FAQ Student Guide

WHAT IS THE FAQ?

This FAQ is a collection of questions"questions we hear a lot in the College of Engineering Undergraduate office"and the answers to those questions. It's a supplement to the University Catalog, the Engineering Bulletin, and various departmental publications. If you are an entering first-year student, a transfer student, or a continuing student, you can use the FAQ if you have questions about administrative and academic policies.

Most of the questions were collected by the Academic Peer Advisers.

Download the PDF version of the FAQ Survival Guide. PDF requires the free Adobe Reader. The PDF has not been updated, the Web version is the most current.

How to use the FAQ

If you are an entering student, it's important for you to take the time to go over the FAQ, so you can be familiar with the material covered here. You can use the FAQ as a guide, but if you have an urgent question, you really should call on an adviser so that you can be sure that your issues are handled properly.

General Questions..................................2
First-Year Students..................................5
Petitions.....................................................7
Transfer Students....................................9
Probation...................................................9
Graduation..............................................10
Phone numbers/Web Addresses.......12

GENERAL QUESTIONS

I want to take a class at a community college. How do I find out if that class will transfer to UC Davis?

The UC Davis campus lists all community college courses that will transfer - and how those courses will transfer - on the (www.assist.org) web page.

You should note that if you want to enroll at a community college at the same time that you are enrolled in courses at UC Davis, you have to obtain approval in advance. You can do this by submitting a petition, available from the College of Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall.

What are "advising holds" and how do I clear them?

The College of Engineering has a mandatory advising system. This system operates by placing an advising hold on your registration, once each academic year. To clear the hold, you must meet with your departmental adviser so that you can prepare an academic plan for the next year. You can find names and phone numbers for departmental advisers inside the back cover.

Will advising holds prevent me from registering for courses?

If you do not have your hold released by the deadline, you will not be able to enroll in courses or make course schedule adjustments until you clear the hold.

When can I expect to see an advising hold?

Advising holds are scheduled alphabetically, by the first letter of your last name:

Last name	Academic Period
A-G	Fall Quarter
H-N	Winter Quarter
O-Z	Spring Quarter

Can I take all my courses for the quarter P/NP?

If you are a student enrolled in any major in the College of Engineering, you may NOT exercise the Pass/No Pass grading option for any coursework you will use for satisfaction of graduation requirements. In addition, you may not elect the P/NP grading option for any engineering course.

Courses offered only on a P/NP basis are acceptable for specific program area degree requirements.

How do I change the grading for a course to P/NP?

If you are a student enrolled in any major in the College of Engineering, you may NOT exercise the Pass/No Pass grading option for any course that you could, potentially, use to meet a course or a unit requirement. When a course appears on a list of courses that would satisfy the requirement, you may not take the course by P/NP option unless you have already satisfied the requirement. This applies to the General Education requirements, to the Technical Electives requirement, and to the unrestricted electives.

To change the grading option to P/NP for a course that could NOT potentially be used to meet a course or unit requirement, you must file a petition, available from the College of Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall.

What and when is the "drop deadline"?

The "drop deadline" is the last day to drop courses without a fee or without first getting the dean's permission. This is the 20th day of instruction, except for those courses designated by departments as 10-day-drop courses (including most courses offered by the College of Engineering).

How can I switch a section after the drop deadline?

If you are requesting a section change after the drop deadline, you have to get in touch with the instructor to make special arrangements.

How do I petition for a drop after the deadline?

The College of Engineering Undergraduate Office administers all late drops. Under specific circumstances, with supporting documentation, this office will approve a petition for a late drop. You can get a late drop petition from the College of Engineering Undergraduate Office.

If I don't have the prerequisite for a course, can I still enroll in that course?

You should note the prerequisites for courses carefully; you have the responsibility for meeting these requirements. If you can demonstrate that your preparation is equivalent to the preparation the prerequisites specify, the instructor may waive these requirements for you. If you have not completed the prerequisite, the instructor may request that you be dropped from the course.

What is "credit by exam"?

