Undergraduate policies
Academic standing
Student responsibilities
Students need to make many decisions as they complete their degree programs. While the schools and the university have a number of resources available to help with decision-making (e.g., faculty, courses, advisors and tutors), students are expected to take responsibility for their decisions.
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering good standing
Students are expected to select and successfully complete courses that lead to the timely completion of their degree programs. Students are said to be in good standing if they fulfill all the following:
- maintain acceptable GPAs
- enroll in and complete critical tracking requirements
- complete courses each semester that are applicable to their degrees
University academic warning
An undergraduate student with a cumulative GPA of less than 2.00 at the end of their first semester (fall or spring) is considered to be in the status of university academic warning. If after one term with an academic warning a student still does not achieve the minimum GPA standard of 2.00, the student will be placed on probation for at least one additional term. If a student's minimum GPA first falls below the standard in a term that is not the student's first term at ASU, the student will be placed on probation. Failure to return to good academic standing after being placed on probation may result in disqualification.
A student with an academic warning is considered in conditional good standing and is permitted to enroll.
Whether a student's status is an academic warning or probation, the student must self-enroll in the Canvas-based course Fulton Academic Success Strategies to prepare for the upcoming semester and develop a success plan for returning to university academic good standing. The student also will meet with their academic advisor to finalize coursework for the upcoming term. At the discretion of the student's college or school, that plan may require successful completion of UNI 220 Mindset Connections.
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering probation
There are many reasons why some students do not make satisfactory progress. These students are placed on Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering academic probation to ensure they get the extra attention and resources they need in order to get back in good standing. Working with an academic advisor to plan a strategy for success is crucial. Students may be required to reduce their course loads (13 credit hours maximum), retake courses or even take courses outside of their programs.
To return to academic good standing in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, students on probation need to earn a minimum semester GPA of 2.25 and earn a minimum cumulative ASU GPA of 2.00 at the end of the probation semester. If a student is enrolled in only one course, a grade of "C+" (2.33) or better and a minimum cumulative ASU GPA of 2.00 are required for obtaining academic good standing. Students who meet either the semester GPA requirement or the cumulative ASU GPA requirement at the end of their first probationary semester may be continued on probation. Courses completed during summer sessions are not used to reevaluate a student's probationary status.
Conditions for Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering probation
A student is placed on college or university probation when specific academic expectations are not met. Some conditions trigger an automatic placement on probation whereas others trigger an automatic review of the student's case to determine if probation is warranted. When a probation review is triggered, the final decision and any conditions of probation are determined at the program level.
Automatic probation is triggered by either of the following:
- two successive semesters with GPAs less than 2.00
- an ASU cumulative GPA less than 2.00
Automatic review (borderline) is triggered by either of the following:
- a semester with a GPA less than or equal to 2.00
- a cumulative GPA in the major of less than 2.00
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering continuing probation
A student on probation or continuing probation at the university level is placed on college-level continuing probation status when specific academic expectations are not met. When a continuing probation review is triggered, the final decision and any conditions of continuing probation are determined at the college level.
To return to academic good standing in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, students on continuing probation need to earn a minimum semester GPA of 2.25 and earn a minimum cumulative ASU GPA of 2.00 at the end of the probation semester. If a student is enrolled in only one course, a grade of "C+" (2.33) or better and a minimum cumulative ASU GPA of 2.00 are required to obtain academic good standing.
Automatic continuing probation is triggered by either of the following:
- a student on probation does not attain a semester GPA of 2.25 or greater and has a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 at the end of the probation semester
- a student on probation or continuing probation attains a semester GPA of 2.25 or greater and has a cumulative GPA less than 2.00
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering ineligibility
Students who are on continuing probation and fail to meet the schools' retention standards become ineligible to continue working toward a degree within the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.
Ineligibility occurs if the continuing probationary student does any of the following:
- does not attain a semester GPA of 2.25 or greater and has a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 at the end of the probationary semester
- has already been on probation for two consecutive semesters
- fails to complete any courses appropriate for the degree during each semester
Ineligible students are subject to the following limitations:
- Students who change colleges may not register for courses in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering unless the courses are required by their new majors.
