Exploring the Comprehensive Programs at UTA's College of Engineering

The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) College of Engineering stands as a cornerstone of engineering education and innovation in North Texas. Established in 1959, the College has grown into a comprehensive institution offering a wide array of programs, research opportunities, and resources for students aspiring to make a difference in the world through engineering. With a commitment to diversity, hands-on learning, and cutting-edge research, UTA Engineering provides a fertile ground for future engineers to thrive.

A Broad Spectrum of Academic Programs

UTA's College of Engineering prides itself on offering a diverse range of academic programs designed to cater to various interests and career aspirations. The college offers 12 baccalaureate, 13 master's, and nine doctoral programs, making it the most comprehensive engineering program in North Texas. These programs are housed within seven academic departments: bioengineering, civil engineering, computer science & engineering, electrical engineering, industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, materials science and engineering, and mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Undergraduate Degree Programs

The College of Engineering offers twelve undergraduate engineering degree programs:

Aerospace Engineering: This program covers aerodynamics and fluid mechanics, propulsion and combustion, flight mechanics and controls, structural mechanics and material behavior, structural dynamics, and system design and optimization, all supplemented by hands-on laboratory experiences. No idea is too wild.
Architectural Engineering: As the only program of its kind in North Texas, this degree prepares students to collaborate on building projects, focusing on building structures, mechanical and electrical systems, and construction management.
Biomedical Engineering: With close ties to UT Southwestern Medical Center, this program equips students for careers in research, development, and teaching within industry, hospitals, research facilities, and government agencies. Graduates are also well-prepared for further education in medical and dental fields.
Civil Engineering: The oldest and most comprehensive program in North Texas, Civil Engineering provides a strong foundation in the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure.
Computer Engineering: This program emphasizes practical experience through cooperative education programs, professional society activities, and design projects, culminating in a major team-oriented senior project.
Computer Science: Similar to Computer Engineering, the Computer Science program focuses on design experiences and teamwork, preparing students for careers in software development and technology innovation.
Construction Management: This program provides students with the knowledge and technical, administrative, and communication skills necessary to succeed in the construction industry. Students will be able to deliver sustainable construction projects with respect to scope, scheduling, budgeting, quality, safety, and the environment.
Electrical Engineering: This program prepares students for diverse career opportunities through a curriculum that builds upon itself, incorporating sophomore, junior, and senior design projects that culminate in Innovation Day.
Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering: This department equips students with the skills to maximize efficiency in business and manufacturing sectors.
Mechanical Engineering: A broad-based program emphasizing fundamental engineering sciences and applications, with equal focus on machine design, structural analysis, thermodynamics, systems and control, and materials science, supplemented by laboratory work.
Resource and Energy Engineering: This program focuses on applying engineering principles to the design, development, and evaluation of energy systems. The new undergraduate program in Resource and Energy Engineering will seek ABET accreditation as soon as it is eligible to do so.
Software Engineering: Similar to Computer Engineering and Computer Science, the Software Engineering program emphasizes practical experience through cooperative education programs, professional society activities, plant trips, special projects, and industry speakers.

Graduate Programs

To accommodate busy schedules, many graduate programs offer late afternoon and evening classes. In addition, more than 130 courses are offered online most semesters.

The College of Engineering offers several Fast Track Programs, enabling outstanding senior undergraduate students in several disciplines to satisfy up to nine hours of graduate coursework while completing their undergraduate studies. When senior-level students are within 30 hours of completing their undergraduate degree requirements, they may take up to nine hours of graduate level coursework designated by the program to satisfy both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements, significantly reducing the time needed to earn a Master’s degree.

The Fast Track Program enables outstanding senior undergraduate engineering students to receive undergraduate and graduate credit for up to six hours of coursework, leading to a Master’s degree in just one year after completion of a bachelor’s degree. Interested undergraduate students should discuss this option with their advisors.

The following programs offer a Fast Track Program leading to an M.S.:

Aerospace Engineering
Biochemistry
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Physics

Experiential Learning and Research Opportunities

UTA Engineering emphasizes hands-on learning and provides numerous opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Students perform research with award-winning faculty in state-of-the-art facilities, apply their knowledge to hands-on senior projects and internships, and start businesses to bring their ideas to market.

Internships and Co-op Programs: The College’s Internship and Co-op Office helps students secure valuable industry experience. The Cooperative Education Program is a partnership between the University and business, government, and industry that provides students the opportunity to obtain experience in their chosen engineering discipline by alternating periods of formal study with periods of work or through a parallel program which allows students to work part-time while taking courses. Students who successfully complete the Co-op Program will receive a cooperative education certificate and have this accomplishment entered on their transcripts. Co-op Program students are expected to register each work term in an engineering course (ENGR 2100, ENGR 3100, ENGR 4100, ENGR 3000) specified by the Director of the Co-op Program. For enrollment reporting purposes only, students registered for one of these four courses will be considered full-time students. ENGR 2100 will be designated as the part- time co-op course. Students classified as full-time students under the Co-op Program are not eligible for financial aid but can use this designation for enrollment reporting for other purposes. Students requiring financial aid must meet state and federal enrollment guidelines for enrollment in the required minimum semester credit hours each semester where aid is sought.
Research Opportunities: UTA is a Carnegie Foundation “Research-1: very high research activity” university and has access to Texas’s National Research University Fund. UTA College of Engineering has numerous research centers, labs and groups. The first research project I ever saw on campus was about a robot analyzing a sick patient using artificial intelligence.
Innovation Day: Students showcase their design skills and projects at the College of Engineering showcase called Innovation Day, where they present the result of four years of work.