Under certain conditions, if you are a currently registered student in good standing, you may receive course credit by taking an examination without formally enrolling in course.

You may obtain a petition, and a copy of the prescribed conditions, from the Office of the Registrar. Your petition is subject to the approval of the instructor giving the examination, the department involved, and the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies.

Any credit you receive for the examination may not duplicate any credit you have already earned toward your degree. You may NOT use credit by examination to repeat any course you have taken previously"regardless of the grade you received in that course.

The final results of the examination will be reported to the Office of the Registrar. That Office will assign you the appropriate grade and grade points.

If you fail to pass the examination, your grade will be reported as an F. We encourage you to prepare fully for the examination before you attempt to take it.

Are there "unit restrictions" for the College of Engineering?

In any one quarter, you may take up to 28.5 units of coursework without seeking permission from anyone. You can enroll in a total of 13.5 units during Pass 1 of registration, up to 19 units during Pass 2, and up to 28.5 units during the schedule adjustment period during the beginning of the quarter. If you want to take more than 28.5 units, you must seek permission from the College of Engineering Undergraduate Office.

Does the College of Engineering have a "unit cap"?

Unlike some other colleges on campus, the College of Engineering does not enforce any maximum number of units. However, you should try to finish your degree in a timely manner.

How many units do I need to graduate from the College of Engineering?

There is no uniform unit requirement for all engineering students. Rather, each candidate for a bachelor of science degree in engineering must satisfactorily complete one of the curricula in the College of Engineering. Each curriculum specifies the courses and the number of units that must be taken.

What is "concurrent enrollment"?

Concurrent enrollment (sometimes called "simultaneous enrollment") means that you are enrolled at UC Davis and also enrolled at another institution at the same time. You must receive the permission of the Dean before enrolling at the other institution.

What is "Enrolled"No Work Submitted" (ENWS)?

"Enrolled"No Work Submitted" is a notation assigned to you at the end of the term for a course in which you were enrolled but did not submit any work that was graded. The "ENWS" notation does not appear on your official transcript.

What is the difference between the Computer Engineering and the Computer Science and Engineering programs?

Both programs study the design of digital computer systems of all types and both contain hardware and software components. Computer Engineering has a greater focus on hardware design and development, while Computer Science and Engineering focuses more on software design and development.

What is the difference between Computer Science and Engineering (College of Engineering) and Computer Science (College of Letters and Science)?

The Computer Science and Engineering program in the College of Engineering focuses on the engineering applications of computer science, while the Computer Science program in the College of Letters and Science focuses on theory and mathematical practices in the field of computer science.

FIRST-YEAR STUDENT QUESTIONS

How many courses should I take my first quarter?

We recommend that you enroll in a "normal load" of about 15 units each quarter"including your first quarter. If you must work for financial reasons, you may take fewer units, but you still must complete a total of 39 units per academic year.

What courses are most important for entering first-year students?

Mathematics 12-Pre Calculus and/or Mathematics 21A-Calculus
Chemistry 41C (unless you are exempted by examination) It is offered only in the fall quarter.
College Writing WLD57 (if your Subject A requirement is not yet satisfied in some other way)

You should know that you have only three quarters to satisfy the Subject A requirement. If you do not complete this requirement in three quarters, you will be unenrolled until you have satisfied Subject A.

Are there any "Introduction to Engineering" courses?

A number of first-year engineering courses are designed to describe the engineer's role in society and to show you the similarities and differences among the various engineering disciplines:

Aeronautical Science and Engineering 1
Biological and Agricultural Engineering 1
Biomedical Engineering 1
Civil and Environmental Engineering 3
Electrical and Computer Engineering 1
Mechanical Engineering 1
Optical Science and Engineering 1

How would a score of "3" or above on my College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examinations apply to my requirements?

You can find a table to interpret all of the possible AP examination results in the General Catalog as well as in the College of Engineering Bulletin on page 8.

How many general education units are required?

