ECE FAQ
- A first year Honors student asks why his Fall schedule didn’t include CHY 121/123 and what HON111/112 would replace.
- An Honors student took HON111, HON112, and HON180 and asks what Gen Ed requirements these classes fulfill.
- I would like to take a class which meets at 2:10 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but this conflicts with the Senior Project course (ECE 40x) which is scheduled from 1:10 to 3:00. What to do?
- Do I need COS230 as a pre-requisite to COS431?
- What extra classes must an ECE student take to get a Math minor?
- Does Technology and Society II (aka HTY 198) meet the GenEd population and environment category requirement?
- Can I take AST215 or AST 216 for my basic science course?
- Can I take ERS101 or ERS102 for my basic science course?
- Can I take a Computer Science course as one of my technical electives?
- I started at UM before the Gen Ed requirements took effect. Am I obligated to meet these requirements?
- Is MEE 150 acceptable as an Engineering Science Elective? (Yes)
- Does GEE101, Engineering Design, fulfill any of our credit requirements?(No)
- I participated in a National University Exchange and received a D in an upper division ECE course equivalent. Does this D enter into my 2.0 rule average?
- Which courses are considered humanities by the College of Engineering?
- I want to receive a minor in Business. Can I substitute any business courses for ECE tech electives?
- I am an international student. Do I have to take course work to satisfy the Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives General Education Requirement?
- What are the requirements for a double degree? (not a double major)
- What are the requirements for enrolling in ECE 401?
Q. A first year Honors student asks why his Fall schedule didn’t include CHY 121/123 and what HON111/112 would replace.
A. A successful (C or better) completion of both HON 111 and HON 112 satisfies the general education college composition (ENG 101) requirement. All students must satisfy ENG 101 with a grade of C or better. That means you can take CHY 121/123 instead of ENG 101 in the Fall of your sophomore year. Taking CHY 121/123 the first semester would give you 20 credit-hours, which we consider too many. CHY 121/123 is the easiest course to postpone.
See the Honors College Gen Ed page for more information.
Q. An Honors student took HON111, HON112, and HON180 and asks what Gen Ed requirements these classes fulfill.
A. The completion of HON111 and HON112 with a C grade or better fulfills the ENG101 requirement, Western Cultural Tradition, Cultural Diversity, International Perspective, and Ethics. HON180 satisfies the General Education Artistic and Creative Expression Requirement.
See the Honors College Gen Ed page for more information.
Q. I would like to take a class which meets at 2:10 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but this conflicts with the Senior Project course (ECE 40x) or ECE 300 which is scheduled from 1:10 to 3:00. What to do?
A. There is no problem if you must schedule another course at 2:10 while also taking ECE 300 or a Senior Project class, and no special approval is needed to do so. Most of the activity in these courses is during the first hour. The only thing you would miss is the second presentation when two are given.
Q. Do I need COS230 as a pre-requisite to COS431?
A. In 2000, COS informally agreed that our people don’t need COS 230, primarily as a result of ECE 171.
Q. What extra classes must an ECE student take to get a Math minor?
A. There are several ways to accomplish a math minor. The math minor requires a student to take MAT 126, MAT 127, MAT 228, and four elective courses totaling 12 hours from a list of particular math courses listed at http://germain.umemat.maine.edu/ or in the University Catalog. ECE students already take MAT 126, MAT 127 and MAT 228, as well as MAT 258 and either MAT 332 or CHB 350. Note that the list of math elective courses includes MAT 258, MAT 259, MAT 262, and MAT 434 but that if MAT 258 is taken, neither MAT 259 nor MAT 262 can be used because of overlapping material. If MAT 259 and MAT 262 are taken instead of MAT 258, this is acceptable for meeting ECE degree requirements. Also, MAT 332 or CHB 350 is acceptable instead of MAT 434. The bottom line is that a student has the following two options for the math minor: 1) Take MAT 126, 127, 228, 259, 262, 332 or CHB 350, and one other course from the Math Department minor list or, 2) Take MAT 126, 127, 228, 258, 332 or CHB 350, and two other courses from the Math Department minor list (excluding MAT 259 and MAT 262). Note that minors are not given automatically; you must inform the ECE department secretary of your intent to get one and fill out the required paperwork.
Q. Does Technology and Society II (aka HTY 198) meet the GenEd population and environment category requirement?
A. HTY 198 no longer meets the population and environment category of GenEd. This change, the result of a course modification, was effective 99/00. People who have already taken it prior to the 99/00 year are OK.
Q. Can I take AST215 or AST 216 for my basic science course?
A. Either AST 215 or AST 216 are OK to take (with AST 110) for a basic science elective. AST 109 is NOT permitted.
Q. Can I take ERS 101 or ERS 102 for my basic science course?
A. Both ERS101 and ERS102 can be used. Note that ERS102, as well as the Basic Science possibility BIO 222/223, also satisfy the Population and Environment HV & SC requirement. You may elect to take ERS102 or BIO 222/223 to satisfy your Basic Science requirement and part of the 18 credit hour Human Values and Social Context requirement (in effect, double-count the HV & SC requirement and the Basic Science requirement). For Electrical Engineering majors this frees 3 credit hours to be used to take an additional Tech Elective. The CEN program assumes this dual option is elected. Choosing separate courses for the Basic Science and the Population and Environment requirements will mean a minimum of 132 total credit hours for the CEN degree. For Electrical Engineering majors this frees up to 4 credit hours (most students will probably use 3 of the 4) that must be replaced with additional Tech Elective credits.
Q. Can I take a Computer Science course as one of my technical electives?
A. Yes. Any 300 or 400 level COS course can be taken as a technical elective. Additionally, the following 200 level COS courses can be used as technical electives.
- COS221 – Introduction to Computer Science II (required for CEN majors)
- COS230 – Computer Architecture & Assembly Language
- COS231 – Introduction to UNIX
- COS250 – Discrete Structures (required for CEN majors)
Notes:
1. CEN students may not use either COS 221 or COS 250 as technical electives since these or their equivalent are required for their curriculum.
2. The CEN curriculum would allow for up to 5 COS courses as technical electives (with advisor permission).
3. Remember, for ELE majors, 3 of the 5 tech electives MUST be ECE courses and these 3 cannot include ECE394 (coop) or ECE198
Q. I started at UM before the Gen Ed requirements took effect. Am I obligated to meet these requirements?
A. All current graduates are expected to meet the Gen Ed requirements. Exceptions are made only as the result of appeal to the VP of Academic Affairs.
Q. Is MEE 150 acceptable as an Engineering Science Elective?
A. Yes
Q. Does GEE101, Engineering Design, fulfill any of our credit requirements?
A. No
Q. I participated in a National University Exchange and received a D in an ECE course equivalent. Does this D enter into my 2.0 rule average?
A. Only the credit hours transfer, not the grade so there is no effect on GPA calculations. Also, it is College of Engineering policy not to give transfer credit unless C (not C-) or better is obtained.
Q. Which courses are considered humanities by the College of Engineering?
A. Actually, the question should be, “Which courses satisfy the Human Values and Social Context UMaine General Education requirement for engineers?” Each category of the Human Values/Social Context courses must be satisfied by at least one course to meet the Gen Ed requirements. Some HV/SC courses may satisfy more than one category. Note also that there are many course that might be considered humanities courses that are NOT listed in the Gen Ed courses. These courses CANNOT be used to satisfy the 18 credit hour Gen Ed requirement.
Q. I want to receive a minor in Business. Can I substitute any business courses for ECE tech electives?
A. By approval of the faculty, you might be able to substitute two upper division Business electives for two non-ECE technical electives. BUA325- Principles of Management and Organization, BUA350 – Business Finance, and BUA 370 – Marketing are three such courses listed by the Business college in their specification of minor degree requirements.
Q. I am an international student. Do I have to take course work to satisfy the Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives General Education Requirement?
A. No (unless you’re Canadian), with approval from International Programs. However you will still need to accumulate 18 credit hours of Human Values and Social Contexts coursework.
Q. What are the requirements for a double degree? (not a double major)
A. You must have thirty credit hours more than the required credit hours for your primary degree. For example, if Degree A is your primary degree which requires 130 hours and Degree B requires 135 credit hours, you must attain 160 credit hours and satisfy the requirements of both degrees. A double major requires only that you meet the requirements of both majors and is usually less than thirty credit hours for two majors with many of the same requirements (e.g. ELE and CEN).
Q: What are the requirements for enrolling in ECE 401?
A: Prerequisites for ECE 401 are ECE 342 and ECE 314.