This FAQ is published by our department to help our faculty, staff, and students. It currently contains 10197 words of advice, but we have tried to organize it so you can find information quickly.
Contributors:
- Janie Brennan
- Ron Cytron
Disclaimer: The contributors have attempted to provide clear and accurate information in this FAQ. If there is a disagreement with what you see here, and what you see in the course bulletin or other official publications, they are right and this FAQ is wrong. Please help us keep this FAQ accurate by reporting discrepancies, and as always, consult with your advisors to be sure you are acting on the right information.
Corrections and suggestions for improving this FAQ are most welcome by contacting the department's Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. Details on submissions for this FAQ can be found by clicking on the FAQ entry below.
In short, no.
Cheating not academically breaks the trust of your professors and your peers, but it also impairs the person that matters the most: yourself.
If you take a shortcut on an assignment, then you are robbing yourself of that next level of understanding, of potential growth and of the pride of having done something yourself.
Completing an assignment and doing well in a class should come with a sense of accomplishment, which will in turn push you to accomplish more. If you ever feel the need to cheat or do something dishonest, then take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
You are at a top level university with great academic resources and you should be here not only to receive a degree, but also to learn as much as possible. There are a number of alternative options you can take before you cheat:
- Talk to your professor, and ask for an extension. There is no harm in asking.
- Commit to a new schedule, start early, go to office hours.
- Fail the assignment or receive a lower grade. It is perfectly fine to not do well on an assignment as long as you can evaluate what went wrong. Maybe you need to start earlier, cut back on extracurriculars, or perhaps you are in the wrong class.
- Drop/Withdraw from the class.
In the short-term and long-term, it is never worth it to cheat. There is always another way, and that alternative path will always be more beneficial. Do not risk your personal integrity for one assignment or one class.
There are several principles at work here:
- Engineering is by its nature a collaborative discipline. Because collaboration skills are valuable in its practice, many of our courses explicitly encourage collaboration.
- We are often obligated to assess student performance on an individual basis. Thus, even those courses that feature collaborative assignments also contain assignments that must be completed individually.
- The university, school, and departmental policies on academic integrity state the standards of our community and the consequence that can follow from violating those standards. Academic integrity proceedings are covered elsewhere in this FAQ.
In light of the above, it is important that there be clear rules in our courses concerning when and how you are allowed to collaborate. This burden has portions for both faculty and students:
- Faculty are obligated to state on their syllabi, web pages, and assignments the extent to which collaboration is allowed. Faculty try to be as clear as possible, but prose is prone to ambiguity.
- Students are therefore responsible for asking questions in cases where they are not sure about the rules.
The goals here are to allow as much collaboration as possible while making sure that the limitations of such collaboration are clear and followed by students.
The following are some examples of collaborative scenarios from our courses. These are not necessarily the policy in any given course. You must check a given course page's syllabus or web pages for what is allowed in that course.
- A homework assignment allows students to bounce ideas off of other students before writing up a solution, with the requirement that anybody involved in such discussions wih the students is listed at the top of the submitted solution.
- A homework solution allows discussion of problems among students, as long as nothing is written down. The student must wait at least an hour after all such discussions have ended to write up the solution. This includes assignments that use MATLAB code or other computational tools.
If you are unsatisfied with your performance in a given course, and if you feel that another experience with that material is necessary, you can retake that course. This should be considered carefully and with the advice of your departmental and 4-year advisors.
Except as noted below, retaking a course causes the following actions on your transcript and GPA computation:
- The previous enrollment in the course is annotated with an "R" to show that the course was replaced by a subsequent enrollment in the same course. The prior enrollment in the course persists on your transcript, and the grade earned in that prior enrollment is also shown. If you withdrew from the course, then the "W" persists, as well.
- The new grade replaces the previous grade in terms of GPA computation. This is true even if the new grade is worse than the previous grade.
However, take careful note of the following:
- If in your prior enrollment you were found in violation of academic integrity policies for that course, then your prior grade may not be replaced by the new grade. Each school currently makes its own decision about this.
- University rules concerning plagiarism apply also to retakes of the same course. Those rules do not allow you to submit the same work for credit in two courses, even if one of those courses is a retake of the other, without the explicit permission of the instructor of both courses. You cannot repeat a course and submit any of the same work again for credit without the explicit approval of both instances of that course.
The title of dean is usually given to an individual who has significant oversight or responsibility for an academic unit, in our case a school of our university.Amoung our schools, there appears to be no consistency between the flavors of dean titles, but an easy way to describe the main dean of a school is to say that he or she reports directly to the provost. These provost-reporting deans are each responsible for all activites of their respective schools: salaries, teaching, research infrastructure, planning, fundraising. The current dean of SEAS is Aaron Bobick, and he is also a faculty member in CSE.
Each school also has a dean who supervises the academic activities of that school. Chris Kroeger is that dean for SEAS, and his office hosts staff who also carry the dean title and who advise and oversee the school's academic programs.
The provost is the chief academic officer at a university. The schools of our institution are organized to be relatively independent. The provost looks for opportunities for advancement of teaching, scholarship, and learning across our schools. The web page for our provost Holden Thorp shows the nature and breadth of activities associated with our provost's office, and the provost's blog can help you follow his interests and activities.
- For graduate admissions, meaning master's and doctoral studies, the department decides on admissions. If you have questions you are encouraged to look at our graduate program pages.
- For undergraduate students who are already here and would like to transfer between schools (Olin, SEAS, ArtSci, etc.), the receiving school decides whether or not to admit the transfer student. The conversation should begin with your advisor in your current school. Transfers are usually handled at the end of each semester.
If you are interested in a program in a school other than your prime school, where you are currently advised, then you are encouraged to seek out an advisor in the school of interest as a contact point for questions about that school's programs and procedures. The Undergraduate Engineering Student Services (UESS) office currently housed in Lopata 303 is the place to go.
- For undergraduate students who are not already here, meaning first-year applications or transfer students from other universities, admissions are decided by the University Admissions Office.
The department has no say in these admissions, but if you have a point of contact in the department, that person can furnish a reference letter for you, if that person knows you well enough to provide a letter of value. Even so, it is unclear the role such letters play in the admissions decisions.
Each semester before class registration starts, EECE will post Advising Memos that will include important updates and considerations for when you register for courses. The advising updates can be found hereThese updates will also have been shared with your academic advisor.
You are assigned a departmental advisor when you choose to major or minor in any of our department's programs. If you are a first major in our department, then your advisor must explicitly approve your ability to register for courses. Each semester, there is an advising period during which it is expected that you will make an appointment to meet with your advisor.While approval for registration is one subject for such meetings, you and your advisor will likely engage in conversations concerning
If you are not meeting with you advisor on a regular basis, then you are not making best use of the resources offered by our department. You are strongly encouraged to meet with your advisor each semester prior to registration!
- other majors or minors that might interest you
- research opportunities
- internships and job search
- difficulties you may be facing
- letters of reference for employment, graduate school, or fellowships
Your advisor can offer advice at other times as well, and if you find yourself in need of such advice, send an email to your advisor and arrange for a conversation to address any concerns you have. Some examples of situations that might trigger a conversation with your advisor are as follows:
- You are struggling in a course and are not sure how to get help.
- You are finding yourself in a difficult semester and you need to lighten your load.
- You are finding yourself with extra time available and would like to consider some activities to enrich your studies.
- You are trying to choose between multiple job or internship offers.
- You have been accused of violating the rules for academic integrity.
- You need a letter of reference.
In all of the above situations, your advisor is best able to help you if your advisor knows you well, and the best way to establish a solid relationship with your advisor is to meet with the advisor regularly, show up promptly for any meetings you have scheduled, and be as prepared as possible for such meetings.
While second majors and minors do not require explicit approval from their advisors to register, they are encouraged for all of the above reasons to meet with their advisors regularly and as needed.
Each engineering department posts a 2-year listing of what we believe will be offered. For EECE, the list is located here: EECE Course OfferingsNote that sometimes unexpected circumstances arise, so the list may change from time to time. We will do our best to update it frequently.
For undergraduate students:Yes! AIChE, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, is an international organization for those who study chemical engineering and related fields.
The EECE department has a student chapter that hosts several events each semester (for example, a forum on applying to graduate school, dinner with faculty, etc.), and is a great resource for all undergraduates in the department.
AIChE also has an active local section that hosts several events each semester. Participating in the St. Louis Local Section events is a fantastic way to network with local chemical engineers, as well explore career options and learn more about the field.
For graduate students:
There is no EECE-specific graduate student group, but all graduate students are encouraged to participate in AGES, the Association of Graduate Engineering Students. AGES hosts weekly social events as well as other professional development events throughout the year.
For undergraduate students:Yes! AIChE, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, is an international organization for those who study chemical engineering and related fields.
The EECE department has a student chapter that hosts several events each semester (for example, a forum on applying to graduate school, dinner with faculty, etc.), and is a great resource for all undergraduates in the department.
AIChE also has an active local section that hosts several events each semester. Participating in the St. Louis Local Section events is a fantastic way to network with local chemical engineers, as well explore career options and learn more about the field.
For graduate students:
There is no EECE-specific graduate student group, but all graduate students are encouraged to participate in AGES, the Association of Graduate Engineering Students. AGES hosts weekly social events as well as other professional development events throughout the year.
Although we do not have very many below-500-level elective courses in EECE, keep in mind that our graduate students come from a variety of backgrounds, so our graduate electives are often designed to be understood by students from both engineering and non-engineering backgrounds, and are therefore fairly accessible to juniors and seniors in EECE. Keep a close eye on the listed prerequisites, though -- instructors are careful to list the courses whose skills will be necessary to be successful in their course. If you're still concerned at this point, feel free to discuss it with your advisor, or to email the course instructor to ask if you're ready.
As you are looking into elective options, here are some things to keep in mind:
- EECE maintains a list of which courses we believe will be offered over the next two years to help you plan out your degree. This list can be found here.
- Although both the BSChE and EnvE degrees generally require electives to be 300-level or higher, both programs have exceptions to the rule (for example, MEMS 253 will count as an upper-level elective). See the BSChE program and BSEnvE program sites for details.
- If you are particularly interested in climate science, a list of related courses can be found here.
The life of a student at an institution such as Washington University can at times be difficult. Course work, student groups, obligations to family,part-time employment -- all of these can conspire to make your plate quite full. Then, too, we know that depression as an illness can and does develop in college-age students.It is important first and foremost to take care of yourself. If you, your instructors, your advisors, or your friends develop concerns about your well-being, you are encouraged to explore the services available for counseling, starting with this page. Note that in addition to regular counseling, the Habif Wellness Center offers "drop-in"-style meetings with counselors through the Let's Talk program. If you're concerned for someone you know and aren't comfortable talking to them about it, you can complete a WashU Cares report so that someone will check in on them.
If somebody you know is in crisis (including, of course, yourself), then information for quick response can be found here. If help is needed immediately, you should call 911.
To see whether or not your AP score is sufficient for you to earn credit for a particular course, see this page.If you are eligible to use AP credit to count for one of these foundational courses, it is a little bit up to you whether or not to use it. Generally speaking, if you earned a high score on the AP test, your level of knowledge is very likely sufficient to succeed in our core engineering courses. That being said, if it has been several years since you took these courses, or if you are feeling quite uncertain about how well you know/understand the basic concepts from the courses, it may be a good idea to have a "refresher".
But don't I need to be really good at chemistry to succeed in chemical or environmental engineering?
Actually, our core courses only really require that you have a solid grasp of the fundamental concepts from chemistry (types of bonds, boiling points, solubilities, etc.) We don't necessarily talk about specific chemicals/reactions all that much. In other words, if you don't remember all the little details, it will probably be okay!Are there any risks to skipping CSE 131 via AP credit?
The one thing you might miss is a brief introduction to MATLAB. As part of CSE 131, you would be trying out some basic programming exercises in MATLAB (in addition to a more traditional language). Most of the courses in EECE will suggest using MATLAB to solve problems, so some familiarity with this software could be useful. See the FAQ question on MATLAB for resources to help you learn it on your own.
To see whether or not your AP score is sufficient for you to earn credit for a particular course, see this page.Humanities and Social Sciences (H/SS) AP courses cannot be counted towards the H/SS degree requirements. In other words, you must take 18 credits of H/SS as part of your engineering degree. Note that these AP credits do count as general elective credit, but not a specific degree requirement.
Each school is allowed to have its own rules concerning how courses count toward its programs of study. For example, ArtSci prohibits double counting of almost all courses, so that if a student takes Organic Chemistry (Chem 261) within the chemistry department, then it can count toward a chemistry program or toward chemical/environmental engineering, but not both from the ArtSci perspective.
We have an automated system called WUAchieve which checks the courses you have taken against the programs you seek. While some programs are not yet programmed into WUAchieve, almost all engineering programs and many other programs are. If you log in, you can see the history of what you have completed, the courses that are currently in progress, and what remains to be accomplished for you to finish.
Follow the directions on that site to either create or view a degree audit. Note that you can run an audit for your current registered degree program, or you can run a "What if?" audit to check your progress against another degree program (for example, if you are considering switching majors).
Note: Because there is leeway in how some courses count, students in a combined BS/Master's program may not see courses counting as they wish. You should use WUAchieve as a starting point and then double-check with your advisor.
Because we are awesome.
To see whether or not your AP score is sufficient for you to earn credit for a particular course, see this page.If you are eligible to use AP credit to count for one of these foundational courses, it is a little bit up to you whether or not to use it. Generally speaking, if you earned a high score on the AP test, your level of knowledge is very likely sufficient to succeed in our core engineering courses. That being said, if it has been several years since you took these courses, or if you are feeling quite uncertain about how well you know/understand the basic concepts from the courses, it may be a good idea to have a "refresher".
But don't I need to be really good at chemistry to succeed in chemical or environmental engineering?
Actually, our core courses only really require that you have a solid grasp of the fundamental concepts from chemistry (types of bonds, boiling points, solubilities, etc.) We don't necessarily talk about specific chemicals/reactions all that much. In other words, if you don't remember all the little details, it will probably be okay!Are there any risks to skipping CSE 131 via AP credit?
The one thing you might miss is a brief introduction to MATLAB. As part of CSE 131, you would be trying out some basic programming exercises in MATLAB (in addition to a more traditional language). Most of the courses in EECE will suggest using MATLAB to solve problems, so some familiarity with this software could be useful. See the FAQ question on MATLAB for resources to help you learn it on your own.
Although it can be challenging to get a summer internship (especially early in college), persistence can pay off. Here are some quick things you can do:
- Visit the WashU Career Center (or some of their engineering drop-in hours in Lopata) to have someone look over your resume and discuss tips for interviewing.
- Attend the Engineering Career Fair (usually scheduled each September) and other campus career fairs. Even if you don't necessarily apply for something, it can be good practice to talk with the industry representatives.
- Apply, apply, apply! Don't lose hope -- sometimes the simple act of applying to many places will bear fruit. Some good sites to help you search are Indeed, Glassdoor, and USAJobs (for government positions).
- Periodically check back into various job posting sites. Different companies will post positions throughout the year (even as late as April or May!), so it's a good idea to take a quick look every 2-3 weeks.
- When applying to a company, check on LinkedIn to see if you have any connection with anyone working there (can be as tenuous as a WashU connection or same hometown, etc.), or if you can find anyone in a position similar to the one you're applying to. Message them to let them know you're applying and to ask if they have any advice for their application process. The worst thing that can happen is that they ignore you, so don't feel afraid to try this technique.
- Network! If you attend events such as Venture Cafe at Cortex or conferences (e.g., AIChE, NSBE, SWE), you may meet someone who may eventually lead you to an internship! Joining the WashU Mentor Collective may also introduce you to someone who can help hook you up. Don't worry about being shy/quiet -- most engineers are! Think about this kind of activity like skill-building. Even if you aren't good at it now, you will get better with practice.
- Consider trying out research. Even if you don't find the idea of research to be particularly exciting, it is a form of work experience, and may give you skills and knowledge that will help you get the next experience. Any type of engineering/science-related experience will likely be more useful towards your career path compared to a regular part-time job at home. Information on how to get a research position is covered elsewhere in this FAQ.
If you are majoring in chemical engineering, the American Chemical Society (ACS) sponsors a program to match ChE students up with internships. It's called the SCI Scholars Internship Program, and applications are usually due in October. Full details can be found here.
Again - persistence and practice are key! The more you try these activities, the more confident you will likely be. Don't give up!
Research is a great way to get some real project-based experience, especially early in college when it can be more difficult to procure an internship. The good news is that there are many ways to get involved in research on campus and elsewhere!
On-Campus Research:
The easiest way to get involved in research on campus is to contact a faculty member directly. First, look through faculty webpages and find someone whose research seems interesting to you. Then, either ask in person or send an email indicating your interest in doing a project with them (either paid or for independent study credit, depending on what you are looking for). It can help to include your resume and a short description of any past research experience (if any), and why you want to work with them. Showing genuine interest in their work (for example, by asking a question about something they've recently published) can go a long way.
Some formal (funded) on-campus research programs can be found via:
Note that many summer research programs have application deadlines in early spring (February-April).
- Student Services: Undergraduate Research Projects
- Student Services: Summer Research Opportunities
- WashU Office of Undergraduate Research(OUR): OUR often posts open positions on their main page, and more information about WashU programs can be found on the "Funding & Programs" page.
Off-Campus Research:
If you want to find something closer to home or in a place you've dreamt of living (even temporarily), here are some good places to look:
Again, most summer programs will have application deadlines in early spring, so keep an eye on your calendar!
- WashU Office of Undergraduate Research: List of Non-WashU Research Opportunities
- NSF REU programs: Use this site to search through literally hundreds of funded research programs across the US. You can sort by location and research keywords.
- You can always check the websites of universities near where you live to find summer programs, or even contact faculty at universities close to home (use a similar process as that described above) to see if they have funding to support a student over the summer.
It depends on the degree:BSEnvE + Chemical Engineering (BSChE)
Technically, yes, but we strongly recommend against doing it. The reason for this recommendation is that in the third and fourth years of the curriculum, the two majors will each have multiple required courses in the same semester, possibly at conflicting times. For example, you would need to take both Capstone courses.
BSEnvE + Applied Science-Chemical Engineering (BSAS-ChE)
No, you may not double-major in both the BSEnvE and the Applied Science (Chemical Engineering) degree. There is too much overlap in the course requirements.
Is there an alternative to double-majoring?
Yes! We recommend combining your chemical and environmental interests by majoring in chemical engineering (BSChE) and minoring in Environmental Engineering Science.
In short, no.
Cheating not academically breaks the trust of your professors and your peers, but it also impairs the person that matters the most: yourself.
If you take a shortcut on an assignment, then you are robbing yourself of that next level of understanding, of potential growth and of the pride of having done something yourself.
Completing an assignment and doing well in a class should come with a sense of accomplishment, which will in turn push you to accomplish more. If you ever feel the need to cheat or do something dishonest, then take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
You are at a top level university with great academic resources and you should be here not only to receive a degree, but also to learn as much as possible. There are a number of alternative options you can take before you cheat:
- Talk to your professor, and ask for an extension. There is no harm in asking.
- Commit to a new schedule, start early, go to office hours.
- Fail the assignment or receive a lower grade. It is perfectly fine to not do well on an assignment as long as you can evaluate what went wrong. Maybe you need to start earlier, cut back on extracurriculars, or perhaps you are in the wrong class.
- Drop/Withdraw from the class.
In the short-term and long-term, it is never worth it to cheat. There is always another way, and that alternative path will always be more beneficial. Do not risk your personal integrity for one assignment or one class.
There are several principles at work here:
- Engineering is by its nature a collaborative discipline. Because collaboration skills are valuable in its practice, many of our courses explicitly encourage collaboration.
- We are often obligated to assess student performance on an individual basis. Thus, even those courses that feature collaborative assignments also contain assignments that must be completed individually.
- The university, school, and departmental policies on academic integrity state the standards of our community and the consequence that can follow from violating those standards. Academic integrity proceedings are covered elsewhere in this FAQ.
In light of the above, it is important that there be clear rules in our courses concerning when and how you are allowed to collaborate. This burden has portions for both faculty and students:
- Faculty are obligated to state on their syllabi, web pages, and assignments the extent to which collaboration is allowed. Faculty try to be as clear as possible, but prose is prone to ambiguity.
- Students are therefore responsible for asking questions in cases where they are not sure about the rules.
The goals here are to allow as much collaboration as possible while making sure that the limitations of such collaboration are clear and followed by students.
The following are some examples of collaborative scenarios from our courses. These are not necessarily the policy in any given course. You must check a given course page's syllabus or web pages for what is allowed in that course.
- A homework assignment allows students to bounce ideas off of other students before writing up a solution, with the requirement that anybody involved in such discussions wih the students is listed at the top of the submitted solution.
- A homework solution allows discussion of problems among students, as long as nothing is written down. The student must wait at least an hour after all such discussions have ended to write up the solution. This includes assignments that use MATLAB code or other computational tools.
Because we are awesome.
To see whether or not your AP score is sufficient for you to earn credit for a particular course, see this page.If you are eligible to use AP credit to count for one of these foundational courses, it is a little bit up to you whether or not to use it. Generally speaking, if you earned a high score on the AP test, your level of knowledge is very likely sufficient to succeed in our core engineering courses. That being said, if it has been several years since you took these courses, or if you are feeling quite uncertain about how well you know/understand the basic concepts from the courses, it may be a good idea to have a "refresher".
But don't I need to be really good at chemistry to succeed in chemical or environmental engineering?
Actually, our core courses only really require that you have a solid grasp of the fundamental concepts from chemistry (types of bonds, boiling points, solubilities, etc.) We don't necessarily talk about specific chemicals/reactions all that much. In other words, if you don't remember all the little details, it will probably be okay!Are there any risks to skipping CSE 131 via AP credit?
The one thing you might miss is a brief introduction to MATLAB. As part of CSE 131, you would be trying out some basic programming exercises in MATLAB (in addition to a more traditional language). Most of the courses in EECE will suggest using MATLAB to solve problems, so some familiarity with this software could be useful. See the FAQ question on MATLAB for resources to help you learn it on your own.
