toward the degree.
The student’s adviser and the department head must approve a program of study. A wide degree of latitude is allowed in course selection and research interest within the capability of the university and the student’s academic background. This requirement is imposed at the discretion of the doctoral committee.
After admission to doctoral candidacy, a yearly seminar demonstrating progress must be presented to the graduate faculty.
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering
The doctor of philosophy program in civil engineering is offered for students who wish to conduct advanced research in one of the following two areas of specialization:
- Environmental/Water Resources
- Geotechnical/Structures
Admission Requirements
Admission to doctoral study is granted to a limited number of qualified applicants. The applicant will normally have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited institution in a program that provides suitable preparation for doctoral-level studies in civil engineering. The applicant should have at least a 3.2 out of a possible 4.0 GPA for the most recently completed degree.
General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The doctor of philosophy degree is awarded in recognition of scientific accomplishment and the ability to investigate engineering problems independently. The program consists of advanced studies to prepare the student for research and completion of a research project that leads to a significant contribution to the knowledge of a particular problem. Each student should pass the preliminary written and/or oral examination, complete an approved program of study, pass the comprehensive written and oral examination, complete a program of significant research, present the results of the research, and prepare and defend a dissertation concerning the research. A minimum of 24 credit hours of course work, including a minimum of 12 credit hours of formal (graded) course work and a minimum of 18 credit hours of dissertation beyond a master’s degree are required.
General degree requirements are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Curriculum
The doctoral program of study must be approved by the student’s advisory committee and the program chair. Considerable latitude is allowed in course selection provided at least 12 credit hours (beyond the master’s level) are selected from courses in civil or environmental engineering. The remaining courses are selected, again in collaboration with the advisory committee, according to the interests and research objectives of the student. Academic courses for the selected areas of specialization can be selected from course offerings in various academic units as follows:
Environmental/Water Resources: Courses may be selected from academic programs in civil, chemical, mechanical or ocean engineering, environmental science, oceanography, mathematics, operations research and computer science.
Geotechnical/Structures: Courses may be selected from academic programs in civil, aerospace, mechanical or ocean engineering, environmental science, oceanography, mathematics and computer science.
Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
The doctoral program is designed to provide the highest level of academic scholarship and research in the disciplines of computer science. The goal is to produce qualified professionals for research and teaching positions in the academic world, as well as equivalent positions in industry and government.
The doctoral program in computer science is designed to attract students who have the greatest potential for expanding the frontiers of knowledge and transferring this knowledge to others. The program requires a significant breadth of understanding in the fundamentals of computer science, the mastery of several specialized subjects and the creativity to extend the body of knowledge on a particular subject through significant original research.
Admission Requirements
Each potential candidate must meet the general Admission requirements and follow the process for applying presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
To qualify for admission to the doctoral program in computer science, a candidate must demonstrate the potential for success in this program. A student may do so by one of the following means:
- Successful completion of a bachelor of science degree in computer science from an accredited institution, with a GPA of at least 3.5.
- Successful completion of a master of science degree in computer science or a related field from another accredited institution, with a GPA of at least 3.5.
Also required are three letters from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic and research ability recommending doctoral study. Applicants are strongly encouraged to be aware of the research interests of faculty in the department. Scores from the GRE General Test are required, and the Subject Test in Computer Science is recommended.
Degree Requirements
The degree of doctor of philosophy is conferred in recognition of both breadth of scientific competence in computer science and technical research capabilities, as demonstrated by producing an acceptable dissertation. The required work consists of advanced studies in preparation for specialized research, and completion of an original research program resulting in a significant contribution to the body of knowledge in the subject investigated. Each student must qualify for admission, complete an approved program of study, pass a comprehensive examination, complete a program of significant original research and defend a dissertation concerning the research.
Each candidate is expected to publish major portions of the dissertation in refereed conferences and journals, and is strongly encouraged to teach while pursuing the degree. General Degree requirements are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Curriculum
The minimum course work requirement is 56 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, including at least 21 credit hours of advanced course work. The minimum research and dissertation requirement is 24 credit hours beyond the master’s degree or 30 credit hours if the student did not complete a master’s thesis; of these, at least 15 credit hours must be dissertation. All students are required to register for Computer Science Seminar (CSE 5500) or Computer Sciences Internship (CSE 5501) four times during the degree program.
