Frequently Asked Questions
Current Students
Prospective Students
Q. How do I apply to the FGCU engineering program?
A. Admission to the U.A. Whitaker School of Engineering undergraduate programs is open to all students who have been accepted to Florida Gulf Coast University, excel in areas of math and science, and express an interest and desire for the program. Application information and deadlines may be found online at http://www.fgcu.edu/admissions.asp.
Q. What skills must a high school student possess for an engineering degree program?
A. Engineering is a rewarding but very rigorous program. Therefore, students
- Must be proficient at math and science and be ready for college-level courses
- Must be dedicated and committed to academics
Q. What is the cost of attending FGCU?
Q. When should I fill out the Free Application for the Federal Student Aid (FAFSA form)?
A. You should apply as soon as possible after January 1st. FGCU has a priority file date of March 1st. We recommend that you complete your income tax return before filling out the FAFSA; however, it may be necessary to estimate tax information to meet our priority filing date. Additional financial aid information, including the form for all Foundation Scholarships, is available at http://www.fgcu.edu/AS/FinancialAid.
Q. How do I register for Orientation and is it required?
A. All new undergraduate students must attend either a Freshman or Transfer Student Orientation. Registration for Orientation is available through Gulfline. More information is available at http://www.fgcu.edu/Orientation. At orientation, students will meet with an advisor and receive assistance with registration.
Q. When do classes start and end?
A. Please review the Academic Calendar for all-important dates including registration period, drop/add, and late withdrawal deadlines.
Q. Are there any engineering student organizations I may join?
A. There are currently three student organizations for engineering students:
Q. How important is math placement into the U.A. Whitaker School of Engineering? And how can a student prepare for the placement tests?
A. As a pre-engineering and pre-computer science major, it is critical to your successful transition through the program that you take the math placement tests seriously. Your scores on the Elementary Algebra exam may make you eligible to also take the College Level Math test. Proper math placement is one step toward a successful transition into the engineering programs. For more information, refer to: http://enrollment.fgcu.edu/advising/mathtest.htm.
To prepare for math placement there are various websites for more information:
The following link exemplifies the level of material the placement test will cover and may help with preparation: http://studentservices.fgcu.edu/testing/mptstudy.htm.
Q. Does FGCU have an Honors Program?
Q. Where do I learn about housing?
A. For more information, please visit the Housing and Residence Life website. Applying for residence in the Engineering Hall is easy; just specify Engineering Hall on the application. This will assure your housing assignment with other engineering students who may be available for study groups and other support.
Q. If I am a high school student interested in a career in engineering, what courses should I take in high school?
A. While in high school, students interested in engineering are strongly encouraged to take the following classes: Algebra I & II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English (4 units), Social Studies (3 units), Foreign Language (2-3 units), Fine Arts/Humanities (1-2 units), Computer Programming or Computer Applications.
Q. If I am a student in a Florida community college and interested in an engineering degree, what courses should I take?
A. Freshman and sophomore students should complete courses that will satisfy general education requirements and prerequisite math and science courses. Please refer to the Lower Division Pre-Engineering Track for specific course information.
Q. If I have an A.A. degree from a Florida community college or state university, and I am interested in an engineering degree, where should I apply for admission to the FGCU engineering program?
Q. What college-level courses must be completed before I can be admitted to the FGCU engineering program?
A. Students are admitted as pre-engineering majors upon admission. To be fully admitted to their major, they must have successfully completed the communications, mathematics through Calculus II, general chemistry, and first general physics common prerequisite courses with a grade of C or higher. Students must submit an application for admission to the U.A. Whitaker School of Engineering, declare a major, and attend a transition workshop.
Q. If I have a 4-year degree in another discipline and want to obtain an engineering degree, what should I do?
A. Graduates from regionally accredited four-year U.S. institutions may apply for admission to work toward a second undergraduate degree. The first baccalaureate degree satisfies the general education requirements and provides exemption from the foreign language requirement for admission. Applicants should submit official copies of all transcripts and an undergraduate application for acceptance into the university. The university does not require admission test scores unless the program becomes a limited-access program. Application information and deadlines may be found at http://www.fgcu.edu/admissions.asp.
Q. If I was an engineering student 5-10 years ago and did not obtain a degree and now want to obtain an engineering degree, what should I do?
A. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is responsible for receiving and evaluating transfer credit. The office evaluates the acceptability of total credits transferable to FGCU and identifies total credits accepted at the lower division (1000 and 2000 level courses). The college of the student's major assigns equivalent upper division (3000 and 4000 level) courses in determining which courses are applicable toward specific degrees. The University reserves the right to evaluate transfer courses on an individual basis. Age and concordance of content to current requirements may be factors in determining course transfer and acceptance toward degrees; individual colleges and programs have the authority to establish age standards for acceptance of transfer courses. You may be asked to provide course descriptions and course syllabi for consideration.
Q. I graduated from a 2-year technical school and now want to obtain an engineering degree. Will I receive credit for any courses completed at the technical school?
A. FGCU evaluates transfer coursework taken at another college or university if that institution is regionally accredited. Most technical schools are not regionally accredited; therefore, credit is generally not given.
Q. Will it be possible to take engineering courses during the summer months at FGCU?
A. FGCU currently offers limited number of engineering courses during the summer term.
Q. Is it possible to complete all General Education requirements at FGCU?
A. All General Education courses needed for the degree programs may be completed at FGCU.
Q. What should I do if I am a freshman with an undeclared major at FGCU and want to change my major to engineering?
A. An undergraduate student wishing to change his or her major must submit a completed Change of Major Form to the advisor of the new program, who will then make the change and review program requirements. To schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor, please call 239-590-1445.
Q. Will a mentor/advisor be assigned to me if I am an engineering student at FGCU?
A. All FGCU students are assigned academic advisors while in attendance. During the first two semesters (24 credits), students will be assigned an advisor through the First Year Advising office. At the completion of the second semester, students will attend a transition workshop with an advisor from the U.A. Whitaker School of Engineering. In addition, students who are fully admitted to their major will be assigned a faculty mentor, who will meet with them each semester in conjunction with the academic advisor prior to registration. Attendance at mentoring sessions will be mandatory and by invitation.
Current Students
Q. What are the rules for the 9 required credit hours to be taken over summer semesters?
A. All students graduating from FGCU are required to take 9 summer credit hours during the course of their academic career while pursuing their undergraduate degree. These 9 credits can be taken one class at a time in various summer semesters or can be taken together in summer sessions as well. It is essential that these courses be taken at FGCU or any 4-year Florida State University. Courses taken at community colleges or out-of-state schools, public or private, will not be applicable toward this requirement. Refer to the FGCU catalog for more information: http://www.fgcu.edu/catalog.
Q. When will I be able to web register on GULFLINE?
A. When a student is enrolled in the semester when they will earn 24 or more credits, they will need to contact their college advisor to attend an advising transition workshop. College advisors will debrief students on the requirements for their major and will remove the AF (Freshman Advising) "hold" as well as the AV (College Advisor) "hold", thus permitting web registration via GULFLINE. Emails will be sent in the month of February informing transitioned students of meeting dates. For more information see this link: http://enrollment.fgcu.edu/advising/transition.htm.
Web registration dates are available in the academic calendar online at http://www.fgcu.edu/Registrar/academiccalendar.asp.
Q. What classes should I take towards my major?
Q. Where can I obtain a form needed to apply to graduate school, change major, drop/add, etc?
Q. Is it acceptable to take pre-engineering courses in the summer at a community college if the courses are not offered at FGCU?
A. FGCU students are permitted to transfer credit for courses taken at another Florida college or university with prior approval. Electronic transient forms are available online at www.facts.org.