Take a look here.
To access MATLAB:
All WashU students can download MATLAB for free using their WUSTL key. You can do so here.Learning how to use MATLAB: MATLAB has a FREE online tutorial program called Onramp. It will take you through all of the basics of using MATLAB. All you will need is a Mathworks account (also free). You can access Onramp here.
There are also many tutorials you can watch on YouTube. For example, here is a 1-hour intro to MATLAB, and here is a longer (approx. 4 hour) tutorial.
Finally, simply Googling "MATLAB" + [keyword(s)]" will often find several pages with explanations and sample code for how to do any particular thing in MATLAB.Good luck!
There are several principles at work here:
- Engineering is by its nature a collaborative discipline. Because collaboration skills are valuable in its practice, many of our courses explicitly encourage collaboration.
- We are often obligated to assess student performance on an individual basis. Thus, even those courses that feature collaborative assignments also contain assignments that must be completed individually.
- The university, school, and departmental policies on academic integrity state the standards of our community and the consequence that can follow from violating those standards. Academic integrity proceedings are covered elsewhere in this FAQ.
In light of the above, it is important that there be clear rules in our courses concerning when and how you are allowed to collaborate. This burden has portions for both faculty and students:
- Faculty are obligated to state on their syllabi, web pages, and assignments the extent to which collaboration is allowed. Faculty try to be as clear as possible, but prose is prone to ambiguity.
- Students are therefore responsible for asking questions in cases where they are not sure about the rules.
The goals here are to allow as much collaboration as possible while making sure that the limitations of such collaboration are clear and followed by students.
The following are some examples of collaborative scenarios from our courses. These are not necessarily the policy in any given course. You must check a given course page's syllabus or web pages for what is allowed in that course.
- A homework assignment allows students to bounce ideas off of other students before writing up a solution, with the requirement that anybody involved in such discussions wih the students is listed at the top of the submitted solution.
- A homework solution allows discussion of problems among students, as long as nothing is written down. The student must wait at least an hour after all such discussions have ended to write up the solution. This includes assignments that use MATLAB code or other computational tools.
In short, no.
Cheating not academically breaks the trust of your professors and your peers, but it also impairs the person that matters the most: yourself.
If you take a shortcut on an assignment, then you are robbing yourself of that next level of understanding, of potential growth and of the pride of having done something yourself.
Completing an assignment and doing well in a class should come with a sense of accomplishment, which will in turn push you to accomplish more. If you ever feel the need to cheat or do something dishonest, then take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
You are at a top level university with great academic resources and you should be here not only to receive a degree, but also to learn as much as possible. There are a number of alternative options you can take before you cheat:
- Talk to your professor, and ask for an extension. There is no harm in asking.
- Commit to a new schedule, start early, go to office hours.
- Fail the assignment or receive a lower grade. It is perfectly fine to not do well on an assignment as long as you can evaluate what went wrong. Maybe you need to start earlier, cut back on extracurriculars, or perhaps you are in the wrong class.
- Drop/Withdraw from the class.
In the short-term and long-term, it is never worth it to cheat. There is always another way, and that alternative path will always be more beneficial. Do not risk your personal integrity for one assignment or one class.
There are several principles at work here:
- Engineering is by its nature a collaborative discipline. Because collaboration skills are valuable in its practice, many of our courses explicitly encourage collaboration.
- We are often obligated to assess student performance on an individual basis. Thus, even those courses that feature collaborative assignments also contain assignments that must be completed individually.
- The university, school, and departmental policies on academic integrity state the standards of our community and the consequence that can follow from violating those standards. Academic integrity proceedings are covered elsewhere in this FAQ.
In light of the above, it is important that there be clear rules in our courses concerning when and how you are allowed to collaborate. This burden has portions for both faculty and students:
- Faculty are obligated to state on their syllabi, web pages, and assignments the extent to which collaboration is allowed. Faculty try to be as clear as possible, but prose is prone to ambiguity.
- Students are therefore responsible for asking questions in cases where they are not sure about the rules.
The goals here are to allow as much collaboration as possible while making sure that the limitations of such collaboration are clear and followed by students.
The following are some examples of collaborative scenarios from our courses. These are not necessarily the policy in any given course. You must check a given course page's syllabus or web pages for what is allowed in that course.
- A homework assignment allows students to bounce ideas off of other students before writing up a solution, with the requirement that anybody involved in such discussions wih the students is listed at the top of the submitted solution.
- A homework solution allows discussion of problems among students, as long as nothing is written down. The student must wait at least an hour after all such discussions have ended to write up the solution. This includes assignments that use MATLAB code or other computational tools.
To access MATLAB:
All WashU students can download MATLAB for free using their WUSTL key. You can do so here.Learning how to use MATLAB: MATLAB has a FREE online tutorial program called Onramp. It will take you through all of the basics of using MATLAB. All you will need is a Mathworks account (also free). You can access Onramp here.
There are also many tutorials you can watch on YouTube. For example, here is a 1-hour intro to MATLAB, and here is a longer (approx. 4 hour) tutorial.
Finally, simply Googling "MATLAB" + [keyword(s)]" will often find several pages with explanations and sample code for how to do any particular thing in MATLAB.Good luck!
To see whether or not your AP score is sufficient for you to earn credit for a particular course, see this page.If you are eligible to use AP credit to count for one of these foundational courses, it is a little bit up to you whether or not to use it. Generally speaking, if you earned a high score on the AP test, your level of knowledge is very likely sufficient to succeed in our core engineering courses. That being said, if it has been several years since you took these courses, or if you are feeling quite uncertain about how well you know/understand the basic concepts from the courses, it may be a good idea to have a "refresher".
But don't I need to be really good at chemistry to succeed in chemical or environmental engineering?
Actually, our core courses only really require that you have a solid grasp of the fundamental concepts from chemistry (types of bonds, boiling points, solubilities, etc.) We don't necessarily talk about specific chemicals/reactions all that much. In other words, if you don't remember all the little details, it will probably be okay!Are there any risks to skipping CSE 131 via AP credit?
The one thing you might miss is a brief introduction to MATLAB. As part of CSE 131, you would be trying out some basic programming exercises in MATLAB (in addition to a more traditional language). Most of the courses in EECE will suggest using MATLAB to solve problems, so some familiarity with this software could be useful. See the FAQ question on MATLAB for resources to help you learn it on your own.
The university distinguishes dropping a course and withdrawing from a course. Those distinctions are related to when you take action, and the relevant dates are published each semester on that semester's academic calendar. The McKelvey School of Engineering Academic Calendar can be found here.Note that if you are required to maintain a certain course load, dropping or withdrawing from a course may reduce your enrolled units below that threshold.
- The earlier of the two dates is the last day to drop (D) a course. By taking action on or before that day, the course is erased from your transcript as if you had never enrolled in that course. There is no effect on your transcript. This date is usually near the end of the second week of the semester.
- The later of the two dates is the last day to withdraw (W) from a course. The course remains on your transcript, but there is no effect on your GPA.
Many students worry needlessly about the appearance of a W on their transcript. Quite often, withdrawing from a course is a wise choice, and the W can therefore stand for Wisdom. If you are conflicted about whether to stay or withdraw from a course, then talk with your academic or 4-year advisor.
You should check with your advisor and/or your Student Services office to make sure that dropping or withdrawing from a course does not trigger an unpleasant consequence.
Each semester before class registration starts, EECE will post Advising Memos that will include important updates and considerations for when you register for courses. The advising updates can be found hereThese updates will also have been shared with your academic advisor.
Each school is allowed to have its own rules concerning how courses count toward its programs of study. For example, ArtSci prohibits double counting of almost all courses, so that if a student takes Organic Chemistry (Chem 261) within the chemistry department, then it can count toward a chemistry program or toward chemical/environmental engineering, but not both from the ArtSci perspective.
Although we do not have very many below-500-level elective courses in EECE, keep in mind that our graduate students come from a variety of backgrounds, so our graduate electives are often designed to be understood by students from both engineering and non-engineering backgrounds, and are therefore fairly accessible to juniors and seniors in EECE. Keep a close eye on the listed prerequisites, though -- instructors are careful to list the courses whose skills will be necessary to be successful in their course. If you're still concerned at this point, feel free to discuss it with your advisor, or to email the course instructor to ask if you're ready.
As you are looking into elective options, here are some things to keep in mind:
- EECE maintains a list of which courses we believe will be offered over the next two years to help you plan out your degree. This list can be found here.
- Although both the BSChE and EnvE degrees generally require electives to be 300-level or higher, both programs have exceptions to the rule (for example, MEMS 253 will count as an upper-level elective). See the BSChE program and BSEnvE program sites for details.
- If you are particularly interested in climate science, a list of related courses can be found here.
You should first identify the source of the dissatisfaction:
- Was the point tally on an assignment computed incorrectly?
- Do you believe you had a correct response or solution but your grade indicated otherwise?
- Did you miss a deadline for an assignment? Are seeking to turn in work late?
- Did you miss turning in an assignment because of school-, athletic-, or career-related events?
Next you should consider the following principles in terms of addressing your concerns:
- You should address any expected absences before the semester begins. Athletic events, conferences, job interviews—all of these are important to your success and trajectory as a student at Washington University. Faculty are generally supportive of such absences, but to be certain you need to have the appropriate conversation as soon as possible.
Do not rely on an AI's response to such questions or issues. You must have this conversation with the course's instructor.
- Some of our courses, especially the larger ones, feature late coupons or dropped grades. In those courses, you should expect to apply coupons or dropped grades to unexpected as well as expected absences.
- Unexpected absences can happen, and these usually take the form of extended illness or loss of a friend or family member. In such cases, you should contact your school's academic dean (e.g., Chris Kroeger for SEAS). The dean will then send faculty an email explaining the circumstances and asking for accommodation.
- You should address the issue you have with the grading of an assignment as soon as possible after you receive the assignment and its grade. If you wait until the end of the semester, thinking that at that point the grade change will benefit your final grade in the course, you are likely to be turned away. This has to do with the justice of your overall performance evaluation in the course (see below).
Some important caveats:
- Where do you address a grading issue?
- Generally you should start with the staff of your course who issued the grade, working your way up the chain as necessary. That chain from top to bottom is:
For example, if the grade is for a homework assignment that was graded by any AI, then you would start with the course's head AI or head grader. If the grade is for an exam that the instructor graded, then begin with the instructor unless instructed otherwise.
- The school's academic dean
- The course's department's associate chair
- The instructor(s) of the course
- A head AI or head grader
- What steps do you take?
- First check the course's syllabus or other documentation and look for instructions about how to request a regrade of submitted work. Follow those instructions carefully. If no such instructions are available, then:
- Write an email to the person who should field your request (see above). In that email provide as much information as possible, but you can also request a meeting during that person's office hours. If you are unable to make that person's office hours, provide specific times for the next 5 business days during which you are available.
The idea here is to minimize effort on the side of the person receiving your request. If you can be thorough, the matter can be handled expeditiously.
- Many faculty will regrade an entire assignment rather than just the place where you feel you received insufficient credit. In some cases, the result may be a lowering of your grade. See the information below on justice.
- Students have been caught cheating by changing their work between receiving its grade and submitting it for regrading.
This violation of academic integrity is easy to prove and is met with harsh consequences. You will likely receive an F in the course and the infraction will be retained in the permanent record of your work at the university. Look elsewhere in this FAQ for information about academic integrity and community standards.Do not make any marks or changes to work if you intend to resubmit for regrading.Justice
Faculty, staff, and students are interested in justice and fairness in grading. This means that the grade given on submitted work fairly evaluates the student's work. Where possible, instructors provide rubrics as to how an assignment will be graded. Some students receive a poor grade for simply not reading the rubric and following an assignment's required instructions. A student truly interested in justice would bring any grading error to the attention of the instructor, whether it benefits the student or not. Instructors are sometimes approached by students who point out grading mistakes not in their favor. Instructors are also approached by students near or at the end of the semester, asking for grade reconsiderations or extra work those students might do to improve their grade. Justice requires that instructors not make opportunities available to some students that are not available to all students. Requests along those lines betray a student's intent and are not recommended.
The easiest way to find out if a course counts for H/SS credit is to check its description on WebSTAC. It will count if one of its attributes is either "EN H" (humanities) or "EN S" (social science). A complete description of McKelvey Engineering policies relating to H/SS courses (including how to petition for a course to count for H/SS) can be found here.
Some additional considerations:
- The 1-credit general engineering sequence (Engr 4501-4503) counts as social science credit for both the BSChE and BSEnvE degrees.
- The BSEnvE program has additional constraints on H/SS credits -- some of them must come from a prescribed menu, found here.
- Remember that H/SS courses (with the exception of 4501-4503) can be taken pass/fail.
We allow up to 6 units of credit toward our programs to be completed outside the traditional classroom. One such experience is an independent study, which typically involves working with a faculty member on research or a project of mutual interest.Independent study requires approval of the supervising faculty member. First, the supervising faculty member and the student should work together to complete a petition form the describes the scope of the independent study project. Petition forms can be found here for undergraduate students and here for Master's students.
The petition forms should have all required signatures and be submitted to the program administrator (Ms. Monique Spears) no later than the normal add/drop deadline for courses in a given semester. In the fall and spring semesters, this is usually the end of the 2nd week of classes.
Once the petition has been submitted, the program administrator will enroll the student in EECE 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 (choose the appropriate number based on the student's year in school), in the section associated with the supervising faculty member. Note that for undergraduate students, only EECE 300, 400, or 500 will count as engineering elective credit. None of these courses will count for engineering topics units.
The supervising faculty member must be faculty in our department or hold a courtesy appointment in our department. You must sign up for credit in the section associated with that supervising faculty member. The work you do may be with somebody outside of our department, in which case the de jure supervising faculty member will coordinate the activity with the de facto advisor for the work:
- It will be determined that the scope of work is appropriate for the number of units.
- The criteria for success will be communicated explicitly between the de facto and de jure advisors.
- The de facto advisor is responsible for writing a statement at the end of the independent study evaluating the quality of your work.
- The grade for your work is determined at the recommendation of the de facto advisor and entered by the de jure advisor.
As with any course, you will have to devote reasonable time to independent study. We generally hold that 3 units of credit typically requires 10 hours of work a week. A semester has 15 weeks, so 3 units of independent study should take about 150 hours of your time.
Because traditional courses have deadlines and independent study typically is more open-ended and flexible, many students make the mistake of putting off working on their independent study projects. This may cause the faculty member to drop the independent study with the student.
Success depends upon the appropriate investment of time by the student, the accurate and timely reporting of issues and progress, and the regular meetings with supervising faculty to keep the work on track. Most students who succeed at independent study report that they spend more than the usual amount of time on independent study, because they find the work interesting and rewarding.
It's easier than you think! Follow these simple steps:
- Find a faculty member whose research interests you. Looking at the research descriptions on the EECE department website is a good start. You can also look at other department websites, including the med school, if your interests tend that way.
- Prepare a 1-page PDF resume which focuses on your experiences since starting college.
- Prepare a short email (~3-4 sentences) to each faculty member with whom you'd like to pursue research. For example:
- Provide a greeting (Dear Prof. XXX) and introduce yourself by including your major and your year in school (e.g., sophomore)
- Next, write your purpose in reaching out -- that you are interested in research they are doing [be specific about what part of it you find interesting], and that you seeking a [paid work position and/or a 1, 2, or 3-credit independent study] for [1 semester, academic year, summer]. Typically, it is not sufficient to say that you want to learn more about their research and request a meeting -- the more specific you can be about what you're looking for, the better!
- Indicate that you are attaching your resume
- If you have had any prior research experience relevant to that faculty member's laboratory, include a single sentence summarizing that experience.
There are different answers depending on the school offering the course.
- All schools except Olin
- You deserve the truth, so you should know that the university's registration systems do not check that you have already taken prerequisite courses as you enroll in a new course. Thus, prerequisites are advisory but they are there for a reason. You should consider very seriously whether you will perform well in a course for which you have not taken its prerequisites. Before taking a course out of order, you should have a conversation with the instructor and/or your advisor. Keep in mind that there are many ways you could prepare on your own for a course for which you have not formally taken that course's prerequisites.
Caveat emptor!
- Olin
- The business school takes a more strict approach concerning prerequisite courses. They insist that students must have taken the courses precisely listed as prerequisites, and they do not allow for students who have had similar courses elsewhere, even at our own university, nor do they consider the background students may have from other learning experiences or studies.
Olin asks us to make sure you are aware of their strict policy concerning prerequisites.
If you are unsatisfied with your performance in a given course, and if you feel that another experience with that material is necessary, you can retake that course. This should be considered carefully and with the advice of your departmental and 4-year advisors.
Except as noted below, retaking a course causes the following actions on your transcript and GPA computation:
- The previous enrollment in the course is annotated with an "R" to show that the course was replaced by a subsequent enrollment in the same course. The prior enrollment in the course persists on your transcript, and the grade earned in that prior enrollment is also shown. If you withdrew from the course, then the "W" persists, as well.
- The new grade replaces the previous grade in terms of GPA computation. This is true even if the new grade is worse than the previous grade.
However, take careful note of the following:
- If in your prior enrollment you were found in violation of academic integrity policies for that course, then your prior grade may not be replaced by the new grade. Each school currently makes its own decision about this.
- University rules concerning plagiarism apply also to retakes of the same course. Those rules do not allow you to submit the same work for credit in two courses, even if one of those courses is a retake of the other, without the explicit permission of the instructor of both courses. You cannot repeat a course and submit any of the same work again for credit without the explicit approval of both instances of that course.
Undergraduate students in EECE may take EECE 423: Senior Thesis as a way to earn distinction for research they have been involved in, as well as earn elective credit towards their degree.The completion of a Senior Thesis involves a demonstration of acquired knowledge based on: a research project with submission of a written senior thesis and an oral presentation. EECE 423 is similar to an independent study, except it is expected to be done over the course of two semesters (typically fall and spring of senior year) with various milestone deliverables due throughout the year. At the end of the second semester, the student's thesis will be evaluated by a committee for a grade.
Undergraduates may only count up to 6 units of 300+ level Independent Study (EECE 300, 400, or 500) and/or Senior Thesis (EECE 423) towards your elective requirement. In other words, if you have already taken 6 units of Independent Study, the Senior Thesis credits would not count towards your degree, although they would count as general residency credit.
Note that, like a regular Independent Study, a Senior Thesis can be done even if you've been doing research outside the department (e.g., at the medical school). Administratively, an EECE faculty member would need to oversee your EECE 423 course grade, but the rest of the oversight can largely be done by your normal research advisor.
If you are interested in pursuing the Senior Thesis, contact Dr. Janie Brennan for more details.
Note: Study abroad is treated differently, and you should look elsewhere in this FAQ for information about study abroad.Policy for Undergraduate Students:
In EECE, it is very common for undergraduate students to take Organic Chemistry and/or Physics outside of WashU, especially if they are unable to find an internship or other experience for the summer after their first year. Other courses, including core and elective courses, may also be taken from other institutions if they are first approved as described below.
There are two important issues that must be considered when figuring out transfer credit:
- Our university and our school each have a residency requirement, about which you can find information elsewhere in this FAQ. Thus, there is a limit on the number of outside credits you can apply to your Washington University programs.
- Is the course deemed acceptable for transfer? The process for that decision begins with your four-year advisor, but the decision is usually made by the department closest in area to the subject matter of the course. For example, the merit of an environmental engineering elective course would be evaluated by the EECE department.
Our school maintains this database of outside courses already approved for transfer credit. You should check this database first to see if the course you are interested in taking has already been approved. You could also use this database to help you "shop around" for pre-approved courses from a geographic area of interest. If your course of interest is not in this database, you can request approval of a new course.
Here is a step-by-step procedure for applying for how to earn transfer credit either of a pre-approved course or a new course for which you are seeking approval.
Policy for Graduate Students:
Policies for transfer credit are quite different for graduate students in engineering. In EECE, PhD and MS students should consult with their research advisor and program director regarding any potential transfer credit. EECE MEng students are permitted to transfer up to 6 units from another institution to count towards their degree, so long as those units were not used to satisfy undergraduate degree requirements for a previously earned bachelor's degree. MEng students should consult with their academic advisor when wanting to transfer any credit.
Each engineering department posts a 2-year listing of what we believe will be offered. For EECE, the list is located here: EECE Course OfferingsNote that sometimes unexpected circumstances arise, so the list may change from time to time. We will do our best to update it frequently.
We allow up to 6 units of credit toward our programs to be completed outside the traditional classroom. One such experience is an independent study, which typically involves working with a faculty member on research or a project of mutual interest.Independent study requires approval of the supervising faculty member. First, the supervising faculty member and the student should work together to complete a petition form the describes the scope of the independent study project. Petition forms can be found here for undergraduate students and here for Master's students.
The petition forms should have all required signatures and be submitted to the program administrator (Ms. Monique Spears) no later than the normal add/drop deadline for courses in a given semester. In the fall and spring semesters, this is usually the end of the 2nd week of classes.
Once the petition has been submitted, the program administrator will enroll the student in EECE 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 (choose the appropriate number based on the student's year in school), in the section associated with the supervising faculty member. Note that for undergraduate students, only EECE 300, 400, or 500 will count as engineering elective credit. None of these courses will count for engineering topics units.
The supervising faculty member must be faculty in our department or hold a courtesy appointment in our department. You must sign up for credit in the section associated with that supervising faculty member. The work you do may be with somebody outside of our department, in which case the de jure supervising faculty member will coordinate the activity with the de facto advisor for the work:
- It will be determined that the scope of work is appropriate for the number of units.
- The criteria for success will be communicated explicitly between the de facto and de jure advisors.
- The de facto advisor is responsible for writing a statement at the end of the independent study evaluating the quality of your work.
- The grade for your work is determined at the recommendation of the de facto advisor and entered by the de jure advisor.