In the College of Engineering, you must have 24 units of General Education Topical Breadth courses (33 units for the major in Computer Science and Engineering). Two of the courses you offer for topical breadth must be upper-division courses. You must also take at least three writing courses, and at least one course for social-cultural diversity. (Courses may count for more than one aspect of the General Education requirements.) You must satisfy Subject A before a course will count toward writing credit.

What are "wait lists"?

If a course is full, you may place yourself on the "wait list" during Pass 2 of course registration. When an open position becomes available, you will be added to the course. For some impacted courses, the department offering the course may provide some students with a "Permission to Add (PTA) number, allowing them to enroll in the course.

What are "PTAs"?

PTAs are "permission to add" numbers. You can request these from the department offering the course. A PTA number allows you to enroll in the course and is given to students who enroll late or who enroll from the wait list.

What are "PTDs"?

PTDs are "permissions to drop" a course after the deadline. You may request this PTD number at the College of Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall.

What is a "PAC"?

This is your "personal access code." Your PAC is a confidential password for registration services (Web registration) and other services. Be sure to keep your PAC confidential. See the Class Schedule and Registration Guide for additional information.

What is "SISWEB"? (Online Web Registration)

The program you will use to register for classes. SISWEB is the Student Information System on the web. SISWEB is available at <http://sisweb.ucdavis.edu>.

How do I enroll in classes?

You can enroll in courses through SISWEB <http://sisweb.ucdavis.edu>.

What are unrestricted electives?

You may count as an unrestricted elective any course for which University credit is allowed. Unrestricted electives are included in some, but not all, engineering curricula.

What are technical electives?

Technical electives permit you to tailor a program to your own academic and career objectives. They are science- or mathematics-oriented classes. A list of technical electives that you may be able to take is available in the UC Davis General Catalog and in the College of Engineering Bulletin on page 20.

PETITIONS

How do I change my major?

You can petition to change your major during the first ten days of each quarter. A change of major petition is available at the College of Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall. This petition requires the signature of both your former and your new advisers. You must complete at least one quarter on campus before you can initiate this change. Course and GPA requirements vary depending upon the major. For more information, you should consult with the department adviser or visit: Change Major.

How do I appeal if I do not meet the change-of-major guidelines?

You can appeal by filling out a student petition, which will be reviewed by the Student Petition Committee. This form is available at the College of Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall.

Is it possible to minor in engineering?

No. The College of Engineering does not offer minors in engineering fields. However, you may choose, with the consent of your adviser, to complete minors offered in either the College of Agriculture and Environmental Science or in the College of Letters and Science.

Can I repeat a class?

Yes. You may once repeat a course in which you received a grade of D+ or lower. You may repeat a maximum of sixteen units to replace grades of D+ or lower.

Before repeating a course more than once, you must petition for approval. The petition will be approved only when there are exceptional and compelling circumstances.

Approval or denial of your petition to repeat a course more than once is ultimately at the discretion of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies of the College of Engineering.

How do I get degree credit for a graduate (courses numbered 200) or a professional course (courses numbered 300 and 400)?

Before enrolling in a course numbered 200 or above, you must submit a petition to the department administering your major, requesting approval to enroll in, and receive degree credit for, the course.

How long do I have to complete an "I" grade?

You must replace an incomplete grade with a passing grade within three quarters of registration. After that time, the "I" grade will revert to an "F". You must not re-enroll for the class for which an "I" grade has been assigned.

May I extend the time to complete an "I" grade?

Yes, but only by filing a petition. Petitions are available in the College of
Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 Engineering Unit II.

What do I do if I want to take courses at another UC campus for a quarter?

You may apply for the Intercampus Visitor Program through the Office of the Registrar. Along with your completed application, you must provide a letter of support from your major department, if you are planning to take courses for your major.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

How do I know what requirements I have already satisfied?

Undergraduate Admission and Outreach Services grants transfer credit. Your Dean's Office determines which college requirements have been satisfied after receipt of transcripts from Undergraduate Admissions. Your major department determines which major requirements you may have already satisfied. Please bring unofficial transcripts with you when you come for advising.

I am a new transfer student. What courses should I enroll in for my first quarter?

