Policies and Procedures

PDFs require the free Adobe Reader.

Change of Major to a Major in Another College

You will need Adobe Reader to read these files. This is a free program, downloadable at:

To change from a major in the College of Engineering to a major in another college, you must meet the academic requirements of the major and receive approval from the Associate Dean of the new college. Permission to transfer from one college to another may be denied or deferred if you are in academic difficulty or you have a GPA of less than 2.0 in courses that are required by the new major.

Procedure for Change of Major and Change of College

To apply for a change of major, complete the following form, obtaining the following signatures in this order: the adviser in your new major, your current departmental undergraduate staff adviser, and the College of Engineering Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, then submit the form to the undergraduate office of the new college:

Change of Major Requirements (PDF)

For Further Information

For questions and advice regarding change of major, consult a department undergraduate staff adviser or an advisor in the College of Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall (752-1979).

Change of Major for Students Not in Good Academic Standing

Students who wish to change to a new major in another college but are not in good academic standing can be allowed up to three quarters to return to good academic standing and to meet course requirements to qualify for the desired change of major.

Acquiring Approval from New Major and College

The student must have the following form completed and signed by the staff adviser or master adviser for the proposed new major and by a student affairs officer in the undergraduate programs office of the college of the new major:

Academic Conditions to Qualify for a Change of Major (PDF)

The specific course requirements that must be completed prior to a change of major are to be taken as soon as is appropriate academically. These courses are to be listed under item 1. on the form referenced above and are to be included on the program of study that is to be attached to the form.

A detailed, quarter-by-quarter academic program of study that will lead to a degree in the proposed major is to be prepared. From this program of study and the student's current academic record, the total number of units required to meet degree requirements is to be calculated and included on the form.

After obtaining a signature from the staff adviser or master adviser for the proposed new major, the form must be taken to a student affairs officer in the undergraduate programs office of the college of the new major, who will indicate if additional conditions are to be imposed.

Acquiring Approval from the College of Engineering

The completed form with the required signatures is to be submitted to the College of Engineering Undergraduate Office. It will be reviewed and the student will be sent a letter restating the conditions to be met to qualify for a change of major.

For Further Information

Change of Major Requirements

Students wishing to declare a major in the College of Engineering must submit a completed Change of Major petition to the Undergraduate Advising Office (1050 Kemper Hall). The form is found at: http://registrar.ucdavis.edu/PDFFiles/D043ChangeMajor.pdf

Change of major petitions submitted within the first ten days of the quarter will likely be processed prior to Pass 1 registration for the next quarter.

In order to change your major or to double major with a major in the College, you must satisfy requirements that have been established by the College of Engineering.

Change of Major Requirements (must be met by all students. Additional requirements for Biomedical Engineering are noted)

You must:

be a registered student and have completed at least one quarter (minimum of 12 units) at UC Davis;
have completed not more than 135 cumulative units (excluding AP units); students who have completed more than 135 units will be considered on an appeal basis only;
be in good academic standing and meet minimum progress requirements;
have received a letter grade for all courses that satisfy Engineering degree requirements, and
have completed MAT 21A, B, C: PHY 9A and CHE 2A each with a grade of C- or better and a GPA in these five courses of 2.0 or better

NOTE: Students requesting a change into Biomedical Engineering must have a GPA of 2.7 or better in the courses listed in #5 above AND have an overall UC GPA of at least 2.7.

Double majors within the College of Engineering will be allowed with the exception of the following combinations:

Computer Science Engineering and Computer Science (L&S)
Computer Science Engineering and Electrical Engineering
Computer Science Engineering and Computer Engineering
Chemical Engineering and Biochemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering/Materials Science and Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering/Materials Science and Biochemical Engineering
Biochemical Engineering and Biological Systems Engineering
Any combined major and Materials Science Engineering

Triple (and more) majors will not be approved.

Degree Requirements Policy

Students are responsible for satisfactory completion of degree requirements. They should consult with their academic adviser if they have any questions about these requirements.

The Undergraduate Advising Office provides degree checks as a service to students. In the latter part of the junior year, students should submit a request to 1050 Kemper Hall. A second degree check is performed when the student files for graduation.

Degree Check Procedure

To request a degree check, complete and file the following form with the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall:

Degree Check Request (PDF)

You will be contacted by e-mail for an appointment to review your degree check. Any questions you may have regarding your degree check, necessary petitions, or general questions on curriculum issues may be addressed at this appointment.

Three quarters before you plan to graduate, you may update the original copy of your degree check by submitting a degree check request for a follow-up degree check.

During the quarter in which you file to graduate, you will receive an e-mail from the Engineering Undergraduate Office advising youof any final degree requirements you may still need to satisfy.

Additional Information

For questions or further information concerning degree requirements contact an advisor in the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall (752-1979).