As with any course, you will have to devote reasonable time to independent study. We generally hold that 3 units of credit typically requires 10 hours of work a week. A semester has 15 weeks, so 3 units of independent study should take about 150 hours of your time.
Because traditional courses have deadlines and independent study typically is more open-ended and flexible, many students make the mistake of putting off working on their independent study projects. This may cause the faculty member to drop the independent study with the student.
Success depends upon the appropriate investment of time by the student, the accurate and timely reporting of issues and progress, and the regular meetings with supervising faculty to keep the work on track. Most students who succeed at independent study report that they spend more than the usual amount of time on independent study, because they find the work interesting and rewarding.
It's easier than you think! Follow these simple steps:
- Find a faculty member whose research interests you. Looking at the research descriptions on the EECE department website is a good start. You can also look at other department websites, including the med school, if your interests tend that way.
- Prepare a 1-page PDF resume which focuses on your experiences since starting college.
- Prepare a short email (~3-4 sentences) to each faculty member with whom you'd like to pursue research. For example:
- Provide a greeting (Dear Prof. XXX) and introduce yourself by including your major and your year in school (e.g., sophomore)
- Next, write your purpose in reaching out -- that you are interested in research they are doing [be specific about what part of it you find interesting], and that you seeking a [paid work position and/or a 1, 2, or 3-credit independent study] for [1 semester, academic year, summer]. Typically, it is not sufficient to say that you want to learn more about their research and request a meeting -- the more specific you can be about what you're looking for, the better!
- Indicate that you are attaching your resume
- If you have had any prior research experience relevant to that faculty member's laboratory, include a single sentence summarizing that experience.
Most courses at our university allow a student to take that course for a grade (A, B, C, etc.) or for credit only. This latter option is the mechanism for taking a class pass/fail. Here are some notes about taking courses pass/fail:
- When you register or try to change the enrollment status of yourself in a course, the pass/fail option may not present itself, which means that the course can be taken only for a grade.
- Some courses, such as seminars, can only be taken pass/fail.
- It is important for a student taking any course pass/fail to understand with sufficient precision what is required to pass the course. Web pages and syllabi should contain this information, but if they do not, then an email or some other documentation of the standard needed to pass should be obtained.
- There is a limit to the number of courses you can take pass/fail in a semester, and the total number you can take over your career, as documented here.
- There is a date by which you must declare the course pass/fail, and a date by which you can change it back from pass/fail to graded. This varies by semester and you should consult the particular year's academic calendar.
While most courses allow you to enroll pass/fail, you must keep in mind that most majors and minors insist that all courses taken for those programs be taken for a letter grade, and not pass/fail.All EECE programs require that you take courses that count toward your EECE degree for a letter grade. The only courses you can take pass/fail for us are those that satisfy humanties and social sciences as distribution.
This becomes tricky if you take a course thinking that it's only for distribution, and then become so interested in the topic that you subsequently want to open a major or minor program in that area of study. In such a situation, you might have to re-take the course for a letter grade.
While the window to declare a course pass/fail is fairly short, the window for reverting it back to a letter grade is relatively long. If you find yourself becoming interested in the subject and you are doing well, you should probably revert the pass/fail to a letter grade.
Our general rule of thumb is that a 3 unit course takes somewhere between 10–12 hours of your time a week, including the time you spend in lecture. For an independent study, a 15-week semester would therefore take 150–180 hours of your time.If you are interested in a 6 unit project, it would take twice that, and that's usually not possible in a single semester, so most 6-unit projects and such are accomplished in two semesters.
It's really between you and your research or independent study mentor. Some students prefer credit, as it makes progress toward their degree; others prefer to be paid.
To see whether or not your AP score is sufficient for you to earn credit for a particular course, see this page.If you are eligible to use AP credit to count for one of these foundational courses, it is a little bit up to you whether or not to use it. Generally speaking, if you earned a high score on the AP test, your level of knowledge is very likely sufficient to succeed in our core engineering courses. That being said, if it has been several years since you took these courses, or if you are feeling quite uncertain about how well you know/understand the basic concepts from the courses, it may be a good idea to have a "refresher".
But don't I need to be really good at chemistry to succeed in chemical or environmental engineering?
Actually, our core courses only really require that you have a solid grasp of the fundamental concepts from chemistry (types of bonds, boiling points, solubilities, etc.) We don't necessarily talk about specific chemicals/reactions all that much. In other words, if you don't remember all the little details, it will probably be okay!Are there any risks to skipping CSE 131 via AP credit?
The one thing you might miss is a brief introduction to MATLAB. As part of CSE 131, you would be trying out some basic programming exercises in MATLAB (in addition to a more traditional language). Most of the courses in EECE will suggest using MATLAB to solve problems, so some familiarity with this software could be useful. See the FAQ question on MATLAB for resources to help you learn it on your own.
We allow up to 6 units of credit toward our programs to be completed outside the traditional classroom. One such experience is an independent study, which typically involves working with a faculty member on research or a project of mutual interest.Independent study requires approval of the supervising faculty member. First, the supervising faculty member and the student should work together to complete a petition form the describes the scope of the independent study project. Petition forms can be found here for undergraduate students and here for Master's students.
The petition forms should have all required signatures and be submitted to the program administrator (Ms. Monique Spears) no later than the normal add/drop deadline for courses in a given semester. In the fall and spring semesters, this is usually the end of the 2nd week of classes.
Once the petition has been submitted, the program administrator will enroll the student in EECE 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 (choose the appropriate number based on the student's year in school), in the section associated with the supervising faculty member. Note that for undergraduate students, only EECE 300, 400, or 500 will count as engineering elective credit. None of these courses will count for engineering topics units.
The supervising faculty member must be faculty in our department or hold a courtesy appointment in our department. You must sign up for credit in the section associated with that supervising faculty member. The work you do may be with somebody outside of our department, in which case the de jure supervising faculty member will coordinate the activity with the de facto advisor for the work:
- It will be determined that the scope of work is appropriate for the number of units.
- The criteria for success will be communicated explicitly between the de facto and de jure advisors.
- The de facto advisor is responsible for writing a statement at the end of the independent study evaluating the quality of your work.
- The grade for your work is determined at the recommendation of the de facto advisor and entered by the de jure advisor.
As with any course, you will have to devote reasonable time to independent study. We generally hold that 3 units of credit typically requires 10 hours of work a week. A semester has 15 weeks, so 3 units of independent study should take about 150 hours of your time.
Because traditional courses have deadlines and independent study typically is more open-ended and flexible, many students make the mistake of putting off working on their independent study projects. This may cause the faculty member to drop the independent study with the student.
Success depends upon the appropriate investment of time by the student, the accurate and timely reporting of issues and progress, and the regular meetings with supervising faculty to keep the work on track. Most students who succeed at independent study report that they spend more than the usual amount of time on independent study, because they find the work interesting and rewarding.
It's easier than you think! Follow these simple steps:
- Find a faculty member whose research interests you. Looking at the research descriptions on the EECE department website is a good start. You can also look at other department websites, including the med school, if your interests tend that way.
- Prepare a 1-page PDF resume which focuses on your experiences since starting college.
- Prepare a short email (~3-4 sentences) to each faculty member with whom you'd like to pursue research. For example:
- Provide a greeting (Dear Prof. XXX) and introduce yourself by including your major and your year in school (e.g., sophomore)
- Next, write your purpose in reaching out -- that you are interested in research they are doing [be specific about what part of it you find interesting], and that you seeking a [paid work position and/or a 1, 2, or 3-credit independent study] for [1 semester, academic year, summer]. Typically, it is not sufficient to say that you want to learn more about their research and request a meeting -- the more specific you can be about what you're looking for, the better!
- Indicate that you are attaching your resume
- If you have had any prior research experience relevant to that faculty member's laboratory, include a single sentence summarizing that experience.
The title of dean is usually given to an individual who has significant oversight or responsibility for an academic unit, in our case a school of our university.Amoung our schools, there appears to be no consistency between the flavors of dean titles, but an easy way to describe the main dean of a school is to say that he or she reports directly to the provost. These provost-reporting deans are each responsible for all activites of their respective schools: salaries, teaching, research infrastructure, planning, fundraising. The current dean of SEAS is Aaron Bobick, and he is also a faculty member in CSE.
Each school also has a dean who supervises the academic activities of that school. Chris Kroeger is that dean for SEAS, and his office hosts staff who also carry the dean title and who advise and oversee the school's academic programs.
The short answer is you almost certainly want a second major and not a second degree. The intrepid can find the whole story below.At Washington University, a degree is the primary unit of recognition conferred by a school (such as SEAS or ArtSci) on a student at commencement, indicating that a student has completed one or more programs of study in that school. Within a given school, students can complete multiple majors. Moreover, many programs (and computer science is anong them) have second majors which allow students to study disciplines outsisde their primary major. A student's transcript indicates all of the majors, first and second, that the student has completed.
To make sense of this, it is useful to think of a degree and a primary major as coupled: a student studies a primary major in his or her school (SEAS or ArtSci for example) and earns a degree from that school. The rules governing the number and types of courses that must be taken for graduation are drawn from the school in which a student has a primary major.
A second major brings the burden only of the subject itself, without incurring distribution and other requirements of any school. Thus, a second major in computer science may be earned by students who are primarily situated in any school (including SEAS), but the courses needed to complete the second major are dictated by the second major itself, and not by the school.
Thus, most students can be described as follows. The student is primarily situated in some school and pursuing a primary major in that school. That same student may be completing second majors in departments and programs across the university. Each such second major has its own requirements, but they do not carry any associated school requirements beyond what the student must complete for his or her primary major. Here are some examples:
- Alice's primary major is electrical engineering, which situates her in SEAS. Alice would like to earn a second major in computer science. She does this by looking at the web page for the second major, by adding the second major to her programs of study using WebSTAC, and by consulting with her second major advisor as needed. That advisor does not need to approve Alice for registration, but serves as needed to support Alice in her studies of computer science.
- Bob's primary major is economics, which situates him in the College of Arts and Sciences. Bob would like to earn a second major in computer science, and he follows the same steps Alice did to enroll in the second major and to secure an advisor for those studies. Because Bob is primarily in the College of Arts and Sciences, their rule of 3 restriction applies, which means he would not be allowed to add the second major if the sum of his primary majors, second majors, and minors would exceed three. If that is the case, Bob then considers transferring into the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, which has no rule of three restriction.
Then what is a second degree? First let me explain that the distinction between a second degree and a second major is almost impossible for people outside our walls to discern. So if you are satisfied with doing a second major, you need not read on. Still here? A second degree acts as if you were also primary in the school of your second degree. Let's return to Alice and Bob.
- Alice, already a SEAS student, wants a degree in electrical engineering and also a degree in computer science. She must read the rules for multiple degrees in the bulletin where she will discover she needs more resident credit in SEAS than if she had chosen a second major. She most likely decides this isn't worth it because she can simply list both majors on her resume, and the difference between the second major and a second degree is difficult to explain.
- Bob is even in worse shape should he choose the second degree. Because he is in ArtSci, he would have to complete the distribution requirements of both schools to earn both degrees.
Note: Study abroad units count as if resident. See elsewhere in this FAQ for information about study abroad.To earn a degree from a particular university, school, or department, each will insist that you spend a certain amount of time taking its courses.
- Students earning a degree from Washington University must have at least 60 units of credit earned at our university.
- Students in the School of Engineering must have at least 30 units at the 200-level or above earned from our school.
- Our department's residency requirements are embedded within the degree requirements. For example, for both the BSChE and BSEnvE degrees, at least 9 of the 18 elective units must be from the EECE department.
The life of a student at an institution such as Washington University can at times be difficult. Course work, student groups, obligations to family,part-time employment -- all of these can conspire to make your plate quite full. Then, too, we know that depression as an illness can and does develop in college-age students.It is important first and foremost to take care of yourself. If you, your instructors, your advisors, or your friends develop concerns about your well-being, you are encouraged to explore the services available for counseling, starting with this page. Note that in addition to regular counseling, the Habif Wellness Center offers "drop-in"-style meetings with counselors through the Let's Talk program. If you're concerned for someone you know and aren't comfortable talking to them about it, you can complete a WashU Cares report so that someone will check in on them.
If somebody you know is in crisis (including, of course, yourself), then information for quick response can be found here. If help is needed immediately, you should call 911.
Each school is allowed to have its own rules concerning how courses count toward its programs of study. For example, ArtSci prohibits double counting of almost all courses, so that if a student takes Organic Chemistry (Chem 261) within the chemistry department, then it can count toward a chemistry program or toward chemical/environmental engineering, but not both from the ArtSci perspective.
It depends on the degree:BSEnvE + Chemical Engineering (BSChE)
Technically, yes, but we strongly recommend against doing it. The reason for this recommendation is that in the third and fourth years of the curriculum, the two majors will each have multiple required courses in the same semester, possibly at conflicting times. For example, you would need to take both Capstone courses.
BSEnvE + Applied Science-Chemical Engineering (BSAS-ChE)
No, you may not double-major in both the BSEnvE and the Applied Science (Chemical Engineering) degree. There is too much overlap in the course requirements.
Is there an alternative to double-majoring?
Yes! We recommend combining your chemical and environmental interests by majoring in chemical engineering (BSChE) and minoring in Environmental Engineering Science.
It depends on the degree:BSEnvE + Chemical Engineering (BSChE)
Technically, yes, but we strongly recommend against doing it. The reason for this recommendation is that in the third and fourth years of the curriculum, the two majors will each have multiple required courses in the same semester, possibly at conflicting times. For example, you would need to take both Capstone courses.
BSEnvE + Applied Science-Chemical Engineering (BSAS-ChE)
No, you may not double-major in both the BSEnvE and the Applied Science (Chemical Engineering) degree. There is too much overlap in the course requirements.
Is there an alternative to double-majoring?
Yes! We recommend combining your chemical and environmental interests by majoring in chemical engineering (BSChE) and minoring in Environmental Engineering Science.
The university distinguishes dropping a course and withdrawing from a course. Those distinctions are related to when you take action, and the relevant dates are published each semester on that semester's academic calendar. The McKelvey School of Engineering Academic Calendar can be found here.Note that if you are required to maintain a certain course load, dropping or withdrawing from a course may reduce your enrolled units below that threshold.
- The earlier of the two dates is the last day to drop (D) a course. By taking action on or before that day, the course is erased from your transcript as if you had never enrolled in that course. There is no effect on your transcript. This date is usually near the end of the second week of the semester.
- The later of the two dates is the last day to withdraw (W) from a course. The course remains on your transcript, but there is no effect on your GPA.
Many students worry needlessly about the appearance of a W on their transcript. Quite often, withdrawing from a course is a wise choice, and the W can therefore stand for Wisdom. If you are conflicted about whether to stay or withdraw from a course, then talk with your academic or 4-year advisor.
You should check with your advisor and/or your Student Services office to make sure that dropping or withdrawing from a course does not trigger an unpleasant consequence.
The short answer is you almost certainly want a second major and not a second degree. The intrepid can find the whole story below.At Washington University, a degree is the primary unit of recognition conferred by a school (such as SEAS or ArtSci) on a student at commencement, indicating that a student has completed one or more programs of study in that school. Within a given school, students can complete multiple majors. Moreover, many programs (and computer science is anong them) have second majors which allow students to study disciplines outsisde their primary major. A student's transcript indicates all of the majors, first and second, that the student has completed.
To make sense of this, it is useful to think of a degree and a primary major as coupled: a student studies a primary major in his or her school (SEAS or ArtSci for example) and earns a degree from that school. The rules governing the number and types of courses that must be taken for graduation are drawn from the school in which a student has a primary major.
A second major brings the burden only of the subject itself, without incurring distribution and other requirements of any school. Thus, a second major in computer science may be earned by students who are primarily situated in any school (including SEAS), but the courses needed to complete the second major are dictated by the second major itself, and not by the school.
Thus, most students can be described as follows. The student is primarily situated in some school and pursuing a primary major in that school. That same student may be completing second majors in departments and programs across the university. Each such second major has its own requirements, but they do not carry any associated school requirements beyond what the student must complete for his or her primary major. Here are some examples:
- Alice's primary major is electrical engineering, which situates her in SEAS. Alice would like to earn a second major in computer science. She does this by looking at the web page for the second major, by adding the second major to her programs of study using WebSTAC, and by consulting with her second major advisor as needed. That advisor does not need to approve Alice for registration, but serves as needed to support Alice in her studies of computer science.
- Bob's primary major is economics, which situates him in the College of Arts and Sciences. Bob would like to earn a second major in computer science, and he follows the same steps Alice did to enroll in the second major and to secure an advisor for those studies. Because Bob is primarily in the College of Arts and Sciences, their rule of 3 restriction applies, which means he would not be allowed to add the second major if the sum of his primary majors, second majors, and minors would exceed three. If that is the case, Bob then considers transferring into the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, which has no rule of three restriction.
Then what is a second degree? First let me explain that the distinction between a second degree and a second major is almost impossible for people outside our walls to discern. So if you are satisfied with doing a second major, you need not read on. Still here? A second degree acts as if you were also primary in the school of your second degree. Let's return to Alice and Bob.
- Alice, already a SEAS student, wants a degree in electrical engineering and also a degree in computer science. She must read the rules for multiple degrees in the bulletin where she will discover she needs more resident credit in SEAS than if she had chosen a second major. She most likely decides this isn't worth it because she can simply list both majors on her resume, and the difference between the second major and a second degree is difficult to explain.
- Bob is even in worse shape should he choose the second degree. Because he is in ArtSci, he would have to complete the distribution requirements of both schools to earn both degrees.
Because we are awesome.
Although we do not have very many below-500-level elective courses in EECE, keep in mind that our graduate students come from a variety of backgrounds, so our graduate electives are often designed to be understood by students from both engineering and non-engineering backgrounds, and are therefore fairly accessible to juniors and seniors in EECE. Keep a close eye on the listed prerequisites, though -- instructors are careful to list the courses whose skills will be necessary to be successful in their course. If you're still concerned at this point, feel free to discuss it with your advisor, or to email the course instructor to ask if you're ready.
As you are looking into elective options, here are some things to keep in mind:
- EECE maintains a list of which courses we believe will be offered over the next two years to help you plan out your degree. This list can be found here.
- Although both the BSChE and EnvE degrees generally require electives to be 300-level or higher, both programs have exceptions to the rule (for example, MEMS 253 will count as an upper-level elective). See the BSChE program and BSEnvE program sites for details.
- If you are particularly interested in climate science, a list of related courses can be found here.
Undergraduate students in EECE may take EECE 423: Senior Thesis as a way to earn distinction for research they have been involved in, as well as earn elective credit towards their degree.The completion of a Senior Thesis involves a demonstration of acquired knowledge based on: a research project with submission of a written senior thesis and an oral presentation. EECE 423 is similar to an independent study, except it is expected to be done over the course of two semesters (typically fall and spring of senior year) with various milestone deliverables due throughout the year. At the end of the second semester, the student's thesis will be evaluated by a committee for a grade.
Undergraduates may only count up to 6 units of 300+ level Independent Study (EECE 300, 400, or 500) and/or Senior Thesis (EECE 423) towards your elective requirement. In other words, if you have already taken 6 units of Independent Study, the Senior Thesis credits would not count towards your degree, although they would count as general residency credit.
Note that, like a regular Independent Study, a Senior Thesis can be done even if you've been doing research outside the department (e.g., at the medical school). Administratively, an EECE faculty member would need to oversee your EECE 423 course grade, but the rest of the oversight can largely be done by your normal research advisor.
If you are interested in pursuing the Senior Thesis, contact Dr. Janie Brennan for more details.
Although it can be challenging to get a summer internship (especially early in college), persistence can pay off. Here are some quick things you can do:
- Visit the WashU Career Center (or some of their engineering drop-in hours in Lopata) to have someone look over your resume and discuss tips for interviewing.
- Attend the Engineering Career Fair (usually scheduled each September) and other campus career fairs. Even if you don't necessarily apply for something, it can be good practice to talk with the industry representatives.
- Apply, apply, apply! Don't lose hope -- sometimes the simple act of applying to many places will bear fruit. Some good sites to help you search are Indeed, Glassdoor, and USAJobs (for government positions).
- Periodically check back into various job posting sites. Different companies will post positions throughout the year (even as late as April or May!), so it's a good idea to take a quick look every 2-3 weeks.
- When applying to a company, check on LinkedIn to see if you have any connection with anyone working there (can be as tenuous as a WashU connection or same hometown, etc.), or if you can find anyone in a position similar to the one you're applying to. Message them to let them know you're applying and to ask if they have any advice for their application process. The worst thing that can happen is that they ignore you, so don't feel afraid to try this technique.
- Network! If you attend events such as Venture Cafe at Cortex or conferences (e.g., AIChE, NSBE, SWE), you may meet someone who may eventually lead you to an internship! Joining the WashU Mentor Collective may also introduce you to someone who can help hook you up. Don't worry about being shy/quiet -- most engineers are! Think about this kind of activity like skill-building. Even if you aren't good at it now, you will get better with practice.
- Consider trying out research. Even if you don't find the idea of research to be particularly exciting, it is a form of work experience, and may give you skills and knowledge that will help you get the next experience. Any type of engineering/science-related experience will likely be more useful towards your career path compared to a regular part-time job at home. Information on how to get a research position is covered elsewhere in this FAQ.
If you are majoring in chemical engineering, the American Chemical Society (ACS) sponsors a program to match ChE students up with internships. It's called the SCI Scholars Internship Program, and applications are usually due in October. Full details can be found here.
Again - persistence and practice are key! The more you try these activities, the more confident you will likely be. Don't give up!
Research is a great way to get some real project-based experience, especially early in college when it can be more difficult to procure an internship. The good news is that there are many ways to get involved in research on campus and elsewhere!
On-Campus Research:
The easiest way to get involved in research on campus is to contact a faculty member directly. First, look through faculty webpages and find someone whose research seems interesting to you. Then, either ask in person or send an email indicating your interest in doing a project with them (either paid or for independent study credit, depending on what you are looking for). It can help to include your resume and a short description of any past research experience (if any), and why you want to work with them. Showing genuine interest in their work (for example, by asking a question about something they've recently published) can go a long way.