You should choose courses for your major. You should make a special effort to enroll in any lower-division preparatory subject courses that you have not yet completed. Your major adviser can assist you in choosing those courses.

What is "ASSIST"?

ASSIST is a computerized "course equivalency" information system, available through the Internet, which is designed to help transfer students. It shows how a course from one California community college or university can be applied when the course is transferred. ASSIST is available on the Web at <http://www.assist.org>.

What is "IGETC"?

The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) is a general education program that community college transfer students can use to fulfill lower-division general education requirements. You should, however, note that engineering students who complete IGETC must still take two more upper-division general education courses. The College of Engineering prefers that all transfer students not attempt to complete IGETC.

PROBATION

What is the criterion for repeating a course?

You may repeat only those courses in which you receive a grade of D+ or lower.

What is "academic probation"?

You will be placed on academic probation when, at the end of any quarter, your grade point average drops below 2.0, but is higher than 1.5.

What is "subject to academic disqualification"?

You will be placed on "subject to disqualification" if your overall or quarterly grade point average drops below 1.5, or if you have been on probation for two consecutive quarters.

What is "reinstatement"?

You may be reinstated after you have appealed a dismissal decision, and you are being allowed to continue on a "probation contract." Reinstatement occurs in the same quarter as a dismissal.

What is a "probation contract"?

You will be asked to develop a "probation contract" with a Dean's Office adviser if you are in serious academic difficulty. The probation contract specifies, on a quarter-by-quarter basis, what courses you need to take and what grades you need to achieve to be permitted to stay in school.

What is "readmission"?

If you are dismissed, you may not be readmitted until one year has passed after the final quarter you completed at UC Davis. If you were dismissed while in lower-division standing, you will be encouraged to complete all of your remaining lower-division requirements at a community college or other institution.

GRADUATION

How do I apply for graduation?

To graduate from the University officially and receive your diploma, you must file a Graduation Application with the Office of the Registrar, Room 12, Mrak Hall. The deadline for doing so depends on the quarter in which you plan to graduate. Participating in the commencement ceremony is not the same as filing to graduate.

When will I receive my diploma?

Your official diploma will be available approximately three months after you graduate. You may pick up your diploma at the Office of Registrar, Room 12 Mrak Hall, or request that it be mailed to you. Contact the Office of the Registrar at 752-3639 for more information.

Can I cancel my graduation application if I decide to attend another quarter?

Yes, you may withdraw your graduation application through the Office of the Registrar. You will need to re-apply for graduation for the next appropriate quarter.

How do I get a degree check?

Toward the end of your junior year, when you have completed about 125 units, you may request a first degree check at the College of Engineering Undergraduate Office (1050 John D. Kemper Hall).

How do I know if I can graduate?

You should meet with your departmental adviser. You may also come to the College of Engineering Undergraduate Office (1050 John D. Kemper Hall) to request a degree check. The degree check will indicate whether you still have requirements to take before you can graduate. You should also check the Office of the Registrar Web site, which lists the filing deadlines for graduation.

Can I participate in the commencement ceremonies even if I have not completed all my degree requirements?

Yes. You must have completed at least 150 units by the end of winter quarter to be eligible to participate in the spring quarter commencement ceremony. You will need to sign up in the Dean's Office.

How can I obtain certification that I have completed my degree requirements if I need it for employment or graduate school?

You may request a Letter of Certification from the Office of the Registrar once you have filed for a graduation application. The Letter of Certification can be done only after all requirements and coursework have been completed and the grades have been reported.

The survival guide series is designed to supplement information in the Engineering Bulletin and the UC General Catalog.

Other guides in the series are:

A survival guide for STUDENT CLUB OFFICERS
A guide for getting your organization off to a good start"and staying there!
A survival guide for TRANSFER STUDENTS
Check out the helpful hints about computer hookups, advisers, and good study spots on campus.
A survival guide for GRADUATE STUDENTS
Selection of a major professor, financial support for graduate students, and international student information are but a few of the topics covered.

These guides may be found in the Undergraduate Engineering Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall (formerly Engineering II).