Minimum Progress

To meet the minimum progress requirement, a full-time regular undergraduate must maintain an average of at least 13 units passed over all quarters of enrollment. Minimum progress is calculated at the end of every Spring Quarter for the preceding academic year (Fall, Winter, Spring). Only full-time quarters are considered.

Detailed information on the minimum progress requirement can be found at http://registrar.ucdavis.edu/minprog/

FAQs on Minimum Progress

Minor Program

Petition to satisfy a minor program:

Minor Petition (PDF)

Additional Information

For questions or further information concerning degree requirements, contact an advisor in the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall (752-1979).

Late Drop of Courses

Late drops of courses (after the drop date on the tenth or twentieth day of instruction) may be approved if you can fully document that unforeseen circumstances beyond your control have affected your academic performance.

Late drops will not be approved for poor academic performance, academic difficulties, change of interest in a course, or lack of midterm results prior to the drop date. If you have not been attending class and have not turned in any work, ask your instructor about receiving an "Enrolled-No Work Submitted" grade for the course; do not petition for a late drop.

Authority for approval of late drops is assigned to the Undergraduate Educational Policy Committee. The Committee delegates to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies the authority to approve late drops only for the reasons listed below. Full documentation must be provided to gain approval.

Death in immediate family or large and necessary increase in family care responsibilities
Large and necessary increase in work hours, at employer's request
Medical (with documentation by Student Health Center or licensed physician)
Serious personal problems (with documentation from a mental health professional)

The Associate Dean is not authorized to approve a late drop for any other reason.

Late Drop Procedure

If your petition for a late drop is approved, you will be issued a permission to drop (PTD) number. You must use this PTD number to drop the course via SISWeb within three calendar days. Additionally, you will be billed a $3.00 fee for each course dropped through this procedure.

Additional Information

For questions or further information concerning degree requirements, contact an advisor in the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall (752-1979).

Pass/No Pass Grading Option

Students enrolled in any undergraduate major offered by the College of Engineering may not exercise the Passed/Not Passed grading option for any course work presented in satisfaction of course or unit requirements for any undergraduate major or degree offered by the College of Engineering. Additionally, undergraduate students may not exercise the Passed/Not Passed option for any course offered through the College of Engineering. Courses offered only on a P/NP basis are acceptable for specific program area degree requirements.

This is interpreted to mean that no course that could potentially be used to meet a course or unit requirement can be taken by the P/NP option. When a course appears on a list of courses that would satisfy a requirement, the course cannot be taken by the P/NP option unless the requirement has been satisfied. This applies to the General Education requirement, the Technical Electives requirement, and the unrestricted electives.

To petition to take a course by the Pass/No Pass grading option, complete and file the following petition form with the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall, by the date given in the academic calendar for choosing the pass/no pass grading option:

Pass/No Pass Petition (PDF)

Additional Information

For questions or further information concerning degree requirements, contact an advisor in the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall (752-1979).

Advising Holds

What is an advising hold?

The Engineering Advising Hold is one component of the College of Engineering's mandatory advising system to help students stay on track towards graduation. Every academic year, you will be required to meet with your departmental academic adviser to review progress towards graduation requirements. The process varies a bit from major to major, so make sure you check early to see what you need to do for your major. In most majors, you'll look over what courses you've taken and talk about plans for the future. This is also when you'll get information about any upcoming changes to the curriculum and ask any questions.

How do I know if I have a hold?

Check SISWEB. Engineering holds are placed once a year. An advising hold has a dates associated with it…check the dates carefully! You must get the hold cleared BEFORE the first date listed for the hold. If you don't clear the hold in a timely manner the University MAY drop you from your classes or “freeze” your ability to add or drop classes, to change variable units courses, and to register for classes in future quarters.

When do I see my advisor?

The quarter in which you will have a hold to clear is determined by your last name:
A—G: Fall Hold: Meet with your adviser before Fall Quarter is over
H—N: Winter Hold: Meet with your adviser before Winter Quarter is over
O—Z: Spring Hold: Meet with your adviser before Spring Quarter is over.

EXAMPLE: A Fall Quarter Hold will have a date range FROM: 03-Jan-2006 TO: 10-Feb-2006. This hold must be cleared during Fall Quarter. If you don't meet with an adviser to get the hold cleared, on the first day of Winter Quarter (03-Jan-2006) no changes can be made to your schedule, including rolling into a class from the waitlist. If the hold isn't cleared by the last date listed on the hold (February 10, 2006--in this example), you'll be unable to register for Spring Quarter.

To maximize the usefulness of the advising session, meet with your adviser mid-quarter, before your Pass 1 registration appointment.

What if I am planning to change to a major that is not in the College of Engineering?