Some formal (funded) on-campus research programs can be found via:
Note that many summer research programs have application deadlines in early spring (February-April).
- Student Services: Undergraduate Research Projects
- Student Services: Summer Research Opportunities
- WashU Office of Undergraduate Research(OUR): OUR often posts open positions on their main page, and more information about WashU programs can be found on the "Funding & Programs" page.
Off-Campus Research:
If you want to find something closer to home or in a place you've dreamt of living (even temporarily), here are some good places to look:
Again, most summer programs will have application deadlines in early spring, so keep an eye on your calendar!
- WashU Office of Undergraduate Research: List of Non-WashU Research Opportunities
- NSF REU programs: Use this site to search through literally hundreds of funded research programs across the US. You can sort by location and research keywords.
- You can always check the websites of universities near where you live to find summer programs, or even contact faculty at universities close to home (use a similar process as that described above) to see if they have funding to support a student over the summer.
Yes! All SEAS students are invited to particpate in EnCouncil. They organize social and academic events, and our faculty and administration look to EnCouncil to provide feedback about our offerings and programs.
Although we do not have very many below-500-level elective courses in EECE, keep in mind that our graduate students come from a variety of backgrounds, so our graduate electives are often designed to be understood by students from both engineering and non-engineering backgrounds, and are therefore fairly accessible to juniors and seniors in EECE. Keep a close eye on the listed prerequisites, though -- instructors are careful to list the courses whose skills will be necessary to be successful in their course. If you're still concerned at this point, feel free to discuss it with your advisor, or to email the course instructor to ask if you're ready.
As you are looking into elective options, here are some things to keep in mind:
- EECE maintains a list of which courses we believe will be offered over the next two years to help you plan out your degree. This list can be found here.
- Although both the BSChE and EnvE degrees generally require electives to be 300-level or higher, both programs have exceptions to the rule (for example, MEMS 253 will count as an upper-level elective). See the BSChE program and BSEnvE program sites for details.
- If you are particularly interested in climate science, a list of related courses can be found here.
It depends on the degree:BSEnvE + Chemical Engineering (BSChE)
Technically, yes, but we strongly recommend against doing it. The reason for this recommendation is that in the third and fourth years of the curriculum, the two majors will each have multiple required courses in the same semester, possibly at conflicting times. For example, you would need to take both Capstone courses.
BSEnvE + Applied Science-Chemical Engineering (BSAS-ChE)
No, you may not double-major in both the BSEnvE and the Applied Science (Chemical Engineering) degree. There is too much overlap in the course requirements.
Is there an alternative to double-majoring?
Yes! We recommend combining your chemical and environmental interests by majoring in chemical engineering (BSChE) and minoring in Environmental Engineering Science.
Although we do not have very many below-500-level elective courses in EECE, keep in mind that our graduate students come from a variety of backgrounds, so our graduate electives are often designed to be understood by students from both engineering and non-engineering backgrounds, and are therefore fairly accessible to juniors and seniors in EECE. Keep a close eye on the listed prerequisites, though -- instructors are careful to list the courses whose skills will be necessary to be successful in their course. If you're still concerned at this point, feel free to discuss it with your advisor, or to email the course instructor to ask if you're ready.
As you are looking into elective options, here are some things to keep in mind:
- EECE maintains a list of which courses we believe will be offered over the next two years to help you plan out your degree. This list can be found here.
- Although both the BSChE and EnvE degrees generally require electives to be 300-level or higher, both programs have exceptions to the rule (for example, MEMS 253 will count as an upper-level elective). See the BSChE program and BSEnvE program sites for details.
- If you are particularly interested in climate science, a list of related courses can be found here.
Because we are awesome.
Although it can be challenging to get a summer internship (especially early in college), persistence can pay off. Here are some quick things you can do:
- Visit the WashU Career Center (or some of their engineering drop-in hours in Lopata) to have someone look over your resume and discuss tips for interviewing.
- Attend the Engineering Career Fair (usually scheduled each September) and other campus career fairs. Even if you don't necessarily apply for something, it can be good practice to talk with the industry representatives.
- Apply, apply, apply! Don't lose hope -- sometimes the simple act of applying to many places will bear fruit. Some good sites to help you search are Indeed, Glassdoor, and USAJobs (for government positions).
- Periodically check back into various job posting sites. Different companies will post positions throughout the year (even as late as April or May!), so it's a good idea to take a quick look every 2-3 weeks.
- When applying to a company, check on LinkedIn to see if you have any connection with anyone working there (can be as tenuous as a WashU connection or same hometown, etc.), or if you can find anyone in a position similar to the one you're applying to. Message them to let them know you're applying and to ask if they have any advice for their application process. The worst thing that can happen is that they ignore you, so don't feel afraid to try this technique.
- Network! If you attend events such as Venture Cafe at Cortex or conferences (e.g., AIChE, NSBE, SWE), you may meet someone who may eventually lead you to an internship! Joining the WashU Mentor Collective may also introduce you to someone who can help hook you up. Don't worry about being shy/quiet -- most engineers are! Think about this kind of activity like skill-building. Even if you aren't good at it now, you will get better with practice.
- Consider trying out research. Even if you don't find the idea of research to be particularly exciting, it is a form of work experience, and may give you skills and knowledge that will help you get the next experience. Any type of engineering/science-related experience will likely be more useful towards your career path compared to a regular part-time job at home. Information on how to get a research position is covered elsewhere in this FAQ.
If you are majoring in chemical engineering, the American Chemical Society (ACS) sponsors a program to match ChE students up with internships. It's called the SCI Scholars Internship Program, and applications are usually due in October. Full details can be found here.
Again - persistence and practice are key! The more you try these activities, the more confident you will likely be. Don't give up!
Research is a great way to get some real project-based experience, especially early in college when it can be more difficult to procure an internship. The good news is that there are many ways to get involved in research on campus and elsewhere!
On-Campus Research:
The easiest way to get involved in research on campus is to contact a faculty member directly. First, look through faculty webpages and find someone whose research seems interesting to you. Then, either ask in person or send an email indicating your interest in doing a project with them (either paid or for independent study credit, depending on what you are looking for). It can help to include your resume and a short description of any past research experience (if any), and why you want to work with them. Showing genuine interest in their work (for example, by asking a question about something they've recently published) can go a long way.
Some formal (funded) on-campus research programs can be found via:
Note that many summer research programs have application deadlines in early spring (February-April).
- Student Services: Undergraduate Research Projects
- Student Services: Summer Research Opportunities
- WashU Office of Undergraduate Research(OUR): OUR often posts open positions on their main page, and more information about WashU programs can be found on the "Funding & Programs" page.
Off-Campus Research:
If you want to find something closer to home or in a place you've dreamt of living (even temporarily), here are some good places to look:
Again, most summer programs will have application deadlines in early spring, so keep an eye on your calendar!
- WashU Office of Undergraduate Research: List of Non-WashU Research Opportunities
- NSF REU programs: Use this site to search through literally hundreds of funded research programs across the US. You can sort by location and research keywords.
- You can always check the websites of universities near where you live to find summer programs, or even contact faculty at universities close to home (use a similar process as that described above) to see if they have funding to support a student over the summer.
There are several ways to study internationally during your time in EECE: full semester study abroad, summer study abroad, and the EECE International Experience program. The full semester study abroad is most easily done in the spring semester of junior year. We have established programs in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Dublin, Ireland, but students can also set up a program to go to other schools if they plan ahead! In addition to full semester programs, shorter summer programs are occasionally offered, as well (e.g., to London). More information about the McKelvey School of Engineering Study Abroad Programs can be found here.If you think you would like to study abroad for a full semester, it's best to start planning early sophomore year. Talk to your advisor about it, and get in touch with Melanie Osborn from Undergraduate Student Services.
Note: Courses taken while studying abroad count as if they were WashU courses (count for residency), and will show up as pass/fail on your transcript.
If a full semester seems like too much, that's okay! The EECE department hosts the International Experience Program, which visits a different MAGEEP partner country for 3 weeks every May. You even earn elective credit for this trip! While abroad, you will meet engineering students from the country, learn about cutting-edge research related to energy and the environment, and enjoy several fun cultural experiences. Past locations include Thailand, Hungary, Australia, Singapore, and more! You can sign up for this trip in the fall of every academic year. In the fall semester following the trip, you should register for the EECE 411 course to earn the course credit.
You should first identify the source of the dissatisfaction:
- Was the point tally on an assignment computed incorrectly?
- Do you believe you had a correct response or solution but your grade indicated otherwise?
- Did you miss a deadline for an assignment? Are seeking to turn in work late?
- Did you miss turning in an assignment because of school-, athletic-, or career-related events?
Next you should consider the following principles in terms of addressing your concerns:
- You should address any expected absences before the semester begins. Athletic events, conferences, job interviews—all of these are important to your success and trajectory as a student at Washington University. Faculty are generally supportive of such absences, but to be certain you need to have the appropriate conversation as soon as possible.
Do not rely on an AI's response to such questions or issues. You must have this conversation with the course's instructor.
- Some of our courses, especially the larger ones, feature late coupons or dropped grades. In those courses, you should expect to apply coupons or dropped grades to unexpected as well as expected absences.
- Unexpected absences can happen, and these usually take the form of extended illness or loss of a friend or family member. In such cases, you should contact your school's academic dean (e.g., Chris Kroeger for SEAS). The dean will then send faculty an email explaining the circumstances and asking for accommodation.
- You should address the issue you have with the grading of an assignment as soon as possible after you receive the assignment and its grade. If you wait until the end of the semester, thinking that at that point the grade change will benefit your final grade in the course, you are likely to be turned away. This has to do with the justice of your overall performance evaluation in the course (see below).
Some important caveats:
- Where do you address a grading issue?
- Generally you should start with the staff of your course who issued the grade, working your way up the chain as necessary. That chain from top to bottom is:
For example, if the grade is for a homework assignment that was graded by any AI, then you would start with the course's head AI or head grader. If the grade is for an exam that the instructor graded, then begin with the instructor unless instructed otherwise.
- The school's academic dean
- The course's department's associate chair
- The instructor(s) of the course
- A head AI or head grader
- What steps do you take?
- First check the course's syllabus or other documentation and look for instructions about how to request a regrade of submitted work. Follow those instructions carefully. If no such instructions are available, then:
- Write an email to the person who should field your request (see above). In that email provide as much information as possible, but you can also request a meeting during that person's office hours. If you are unable to make that person's office hours, provide specific times for the next 5 business days during which you are available.
The idea here is to minimize effort on the side of the person receiving your request. If you can be thorough, the matter can be handled expeditiously.
- Many faculty will regrade an entire assignment rather than just the place where you feel you received insufficient credit. In some cases, the result may be a lowering of your grade. See the information below on justice.
- Students have been caught cheating by changing their work between receiving its grade and submitting it for regrading.
This violation of academic integrity is easy to prove and is met with harsh consequences. You will likely receive an F in the course and the infraction will be retained in the permanent record of your work at the university. Look elsewhere in this FAQ for information about academic integrity and community standards.Do not make any marks or changes to work if you intend to resubmit for regrading.Justice
Faculty, staff, and students are interested in justice and fairness in grading. This means that the grade given on submitted work fairly evaluates the student's work. Where possible, instructors provide rubrics as to how an assignment will be graded. Some students receive a poor grade for simply not reading the rubric and following an assignment's required instructions. A student truly interested in justice would bring any grading error to the attention of the instructor, whether it benefits the student or not. Instructors are sometimes approached by students who point out grading mistakes not in their favor. Instructors are also approached by students near or at the end of the semester, asking for grade reconsiderations or extra work those students might do to improve their grade. Justice requires that instructors not make opportunities available to some students that are not available to all students. Requests along those lines betray a student's intent and are not recommended.
You can use this link: click hereFor more detailed information on this FAQ is generated, read on…
This FAQ is built by a script that accepts files in the following format:
keyword1 keyword2 ... Question Answer
- All of the keywords no matter how many, must appear on the first line. If you want a space between the keyword phrase, use an underscore as in:
second_major- Similarly, the question must appear entirely on the second line. If you want it to have a line break, use the HTML gesture <br> to cause the break.
- The rest of the file is considered the response or answer to the frequently asked question.
You can use HTML markups anywhere you like. Also, the glossary keywords are marked up automatically by the script, for words such as school.
So how can you contribute? In any one of the following ways, and in each case send your email to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee:
- Suggest questions, responses, or edits informally (by using the link at the top of this answer).
- Prepare a file using the format described above, and send that file.
- If you want to contribute substantially, the files for this FAQ are maintained in a bitbucket repo and you can ask to be invited as a collaborator. By cloning, modifying, committing and pushing your change, they can be posted to the web site.
The life of a student at an institution such as Washington University can at times be difficult. Course work, student groups, obligations to family,part-time employment -- all of these can conspire to make your plate quite full. Then, too, we know that depression as an illness can and does develop in college-age students.It is important first and foremost to take care of yourself. If you, your instructors, your advisors, or your friends develop concerns about your well-being, you are encouraged to explore the services available for counseling, starting with this page. Note that in addition to regular counseling, the Habif Wellness Center offers "drop-in"-style meetings with counselors through the Let's Talk program. If you're concerned for someone you know and aren't comfortable talking to them about it, you can complete a WashU Cares report so that someone will check in on them.
If somebody you know is in crisis (including, of course, yourself), then information for quick response can be found here. If help is needed immediately, you should call 911.
The short answer is you should have plan A and plan Z.You are allowed to register for up to 21 units, so you may have to make (strategic) choices about where to register to get the courses you want.
- Plan A
- Stay on the wait list for this course. If this is a required course for any of your programs, and you have an urgent need to take the course now, be sure to let the instructor know, and see what might be done to gain admission to the course.
It is important to show up for class as if you are enrolled if Plan A is your plan. There is an apochryphal story about a student who just kept showing up. The professor finally eventually enrolled the student in the course.
Also, be aware that students drop usually in the first two weeks of class, which opens up room in a course.
- Plan Z
- Because you might not get in, it's a good idea to sign up for another course that has room. Seek the usual advice about courses from your advisor, colleagues, and friends.
Yes! All SEAS students are invited to particpate in EnCouncil. They organize social and academic events, and our faculty and administration look to EnCouncil to provide feedback about our offerings and programs.
You can use this link: click hereFor more detailed information on this FAQ is generated, read on…
This FAQ is built by a script that accepts files in the following format:
keyword1 keyword2 ... Question Answer
- All of the keywords no matter how many, must appear on the first line. If you want a space between the keyword phrase, use an underscore as in:
second_major- Similarly, the question must appear entirely on the second line. If you want it to have a line break, use the HTML gesture <br> to cause the break.
- The rest of the file is considered the response or answer to the frequently asked question.
You can use HTML markups anywhere you like. Also, the glossary keywords are marked up automatically by the script, for words such as school.
So how can you contribute? In any one of the following ways, and in each case send your email to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee:
- Suggest questions, responses, or edits informally (by using the link at the top of this answer).
- Prepare a file using the format described above, and send that file.
- If you want to contribute substantially, the files for this FAQ are maintained in a bitbucket repo and you can ask to be invited as a collaborator. By cloning, modifying, committing and pushing your change, they can be posted to the web site.
We allow up to 6 units of credit toward our programs to be completed outside the traditional classroom. One such experience is an independent study, which typically involves working with a faculty member on research or a project of mutual interest.Independent study requires approval of the supervising faculty member. First, the supervising faculty member and the student should work together to complete a petition form the describes the scope of the independent study project. Petition forms can be found here for undergraduate students and here for Master's students.
The petition forms should have all required signatures and be submitted to the program administrator (Ms. Monique Spears) no later than the normal add/drop deadline for courses in a given semester. In the fall and spring semesters, this is usually the end of the 2nd week of classes.
Once the petition has been submitted, the program administrator will enroll the student in EECE 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 (choose the appropriate number based on the student's year in school), in the section associated with the supervising faculty member. Note that for undergraduate students, only EECE 300, 400, or 500 will count as engineering elective credit. None of these courses will count for engineering topics units.
The supervising faculty member must be faculty in our department or hold a courtesy appointment in our department. You must sign up for credit in the section associated with that supervising faculty member. The work you do may be with somebody outside of our department, in which case the de jure supervising faculty member will coordinate the activity with the de facto advisor for the work:
- It will be determined that the scope of work is appropriate for the number of units.
- The criteria for success will be communicated explicitly between the de facto and de jure advisors.
- The de facto advisor is responsible for writing a statement at the end of the independent study evaluating the quality of your work.
- The grade for your work is determined at the recommendation of the de facto advisor and entered by the de jure advisor.
As with any course, you will have to devote reasonable time to independent study. We generally hold that 3 units of credit typically requires 10 hours of work a week. A semester has 15 weeks, so 3 units of independent study should take about 150 hours of your time.
Because traditional courses have deadlines and independent study typically is more open-ended and flexible, many students make the mistake of putting off working on their independent study projects. This may cause the faculty member to drop the independent study with the student.
Success depends upon the appropriate investment of time by the student, the accurate and timely reporting of issues and progress, and the regular meetings with supervising faculty to keep the work on track. Most students who succeed at independent study report that they spend more than the usual amount of time on independent study, because they find the work interesting and rewarding.
It's easier than you think! Follow these simple steps:
- Find a faculty member whose research interests you. Looking at the research descriptions on the EECE department website is a good start. You can also look at other department websites, including the med school, if your interests tend that way.
- Prepare a 1-page PDF resume which focuses on your experiences since starting college.
- Prepare a short email (~3-4 sentences) to each faculty member with whom you'd like to pursue research. For example:
- Provide a greeting (Dear Prof. XXX) and introduce yourself by including your major and your year in school (e.g., sophomore)
- Next, write your purpose in reaching out -- that you are interested in research they are doing [be specific about what part of it you find interesting], and that you seeking a [paid work position and/or a 1, 2, or 3-credit independent study] for [1 semester, academic year, summer]. Typically, it is not sufficient to say that you want to learn more about their research and request a meeting -- the more specific you can be about what you're looking for, the better!
- Indicate that you are attaching your resume
- If you have had any prior research experience relevant to that faculty member's laboratory, include a single sentence summarizing that experience.
There are several ways to study internationally during your time in EECE: full semester study abroad, summer study abroad, and the EECE International Experience program. The full semester study abroad is most easily done in the spring semester of junior year. We have established programs in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Dublin, Ireland, but students can also set up a program to go to other schools if they plan ahead! In addition to full semester programs, shorter summer programs are occasionally offered, as well (e.g., to London). More information about the McKelvey School of Engineering Study Abroad Programs can be found here.If you think you would like to study abroad for a full semester, it's best to start planning early sophomore year. Talk to your advisor about it, and get in touch with Melanie Osborn from Undergraduate Student Services.
Note: Courses taken while studying abroad count as if they were WashU courses (count for residency), and will show up as pass/fail on your transcript.
If a full semester seems like too much, that's okay! The EECE department hosts the International Experience Program, which visits a different MAGEEP partner country for 3 weeks every May. You even earn elective credit for this trip! While abroad, you will meet engineering students from the country, learn about cutting-edge research related to energy and the environment, and enjoy several fun cultural experiences. Past locations include Thailand, Hungary, Australia, Singapore, and more! You can sign up for this trip in the fall of every academic year. In the fall semester following the trip, you should register for the EECE 411 course to earn the course credit.
Although it can be challenging to get a summer internship (especially early in college), persistence can pay off. Here are some quick things you can do:
- Visit the WashU Career Center (or some of their engineering drop-in hours in Lopata) to have someone look over your resume and discuss tips for interviewing.
- Attend the Engineering Career Fair (usually scheduled each September) and other campus career fairs. Even if you don't necessarily apply for something, it can be good practice to talk with the industry representatives.
- Apply, apply, apply! Don't lose hope -- sometimes the simple act of applying to many places will bear fruit. Some good sites to help you search are Indeed, Glassdoor, and USAJobs (for government positions).
- Periodically check back into various job posting sites. Different companies will post positions throughout the year (even as late as April or May!), so it's a good idea to take a quick look every 2-3 weeks.
- When applying to a company, check on LinkedIn to see if you have any connection with anyone working there (can be as tenuous as a WashU connection or same hometown, etc.), or if you can find anyone in a position similar to the one you're applying to. Message them to let them know you're applying and to ask if they have any advice for their application process. The worst thing that can happen is that they ignore you, so don't feel afraid to try this technique.
- Network! If you attend events such as Venture Cafe at Cortex or conferences (e.g., AIChE, NSBE, SWE), you may meet someone who may eventually lead you to an internship! Joining the WashU Mentor Collective may also introduce you to someone who can help hook you up. Don't worry about being shy/quiet -- most engineers are! Think about this kind of activity like skill-building. Even if you aren't good at it now, you will get better with practice.
- Consider trying out research. Even if you don't find the idea of research to be particularly exciting, it is a form of work experience, and may give you skills and knowledge that will help you get the next experience. Any type of engineering/science-related experience will likely be more useful towards your career path compared to a regular part-time job at home. Information on how to get a research position is covered elsewhere in this FAQ.
If you are majoring in chemical engineering, the American Chemical Society (ACS) sponsors a program to match ChE students up with internships. It's called the SCI Scholars Internship Program, and applications are usually due in October. Full details can be found here.
Again - persistence and practice are key! The more you try these activities, the more confident you will likely be. Don't give up!
Research is a great way to get some real project-based experience, especially early in college when it can be more difficult to procure an internship. The good news is that there are many ways to get involved in research on campus and elsewhere!
On-Campus Research:
The easiest way to get involved in research on campus is to contact a faculty member directly. First, look through faculty webpages and find someone whose research seems interesting to you. Then, either ask in person or send an email indicating your interest in doing a project with them (either paid or for independent study credit, depending on what you are looking for). It can help to include your resume and a short description of any past research experience (if any), and why you want to work with them. Showing genuine interest in their work (for example, by asking a question about something they've recently published) can go a long way.