During the first or second term, a doctoral student must prepare a program of study to be approved by the student’s faculty adviser and department head. The program of study should be designed to fit the student’s professional goals, the department’s resources and the breadth of general computer science knowledge expected of all doctoral candidates.
Each student is required to pass comprehensive examinations that cover breadth and depth within computer science. The breadth examination is administered by computer science faculty and normally must be passed before the end of two years after admission into the doctoral program. This examination includes topics from the foundations of computer science, computer systems, computer software and applied software.
After completion of all course work contained in the approved program of study, the student is required to pass a depth examination administered by his or her doctoral committee.
After passing the comprehensive examination, the student prepares a dissertation proposal representing the research plan to be followed. The dissertation research is carried out under close supervision of the student’s doctoral adviser and committee. After completion of the research project and with the approval of the adviser, the dissertation is submitted to the doctoral committee for critical evaluation, followed by an oral defense of the dissertation.
Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography
The doctor of philosophy degree is offered to students who want to carry out advanced research in an area of existing faculty expertise. The doctoral degree is granted in recognition of high achievement in a program of study, required examinations and original research in the field of oceanography. Students may be admitted during any semester, but for optimal scheduling, the fall semester is recommended.
Admission Requirements
An applicant who has received a bachelor’s or master’s degree in mathematics, natural science, engineering or related fields is eligible to apply for admission to the doctoral program. All applicants should have a high scholastic record (minimum of 3.3 GPA based on a 4.0 scale), three letters of recommendation and Graduate Record Examination General Test scores. Included with the application should be a short, clear statement of the applicant’s interests and objectives. Although nor required for admission, an on-campus interview is highly recommended.
General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The doctoral degree is primarily a research degree and is conferred in part in recognition of research accomplishments. Each student must complete an approved program of course work; pass the comprehensive examinations; write an acceptable research proposal and petition for admission to candidacy; complete a program of significant original research; prepare and defend a dissertation concerning the research; and present a seminar on the research. Each candidate is expected to publish a major portion of the dissertation in refereed national or international journals. A minimum of 24 credit hours of course work and 24 credit hours of dissertation beyond a master’s degree are required.
General degree requirements are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Curriculum
A program of study must be approved by the student’s adviser and the program chair. A wide degree of latitude is allowed in course selection and research interest within the capability of the university and the student’s academic background. A student in one of the five concentrations available (biological, chemical, geological and physical oceanography, and coastal zone management) must also develop a general knowledge of the various areas of oceanography.
Prior to admission to doctoral candidacy, the student may be required to demonstrate proficiency in a computer language or a reading proficiency of scientific literature in one foreign language. The chosen language should allow access to important literature in the student’s area of research. This requirement is imposed at the discretion of the doctoral committee.
After admission to doctoral candidacy, a yearly seminar demonstrating progress must be presented to the graduate faculty.
Doctor of Philosophy in Ocean Engineering
Admission Requirements
Admission to doctoral study is granted to a limited number of applicants, and normally requires a master’s degree, with a GPA of at least 3.3 out of 4.0, in a program that provides suitable preparation for doctoral-level studies in ocean engineering.
General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The doctor of philosophy degree is awarded in recognition of scientific accomplishment and the ability to investigate scientific problems independently. The program consists of advanced studies to prepare the student for engineering research, and completion of a research project that leads to a significant contribution to the knowledge of a particular problem. Each student must pass the preliminary written examination, complete an approved program of study, pass the comprehensive written and oral examinations, complete a program of significant research, publish the results of the research, and prepare and defend a dissertation concerning the research.
General degree requirements are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
| Course Work and Dissertation Summary | CREDITS |
| Doctoral course work minimum credit hours beyond the master’s degree | 24 |
| Doctoral dissertation minimum credit hours | 24 |
| MINIMUM CREDITS BEYOND MASTER’S DEGREE | 48 |
Courses must be taken in several areas to assure that all graduates of the doctoral program possess the breadth of knowledge necessary to work in the field of ocean engineering. A minimum of nine credit hours of course work must be taken in mathematics and computer science, and 21 credit hours must be taken in engineering, as part of the student’s graduate course work (including master’s courses). A minimum of 15 credit hours of course work must be directly related to the dissertation research.
The dissertation research is normally conducted on a topic related to current faculty research. The ocean engineering program faculty currently have research interests in coastal engineering, corrosion, naval architecture, submersibles, ocean systems and instrumentation.
After admission to doctoral candidacy, a yearly seminar demonstrating progress must be presented to the graduate faculty.
Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science
Admission Requirements
An applicant for the doctoral program in environmental science must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited institution in environmental science, biology, chemistry or other appropriate science curriculum. In some cases, certain undergraduate courses must be taken to remediate areas of deficiency before a student can start the doctoral program.
For admission, a student should have a superior academic record and at least three letters of recommendation, including one from the master’s degree thesis adviser. Preference will be given to students with high scores on the Graduate Record Examination.
Included with the application should be a short but clear statement of the interest and objectives of the applicant. Although not absolutely required, an on-campus interview is highly recommended.
General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The doctoral degree is primarily a research degree and is conferred in part in recognition of research accomplishments. Each student must complete an approved program of course work; pass the comprehensive examinations; write an acceptable research proposal and petition for admission to candidacy; complete a program of significant original research; prepare and defend a dissertation concerning the research; and present a seminar on the research. Each candidate is expected to publish a major portion of the dissertation in refereed national or international journals. A minimum of 24 credit hours of course work and 24 credit hours of dissertation beyond a master’s degree are required.
General degree requirements are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Curriculum
A program of study must be approved by the student’s adviser and the program chair. A wide degree of latitude is allowed in course selection and research interest within the capabilities of the university and the student’s academic background.
Before admission to doctoral candidacy, the student may be required to demonstrate proficiency in a computer language or a reading proficiency of scientific literature in one foreign language. The chosen language should allow access to important literature in the student’s area of research. This requirement is imposed at the discretion of the doctoral committee.
After admission to doctoral candidacy, a yearly seminar demonstrating progress must be presented to the graduate faculty.
Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering
The doctor of philosophy degree is offered for students who wish to carry out advanced research in any of the three optional areas of specialization listed under the master of science program. Other research areas may or may not correlate well with current faculty interests and laboratory facilities. In such cases, the mechanical engineering department head should be consulted to determine the feasibility of pursuing advanced research topics that are outside of the three optional areas listed.
Admission Requirements
A candidate for the doctoral program will normally have completed a master’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field and have adequate preparation in areas of science and mathematics fundamental to his or her field of study. In addition, a student enrolled in the master’s program may apply to work directly toward the doctoral degree after completing at least 18 credit hours of graduate course work at Florida Tech with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5.
Doctoral applicants should have superior academic records, provide letters of recommendation and take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test.
General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The degree of doctor of philosophy is conferred primarily in recognition of creative accomplishment and ability to investigate scientific or engineering problems independently, rather than for completion of a definite course of study. The work should consist of advanced studies and research leading to a significant contribution to the knowledge of a particular problem. A student’s research may have analytical, computational or experimental components, or some combination. Each student is expected to complete an approved program of study beyond that required for a master’s degree, pass the comprehensive written/oral examination, complete a program of significant original research, and prepare and defend a dissertation concerning the research work.
The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to cover the student’s major field of study and related fields important to the major field. The examination is given when, in the judgment of the student’s advisory committee, the student has had sufficient preparation in his/her field of study by completing significant course work in at least three areas of specialization and by initiating doctoral research. The examination must normally be taken before the end of the student’s fourth academic semester, as counted from admission into the doctoral program. The written portion of the examination consists of individual examinations given by each member of the advisory committee. These written examinations are intended to cover each of the student’s areas of specialization. The written portion of the comprehensive examination is followed by an oral component administered by the student’s advisory committee. The oral examination provides the advisory committee an opportunity to complete the examinations in each of the student’s specialty areas. Subsequent to completion of both written and oral components of the examination, a dissertation proposal must be submitted to the student’s advisory committee for evaluation. Upon determining that the proposed research is of doctoral quality and that completion is feasible, the student is advanced to candidacy for the doctoral degree.
| Course Work and Dissertation Summary | CREDITS |
| Doctoral course work minimum beyond master’s degree | 18 |
| Doctoral research and dissertation | 24 |
| TOTAL MINIMUM BEYOND THE MASTER’S DEGREE | 42 |
General degree requirements are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Curriculum
The student’s master’s and doctoral course work combined should include a minimum of 24 credit hours in mechanical engineering and 12 credit hours in mathematics. The doctoral program of study must be approved by the student’s adviser and the department head. The distribution of these courses should include courses in each of the three optional areas of specialization (excluding biomedical engineering, which can be used as a related area of specialization), and as a minimum should have the credit distribution given below: