The Bulletin: School of Engineering

Mission Statement

A Unique Learning Environment

The Tufts University School of Engineering offers a rigorous engineering education in a unique environment that blends the intellectual and technological resources of a world-class research university with the strengths of a top-ranked liberal arts college. Our size and educational philosophy support a distinctive sense of community, a diversity of perspectives, and a student-centric learning environment. Engineering curricula across a wide spectrum of majors emphasize project-based learning, the nurturing of leadership skills, and cultivation of creativity through innovative design. Close partnerships with Tufts’ cadre of excellent undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, coupled with a long tradition of collaboration, provide a strong platform for interdisciplinary education and scholarship. Proximity to a thriving Boston metropolitan area facilitates close relationships with local industry and research labs, student internship and employment opportunities, and the committed engagement of seasoned practitioners in the school professoriate.

Mission

To educate engineers committed to the innovative and ethical application of science and technology in addressing the most pressing societal needs
To develop and nurture twenty-first-century leadership qualities, perspectives, and skills in our students, faculty, and alumni
To develop and disseminate transformational new knowledge and technologies that further the well-being and sustainability of society
To provide national leadership in enhancing the role and visibility of the engineering profession in the education of our youth and the development and implementation of public policy

Degree Requirements

Undergraduate Programs

The School of Engineering offers sixteen undergraduate programs leading to a Bachelor of Science. These are:

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (BSBME)
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (BSCHBE)
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE)
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BSCPE)
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS)
Bachelor of Science in Data Science (BSDS)
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE)
Bachelor of Science in Engineering – program in Architectural Studies (BSE-Arch)
Bachelor of Science in Engineering – program in Environmental Health (BSE-EH)
Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE)
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics (BSEP)
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Sciences (BSES)
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering (BSEVE)
Bachelor of Science in Human Factors (BSHFE)
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME)
Bachelor of Science (BS)

As described in the Accreditation section of this Bulletin, Tufts University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Several programs in the School of Engineering are specifically accredited. The BSCHBE program is accredited by the by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. The BSCE program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. The BSCPE program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. The BSEE program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. The BSEVE program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Environmental Engineering and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. The BSME program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Students wishing to be recognized as practicing professionals, especially those who wish to become registered professional engineers, are strongly encouraged to pursue a degree in one of the School’s ABET-accredited programs. Whereas these ABET-accredited programs are highly structured, the School of Engineering also offers several, more flexible degree programs for students interested in general engineering, engineering science, data science, engineering physics, human factors, architectural studies, and environmental health. In addition, students may pursue an individualized program of study leading to the Bachelor of Science with no major.

Degree Requirements

All degrees offered within the School of Engineering have the same set of nine requirements. The School of Engineering uses course attributes to identify courses that can be used to satisfy the specific credit requirements in requirements i-v. Attributes include SOE-Engineering, SOE-Computing, SOE-Mathematics, SOE-Natural Sciences, and SOE-HASS. The SOE-HASS attribute is used to generally identify courses in the humanities, arts, and social sciences that are approved for students pursuing a degree program offered within the School of Engineering. The School also uses SOE-HASS-Humanities and SOE-HASS-Social Sciences attributes to identify approve coursework in each of these areas.

Degree programs offered within the School of Engineering require at least 120 SHU of coursework comprising:

At least 30 SHU of coursework having attribute SOE-Engineering or SOE-Computing†
At least 30 SHU of coursework having attribute SOE-Mathematics or SOE-Natural Sciences
At least 24 SHU of coursework having attribute SOE-HASS
At least 3 SHU of coursework having attribute SOE-HASS-Humanities
At least 3 SHU of coursework having attribute SOE-HASS-Social Sciences
Introductory Writing as English 1 or English 3
Introductory Engineering as Engineering 1
Introductory Computing as either Engineering Science 2 or Computer Science 11
Major Requirement for the selected program of study (determined by the department offering the degree program)

† Programs accredited through the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, require at least 45 SHU of engineering topics consistent with general and program-specific accreditation criteria.

The School publishes degree requirements that apply based on the year of matriculation. A complete listing of requirements (i.e., school requirements plus the details of the major requirement) may be found online.

Second Majors

Students pursuing a major within the School of Engineering may undertake an additional major with the consent of the respective department in the School of Arts & Sciences or the School of Engineering. Students are encouraged to declare additional majors as early as possible to facilitate the necessary academic planning. Additional majors are non‐binding and students may opt out at any time. Declarations must occur at least two semesters before graduation. Late notice may result in the student not receiving the additional major. No more than half the semester hours used to fulfill any major requirement in the School of Engineering or concentration requirement in the School of Arts & Sciences may be used to satisfy any other major requirement in the School of Engineering or concentration requirement in the School of Arts & Sciences. Students following the Bachelor of Science in engineering and the Bachelor of Science in engineering science are considered to have engineering and engineering science, respectively, as majors and may receive additional majors. Students following the Bachelor of Science with no major do not have a major and therefore cannot receive additional majors.

Undergraduate Minor Programs

In addition to completing the courses for the major requirement, undergraduates may elect to enroll in a minor program in the School of Arts and Sciences or the School of Engineering. All courses used in fulfillment of the minor program must be taken for a grade. Students may receive no more than two minors. Students following the Bachelor of Science with no major may not receive minors.

Dean’s List

Each semester, students who have been enrolled with a minimum of 12 semester hours, received letter grades in a mini- mum of 9 semester hours, completed every course in which they were enrolled with no work incomplete, and earned the minimum grade point average of 3.2 will be placed on the Dean’s List in recognition of their academic achievement. An indication of Dean’s List status will be placed on their permanent record.

Academic Policies

Academic Standing/Satisfactory Progress Toward the Degree

Determination of a student’s academic status is made by the School of Engineering faculty Committee on Academic Standing. The committee reserves the right to make decisions on an individual student’s academic progress.

Academic Alert: A student will be sent an academic alert at the end of any semester in which the student earned fewer than 12 semester hours but more than 4, and/or failed one course of any semester hour value. Incompletes are not earned credits. The student’s advisor will be notified. No transcript notation will be made.

Academic Probation: A student will normally be placed on academic probation by the Committee on Academic Standing at the end of any semester in which the student earned 4 semester hours or fewer and/or a semester GPA lower than 2.0 and/or failed to make satisfactory progress as defined by number of credits earned at the end of any semester beyond their first semester. Satisfactory academic progress for each semester is defined by the number of semester hours listed below (see table). Incompletes are not earned credits. If put on academic probation, the student will no longer be in good academic standing, and notiﬁcation of this status will be sent to the student’s advisor. The probation status will also be recorded on the student’s unofficial transcript. To return to good academic standing, in the following semester a student must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours and earn a minimum term GPA of 2.0. An additional grace period may be allowed for the student to make satisfactory progress toward their degree as defined by the number of semester hours earned (see table). Students on academic probation who do not meet these criteria will either remain on academic probation or will be required to withdraw for one semester.

Required Academic Withdrawal: If a student’s academic performance in any subsequent semester meets the criteria for academic probation, then the student will normally be required to withdraw for one semester.

Summary:

Academic Alert: 5-11 semester hours and/or failed one course of any semester hour value. In good academic standing; student and advisor notified; no transcript notation.
Academic Probation: 0-4 semester hours and/or term GPA 0–1.99 and/or failed to make satisfactory progress as defined by the number of semester hours earned at the end of any semester beyond their first semester. No longer in good academic standing; student and advisor notified; notation on unofficial transcript.
Required Academic Withdrawal for one semester: Credits and GPA meet the criteria of academic probation for any subsequent semester. No longer in good standing; student, advisor, and parents/guardians notified; notation on unofficial transcript.

Permanent Academic Withdrawal: A student who returns from having been required to withdraw for a semester and meets the criteria for academic probation in any semester after the return will be subject to a permanent academic withdrawal, determined by the Committee on Academic Standing.

Satisfactory Progress Toward the Degree: Undergraduates will be alerted by their Advising Dean if they are not earning adequate semester hours to make satisfactory progress toward the degree. Satisfactory progress is deﬁned by the number of semester hours completed by the end of each semester, as follows:

	Fall	Spring
First-year	12	24
Sophomore	39	54
Junior	70	86
Senior	102	120

Pass/Fail Option

The spirit of the pass-fail option is to encourage academic exploration. A maximum of 8 courses taken under pass-fail grading may be counted toward a degree in the school of engineering pass-fail credits may not be applied toward the SHU requirements for SOE-Engineering + SOE-Computing and SOE-Mathematics + SOE-Natural Sciences. In addition, ENG 1, EN1, ES2, and COMP11 may not be taken pass-fail. Courses that fulfill a major requirement may not be taken pass-fail unless specifically excepted by the program description as recorded in the Bulletin. Normally, no more than one course per semester may be taken pass-fail. No distinction is made between regular courses that students elect under the pass-fail grading and those courses in which grading is pass-fail. Refer to the academic calendar for deadlines. After the deadline, the only choices are to complete a course under the existing grading system or to withdraw for the remainder of the term. Forms are available here.

Due to the extraordinary pedagogical changes made in the middle of the Spring 2020 and extended into the Fall 2020 semester, students were allowed to take courses on an exceptional pass/fail basis. Exceptional pass (EP) encompasses all grades from A+ through D-. An exceptional pass does not affect the grade point average; a failing grade is averaged into the grade point average. Courses taken under the EP/F grading method, for which a student has earned an exceptional pass, cannot be repeated for credit. Students who elect EP/F grading will not be able to later request reversion to the letter grade.

Due to the exceptional pass/fail policy enacted in spring 2020 and extending into fall 2020, courses taken EP/F during that semester will count toward a student’s degree requirements.

Pre-Matriculation Credit

Students are limited to 27 semester hours of pre-matriculation credit toward their degree. Pre-matriculation credit may not be used to satisfy the minimum requirements for coursework in the humanities and social sciences. Students must complete at least 3 SHU of coursework having attribute SOE-HASS-Humanities and at least 3 SHU of coursework having attribute SOE-HASS-Social Sciences as a part of their program of study subsequent to matriculation.

Dean’s List

Each semester, students who have been enrolled with a minimum of 12 semester hours, received letter grades in a minimum of 9 semester hours, completed every course in which they were enrolled with no work incomplete, and earned the minimum grade point average of 3.2 will be placed on the Dean’s List in recognition of their academic achievement. An indication of Dean’s List status will be placed on their permanent record.

Degrees with Honors

Distinction (cum laude) is conferred at commencement on deserving students who earned an academic average of 3.20 or higher.

High distinction (magna cum laude) is conferred at commencement on deserving students who have an academic average of 3.50 or higher.

Highest distinction (summa cum laude) is conferred at commencement to deserving students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.80 or higher.

These nominations are approved by a special vote of the faculty.

The above criteria may be replaced by special evaluation of the Tufts academic record if substantial transfer credit is submitted in fulfillment of the degree requirements, or if the degree program is of unusual duration. Students whose permanent record includes a serious disciplinary infraction will not normally be eligible for degrees with honors.

Tau Beta Pi

Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society, founded in 1885, affords engineering students the same recognition for high scholastic achievement and exemplary character as is provided for Arts and Sciences students in Phi Beta Kappa. The Tufts chapter is designated as Delta Chapter of Massachusetts.

Thesis Honors Program

The Thesis Honors Program allows students to pursue a program of independent study usually leading to a senior thesis and a qualifying examination. The principal purpose of the program is to give special impetus to the development of self-reliance, individual initiative, habits of critical analysis, and correlation of knowledge. Students pursuing a Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (CIS) thesis are eligible for thesis honors. Because this is an honors program, admission is normally restricted to students whose names have appeared on the Dean’s List at least two times before their senior year. Students may take on an honors thesis with one semester on the Dean’s List if they have transferred to Tufts or have received special permission from their department. The application process should be completed during the junior year, including the summer of the senior year. The student is responsible for finding an advisory committee (one principal advisor who is a full-time faculty member in the School of Engineering, and at least one other full-time faculty member from the faculty of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering, or industry expert). Admission to the program requires formation of an advisory committee, consent of the student’s advisor, and approval of either the student’s major department or, in the case of a CIS thesis, the CIS Board. The membership of the advisory committee and the title of the thesis must be registered with the Academic Resource Center.

The advisory committee will be chaired by a full-time faculty member in the School of Engineering. Exceptions to this rule may be made at the discretion of the department chair for the student’s major. The committee will direct the student’s reading and research or other technical work, and will guide the student in preparing for a qualifying examination in the area of investigation. All such programs will include six semester hours (with at least 3 semester hours toward the concentration elective). The thesis should be of quality comparable to a paper publishable in a peer-reviewed journal. Its subject and scope will be agreed on in advance by the student and sponsor and approved by the committee. The completed thesis will be presented for consideration no later than two weeks before the last day of classes of the student’s final semester.

Each candidate for a degree with thesis honors is required to undergo examination on the thesis and on the principal area of investigation. The specific character of the examination is determined by each advisory committee and may be oral, written, or both. After the defense, a final copy of the thesis, in electronic form, should be submitted to the Tisch Library archive.

The advisory committee is empowered to determine the level of thesis honors to be awarded, basing its recommendation on an evaluation of the thesis. Degrees are designated bachelor of science with highest thesis honors, with high thesis honors, or with thesis honors. (Thesis honors will be indicated on the student’s transcript, but not on the diploma.) Students who, in the judgment of the advisory committee, have not attained the standards required for a thesis honors designation, but whose work is worthy of a degree, are recommended for the bachelor of science degree subject to the general regulations. Students who, in the judgment of the advisory committee, have attained the standards required for a thesis honors designation may also receive the degree summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude, in accordance with the procedures governing degrees with distinction.

After the defense, a final copy of the thesis should be submitted to the Digital Collections and Archives (DCA). The DCA will accept thesis submission electronically as an alternative to submitting a bound paper copy. Please contact the DCA for more information on how to submit your thesis. For important information about guidelines and deadlines, as well as advice and support for writing a thesis, visit the Senior Honors Thesis website.

Undergraduate Internship Programs

Internships provide undergraduate students with the opportunity to apply their education and skills directly toward a ﬁeld-based situation, with an off-site organization.

Many internships are paid positions that are performed on a full-time basis over the summer months, or for approximately ten to ﬁfteen hours a week during the semester. These internships may be awarded transcript notations without any academic credit.

Students may receive credit toward degree requirements for which the following conditions must be met: the internship proposal is approved in advance by the department, a faculty mentor has supervisory and technical control of any work that receives credit, and a written report is submitted that will be evaluated by the faculty mentor and the outside institution supervisor.

Engineering students are encouraged to pursue curricular and extra-curricular work experiences, but each engineering student is limited to enroll in 3 SHU of internship, at most, totaled over the undergraduate program. For an international engineering student to engage in Curricular Practical Training (CPT), the student must be registered for a co-op or be enrolled in a one-or-more credit internship concurrent with the CPT experience. Undergraduate international students who wish to participate in the CPT program should contact the International Center.

The Ofﬁce of Engineering Internship helps qualiﬁed engineering students identify potential internship opportunities.

Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees Program

The School of Engineering offers exceptional engineering students the option of pursuing a combined bachelor of science and master of science degree (B.S.-M.S.) as a thesis or non-thesis program through the 5^th Year Masters program.

Students seeking admission to the program must submit an application by March 1st of their senior year. Admission to the program requires (1) a minimum cumulative GPA (through the fall semester of the junior year) of 3.60 for the 5^th Year Masters program and (2) acceptance by the department in which the student intends to complete the master’s portion of the program. Applicants not meeting the GPA requirement will still be considered and reviewed by the department. Two graduate-level courses are allowed to count toward the master’s degree requirements as long as they carry the designation of the department in which the master’s portion of the combined degree program is to be completed. 5th Year Masters students must meet the residency requirements for both degrees and all tuition and fee responsibilities as applicable.

5th Year Masters students are required to fulﬁll all the requirements of the bachelor’s degree program and graduate before moving into the master’s portion of their program. Students who do not receive their bachelor’s degree by August of their senior year must continue to enroll as an undergraduate and pay undergraduate tuition.