Some formal (funded) on-campus research programs can be found via:
Note that many summer research programs have application deadlines in early spring (February-April).
- Student Services: Undergraduate Research Projects
- Student Services: Summer Research Opportunities
- WashU Office of Undergraduate Research(OUR): OUR often posts open positions on their main page, and more information about WashU programs can be found on the "Funding & Programs" page.
Off-Campus Research:
If you want to find something closer to home or in a place you've dreamt of living (even temporarily), here are some good places to look:
Again, most summer programs will have application deadlines in early spring, so keep an eye on your calendar!
- WashU Office of Undergraduate Research: List of Non-WashU Research Opportunities
- NSF REU programs: Use this site to search through literally hundreds of funded research programs across the US. You can sort by location and research keywords.
- You can always check the websites of universities near where you live to find summer programs, or even contact faculty at universities close to home (use a similar process as that described above) to see if they have funding to support a student over the summer.
The university distinguishes dropping a course and withdrawing from a course. Those distinctions are related to when you take action, and the relevant dates are published each semester on that semester's academic calendar. The McKelvey School of Engineering Academic Calendar can be found here.Note that if you are required to maintain a certain course load, dropping or withdrawing from a course may reduce your enrolled units below that threshold.
- The earlier of the two dates is the last day to drop (D) a course. By taking action on or before that day, the course is erased from your transcript as if you had never enrolled in that course. There is no effect on your transcript. This date is usually near the end of the second week of the semester.
- The later of the two dates is the last day to withdraw (W) from a course. The course remains on your transcript, but there is no effect on your GPA.
Many students worry needlessly about the appearance of a W on their transcript. Quite often, withdrawing from a course is a wise choice, and the W can therefore stand for Wisdom. If you are conflicted about whether to stay or withdraw from a course, then talk with your academic or 4-year advisor.
You should check with your advisor and/or your Student Services office to make sure that dropping or withdrawing from a course does not trigger an unpleasant consequence.
For all EECE degrees, you must at least pass each course (i.e., do not get an F) that is required for for the degree. In addition, there is an average GPA requirement:
- For undergraduate students, you need at least a C (2.0) cumulative grade-point average (GPA) over all WashU courses. You will also need at least a C (2.0) GPA over all engineering courses taken.
- For graduate students, the requirements vary by program. For the EECE MEng program, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70 is required. For the EECE MS program, you will need a 2.75 GPA.
For undergraduate degrees, all graduation requirements can be found here.
For graduate degrees, please refer to your program webpage and/or program administrator for details.
You should first identify the source of the dissatisfaction:
- Was the point tally on an assignment computed incorrectly?
- Do you believe you had a correct response or solution but your grade indicated otherwise?
- Did you miss a deadline for an assignment? Are seeking to turn in work late?
- Did you miss turning in an assignment because of school-, athletic-, or career-related events?
Next you should consider the following principles in terms of addressing your concerns:
- You should address any expected absences before the semester begins. Athletic events, conferences, job interviews—all of these are important to your success and trajectory as a student at Washington University. Faculty are generally supportive of such absences, but to be certain you need to have the appropriate conversation as soon as possible.
Do not rely on an AI's response to such questions or issues. You must have this conversation with the course's instructor.
- Some of our courses, especially the larger ones, feature late coupons or dropped grades. In those courses, you should expect to apply coupons or dropped grades to unexpected as well as expected absences.
- Unexpected absences can happen, and these usually take the form of extended illness or loss of a friend or family member. In such cases, you should contact your school's academic dean (e.g., Chris Kroeger for SEAS). The dean will then send faculty an email explaining the circumstances and asking for accommodation.
- You should address the issue you have with the grading of an assignment as soon as possible after you receive the assignment and its grade. If you wait until the end of the semester, thinking that at that point the grade change will benefit your final grade in the course, you are likely to be turned away. This has to do with the justice of your overall performance evaluation in the course (see below).
Some important caveats:
- Where do you address a grading issue?
- Generally you should start with the staff of your course who issued the grade, working your way up the chain as necessary. That chain from top to bottom is:
For example, if the grade is for a homework assignment that was graded by any AI, then you would start with the course's head AI or head grader. If the grade is for an exam that the instructor graded, then begin with the instructor unless instructed otherwise.
- The school's academic dean
- The course's department's associate chair
- The instructor(s) of the course
- A head AI or head grader
- What steps do you take?
- First check the course's syllabus or other documentation and look for instructions about how to request a regrade of submitted work. Follow those instructions carefully. If no such instructions are available, then:
- Write an email to the person who should field your request (see above). In that email provide as much information as possible, but you can also request a meeting during that person's office hours. If you are unable to make that person's office hours, provide specific times for the next 5 business days during which you are available.
The idea here is to minimize effort on the side of the person receiving your request. If you can be thorough, the matter can be handled expeditiously.
- Many faculty will regrade an entire assignment rather than just the place where you feel you received insufficient credit. In some cases, the result may be a lowering of your grade. See the information below on justice.
- Students have been caught cheating by changing their work between receiving its grade and submitting it for regrading.
This violation of academic integrity is easy to prove and is met with harsh consequences. You will likely receive an F in the course and the infraction will be retained in the permanent record of your work at the university. Look elsewhere in this FAQ for information about academic integrity and community standards.Do not make any marks or changes to work if you intend to resubmit for regrading.Justice
Faculty, staff, and students are interested in justice and fairness in grading. This means that the grade given on submitted work fairly evaluates the student's work. Where possible, instructors provide rubrics as to how an assignment will be graded. Some students receive a poor grade for simply not reading the rubric and following an assignment's required instructions. A student truly interested in justice would bring any grading error to the attention of the instructor, whether it benefits the student or not. Instructors are sometimes approached by students who point out grading mistakes not in their favor. Instructors are also approached by students near or at the end of the semester, asking for grade reconsiderations or extra work those students might do to improve their grade. Justice requires that instructors not make opportunities available to some students that are not available to all students. Requests along those lines betray a student's intent and are not recommended.
If you are unsatisfied with your performance in a given course, and if you feel that another experience with that material is necessary, you can retake that course. This should be considered carefully and with the advice of your departmental and 4-year advisors.
Except as noted below, retaking a course causes the following actions on your transcript and GPA computation:
- The previous enrollment in the course is annotated with an "R" to show that the course was replaced by a subsequent enrollment in the same course. The prior enrollment in the course persists on your transcript, and the grade earned in that prior enrollment is also shown. If you withdrew from the course, then the "W" persists, as well.
- The new grade replaces the previous grade in terms of GPA computation. This is true even if the new grade is worse than the previous grade.
However, take careful note of the following:
- If in your prior enrollment you were found in violation of academic integrity policies for that course, then your prior grade may not be replaced by the new grade. Each school currently makes its own decision about this.
- University rules concerning plagiarism apply also to retakes of the same course. Those rules do not allow you to submit the same work for credit in two courses, even if one of those courses is a retake of the other, without the explicit permission of the instructor of both courses. You cannot repeat a course and submit any of the same work again for credit without the explicit approval of both instances of that course.
1. Come up with a list of programs you'd like to apply to.
Keep in mind that for graduate school, you will be applying to a program (e.g., PhD in Chemical Engineering), not a university. Keep an eye out for interdisciplinary programs that combine research from several departments (a good example of one of these is the WashU DBBS program).
A good place to start looking for programs is the US News Graduate School Rankings.
If you're going for a PhD, you should try to choose a school with at least 3-5 faculty members whose research you find interesting. Getting paired with your research advisor can be complicated, so it's best to have options.
2. Apply to the programs.
Applications are usually due in December/January of your senior year. You will likely need the following as part of your application:
- GRE scores: It's recommended to take the GRE the summer before your senior year so that you have time to retake it, if necessary. For engineering programs, the math score will probably matter more than the English score. Some programs will list median scores of their admitted students to give you an idea of what to shoot for.
- Statement of Purpose: 1-2 pages describing why you want a graduate degree, what previous related experience you have, why you're applying to this specific program, what research you are most interested in (if relevant), and a brief description of career goals.
- Letters of recommendation: You will likely need 3-4 of these. Try to choose faculty or advisers who know you well and can speak to your ability to succeed in graduate school. Be sure to ask them at least several weeks before the deadline to give them time to write the letter.
Some other things to consider:
- Funding: PhD programs are often fully funded (i.e., you don't pay tuition -- instead, you get paid a stipend for your work). Master's programs are usually not funded, although sometimes larger corporations will pay for their employees to earn a Master's degree part-time.
- Time/End Goals: PhD programs require 4-6 years, and will provide you training specific to research- or teaching-focused careers. Master's programs usually take 1-2 years, and are more general to industry careers.
- Bachelor's/Master's program: At WashU, if you stay for an extra year to earn your Master's degree, you will not need to take the GRE, and you will only need to obtain one recommendation letter. There is also a tuition discount depending on when you apply and what your GPA is.
- Visiting the programs: PhD programs will often host a fully paid "visit weekend" for domestic admitted students to give you a chance to meet faculty and get a feel for the campus environment. These visits can be extremely helpful and are worth the time!
- Fellowships: There are many fellowship programs which can help fund your graduate schooling. The most famous ones are the NSF GRFP and the DOD NDSEG, but different programs and schools also have their own. Fellowships are often highly competitive, but provide full funding for several years, which can provide you with a lot of flexibility (often including having more control over who your research advisor is).
For all EECE degrees, you must at least pass each course (i.e., do not get an F) that is required for for the degree. In addition, there is an average GPA requirement:
- For undergraduate students, you need at least a C (2.0) cumulative grade-point average (GPA) over all WashU courses. You will also need at least a C (2.0) GPA over all engineering courses taken.
- For graduate students, the requirements vary by program. For the EECE MEng program, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70 is required. For the EECE MS program, you will need a 2.75 GPA.
For undergraduate degrees, all graduation requirements can be found here.
For graduate degrees, please refer to your program webpage and/or program administrator for details.
For all EECE degrees, you must at least pass each course (i.e., do not get an F) that is required for for the degree. In addition, there is an average GPA requirement:
- For undergraduate students, you need at least a C (2.0) cumulative grade-point average (GPA) over all WashU courses. You will also need at least a C (2.0) GPA over all engineering courses taken.
- For graduate students, the requirements vary by program. For the EECE MEng program, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70 is required. For the EECE MS program, you will need a 2.75 GPA.
For undergraduate degrees, all graduation requirements can be found here.
For graduate degrees, please refer to your program webpage and/or program administrator for details.
You should first identify the source of the dissatisfaction:
- Was the point tally on an assignment computed incorrectly?
- Do you believe you had a correct response or solution but your grade indicated otherwise?
- Did you miss a deadline for an assignment? Are seeking to turn in work late?
- Did you miss turning in an assignment because of school-, athletic-, or career-related events?
Next you should consider the following principles in terms of addressing your concerns:
- You should address any expected absences before the semester begins. Athletic events, conferences, job interviews—all of these are important to your success and trajectory as a student at Washington University. Faculty are generally supportive of such absences, but to be certain you need to have the appropriate conversation as soon as possible.
Do not rely on an AI's response to such questions or issues. You must have this conversation with the course's instructor.
- Some of our courses, especially the larger ones, feature late coupons or dropped grades. In those courses, you should expect to apply coupons or dropped grades to unexpected as well as expected absences.
- Unexpected absences can happen, and these usually take the form of extended illness or loss of a friend or family member. In such cases, you should contact your school's academic dean (e.g., Chris Kroeger for SEAS). The dean will then send faculty an email explaining the circumstances and asking for accommodation.
- You should address the issue you have with the grading of an assignment as soon as possible after you receive the assignment and its grade. If you wait until the end of the semester, thinking that at that point the grade change will benefit your final grade in the course, you are likely to be turned away. This has to do with the justice of your overall performance evaluation in the course (see below).
Some important caveats:
- Where do you address a grading issue?
- Generally you should start with the staff of your course who issued the grade, working your way up the chain as necessary. That chain from top to bottom is:
For example, if the grade is for a homework assignment that was graded by any AI, then you would start with the course's head AI or head grader. If the grade is for an exam that the instructor graded, then begin with the instructor unless instructed otherwise.
- The school's academic dean
- The course's department's associate chair
- The instructor(s) of the course
- A head AI or head grader
- What steps do you take?
- First check the course's syllabus or other documentation and look for instructions about how to request a regrade of submitted work. Follow those instructions carefully. If no such instructions are available, then:
- Write an email to the person who should field your request (see above). In that email provide as much information as possible, but you can also request a meeting during that person's office hours. If you are unable to make that person's office hours, provide specific times for the next 5 business days during which you are available.
The idea here is to minimize effort on the side of the person receiving your request. If you can be thorough, the matter can be handled expeditiously.
- Many faculty will regrade an entire assignment rather than just the place where you feel you received insufficient credit. In some cases, the result may be a lowering of your grade. See the information below on justice.
- Students have been caught cheating by changing their work between receiving its grade and submitting it for regrading.
This violation of academic integrity is easy to prove and is met with harsh consequences. You will likely receive an F in the course and the infraction will be retained in the permanent record of your work at the university. Look elsewhere in this FAQ for information about academic integrity and community standards.Do not make any marks or changes to work if you intend to resubmit for regrading.Justice
Faculty, staff, and students are interested in justice and fairness in grading. This means that the grade given on submitted work fairly evaluates the student's work. Where possible, instructors provide rubrics as to how an assignment will be graded. Some students receive a poor grade for simply not reading the rubric and following an assignment's required instructions. A student truly interested in justice would bring any grading error to the attention of the instructor, whether it benefits the student or not. Instructors are sometimes approached by students who point out grading mistakes not in their favor. Instructors are also approached by students near or at the end of the semester, asking for grade reconsiderations or extra work those students might do to improve their grade. Justice requires that instructors not make opportunities available to some students that are not available to all students. Requests along those lines betray a student's intent and are not recommended.
1. Come up with a list of programs you'd like to apply to.
Keep in mind that for graduate school, you will be applying to a program (e.g., PhD in Chemical Engineering), not a university. Keep an eye out for interdisciplinary programs that combine research from several departments (a good example of one of these is the WashU DBBS program).
A good place to start looking for programs is the US News Graduate School Rankings.
If you're going for a PhD, you should try to choose a school with at least 3-5 faculty members whose research you find interesting. Getting paired with your research advisor can be complicated, so it's best to have options.
2. Apply to the programs.
Applications are usually due in December/January of your senior year. You will likely need the following as part of your application:
- GRE scores: It's recommended to take the GRE the summer before your senior year so that you have time to retake it, if necessary. For engineering programs, the math score will probably matter more than the English score. Some programs will list median scores of their admitted students to give you an idea of what to shoot for.
- Statement of Purpose: 1-2 pages describing why you want a graduate degree, what previous related experience you have, why you're applying to this specific program, what research you are most interested in (if relevant), and a brief description of career goals.
- Letters of recommendation: You will likely need 3-4 of these. Try to choose faculty or advisers who know you well and can speak to your ability to succeed in graduate school. Be sure to ask them at least several weeks before the deadline to give them time to write the letter.
Some other things to consider:
- Funding: PhD programs are often fully funded (i.e., you don't pay tuition -- instead, you get paid a stipend for your work). Master's programs are usually not funded, although sometimes larger corporations will pay for their employees to earn a Master's degree part-time.
- Time/End Goals: PhD programs require 4-6 years, and will provide you training specific to research- or teaching-focused careers. Master's programs usually take 1-2 years, and are more general to industry careers.
- Bachelor's/Master's program: At WashU, if you stay for an extra year to earn your Master's degree, you will not need to take the GRE, and you will only need to obtain one recommendation letter. There is also a tuition discount depending on when you apply and what your GPA is.
- Visiting the programs: PhD programs will often host a fully paid "visit weekend" for domestic admitted students to give you a chance to meet faculty and get a feel for the campus environment. These visits can be extremely helpful and are worth the time!
- Fellowships: There are many fellowship programs which can help fund your graduate schooling. The most famous ones are the NSF GRFP and the DOD NDSEG, but different programs and schools also have their own. Fellowships are often highly competitive, but provide full funding for several years, which can provide you with a lot of flexibility (often including having more control over who your research advisor is).
We have an automated system called WUAchieve which checks the courses you have taken against the programs you seek. While some programs are not yet programmed into WUAchieve, almost all engineering programs and many other programs are. If you log in, you can see the history of what you have completed, the courses that are currently in progress, and what remains to be accomplished for you to finish.
Follow the directions on that site to either create or view a degree audit. Note that you can run an audit for your current registered degree program, or you can run a "What if?" audit to check your progress against another degree program (for example, if you are considering switching majors).
Note: Because there is leeway in how some courses count, students in a combined BS/Master's program may not see courses counting as they wish. You should use WUAchieve as a starting point and then double-check with your advisor.
For all EECE degrees, you must at least pass each course (i.e., do not get an F) that is required for for the degree. In addition, there is an average GPA requirement:
- For undergraduate students, you need at least a C (2.0) cumulative grade-point average (GPA) over all WashU courses. You will also need at least a C (2.0) GPA over all engineering courses taken.
- For graduate students, the requirements vary by program. For the EECE MEng program, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70 is required. For the EECE MS program, you will need a 2.75 GPA.
For undergraduate degrees, all graduation requirements can be found here.
For graduate degrees, please refer to your program webpage and/or program administrator for details.
1. Come up with a list of programs you'd like to apply to.
Keep in mind that for graduate school, you will be applying to a program (e.g., PhD in Chemical Engineering), not a university. Keep an eye out for interdisciplinary programs that combine research from several departments (a good example of one of these is the WashU DBBS program).
A good place to start looking for programs is the US News Graduate School Rankings.
If you're going for a PhD, you should try to choose a school with at least 3-5 faculty members whose research you find interesting. Getting paired with your research advisor can be complicated, so it's best to have options.
2. Apply to the programs.
Applications are usually due in December/January of your senior year. You will likely need the following as part of your application:
- GRE scores: It's recommended to take the GRE the summer before your senior year so that you have time to retake it, if necessary. For engineering programs, the math score will probably matter more than the English score. Some programs will list median scores of their admitted students to give you an idea of what to shoot for.
- Statement of Purpose: 1-2 pages describing why you want a graduate degree, what previous related experience you have, why you're applying to this specific program, what research you are most interested in (if relevant), and a brief description of career goals.
- Letters of recommendation: You will likely need 3-4 of these. Try to choose faculty or advisers who know you well and can speak to your ability to succeed in graduate school. Be sure to ask them at least several weeks before the deadline to give them time to write the letter.
Some other things to consider:
- Funding: PhD programs are often fully funded (i.e., you don't pay tuition -- instead, you get paid a stipend for your work). Master's programs are usually not funded, although sometimes larger corporations will pay for their employees to earn a Master's degree part-time.
- Time/End Goals: PhD programs require 4-6 years, and will provide you training specific to research- or teaching-focused careers. Master's programs usually take 1-2 years, and are more general to industry careers.
- Bachelor's/Master's program: At WashU, if you stay for an extra year to earn your Master's degree, you will not need to take the GRE, and you will only need to obtain one recommendation letter. There is also a tuition discount depending on when you apply and what your GPA is.
- Visiting the programs: PhD programs will often host a fully paid "visit weekend" for domestic admitted students to give you a chance to meet faculty and get a feel for the campus environment. These visits can be extremely helpful and are worth the time!
- Fellowships: There are many fellowship programs which can help fund your graduate schooling. The most famous ones are the NSF GRFP and the DOD NDSEG, but different programs and schools also have their own. Fellowships are often highly competitive, but provide full funding for several years, which can provide you with a lot of flexibility (often including having more control over who your research advisor is).
The life of a student at an institution such as Washington University can at times be difficult. Course work, student groups, obligations to family,part-time employment -- all of these can conspire to make your plate quite full. Then, too, we know that depression as an illness can and does develop in college-age students.It is important first and foremost to take care of yourself. If you, your instructors, your advisors, or your friends develop concerns about your well-being, you are encouraged to explore the services available for counseling, starting with this page. Note that in addition to regular counseling, the Habif Wellness Center offers "drop-in"-style meetings with counselors through the Let's Talk program. If you're concerned for someone you know and aren't comfortable talking to them about it, you can complete a WashU Cares report so that someone will check in on them.
If somebody you know is in crisis (including, of course, yourself), then information for quick response can be found here. If help is needed immediately, you should call 911.
We have an automated system called WUAchieve which checks the courses you have taken against the programs you seek. While some programs are not yet programmed into WUAchieve, almost all engineering programs and many other programs are. If you log in, you can see the history of what you have completed, the courses that are currently in progress, and what remains to be accomplished for you to finish.
Follow the directions on that site to either create or view a degree audit. Note that you can run an audit for your current registered degree program, or you can run a "What if?" audit to check your progress against another degree program (for example, if you are considering switching majors).
Note: Because there is leeway in how some courses count, students in a combined BS/Master's program may not see courses counting as they wish. You should use WUAchieve as a starting point and then double-check with your advisor.
To see whether or not your AP score is sufficient for you to earn credit for a particular course, see this page.Humanities and Social Sciences (H/SS) AP courses cannot be counted towards the H/SS degree requirements. In other words, you must take 18 credits of H/SS as part of your engineering degree. Note that these AP credits do count as general elective credit, but not a specific degree requirement.
The easiest way to find out if a course counts for H/SS credit is to check its description on WebSTAC. It will count if one of its attributes is either "EN H" (humanities) or "EN S" (social science). A complete description of McKelvey Engineering policies relating to H/SS courses (including how to petition for a course to count for H/SS) can be found here.
Some additional considerations:
- The 1-credit general engineering sequence (Engr 4501-4503) counts as social science credit for both the BSChE and BSEnvE degrees.
- The BSEnvE program has additional constraints on H/SS credits -- some of them must come from a prescribed menu, found here.
- Remember that H/SS courses (with the exception of 4501-4503) can be taken pass/fail.