As long as you are listed as a College of Engineering student you must clear your hold. You must submit Change of Major paperwork to leave the College of Engineering. Change of Major forms are available on the Registrar's web site and in the Engineering Undergraduate Office. If you are not yet eligible to change majors, an academic plan in the new major must be prepared and signed by an adviser in the new major. Take either the signed plan, or the change of major paperwork to the department of your Engineering major. That will enable the adviser to release your hold.

Additional Information

For questions or further information concerning degree requirements, contact an advisor in the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall (752-1979).

Repeating a Course More than Once

You are allowed to repeat a course you received a D+, D, D-, or F one time for credit. If you wish to repeat a course for a second time you must receive permission to do so BEFORE you enroll in the class for the third time.

Procedure for Petitioning

To petition to repeat a course more than once, complete the form below and submit to the Undergraduate Advising Office before enrolling in the course.

Petition for Multiple Repeats of a Course (PDF)

For Further Information

For questions or advice regarding petitioning to repeat a course for a second time, consult with the departmental undergraduate staff adviser for your major.

General Education Credit

If you took (or plan to take) a course at another institution that you believe should satisfy a general educatio requirement, you can submit the course for evaluation to the Dean's Office, College of Engineering. You must provide a syllabus or expanded course outline (catalog descriptions rarely provide sufficient information for a thorough evaluation).

Petition for General Education Credit (PDF)

Transfer Credit Evaluation

If you took a course at another institution that you believe should satisfy a major program requirement, you can submit the course for evaluation. Using the attached form, submit a course syllabus or expanded course outline (catalog descriptions rarely provide sufficient information for a thorough evaluation) to the department that teaches the course on the UC Davis campus. Ask that department to evaluate the course and bring the completed form to the Dean's Office, College of Engineering.

Petition for Transfer Credit Evaluation (PDF)

Student Petition

If you wish to request an exception to a stated degree requirement, you may petition the Undergraduate Educational Policy Committee. Using the attached form, work with the departmental staff adviser in your major department to prepare this petition. You must :

Provide a thorough written justification for your request
Submit all appropriate documentation
Obtain required recommendations from your major program

Petition for Exception (PDF)

Enrolling at Another Institution While Attending UC Davis

In general, the College of Engineering discourages students from enrolling in classes through another institution while attending UC Davis (known as "simultaneous enrollment").

The following are examples of situations for which simultaneous enrollment is appropriate:

You plan to take summer session courses at an institution that is on the semester system and the summer courses begin before Spring Quarter is completed at UC Davis.
You commute to UC Davis and it is a hardship for you to attend a course that meets five days a week.
You have difficulty enrolling in an impacted class.
You have a schedule conflict with a required class and you are close to graduation.

You may attend a community college summer session after becoming a UC Davis student. There is a limit of 105 quarter units of community college coursework the university accepts. Also, the university's residence requirement states that you must take no more than 10 of your last 45 quarter units at an institution other than UC Davis.

Procedure for Petitioning for Simultaneous Enrollment

To petition to enroll in a course at another institution while attending UC Davis, complete and file the following petition form with the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall:

Petition to Enroll Simultaneously At Another University/College (PDF)

The petition must be filed and approved before you enroll in the course at another university or college.

Dismissal and Readmission

The academic probation and dismissal policies outlined in the General Catalog will be rigorously enforced according to the following guidelines.

Dismissal

(1) A student who is placed on academic probation (AP) or becomes subject to academic disqualification (SD) at the end of a given quarter will be promptly dismissed if he/she is SD at the end of the second quarter following the quarter first resulting in AP or SD status. (See the General Catalog for SD and AP definitions.)

Readmission

(2) Dismissed students and those who withdrew while not in good academic standing should refer to the following guidelines before applying for readmission. These guidelines will be strictly enforced to ensure you have preparation adequate to resume your studies at UC Davis.

Readmission Guidelines (PDF)

Application for Readmission (PDF)

Second and Final Dismissal

(3) A previously dismissed student who has been readmitted will be given three quarters to return to good academic standing. The student may be dismissed in the first or second quarter following readmission if he/she has not established a clear trajectory toward regaining good academic standing and completing his/her major. The student will be dismissed promptly if he/she is SD after completion of the third quarter following readmission. The second dismissal is final, as subsequent applications for readmission will not be approved.

(4) If the student is no longer subject to academic disqualification at the end of the third quarter following readmission, a second and final dismissal could occur later according to the guideline for dismissal stated in item (1) above.

Dean's Authority

(5) Dismissal and readmission of students according to the guidelines outlined above shall be ultimately at the discretion of the Associate Dean of the College of Engineering for Undergraduate Studies.

Appeal

If you have been academically dismissed and would like to appeal, carefully read the Guidelines for Appealing a Dismissal (PDF) for instructions on how to appeal. You will need to also schedule an appointment with an adviser in the Undergraduate Office.

For questions or further information concerning your dismissal status, contact an adviser in the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall (752-1979).