Admissions and Advising

For all bachelor's degree programs in engineering, a high school diploma or equivalent is required for admission. The University of Texas at Arlington Engineering School has a rolling application deadline. The application fee is $75 for U.S. residents and $90 for international students.

Advising: First year Students entering directly from high school and those with less than 24 hours of transferable credit are advised initially in the Division of Student Success (DSS). Transfer Students with 24 hours or more of transferable credit are advised in the College of Engineering. New transfer students who are undecided about their engineering major or who are conditionally admitted are advised in the Engineering Success Services Center; others are advised in their major department. Ongoing Advising: Continuing students in all engineering majors must receive advising by their major departments before registering. The advising goal for students who have not yet attained professional program status is to strengthen their academic background sufficiently so that they are able to subsequently complete courses in their engineering degree plans. Students who have successfully completed the initial program of study may apply to their department for advancement to the professional program. The term "pre-professional courses" is used for the set of courses, as specified by the degree plan, required for entrance into the professional program. The term "professional courses" is used for the later courses in the major, generally 3000- and 4000-level courses. See each program’s requirements for the degree in this catalog for specifics. The professional program includes students who have been accepted by a College of Engineering department into the professional program course sequence. An official degree plan is filed upon acceptance into this category.
Academic Standards: The College of Engineering takes academic honesty and ethical behavior very seriously. Engineers are entrusted with the safety, health, and well-being of the public. A grade of D or lower in a pre-professional course indicates unsatisfactory preparation for further engineering education. Any such course in which a D or lower is earned must be repeated before enrolling in any course for which it is a prerequisite. This requirement is subject to the Three-Attempt Rule. Students may not enroll in more than the University’s maximum permitted academic load without receiving the permission of their department and the Dean of Engineering. Students may attempt a course (at UTA and/or at any other institution) a maximum of three times and apply that course toward an undergraduate degree in the College of Engineering. The "course", in this context, is any course which is a degree requirement or preparatory to a degree requirement. Transfer credit that constitutes a part of a continuing course sequence in the same area will be validated only upon satisfactory completion of the succeeding course in the sequence at UTA. The College of Engineering uses three GPA calculations to evaluate students for admission and continuation. The college will use the university’s grade exclusion/forgiveness policy applicable to the student in determining the three GPA calculations. College of Engineering pre-professional program students are in satisfactory academic standing if they are not on University probation and at the same time maintain the program's three-calculation GPA in the pre-professional program, are not in violation of the 3-attempt rule, and meet the GPA and other transition requirements of their major program. College of Engineering professional program students are in satisfactory academic standing if they are not on University probation and at the same time maintain a major GPA and overall GPA of 2.0, are not in violation of the 3-attempt rule, and meet the GPA requirements of their major program. Individual programs within the College of Engineering may limit the number of unsuccessful attempts at engineering courses prior to transitioning to a professional engineering program. A student who exceeds the limit of unsuccessful attempts allowed for a program of study may be dismissed from that program. Students in engineering and computer science satisfy the oral communication requirement by successfully completing COMS 2302. Programs in the College of Engineering have different requirements for demonstrating computer literacy.

A Supportive and Diverse Community

UTA celebrates the diversity of its student body, and the University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution. You'll meet people from all over the world here: state, and 70 nations around the world. One thing I like about UTA is that it’s hard to be alone. Everyone’s trying to be your friend and you meet lots of people in classes and student. No matter who you are, where you're from, or what you want to do, UTA's College of Engineering has a place for you.

Read also: Colby's Unique Engineering Program

Student Life and Activities

UTA Engineering provides a supportive environment where students can connect with peers and faculty. Engineering Ambassadors offer tours of our facilities for individuals and for groups.

Honors College

College of Engineering students who wish to graduate with an Honors Degree in Engineering must be members of the Honors College in good standing. They must complete the major degree requirements and the requirements of the Honors College. Honors Degree requirements are compatible with all departmental and college requirements, but specific requirements vary with each engineering department’s program.

Accreditation and Professional Development

Accreditation provides assurance that a collegiate program meets the quality standards necessary to produce graduates who are ready to enter their professions in the global workforce. ABET accreditation is voluntary. The organization currently accredits 4,674 programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology programs at 920 colleges and universities in 42 countries worldwide. More than 200,000 students graduate from ABET-accredited programs each year and millions of graduates have received degrees from ABET-accredited programs since 1932.

The protection of the public welfare requires that those who practice engineering do so ethically and competently. The first step toward licensure as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) is to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination. Graduating seniors are permitted to take the FE examination during their final year. The FE examination is offered by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers in both the fall and spring semesters.

Students graduating with degrees in engineering occasionally choose to go on to medical schools or law schools. Those students are advised to consult early with UTA pre-med or pre-law advisors so that additional requirements can be taken in a timely way.

Impact and Alumni

Thousands of UTA engineering alumni are part of the workforce in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and across Texas. Thousands of our alumni work in industry in the Dallas-Arlington-Fort Worth Metroplex, and our influence is felt in dozens of Fortune 500 companies across the United States. We make a difference. I am one of the 1,000 Forbes Under 30 scholars around the world for 2019; the résumé I built at UTA was key to achieving this. With my engineering degree, I can help bring change to my community and set an example for others who wish to do so. I made the most of my opportunities at UTA. The College’s Internship and Co-op Office helped me land my dream internship with Disney. As a graduating senior reflecting on my time at UTA, I realize UTA has provided me with more opportunities than I could have ever imagined!

Tuition and Fees

The 2024 Ph.D. tuition is full-time: $9,408 per year (in-state); full-time: $24,232 per year (out-of-state); part-time: $6,374 per year (in-state); and part-time: $16,434 per year (out-of-state).

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