It's really between you and your research or independent study mentor. Some students prefer credit, as it makes progress toward their degree; others prefer to be paid.
We allow up to 6 units of credit toward our programs to be completed outside the traditional classroom. One such experience is an independent study, which typically involves working with a faculty member on research or a project of mutual interest.Independent study requires approval of the supervising faculty member. First, the supervising faculty member and the student should work together to complete a petition form the describes the scope of the independent study project. Petition forms can be found here for undergraduate students and here for Master's students.
The petition forms should have all required signatures and be submitted to the program administrator (Ms. Monique Spears) no later than the normal add/drop deadline for courses in a given semester. In the fall and spring semesters, this is usually the end of the 2nd week of classes.
Once the petition has been submitted, the program administrator will enroll the student in EECE 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 (choose the appropriate number based on the student's year in school), in the section associated with the supervising faculty member. Note that for undergraduate students, only EECE 300, 400, or 500 will count as engineering elective credit. None of these courses will count for engineering topics units.
The supervising faculty member must be faculty in our department or hold a courtesy appointment in our department. You must sign up for credit in the section associated with that supervising faculty member. The work you do may be with somebody outside of our department, in which case the de jure supervising faculty member will coordinate the activity with the de facto advisor for the work:
- It will be determined that the scope of work is appropriate for the number of units.
- The criteria for success will be communicated explicitly between the de facto and de jure advisors.
- The de facto advisor is responsible for writing a statement at the end of the independent study evaluating the quality of your work.
- The grade for your work is determined at the recommendation of the de facto advisor and entered by the de jure advisor.
As with any course, you will have to devote reasonable time to independent study. We generally hold that 3 units of credit typically requires 10 hours of work a week. A semester has 15 weeks, so 3 units of independent study should take about 150 hours of your time.
Because traditional courses have deadlines and independent study typically is more open-ended and flexible, many students make the mistake of putting off working on their independent study projects. This may cause the faculty member to drop the independent study with the student.
Success depends upon the appropriate investment of time by the student, the accurate and timely reporting of issues and progress, and the regular meetings with supervising faculty to keep the work on track. Most students who succeed at independent study report that they spend more than the usual amount of time on independent study, because they find the work interesting and rewarding.
It's easier than you think! Follow these simple steps:
- Find a faculty member whose research interests you. Looking at the research descriptions on the EECE department website is a good start. You can also look at other department websites, including the med school, if your interests tend that way.
- Prepare a 1-page PDF resume which focuses on your experiences since starting college.
- Prepare a short email (~3-4 sentences) to each faculty member with whom you'd like to pursue research. For example:
- Provide a greeting (Dear Prof. XXX) and introduce yourself by including your major and your year in school (e.g., sophomore)
- Next, write your purpose in reaching out -- that you are interested in research they are doing [be specific about what part of it you find interesting], and that you seeking a [paid work position and/or a 1, 2, or 3-credit independent study] for [1 semester, academic year, summer]. Typically, it is not sufficient to say that you want to learn more about their research and request a meeting -- the more specific you can be about what you're looking for, the better!
- Indicate that you are attaching your resume
- If you have had any prior research experience relevant to that faculty member's laboratory, include a single sentence summarizing that experience.
Undergraduate students in EECE may take EECE 423: Senior Thesis as a way to earn distinction for research they have been involved in, as well as earn elective credit towards their degree.The completion of a Senior Thesis involves a demonstration of acquired knowledge based on: a research project with submission of a written senior thesis and an oral presentation. EECE 423 is similar to an independent study, except it is expected to be done over the course of two semesters (typically fall and spring of senior year) with various milestone deliverables due throughout the year. At the end of the second semester, the student's thesis will be evaluated by a committee for a grade.
Undergraduates may only count up to 6 units of 300+ level Independent Study (EECE 300, 400, or 500) and/or Senior Thesis (EECE 423) towards your elective requirement. In other words, if you have already taken 6 units of Independent Study, the Senior Thesis credits would not count towards your degree, although they would count as general residency credit.
Note that, like a regular Independent Study, a Senior Thesis can be done even if you've been doing research outside the department (e.g., at the medical school). Administratively, an EECE faculty member would need to oversee your EECE 423 course grade, but the rest of the oversight can largely be done by your normal research advisor.
If you are interested in pursuing the Senior Thesis, contact Dr. Janie Brennan for more details.
Our general rule of thumb is that a 3 unit course takes somewhere between 10–12 hours of your time a week, including the time you spend in lecture. For an independent study, a 15-week semester would therefore take 150–180 hours of your time.If you are interested in a 6 unit project, it would take twice that, and that's usually not possible in a single semester, so most 6-unit projects and such are accomplished in two semesters.
Although it can be challenging to get a summer internship (especially early in college), persistence can pay off. Here are some quick things you can do:
- Visit the WashU Career Center (or some of their engineering drop-in hours in Lopata) to have someone look over your resume and discuss tips for interviewing.
- Attend the Engineering Career Fair (usually scheduled each September) and other campus career fairs. Even if you don't necessarily apply for something, it can be good practice to talk with the industry representatives.
- Apply, apply, apply! Don't lose hope -- sometimes the simple act of applying to many places will bear fruit. Some good sites to help you search are Indeed, Glassdoor, and USAJobs (for government positions).
- Periodically check back into various job posting sites. Different companies will post positions throughout the year (even as late as April or May!), so it's a good idea to take a quick look every 2-3 weeks.
- When applying to a company, check on LinkedIn to see if you have any connection with anyone working there (can be as tenuous as a WashU connection or same hometown, etc.), or if you can find anyone in a position similar to the one you're applying to. Message them to let them know you're applying and to ask if they have any advice for their application process. The worst thing that can happen is that they ignore you, so don't feel afraid to try this technique.
- Network! If you attend events such as Venture Cafe at Cortex or conferences (e.g., AIChE, NSBE, SWE), you may meet someone who may eventually lead you to an internship! Joining the WashU Mentor Collective may also introduce you to someone who can help hook you up. Don't worry about being shy/quiet -- most engineers are! Think about this kind of activity like skill-building. Even if you aren't good at it now, you will get better with practice.
- Consider trying out research. Even if you don't find the idea of research to be particularly exciting, it is a form of work experience, and may give you skills and knowledge that will help you get the next experience. Any type of engineering/science-related experience will likely be more useful towards your career path compared to a regular part-time job at home. Information on how to get a research position is covered elsewhere in this FAQ.
If you are majoring in chemical engineering, the American Chemical Society (ACS) sponsors a program to match ChE students up with internships. It's called the SCI Scholars Internship Program, and applications are usually due in October. Full details can be found here.
Again - persistence and practice are key! The more you try these activities, the more confident you will likely be. Don't give up!
Research is a great way to get some real project-based experience, especially early in college when it can be more difficult to procure an internship. The good news is that there are many ways to get involved in research on campus and elsewhere!
On-Campus Research:
The easiest way to get involved in research on campus is to contact a faculty member directly. First, look through faculty webpages and find someone whose research seems interesting to you. Then, either ask in person or send an email indicating your interest in doing a project with them (either paid or for independent study credit, depending on what you are looking for). It can help to include your resume and a short description of any past research experience (if any), and why you want to work with them. Showing genuine interest in their work (for example, by asking a question about something they've recently published) can go a long way.
Some formal (funded) on-campus research programs can be found via:
Note that many summer research programs have application deadlines in early spring (February-April).
- Student Services: Undergraduate Research Projects
- Student Services: Summer Research Opportunities
- WashU Office of Undergraduate Research(OUR): OUR often posts open positions on their main page, and more information about WashU programs can be found on the "Funding & Programs" page.
Off-Campus Research:
If you want to find something closer to home or in a place you've dreamt of living (even temporarily), here are some good places to look:
Again, most summer programs will have application deadlines in early spring, so keep an eye on your calendar!
- WashU Office of Undergraduate Research: List of Non-WashU Research Opportunities
- NSF REU programs: Use this site to search through literally hundreds of funded research programs across the US. You can sort by location and research keywords.
- You can always check the websites of universities near where you live to find summer programs, or even contact faculty at universities close to home (use a similar process as that described above) to see if they have funding to support a student over the summer.
Each school is allowed to have its own rules concerning how courses count toward its programs of study. For example, ArtSci prohibits double counting of almost all courses, so that if a student takes Organic Chemistry (Chem 261) within the chemistry department, then it can count toward a chemistry program or toward chemical/environmental engineering, but not both from the ArtSci perspective.
The short answer is you almost certainly want a second major and not a second degree. The intrepid can find the whole story below.At Washington University, a degree is the primary unit of recognition conferred by a school (such as SEAS or ArtSci) on a student at commencement, indicating that a student has completed one or more programs of study in that school. Within a given school, students can complete multiple majors. Moreover, many programs (and computer science is anong them) have second majors which allow students to study disciplines outsisde their primary major. A student's transcript indicates all of the majors, first and second, that the student has completed.
To make sense of this, it is useful to think of a degree and a primary major as coupled: a student studies a primary major in his or her school (SEAS or ArtSci for example) and earns a degree from that school. The rules governing the number and types of courses that must be taken for graduation are drawn from the school in which a student has a primary major.
A second major brings the burden only of the subject itself, without incurring distribution and other requirements of any school. Thus, a second major in computer science may be earned by students who are primarily situated in any school (including SEAS), but the courses needed to complete the second major are dictated by the second major itself, and not by the school.
Thus, most students can be described as follows. The student is primarily situated in some school and pursuing a primary major in that school. That same student may be completing second majors in departments and programs across the university. Each such second major has its own requirements, but they do not carry any associated school requirements beyond what the student must complete for his or her primary major. Here are some examples:
- Alice's primary major is electrical engineering, which situates her in SEAS. Alice would like to earn a second major in computer science. She does this by looking at the web page for the second major, by adding the second major to her programs of study using WebSTAC, and by consulting with her second major advisor as needed. That advisor does not need to approve Alice for registration, but serves as needed to support Alice in her studies of computer science.
- Bob's primary major is economics, which situates him in the College of Arts and Sciences. Bob would like to earn a second major in computer science, and he follows the same steps Alice did to enroll in the second major and to secure an advisor for those studies. Because Bob is primarily in the College of Arts and Sciences, their rule of 3 restriction applies, which means he would not be allowed to add the second major if the sum of his primary majors, second majors, and minors would exceed three. If that is the case, Bob then considers transferring into the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, which has no rule of three restriction.
Then what is a second degree? First let me explain that the distinction between a second degree and a second major is almost impossible for people outside our walls to discern. So if you are satisfied with doing a second major, you need not read on. Still here? A second degree acts as if you were also primary in the school of your second degree. Let's return to Alice and Bob.
- Alice, already a SEAS student, wants a degree in electrical engineering and also a degree in computer science. She must read the rules for multiple degrees in the bulletin where she will discover she needs more resident credit in SEAS than if she had chosen a second major. She most likely decides this isn't worth it because she can simply list both majors on her resume, and the difference between the second major and a second degree is difficult to explain.
- Bob is even in worse shape should he choose the second degree. Because he is in ArtSci, he would have to complete the distribution requirements of both schools to earn both degrees.
1. Come up with a list of programs you'd like to apply to.
Keep in mind that for graduate school, you will be applying to a program (e.g., PhD in Chemical Engineering), not a university. Keep an eye out for interdisciplinary programs that combine research from several departments (a good example of one of these is the WashU DBBS program).
A good place to start looking for programs is the US News Graduate School Rankings.
If you're going for a PhD, you should try to choose a school with at least 3-5 faculty members whose research you find interesting. Getting paired with your research advisor can be complicated, so it's best to have options.
2. Apply to the programs.
Applications are usually due in December/January of your senior year. You will likely need the following as part of your application:
- GRE scores: It's recommended to take the GRE the summer before your senior year so that you have time to retake it, if necessary. For engineering programs, the math score will probably matter more than the English score. Some programs will list median scores of their admitted students to give you an idea of what to shoot for.
- Statement of Purpose: 1-2 pages describing why you want a graduate degree, what previous related experience you have, why you're applying to this specific program, what research you are most interested in (if relevant), and a brief description of career goals.
- Letters of recommendation: You will likely need 3-4 of these. Try to choose faculty or advisers who know you well and can speak to your ability to succeed in graduate school. Be sure to ask them at least several weeks before the deadline to give them time to write the letter.
Some other things to consider:
- Funding: PhD programs are often fully funded (i.e., you don't pay tuition -- instead, you get paid a stipend for your work). Master's programs are usually not funded, although sometimes larger corporations will pay for their employees to earn a Master's degree part-time.
- Time/End Goals: PhD programs require 4-6 years, and will provide you training specific to research- or teaching-focused careers. Master's programs usually take 1-2 years, and are more general to industry careers.
- Bachelor's/Master's program: At WashU, if you stay for an extra year to earn your Master's degree, you will not need to take the GRE, and you will only need to obtain one recommendation letter. There is also a tuition discount depending on when you apply and what your GPA is.
- Visiting the programs: PhD programs will often host a fully paid "visit weekend" for domestic admitted students to give you a chance to meet faculty and get a feel for the campus environment. These visits can be extremely helpful and are worth the time!
- Fellowships: There are many fellowship programs which can help fund your graduate schooling. The most famous ones are the NSF GRFP and the DOD NDSEG, but different programs and schools also have their own. Fellowships are often highly competitive, but provide full funding for several years, which can provide you with a lot of flexibility (often including having more control over who your research advisor is).
To access MATLAB:
All WashU students can download MATLAB for free using their WUSTL key. You can do so here.Learning how to use MATLAB: MATLAB has a FREE online tutorial program called Onramp. It will take you through all of the basics of using MATLAB. All you will need is a Mathworks account (also free). You can access Onramp here.
There are also many tutorials you can watch on YouTube. For example, here is a 1-hour intro to MATLAB, and here is a longer (approx. 4 hour) tutorial.
Finally, simply Googling "MATLAB" + [keyword(s)]" will often find several pages with explanations and sample code for how to do any particular thing in MATLAB.Good luck!
The life of a student at an institution such as Washington University can at times be difficult. Course work, student groups, obligations to family,part-time employment -- all of these can conspire to make your plate quite full. Then, too, we know that depression as an illness can and does develop in college-age students.It is important first and foremost to take care of yourself. If you, your instructors, your advisors, or your friends develop concerns about your well-being, you are encouraged to explore the services available for counseling, starting with this page. Note that in addition to regular counseling, the Habif Wellness Center offers "drop-in"-style meetings with counselors through the Let's Talk program. If you're concerned for someone you know and aren't comfortable talking to them about it, you can complete a WashU Cares report so that someone will check in on them.
If somebody you know is in crisis (including, of course, yourself), then information for quick response can be found here. If help is needed immediately, you should call 911.
You are assigned a departmental advisor when you choose to major or minor in any of our department's programs. If you are a first major in our department, then your advisor must explicitly approve your ability to register for courses. Each semester, there is an advising period during which it is expected that you will make an appointment to meet with your advisor.While approval for registration is one subject for such meetings, you and your advisor will likely engage in conversations concerning
If you are not meeting with you advisor on a regular basis, then you are not making best use of the resources offered by our department. You are strongly encouraged to meet with your advisor each semester prior to registration!
- other majors or minors that might interest you
- research opportunities
- internships and job search
- difficulties you may be facing
- letters of reference for employment, graduate school, or fellowships
Your advisor can offer advice at other times as well, and if you find yourself in need of such advice, send an email to your advisor and arrange for a conversation to address any concerns you have. Some examples of situations that might trigger a conversation with your advisor are as follows:
- You are struggling in a course and are not sure how to get help.
- You are finding yourself in a difficult semester and you need to lighten your load.
- You are finding yourself with extra time available and would like to consider some activities to enrich your studies.
- You are trying to choose between multiple job or internship offers.
- You have been accused of violating the rules for academic integrity.
- You need a letter of reference.
In all of the above situations, your advisor is best able to help you if your advisor knows you well, and the best way to establish a solid relationship with your advisor is to meet with the advisor regularly, show up promptly for any meetings you have scheduled, and be as prepared as possible for such meetings.
While second majors and minors do not require explicit approval from their advisors to register, they are encouraged for all of the above reasons to meet with their advisors regularly and as needed.
There are different answers depending on the school offering the course.
- All schools except Olin
- You deserve the truth, so you should know that the university's registration systems do not check that you have already taken prerequisite courses as you enroll in a new course. Thus, prerequisites are advisory but they are there for a reason. You should consider very seriously whether you will perform well in a course for which you have not taken its prerequisites. Before taking a course out of order, you should have a conversation with the instructor and/or your advisor. Keep in mind that there are many ways you could prepare on your own for a course for which you have not formally taken that course's prerequisites.
Caveat emptor!
- Olin
- The business school takes a more strict approach concerning prerequisite courses. They insist that students must have taken the courses precisely listed as prerequisites, and they do not allow for students who have had similar courses elsewhere, even at our own university, nor do they consider the background students may have from other learning experiences or studies.
Olin asks us to make sure you are aware of their strict policy concerning prerequisites.
There are different answers depending on the school offering the course.
- All schools except Olin
- You deserve the truth, so you should know that the university's registration systems do not check that you have already taken prerequisite courses as you enroll in a new course. Thus, prerequisites are advisory but they are there for a reason. You should consider very seriously whether you will perform well in a course for which you have not taken its prerequisites. Before taking a course out of order, you should have a conversation with the instructor and/or your advisor. Keep in mind that there are many ways you could prepare on your own for a course for which you have not formally taken that course's prerequisites.
Caveat emptor!
- Olin
- The business school takes a more strict approach concerning prerequisite courses. They insist that students must have taken the courses precisely listed as prerequisites, and they do not allow for students who have had similar courses elsewhere, even at our own university, nor do they consider the background students may have from other learning experiences or studies.
Olin asks us to make sure you are aware of their strict policy concerning prerequisites.
Most courses at our university allow a student to take that course for a grade (A, B, C, etc.) or for credit only. This latter option is the mechanism for taking a class pass/fail. Here are some notes about taking courses pass/fail:
- When you register or try to change the enrollment status of yourself in a course, the pass/fail option may not present itself, which means that the course can be taken only for a grade.
- Some courses, such as seminars, can only be taken pass/fail.
- It is important for a student taking any course pass/fail to understand with sufficient precision what is required to pass the course. Web pages and syllabi should contain this information, but if they do not, then an email or some other documentation of the standard needed to pass should be obtained.
- There is a limit to the number of courses you can take pass/fail in a semester, and the total number you can take over your career, as documented here.
- There is a date by which you must declare the course pass/fail, and a date by which you can change it back from pass/fail to graded. This varies by semester and you should consult the particular year's academic calendar.
While most courses allow you to enroll pass/fail, you must keep in mind that most majors and minors insist that all courses taken for those programs be taken for a letter grade, and not pass/fail.All EECE programs require that you take courses that count toward your EECE degree for a letter grade. The only courses you can take pass/fail for us are those that satisfy humanties and social sciences as distribution.
This becomes tricky if you take a course thinking that it's only for distribution, and then become so interested in the topic that you subsequently want to open a major or minor program in that area of study. In such a situation, you might have to re-take the course for a letter grade.
While the window to declare a course pass/fail is fairly short, the window for reverting it back to a letter grade is relatively long. If you find yourself becoming interested in the subject and you are doing well, you should probably revert the pass/fail to a letter grade.
1. Come up with a list of programs you'd like to apply to.
Keep in mind that for graduate school, you will be applying to a program (e.g., PhD in Chemical Engineering), not a university. Keep an eye out for interdisciplinary programs that combine research from several departments (a good example of one of these is the WashU DBBS program).
A good place to start looking for programs is the US News Graduate School Rankings.
If you're going for a PhD, you should try to choose a school with at least 3-5 faculty members whose research you find interesting. Getting paired with your research advisor can be complicated, so it's best to have options.
2. Apply to the programs.
Applications are usually due in December/January of your senior year. You will likely need the following as part of your application:
- GRE scores: It's recommended to take the GRE the summer before your senior year so that you have time to retake it, if necessary. For engineering programs, the math score will probably matter more than the English score. Some programs will list median scores of their admitted students to give you an idea of what to shoot for.
- Statement of Purpose: 1-2 pages describing why you want a graduate degree, what previous related experience you have, why you're applying to this specific program, what research you are most interested in (if relevant), and a brief description of career goals.
- Letters of recommendation: You will likely need 3-4 of these. Try to choose faculty or advisers who know you well and can speak to your ability to succeed in graduate school. Be sure to ask them at least several weeks before the deadline to give them time to write the letter.
Some other things to consider:
- Funding: PhD programs are often fully funded (i.e., you don't pay tuition -- instead, you get paid a stipend for your work). Master's programs are usually not funded, although sometimes larger corporations will pay for their employees to earn a Master's degree part-time.
- Time/End Goals: PhD programs require 4-6 years, and will provide you training specific to research- or teaching-focused careers. Master's programs usually take 1-2 years, and are more general to industry careers.
- Bachelor's/Master's program: At WashU, if you stay for an extra year to earn your Master's degree, you will not need to take the GRE, and you will only need to obtain one recommendation letter. There is also a tuition discount depending on when you apply and what your GPA is.
- Visiting the programs: PhD programs will often host a fully paid "visit weekend" for domestic admitted students to give you a chance to meet faculty and get a feel for the campus environment. These visits can be extremely helpful and are worth the time!
- Fellowships: There are many fellowship programs which can help fund your graduate schooling. The most famous ones are the NSF GRFP and the DOD NDSEG, but different programs and schools also have their own. Fellowships are often highly competitive, but provide full funding for several years, which can provide you with a lot of flexibility (often including having more control over who your research advisor is).
To see whether or not your AP score is sufficient for you to earn credit for a particular course, see this page.If you are eligible to use AP credit to count for one of these foundational courses, it is a little bit up to you whether or not to use it. Generally speaking, if you earned a high score on the AP test, your level of knowledge is very likely sufficient to succeed in our core engineering courses. That being said, if it has been several years since you took these courses, or if you are feeling quite uncertain about how well you know/understand the basic concepts from the courses, it may be a good idea to have a "refresher".
But don't I need to be really good at chemistry to succeed in chemical or environmental engineering?
Actually, our core courses only really require that you have a solid grasp of the fundamental concepts from chemistry (types of bonds, boiling points, solubilities, etc.) We don't necessarily talk about specific chemicals/reactions all that much. In other words, if you don't remember all the little details, it will probably be okay!Are there any risks to skipping CSE 131 via AP credit?
The one thing you might miss is a brief introduction to MATLAB. As part of CSE 131, you would be trying out some basic programming exercises in MATLAB (in addition to a more traditional language). Most of the courses in EECE will suggest using MATLAB to solve problems, so some familiarity with this software could be useful. See the FAQ question on MATLAB for resources to help you learn it on your own.
To see whether or not your AP score is sufficient for you to earn credit for a particular course, see this page.If you are eligible to use AP credit to count for one of these foundational courses, it is a little bit up to you whether or not to use it. Generally speaking, if you earned a high score on the AP test, your level of knowledge is very likely sufficient to succeed in our core engineering courses. That being said, if it has been several years since you took these courses, or if you are feeling quite uncertain about how well you know/understand the basic concepts from the courses, it may be a good idea to have a "refresher".
But don't I need to be really good at chemistry to succeed in chemical or environmental engineering?
Actually, our core courses only really require that you have a solid grasp of the fundamental concepts from chemistry (types of bonds, boiling points, solubilities, etc.) We don't necessarily talk about specific chemicals/reactions all that much. In other words, if you don't remember all the little details, it will probably be okay!Are there any risks to skipping CSE 131 via AP credit?
The one thing you might miss is a brief introduction to MATLAB. As part of CSE 131, you would be trying out some basic programming exercises in MATLAB (in addition to a more traditional language). Most of the courses in EECE will suggest using MATLAB to solve problems, so some familiarity with this software could be useful. See the FAQ question on MATLAB for resources to help you learn it on your own.
To see whether or not your AP score is sufficient for you to earn credit for a particular course, see this page.Humanities and Social Sciences (H/SS) AP courses cannot be counted towards the H/SS degree requirements. In other words, you must take 18 credits of H/SS as part of your engineering degree. Note that these AP credits do count as general elective credit, but not a specific degree requirement.
In short, no.
Cheating not academically breaks the trust of your professors and your peers, but it also impairs the person that matters the most: yourself.
If you take a shortcut on an assignment, then you are robbing yourself of that next level of understanding, of potential growth and of the pride of having done something yourself.
Completing an assignment and doing well in a class should come with a sense of accomplishment, which will in turn push you to accomplish more. If you ever feel the need to cheat or do something dishonest, then take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
You are at a top level university with great academic resources and you should be here not only to receive a degree, but also to learn as much as possible. There are a number of alternative options you can take before you cheat:
- Talk to your professor, and ask for an extension. There is no harm in asking.
- Commit to a new schedule, start early, go to office hours.
- Fail the assignment or receive a lower grade. It is perfectly fine to not do well on an assignment as long as you can evaluate what went wrong. Maybe you need to start earlier, cut back on extracurriculars, or perhaps you are in the wrong class.
- Drop/Withdraw from the class.
In the short-term and long-term, it is never worth it to cheat. There is always another way, and that alternative path will always be more beneficial. Do not risk your personal integrity for one assignment or one class.
There are several principles at work here:
- Engineering is by its nature a collaborative discipline. Because collaboration skills are valuable in its practice, many of our courses explicitly encourage collaboration.
- We are often obligated to assess student performance on an individual basis. Thus, even those courses that feature collaborative assignments also contain assignments that must be completed individually.
- The university, school, and departmental policies on academic integrity state the standards of our community and the consequence that can follow from violating those standards. Academic integrity proceedings are covered elsewhere in this FAQ.
In light of the above, it is important that there be clear rules in our courses concerning when and how you are allowed to collaborate. This burden has portions for both faculty and students:
- Faculty are obligated to state on their syllabi, web pages, and assignments the extent to which collaboration is allowed. Faculty try to be as clear as possible, but prose is prone to ambiguity.
- Students are therefore responsible for asking questions in cases where they are not sure about the rules.
The goals here are to allow as much collaboration as possible while making sure that the limitations of such collaboration are clear and followed by students.
The following are some examples of collaborative scenarios from our courses. These are not necessarily the policy in any given course. You must check a given course page's syllabus or web pages for what is allowed in that course.
- A homework assignment allows students to bounce ideas off of other students before writing up a solution, with the requirement that anybody involved in such discussions wih the students is listed at the top of the submitted solution.
- A homework solution allows discussion of problems among students, as long as nothing is written down. The student must wait at least an hour after all such discussions have ended to write up the solution. This includes assignments that use MATLAB code or other computational tools.
The short answer is you should have plan A and plan Z.You are allowed to register for up to 21 units, so you may have to make (strategic) choices about where to register to get the courses you want.
- Plan A
- Stay on the wait list for this course. If this is a required course for any of your programs, and you have an urgent need to take the course now, be sure to let the instructor know, and see what might be done to gain admission to the course.
It is important to show up for class as if you are enrolled if Plan A is your plan. There is an apochryphal story about a student who just kept showing up. The professor finally eventually enrolled the student in the course.
Also, be aware that students drop usually in the first two weeks of class, which opens up room in a course.
- Plan Z
- Because you might not get in, it's a good idea to sign up for another course that has room. Seek the usual advice about courses from your advisor, colleagues, and friends.
There are different answers depending on the school offering the course.
- All schools except Olin
- You deserve the truth, so you should know that the university's registration systems do not check that you have already taken prerequisite courses as you enroll in a new course. Thus, prerequisites are advisory but they are there for a reason. You should consider very seriously whether you will perform well in a course for which you have not taken its prerequisites. Before taking a course out of order, you should have a conversation with the instructor and/or your advisor. Keep in mind that there are many ways you could prepare on your own for a course for which you have not formally taken that course's prerequisites.
Caveat emptor!
- Olin
- The business school takes a more strict approach concerning prerequisite courses. They insist that students must have taken the courses precisely listed as prerequisites, and they do not allow for students who have had similar courses elsewhere, even at our own university, nor do they consider the background students may have from other learning experiences or studies.
Olin asks us to make sure you are aware of their strict policy concerning prerequisites.
The provost is the chief academic officer at a university. The schools of our institution are organized to be relatively independent. The provost looks for opportunities for advancement of teaching, scholarship, and learning across our schools. The web page for our provost Holden Thorp shows the nature and breadth of activities associated with our provost's office, and the provost's blog can help you follow his interests and activities.
Each semester before class registration starts, EECE will post Advising Memos that will include important updates and considerations for when you register for courses. The advising updates can be found hereThese updates will also have been shared with your academic advisor.
You are assigned a departmental advisor when you choose to major or minor in any of our department's programs. If you are a first major in our department, then your advisor must explicitly approve your ability to register for courses. Each semester, there is an advising period during which it is expected that you will make an appointment to meet with your advisor.While approval for registration is one subject for such meetings, you and your advisor will likely engage in conversations concerning
If you are not meeting with you advisor on a regular basis, then you are not making best use of the resources offered by our department. You are strongly encouraged to meet with your advisor each semester prior to registration!
- other majors or minors that might interest you
- research opportunities
- internships and job search
- difficulties you may be facing
- letters of reference for employment, graduate school, or fellowships
Your advisor can offer advice at other times as well, and if you find yourself in need of such advice, send an email to your advisor and arrange for a conversation to address any concerns you have. Some examples of situations that might trigger a conversation with your advisor are as follows:
- You are struggling in a course and are not sure how to get help.
- You are finding yourself in a difficult semester and you need to lighten your load.
- You are finding yourself with extra time available and would like to consider some activities to enrich your studies.
- You are trying to choose between multiple job or internship offers.
- You have been accused of violating the rules for academic integrity.
- You need a letter of reference.
In all of the above situations, your advisor is best able to help you if your advisor knows you well, and the best way to establish a solid relationship with your advisor is to meet with the advisor regularly, show up promptly for any meetings you have scheduled, and be as prepared as possible for such meetings.
While second majors and minors do not require explicit approval from their advisors to register, they are encouraged for all of the above reasons to meet with their advisors regularly and as needed.
Each school is allowed to have its own rules concerning how courses count toward its programs of study. For example, ArtSci prohibits double counting of almost all courses, so that if a student takes Organic Chemistry (Chem 261) within the chemistry department, then it can count toward a chemistry program or toward chemical/environmental engineering, but not both from the ArtSci perspective.
It's really between you and your research or independent study mentor. Some students prefer credit, as it makes progress toward their degree; others prefer to be paid.
We allow up to 6 units of credit toward our programs to be completed outside the traditional classroom. One such experience is an independent study, which typically involves working with a faculty member on research or a project of mutual interest.Independent study requires approval of the supervising faculty member. First, the supervising faculty member and the student should work together to complete a petition form the describes the scope of the independent study project. Petition forms can be found here for undergraduate students and here for Master's students.
The petition forms should have all required signatures and be submitted to the program administrator (Ms. Monique Spears) no later than the normal add/drop deadline for courses in a given semester. In the fall and spring semesters, this is usually the end of the 2nd week of classes.
Once the petition has been submitted, the program administrator will enroll the student in EECE 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 (choose the appropriate number based on the student's year in school), in the section associated with the supervising faculty member. Note that for undergraduate students, only EECE 300, 400, or 500 will count as engineering elective credit. None of these courses will count for engineering topics units.
The supervising faculty member must be faculty in our department or hold a courtesy appointment in our department. You must sign up for credit in the section associated with that supervising faculty member. The work you do may be with somebody outside of our department, in which case the de jure supervising faculty member will coordinate the activity with the de facto advisor for the work:
- It will be determined that the scope of work is appropriate for the number of units.
- The criteria for success will be communicated explicitly between the de facto and de jure advisors.
- The de facto advisor is responsible for writing a statement at the end of the independent study evaluating the quality of your work.
- The grade for your work is determined at the recommendation of the de facto advisor and entered by the de jure advisor.
As with any course, you will have to devote reasonable time to independent study. We generally hold that 3 units of credit typically requires 10 hours of work a week. A semester has 15 weeks, so 3 units of independent study should take about 150 hours of your time.
Because traditional courses have deadlines and independent study typically is more open-ended and flexible, many students make the mistake of putting off working on their independent study projects. This may cause the faculty member to drop the independent study with the student.
Success depends upon the appropriate investment of time by the student, the accurate and timely reporting of issues and progress, and the regular meetings with supervising faculty to keep the work on track. Most students who succeed at independent study report that they spend more than the usual amount of time on independent study, because they find the work interesting and rewarding.
It's easier than you think! Follow these simple steps:
- Find a faculty member whose research interests you. Looking at the research descriptions on the EECE department website is a good start. You can also look at other department websites, including the med school, if your interests tend that way.
- Prepare a 1-page PDF resume which focuses on your experiences since starting college.
- Prepare a short email (~3-4 sentences) to each faculty member with whom you'd like to pursue research. For example:
- Provide a greeting (Dear Prof. XXX) and introduce yourself by including your major and your year in school (e.g., sophomore)
- Next, write your purpose in reaching out -- that you are interested in research they are doing [be specific about what part of it you find interesting], and that you seeking a [paid work position and/or a 1, 2, or 3-credit independent study] for [1 semester, academic year, summer]. Typically, it is not sufficient to say that you want to learn more about their research and request a meeting -- the more specific you can be about what you're looking for, the better!
- Indicate that you are attaching your resume
- If you have had any prior research experience relevant to that faculty member's laboratory, include a single sentence summarizing that experience.
Undergraduate students in EECE may take EECE 423: Senior Thesis as a way to earn distinction for research they have been involved in, as well as earn elective credit towards their degree.The completion of a Senior Thesis involves a demonstration of acquired knowledge based on: a research project with submission of a written senior thesis and an oral presentation. EECE 423 is similar to an independent study, except it is expected to be done over the course of two semesters (typically fall and spring of senior year) with various milestone deliverables due throughout the year. At the end of the second semester, the student's thesis will be evaluated by a committee for a grade.
Undergraduates may only count up to 6 units of 300+ level Independent Study (EECE 300, 400, or 500) and/or Senior Thesis (EECE 423) towards your elective requirement. In other words, if you have already taken 6 units of Independent Study, the Senior Thesis credits would not count towards your degree, although they would count as general residency credit.
Note that, like a regular Independent Study, a Senior Thesis can be done even if you've been doing research outside the department (e.g., at the medical school). Administratively, an EECE faculty member would need to oversee your EECE 423 course grade, but the rest of the oversight can largely be done by your normal research advisor.
If you are interested in pursuing the Senior Thesis, contact Dr. Janie Brennan for more details.
Although it can be challenging to get a summer internship (especially early in college), persistence can pay off. Here are some quick things you can do:
- Visit the WashU Career Center (or some of their engineering drop-in hours in Lopata) to have someone look over your resume and discuss tips for interviewing.
- Attend the Engineering Career Fair (usually scheduled each September) and other campus career fairs. Even if you don't necessarily apply for something, it can be good practice to talk with the industry representatives.
- Apply, apply, apply! Don't lose hope -- sometimes the simple act of applying to many places will bear fruit. Some good sites to help you search are Indeed, Glassdoor, and USAJobs (for government positions).
- Periodically check back into various job posting sites. Different companies will post positions throughout the year (even as late as April or May!), so it's a good idea to take a quick look every 2-3 weeks.
- When applying to a company, check on LinkedIn to see if you have any connection with anyone working there (can be as tenuous as a WashU connection or same hometown, etc.), or if you can find anyone in a position similar to the one you're applying to. Message them to let them know you're applying and to ask if they have any advice for their application process. The worst thing that can happen is that they ignore you, so don't feel afraid to try this technique.
- Network! If you attend events such as Venture Cafe at Cortex or conferences (e.g., AIChE, NSBE, SWE), you may meet someone who may eventually lead you to an internship! Joining the WashU Mentor Collective may also introduce you to someone who can help hook you up. Don't worry about being shy/quiet -- most engineers are! Think about this kind of activity like skill-building. Even if you aren't good at it now, you will get better with practice.
- Consider trying out research. Even if you don't find the idea of research to be particularly exciting, it is a form of work experience, and may give you skills and knowledge that will help you get the next experience. Any type of engineering/science-related experience will likely be more useful towards your career path compared to a regular part-time job at home. Information on how to get a research position is covered elsewhere in this FAQ.
If you are majoring in chemical engineering, the American Chemical Society (ACS) sponsors a program to match ChE students up with internships. It's called the SCI Scholars Internship Program, and applications are usually due in October. Full details can be found here.
Again - persistence and practice are key! The more you try these activities, the more confident you will likely be. Don't give up!
Research is a great way to get some real project-based experience, especially early in college when it can be more difficult to procure an internship. The good news is that there are many ways to get involved in research on campus and elsewhere!
On-Campus Research:
The easiest way to get involved in research on campus is to contact a faculty member directly. First, look through faculty webpages and find someone whose research seems interesting to you. Then, either ask in person or send an email indicating your interest in doing a project with them (either paid or for independent study credit, depending on what you are looking for). It can help to include your resume and a short description of any past research experience (if any), and why you want to work with them. Showing genuine interest in their work (for example, by asking a question about something they've recently published) can go a long way.
Some formal (funded) on-campus research programs can be found via:
Note that many summer research programs have application deadlines in early spring (February-April).
- Student Services: Undergraduate Research Projects
- Student Services: Summer Research Opportunities
- WashU Office of Undergraduate Research(OUR): OUR often posts open positions on their main page, and more information about WashU programs can be found on the "Funding & Programs" page.
Off-Campus Research:
If you want to find something closer to home or in a place you've dreamt of living (even temporarily), here are some good places to look:
Again, most summer programs will have application deadlines in early spring, so keep an eye on your calendar!
- WashU Office of Undergraduate Research: List of Non-WashU Research Opportunities
- NSF REU programs: Use this site to search through literally hundreds of funded research programs across the US. You can sort by location and research keywords.
- You can always check the websites of universities near where you live to find summer programs, or even contact faculty at universities close to home (use a similar process as that described above) to see if they have funding to support a student over the summer.
Note: Study abroad units count as if resident. See elsewhere in this FAQ for information about study abroad.To earn a degree from a particular university, school, or department, each will insist that you spend a certain amount of time taking its courses.
- Students earning a degree from Washington University must have at least 60 units of credit earned at our university.
- Students in the School of Engineering must have at least 30 units at the 200-level or above earned from our school.
- Our department's residency requirements are embedded within the degree requirements. For example, for both the BSChE and BSEnvE degrees, at least 9 of the 18 elective units must be from the EECE department.
Note: Study abroad is treated differently, and you should look elsewhere in this FAQ for information about study abroad.Policy for Undergraduate Students:
In EECE, it is very common for undergraduate students to take Organic Chemistry and/or Physics outside of WashU, especially if they are unable to find an internship or other experience for the summer after their first year. Other courses, including core and elective courses, may also be taken from other institutions if they are first approved as described below.
There are two important issues that must be considered when figuring out transfer credit:
- Our university and our school each have a residency requirement, about which you can find information elsewhere in this FAQ. Thus, there is a limit on the number of outside credits you can apply to your Washington University programs.
- Is the course deemed acceptable for transfer? The process for that decision begins with your four-year advisor, but the decision is usually made by the department closest in area to the subject matter of the course. For example, the merit of an environmental engineering elective course would be evaluated by the EECE department.
Our school maintains this database of outside courses already approved for transfer credit. You should check this database first to see if the course you are interested in taking has already been approved. You could also use this database to help you "shop around" for pre-approved courses from a geographic area of interest. If your course of interest is not in this database, you can request approval of a new course.
Here is a step-by-step procedure for applying for how to earn transfer credit either of a pre-approved course or a new course for which you are seeking approval.
Policy for Graduate Students:
Policies for transfer credit are quite different for graduate students in engineering. In EECE, PhD and MS students should consult with their research advisor and program director regarding any potential transfer credit. EECE MEng students are permitted to transfer up to 6 units from another institution to count towards their degree, so long as those units were not used to satisfy undergraduate degree requirements for a previously earned bachelor's degree. MEng students should consult with their academic advisor when wanting to transfer any credit.
You should first identify the source of the dissatisfaction:
- Was the point tally on an assignment computed incorrectly?
- Do you believe you had a correct response or solution but your grade indicated otherwise?
- Did you miss a deadline for an assignment? Are seeking to turn in work late?
- Did you miss turning in an assignment because of school-, athletic-, or career-related events?
Next you should consider the following principles in terms of addressing your concerns:
- You should address any expected absences before the semester begins. Athletic events, conferences, job interviews—all of these are important to your success and trajectory as a student at Washington University. Faculty are generally supportive of such absences, but to be certain you need to have the appropriate conversation as soon as possible.
Do not rely on an AI's response to such questions or issues. You must have this conversation with the course's instructor.
- Some of our courses, especially the larger ones, feature late coupons or dropped grades. In those courses, you should expect to apply coupons or dropped grades to unexpected as well as expected absences.
- Unexpected absences can happen, and these usually take the form of extended illness or loss of a friend or family member. In such cases, you should contact your school's academic dean (e.g., Chris Kroeger for SEAS). The dean will then send faculty an email explaining the circumstances and asking for accommodation.
- You should address the issue you have with the grading of an assignment as soon as possible after you receive the assignment and its grade. If you wait until the end of the semester, thinking that at that point the grade change will benefit your final grade in the course, you are likely to be turned away. This has to do with the justice of your overall performance evaluation in the course (see below).
Some important caveats:
- Where do you address a grading issue?
- Generally you should start with the staff of your course who issued the grade, working your way up the chain as necessary. That chain from top to bottom is:
For example, if the grade is for a homework assignment that was graded by any AI, then you would start with the course's head AI or head grader. If the grade is for an exam that the instructor graded, then begin with the instructor unless instructed otherwise.
- The school's academic dean
- The course's department's associate chair
- The instructor(s) of the course
- A head AI or head grader
- What steps do you take?
- First check the course's syllabus or other documentation and look for instructions about how to request a regrade of submitted work. Follow those instructions carefully. If no such instructions are available, then:
- Write an email to the person who should field your request (see above). In that email provide as much information as possible, but you can also request a meeting during that person's office hours. If you are unable to make that person's office hours, provide specific times for the next 5 business days during which you are available.
The idea here is to minimize effort on the side of the person receiving your request. If you can be thorough, the matter can be handled expeditiously.
- Many faculty will regrade an entire assignment rather than just the place where you feel you received insufficient credit. In some cases, the result may be a lowering of your grade. See the information below on justice.
- Students have been caught cheating by changing their work between receiving its grade and submitting it for regrading.
This violation of academic integrity is easy to prove and is met with harsh consequences. You will likely receive an F in the course and the infraction will be retained in the permanent record of your work at the university. Look elsewhere in this FAQ for information about academic integrity and community standards.Do not make any marks or changes to work if you intend to resubmit for regrading.Justice
Faculty, staff, and students are interested in justice and fairness in grading. This means that the grade given on submitted work fairly evaluates the student's work. Where possible, instructors provide rubrics as to how an assignment will be graded. Some students receive a poor grade for simply not reading the rubric and following an assignment's required instructions. A student truly interested in justice would bring any grading error to the attention of the instructor, whether it benefits the student or not. Instructors are sometimes approached by students who point out grading mistakes not in their favor. Instructors are also approached by students near or at the end of the semester, asking for grade reconsiderations or extra work those students might do to improve their grade. Justice requires that instructors not make opportunities available to some students that are not available to all students. Requests along those lines betray a student's intent and are not recommended.
If you are unsatisfied with your performance in a given course, and if you feel that another experience with that material is necessary, you can retake that course. This should be considered carefully and with the advice of your departmental and 4-year advisors.
Except as noted below, retaking a course causes the following actions on your transcript and GPA computation:
- The previous enrollment in the course is annotated with an "R" to show that the course was replaced by a subsequent enrollment in the same course. The prior enrollment in the course persists on your transcript, and the grade earned in that prior enrollment is also shown. If you withdrew from the course, then the "W" persists, as well.
- The new grade replaces the previous grade in terms of GPA computation. This is true even if the new grade is worse than the previous grade.
However, take careful note of the following:
- If in your prior enrollment you were found in violation of academic integrity policies for that course, then your prior grade may not be replaced by the new grade. Each school currently makes its own decision about this.
- University rules concerning plagiarism apply also to retakes of the same course. Those rules do not allow you to submit the same work for credit in two courses, even if one of those courses is a retake of the other, without the explicit permission of the instructor of both courses. You cannot repeat a course and submit any of the same work again for credit without the explicit approval of both instances of that course.
The short answer is you almost certainly want a second major and not a second degree. The intrepid can find the whole story below.At Washington University, a degree is the primary unit of recognition conferred by a school (such as SEAS or ArtSci) on a student at commencement, indicating that a student has completed one or more programs of study in that school. Within a given school, students can complete multiple majors. Moreover, many programs (and computer science is anong them) have second majors which allow students to study disciplines outsisde their primary major. A student's transcript indicates all of the majors, first and second, that the student has completed.
To make sense of this, it is useful to think of a degree and a primary major as coupled: a student studies a primary major in his or her school (SEAS or ArtSci for example) and earns a degree from that school. The rules governing the number and types of courses that must be taken for graduation are drawn from the school in which a student has a primary major.
A second major brings the burden only of the subject itself, without incurring distribution and other requirements of any school. Thus, a second major in computer science may be earned by students who are primarily situated in any school (including SEAS), but the courses needed to complete the second major are dictated by the second major itself, and not by the school.
Thus, most students can be described as follows. The student is primarily situated in some school and pursuing a primary major in that school. That same student may be completing second majors in departments and programs across the university. Each such second major has its own requirements, but they do not carry any associated school requirements beyond what the student must complete for his or her primary major. Here are some examples:
- Alice's primary major is electrical engineering, which situates her in SEAS. Alice would like to earn a second major in computer science. She does this by looking at the web page for the second major, by adding the second major to her programs of study using WebSTAC, and by consulting with her second major advisor as needed. That advisor does not need to approve Alice for registration, but serves as needed to support Alice in her studies of computer science.
- Bob's primary major is economics, which situates him in the College of Arts and Sciences. Bob would like to earn a second major in computer science, and he follows the same steps Alice did to enroll in the second major and to secure an advisor for those studies. Because Bob is primarily in the College of Arts and Sciences, their rule of 3 restriction applies, which means he would not be allowed to add the second major if the sum of his primary majors, second majors, and minors would exceed three. If that is the case, Bob then considers transferring into the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, which has no rule of three restriction.
Then what is a second degree? First let me explain that the distinction between a second degree and a second major is almost impossible for people outside our walls to discern. So if you are satisfied with doing a second major, you need not read on. Still here? A second degree acts as if you were also primary in the school of your second degree. Let's return to Alice and Bob.
- Alice, already a SEAS student, wants a degree in electrical engineering and also a degree in computer science. She must read the rules for multiple degrees in the bulletin where she will discover she needs more resident credit in SEAS than if she had chosen a second major. She most likely decides this isn't worth it because she can simply list both majors on her resume, and the difference between the second major and a second degree is difficult to explain.
- Bob is even in worse shape should he choose the second degree. Because he is in ArtSci, he would have to complete the distribution requirements of both schools to earn both degrees.
You are assigned a departmental advisor when you choose to major or minor in any of our department's programs. If you are a first major in our department, then your advisor must explicitly approve your ability to register for courses. Each semester, there is an advising period during which it is expected that you will make an appointment to meet with your advisor.While approval for registration is one subject for such meetings, you and your advisor will likely engage in conversations concerning
If you are not meeting with you advisor on a regular basis, then you are not making best use of the resources offered by our department. You are strongly encouraged to meet with your advisor each semester prior to registration!
- other majors or minors that might interest you
- research opportunities
- internships and job search
- difficulties you may be facing
- letters of reference for employment, graduate school, or fellowships
Your advisor can offer advice at other times as well, and if you find yourself in need of such advice, send an email to your advisor and arrange for a conversation to address any concerns you have. Some examples of situations that might trigger a conversation with your advisor are as follows:
- You are struggling in a course and are not sure how to get help.
- You are finding yourself in a difficult semester and you need to lighten your load.
- You are finding yourself with extra time available and would like to consider some activities to enrich your studies.
- You are trying to choose between multiple job or internship offers.
- You have been accused of violating the rules for academic integrity.
- You need a letter of reference.
In all of the above situations, your advisor is best able to help you if your advisor knows you well, and the best way to establish a solid relationship with your advisor is to meet with the advisor regularly, show up promptly for any meetings you have scheduled, and be as prepared as possible for such meetings.
While second majors and minors do not require explicit approval from their advisors to register, they are encouraged for all of the above reasons to meet with their advisors regularly and as needed.
The short answer is you almost certainly want a second major and not a second degree. The intrepid can find the whole story below.At Washington University, a degree is the primary unit of recognition conferred by a school (such as SEAS or ArtSci) on a student at commencement, indicating that a student has completed one or more programs of study in that school. Within a given school, students can complete multiple majors. Moreover, many programs (and computer science is anong them) have second majors which allow students to study disciplines outsisde their primary major. A student's transcript indicates all of the majors, first and second, that the student has completed.
To make sense of this, it is useful to think of a degree and a primary major as coupled: a student studies a primary major in his or her school (SEAS or ArtSci for example) and earns a degree from that school. The rules governing the number and types of courses that must be taken for graduation are drawn from the school in which a student has a primary major.
A second major brings the burden only of the subject itself, without incurring distribution and other requirements of any school. Thus, a second major in computer science may be earned by students who are primarily situated in any school (including SEAS), but the courses needed to complete the second major are dictated by the second major itself, and not by the school.
Thus, most students can be described as follows. The student is primarily situated in some school and pursuing a primary major in that school. That same student may be completing second majors in departments and programs across the university. Each such second major has its own requirements, but they do not carry any associated school requirements beyond what the student must complete for his or her primary major. Here are some examples:
- Alice's primary major is electrical engineering, which situates her in SEAS. Alice would like to earn a second major in computer science. She does this by looking at the web page for the second major, by adding the second major to her programs of study using WebSTAC, and by consulting with her second major advisor as needed. That advisor does not need to approve Alice for registration, but serves as needed to support Alice in her studies of computer science.
- Bob's primary major is economics, which situates him in the College of Arts and Sciences. Bob would like to earn a second major in computer science, and he follows the same steps Alice did to enroll in the second major and to secure an advisor for those studies. Because Bob is primarily in the College of Arts and Sciences, their rule of 3 restriction applies, which means he would not be allowed to add the second major if the sum of his primary majors, second majors, and minors would exceed three. If that is the case, Bob then considers transferring into the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, which has no rule of three restriction.
Then what is a second degree? First let me explain that the distinction between a second degree and a second major is almost impossible for people outside our walls to discern. So if you are satisfied with doing a second major, you need not read on. Still here? A second degree acts as if you were also primary in the school of your second degree. Let's return to Alice and Bob.
- Alice, already a SEAS student, wants a degree in electrical engineering and also a degree in computer science. She must read the rules for multiple degrees in the bulletin where she will discover she needs more resident credit in SEAS than if she had chosen a second major. She most likely decides this isn't worth it because she can simply list both majors on her resume, and the difference between the second major and a second degree is difficult to explain.
- Bob is even in worse shape should he choose the second degree. Because he is in ArtSci, he would have to complete the distribution requirements of both schools to earn both degrees.
Undergraduate students in EECE may take EECE 423: Senior Thesis as a way to earn distinction for research they have been involved in, as well as earn elective credit towards their degree.The completion of a Senior Thesis involves a demonstration of acquired knowledge based on: a research project with submission of a written senior thesis and an oral presentation. EECE 423 is similar to an independent study, except it is expected to be done over the course of two semesters (typically fall and spring of senior year) with various milestone deliverables due throughout the year. At the end of the second semester, the student's thesis will be evaluated by a committee for a grade.
Undergraduates may only count up to 6 units of 300+ level Independent Study (EECE 300, 400, or 500) and/or Senior Thesis (EECE 423) towards your elective requirement. In other words, if you have already taken 6 units of Independent Study, the Senior Thesis credits would not count towards your degree, although they would count as general residency credit.
Note that, like a regular Independent Study, a Senior Thesis can be done even if you've been doing research outside the department (e.g., at the medical school). Administratively, an EECE faculty member would need to oversee your EECE 423 course grade, but the rest of the oversight can largely be done by your normal research advisor.
If you are interested in pursuing the Senior Thesis, contact Dr. Janie Brennan for more details.
To see whether or not your AP score is sufficient for you to earn credit for a particular course, see this page.Humanities and Social Sciences (H/SS) AP courses cannot be counted towards the H/SS degree requirements. In other words, you must take 18 credits of H/SS as part of your engineering degree. Note that these AP credits do count as general elective credit, but not a specific degree requirement.
The easiest way to find out if a course counts for H/SS credit is to check its description on WebSTAC. It will count if one of its attributes is either "EN H" (humanities) or "EN S" (social science). A complete description of McKelvey Engineering policies relating to H/SS courses (including how to petition for a course to count for H/SS) can be found here.
Some additional considerations:
- The 1-credit general engineering sequence (Engr 4501-4503) counts as social science credit for both the BSChE and BSEnvE degrees.
- The BSEnvE program has additional constraints on H/SS credits -- some of them must come from a prescribed menu, found here.
- Remember that H/SS courses (with the exception of 4501-4503) can be taken pass/fail.
To access MATLAB:
All WashU students can download MATLAB for free using their WUSTL key. You can do so here.Learning how to use MATLAB: MATLAB has a FREE online tutorial program called Onramp. It will take you through all of the basics of using MATLAB. All you will need is a Mathworks account (also free). You can access Onramp here.
There are also many tutorials you can watch on YouTube. For example, here is a 1-hour intro to MATLAB, and here is a longer (approx. 4 hour) tutorial.
Finally, simply Googling "MATLAB" + [keyword(s)]" will often find several pages with explanations and sample code for how to do any particular thing in MATLAB.Good luck!
For undergraduate students:Yes! AIChE, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, is an international organization for those who study chemical engineering and related fields.
The EECE department has a student chapter that hosts several events each semester (for example, a forum on applying to graduate school, dinner with faculty, etc.), and is a great resource for all undergraduates in the department.
AIChE also has an active local section that hosts several events each semester. Participating in the St. Louis Local Section events is a fantastic way to network with local chemical engineers, as well explore career options and learn more about the field.
For graduate students:
There is no EECE-specific graduate student group, but all graduate students are encouraged to participate in AGES, the Association of Graduate Engineering Students. AGES hosts weekly social events as well as other professional development events throughout the year.
Yes! All SEAS students are invited to particpate in EnCouncil. They organize social and academic events, and our faculty and administration look to EnCouncil to provide feedback about our offerings and programs.
There are several ways to study internationally during your time in EECE: full semester study abroad, summer study abroad, and the EECE International Experience program. The full semester study abroad is most easily done in the spring semester of junior year. We have established programs in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Dublin, Ireland, but students can also set up a program to go to other schools if they plan ahead! In addition to full semester programs, shorter summer programs are occasionally offered, as well (e.g., to London). More information about the McKelvey School of Engineering Study Abroad Programs can be found here.If you think you would like to study abroad for a full semester, it's best to start planning early sophomore year. Talk to your advisor about it, and get in touch with Melanie Osborn from Undergraduate Student Services.
Note: Courses taken while studying abroad count as if they were WashU courses (count for residency), and will show up as pass/fail on your transcript.
If a full semester seems like too much, that's okay! The EECE department hosts the International Experience Program, which visits a different MAGEEP partner country for 3 weeks every May. You even earn elective credit for this trip! While abroad, you will meet engineering students from the country, learn about cutting-edge research related to energy and the environment, and enjoy several fun cultural experiences. Past locations include Thailand, Hungary, Australia, Singapore, and more! You can sign up for this trip in the fall of every academic year. In the fall semester following the trip, you should register for the EECE 411 course to earn the course credit.
Although it can be challenging to get a summer internship (especially early in college), persistence can pay off. Here are some quick things you can do:
- Visit the WashU Career Center (or some of their engineering drop-in hours in Lopata) to have someone look over your resume and discuss tips for interviewing.
- Attend the Engineering Career Fair (usually scheduled each September) and other campus career fairs. Even if you don't necessarily apply for something, it can be good practice to talk with the industry representatives.
- Apply, apply, apply! Don't lose hope -- sometimes the simple act of applying to many places will bear fruit. Some good sites to help you search are Indeed, Glassdoor, and USAJobs (for government positions).
- Periodically check back into various job posting sites. Different companies will post positions throughout the year (even as late as April or May!), so it's a good idea to take a quick look every 2-3 weeks.
- When applying to a company, check on LinkedIn to see if you have any connection with anyone working there (can be as tenuous as a WashU connection or same hometown, etc.), or if you can find anyone in a position similar to the one you're applying to. Message them to let them know you're applying and to ask if they have any advice for their application process. The worst thing that can happen is that they ignore you, so don't feel afraid to try this technique.
- Network! If you attend events such as Venture Cafe at Cortex or conferences (e.g., AIChE, NSBE, SWE), you may meet someone who may eventually lead you to an internship! Joining the WashU Mentor Collective may also introduce you to someone who can help hook you up. Don't worry about being shy/quiet -- most engineers are! Think about this kind of activity like skill-building. Even if you aren't good at it now, you will get better with practice.
- Consider trying out research. Even if you don't find the idea of research to be particularly exciting, it is a form of work experience, and may give you skills and knowledge that will help you get the next experience. Any type of engineering/science-related experience will likely be more useful towards your career path compared to a regular part-time job at home. Information on how to get a research position is covered elsewhere in this FAQ.
If you are majoring in chemical engineering, the American Chemical Society (ACS) sponsors a program to match ChE students up with internships. It's called the SCI Scholars Internship Program, and applications are usually due in October. Full details can be found here.
Again - persistence and practice are key! The more you try these activities, the more confident you will likely be. Don't give up!
Research is a great way to get some real project-based experience, especially early in college when it can be more difficult to procure an internship. The good news is that there are many ways to get involved in research on campus and elsewhere!
On-Campus Research:
The easiest way to get involved in research on campus is to contact a faculty member directly. First, look through faculty webpages and find someone whose research seems interesting to you. Then, either ask in person or send an email indicating your interest in doing a project with them (either paid or for independent study credit, depending on what you are looking for). It can help to include your resume and a short description of any past research experience (if any), and why you want to work with them. Showing genuine interest in their work (for example, by asking a question about something they've recently published) can go a long way.
Some formal (funded) on-campus research programs can be found via:
Note that many summer research programs have application deadlines in early spring (February-April).
- Student Services: Undergraduate Research Projects
- Student Services: Summer Research Opportunities
- WashU Office of Undergraduate Research(OUR): OUR often posts open positions on their main page, and more information about WashU programs can be found on the "Funding & Programs" page.
Off-Campus Research:
If you want to find something closer to home or in a place you've dreamt of living (even temporarily), here are some good places to look:
Again, most summer programs will have application deadlines in early spring, so keep an eye on your calendar!
- WashU Office of Undergraduate Research: List of Non-WashU Research Opportunities
- NSF REU programs: Use this site to search through literally hundreds of funded research programs across the US. You can sort by location and research keywords.
- You can always check the websites of universities near where you live to find summer programs, or even contact faculty at universities close to home (use a similar process as that described above) to see if they have funding to support a student over the summer.
Take a look here.
Note: Study abroad is treated differently, and you should look elsewhere in this FAQ for information about study abroad.Policy for Undergraduate Students:
In EECE, it is very common for undergraduate students to take Organic Chemistry and/or Physics outside of WashU, especially if they are unable to find an internship or other experience for the summer after their first year. Other courses, including core and elective courses, may also be taken from other institutions if they are first approved as described below.
There are two important issues that must be considered when figuring out transfer credit:
- Our university and our school each have a residency requirement, about which you can find information elsewhere in this FAQ. Thus, there is a limit on the number of outside credits you can apply to your Washington University programs.
- Is the course deemed acceptable for transfer? The process for that decision begins with your four-year advisor, but the decision is usually made by the department closest in area to the subject matter of the course. For example, the merit of an environmental engineering elective course would be evaluated by the EECE department.
Our school maintains this database of outside courses already approved for transfer credit. You should check this database first to see if the course you are interested in taking has already been approved. You could also use this database to help you "shop around" for pre-approved courses from a geographic area of interest. If your course of interest is not in this database, you can request approval of a new course.
Here is a step-by-step procedure for applying for how to earn transfer credit either of a pre-approved course or a new course for which you are seeking approval.
Policy for Graduate Students:
Policies for transfer credit are quite different for graduate students in engineering. In EECE, PhD and MS students should consult with their research advisor and program director regarding any potential transfer credit. EECE MEng students are permitted to transfer up to 6 units from another institution to count towards their degree, so long as those units were not used to satisfy undergraduate degree requirements for a previously earned bachelor's degree. MEng students should consult with their academic advisor when wanting to transfer any credit.
There are several ways to study internationally during your time in EECE: full semester study abroad, summer study abroad, and the EECE International Experience program. The full semester study abroad is most easily done in the spring semester of junior year. We have established programs in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Dublin, Ireland, but students can also set up a program to go to other schools if they plan ahead! In addition to full semester programs, shorter summer programs are occasionally offered, as well (e.g., to London). More information about the McKelvey School of Engineering Study Abroad Programs can be found here.If you think you would like to study abroad for a full semester, it's best to start planning early sophomore year. Talk to your advisor about it, and get in touch with Melanie Osborn from Undergraduate Student Services.
Note: Courses taken while studying abroad count as if they were WashU courses (count for residency), and will show up as pass/fail on your transcript.
If a full semester seems like too much, that's okay! The EECE department hosts the International Experience Program, which visits a different MAGEEP partner country for 3 weeks every May. You even earn elective credit for this trip! While abroad, you will meet engineering students from the country, learn about cutting-edge research related to energy and the environment, and enjoy several fun cultural experiences. Past locations include Thailand, Hungary, Australia, Singapore, and more! You can sign up for this trip in the fall of every academic year. In the fall semester following the trip, you should register for the EECE 411 course to earn the course credit.
Our general rule of thumb is that a 3 unit course takes somewhere between 10–12 hours of your time a week, including the time you spend in lecture. For an independent study, a 15-week semester would therefore take 150–180 hours of your time.If you are interested in a 6 unit project, it would take twice that, and that's usually not possible in a single semester, so most 6-unit projects and such are accomplished in two semesters.
Each semester before class registration starts, EECE will post Advising Memos that will include important updates and considerations for when you register for courses. The advising updates can be found hereThese updates will also have been shared with your academic advisor.
The short answer is you should have plan A and plan Z.You are allowed to register for up to 21 units, so you may have to make (strategic) choices about where to register to get the courses you want.
- Plan A
- Stay on the wait list for this course. If this is a required course for any of your programs, and you have an urgent need to take the course now, be sure to let the instructor know, and see what might be done to gain admission to the course.
It is important to show up for class as if you are enrolled if Plan A is your plan. There is an apochryphal story about a student who just kept showing up. The professor finally eventually enrolled the student in the course.
Also, be aware that students drop usually in the first two weeks of class, which opens up room in a course.
- Plan Z
- Because you might not get in, it's a good idea to sign up for another course that has room. Seek the usual advice about courses from your advisor, colleagues, and friends.
The life of a student at an institution such as Washington University can at times be difficult. Course work, student groups, obligations to family,part-time employment -- all of these can conspire to make your plate quite full. Then, too, we know that depression as an illness can and does develop in college-age students.It is important first and foremost to take care of yourself. If you, your instructors, your advisors, or your friends develop concerns about your well-being, you are encouraged to explore the services available for counseling, starting with this page. Note that in addition to regular counseling, the Habif Wellness Center offers "drop-in"-style meetings with counselors through the Let's Talk program. If you're concerned for someone you know and aren't comfortable talking to them about it, you can complete a WashU Cares report so that someone will check in on them.
If somebody you know is in crisis (including, of course, yourself), then information for quick response can be found here. If help is needed immediately, you should call 911.
The university distinguishes dropping a course and withdrawing from a course. Those distinctions are related to when you take action, and the relevant dates are published each semester on that semester's academic calendar. The McKelvey School of Engineering Academic Calendar can be found here.Note that if you are required to maintain a certain course load, dropping or withdrawing from a course may reduce your enrolled units below that threshold.
- The earlier of the two dates is the last day to drop (D) a course. By taking action on or before that day, the course is erased from your transcript as if you had never enrolled in that course. There is no effect on your transcript. This date is usually near the end of the second week of the semester.
- The later of the two dates is the last day to withdraw (W) from a course. The course remains on your transcript, but there is no effect on your GPA.
Many students worry needlessly about the appearance of a W on their transcript. Quite often, withdrawing from a course is a wise choice, and the W can therefore stand for Wisdom. If you are conflicted about whether to stay or withdraw from a course, then talk with your academic or 4-year advisor.
You should check with your advisor and/or your Student Services office to make sure that dropping or withdrawing from a course does not trigger an unpleasant consequence.
We have an automated system called WUAchieve which checks the courses you have taken against the programs you seek. While some programs are not yet programmed into WUAchieve, almost all engineering programs and many other programs are. If you log in, you can see the history of what you have completed, the courses that are currently in progress, and what remains to be accomplished for you to finish.
Follow the directions on that site to either create or view a degree audit. Note that you can run an audit for your current registered degree program, or you can run a "What if?" audit to check your progress against another degree program (for example, if you are considering switching majors).
Note: Because there is leeway in how some courses count, students in a combined BS/Master's program may not see courses counting as they wish. You should use WUAchieve as a starting point and then double-check with your advisor.