- Students who register for courses in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering may be withdrawn from these courses any time during the semester they are registered.
Ineligible students are encouraged to consider these options:
- Students may be eligible to change their majors to other colleges if they are in university academic good standing and have acceptable cumulative GPAs; the acceptable GPA level depends on the number of credit hours of completed coursework. Students should contact their advisor to determine if this is an option for them.
- Students may take nonengineering courses during summer sessions.
- An ineligible student may apply for readmission to the college after one calendar year.
- Students may request a status review by contacting the Office of Academic and Student Affairs.
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering disqualification
Students who are on probation or continuing probation and fail to meet the schools' retention standards become disqualified to continue working toward a degree within the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.
Disqualification occurs if the student on probation or continuing probation does not attain a semester GPA of 2.25 or greater and has a cumulative GPA less than 2.00 at the end of the probation semester.
Disqualified students are subject to the following limitations:
- A disqualified student is not allowed to register in a fall or spring semester at the university. If the student has already registered for a future fall or spring semester, the registration is canceled.
- A student who has been disqualified may apply for readmission to the college after one calendar year.
- A disqualified student may not attend as a nondegree student.
- If a disqualified student elects to attend another university or two-year college, any credits earned there will not affect the ASU cumulative GPA. A course repeated elsewhere will not result in a replacement of a grade earned at ASU.
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering student disqualification and ineligibility appeals
A student disqualified or deemed ineligible for lack of satisfactory progress is afforded the opportunity to appeal the decision to the school or program. All timely student appeals will be reviewed by the school or program for consideration. Any student appeal that is denied by the school or program is automatically forwarded to the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering Academic Standards Committee for review. Appeal decisions made by the Academic Standards Committee are final.
Advising
Successful completion of a program in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering requires careful planning. While final responsibility lies with each student for becoming familiar with and understanding academic degree requirements, each program employs professional academic advisors who work with students to help them set academic and career goals, understand school and university policies and procedures, meet degree requirements, and become familiar with sources of academic support within the university. Students also may work with faculty advisors familiar with the chosen fields of specialization. Students should consult their advisors prior to registering each semester. A list of advising contacts can be viewed online.
Students are encouraged to use eAdvisor tools for academic planning. This service provides critical requirements and major maps, which are reports individualized for each student that lay out a specific, clear and accurate path to timely completion of the student's intended degree.
Staff in the Office of Academic and Student Affairs in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering are available to assist individual students with many different types of advising issues. They work with students to answer general questions about policies and procedures; help with registration transactions; administer the probation, disqualification and readmission processes; oversee disciplinary actions; hear grade grievances; and assist with other administrative matters.
Mandatory advising
All first-year students, student-athletes and students who are found to be having academic difficulty are required to receive advisement before they can register for any classes, including during summer sessions. Some programs relax the advising requirement after the first year, so students should consult their academic advisor or review the My Tasks list in My ASU to determine if advising is required.
Students on continued probation status should thoughtfully complete the Continued Probation Success Plan (PDF) and schedule an appointment with their advisor to review the success plan, to discuss strategies and to develop a plan to return to good academic standing.
Credit and registration
Students are required to register for courses using one of the university-provided processes. As part of the registration process, the school enforces the following registration restrictions.
Maximum hours
Students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering may register for a maximum of 19 credit hours per semester. Any student wanting to register for more than the maximum must submit a college standards petition and have an approval on file prior to registering for the overload.
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering probationary status
Students who have been placed on academic probation within the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering must complete the Canvas-based course Fulton Academic Success Strategies (self-enroll) and then schedule an appointment with their academic advisor to discuss success strategies and develop a plan to return to academic good standing. Students on academic probation within the Fulton Schools may enroll in a maximum of 13 credit hours per semester.
Degree requirements
Undergraduate nondegree status
Students who are enrolled in an undergraduate nondegree status in the schools must obtain advising and approval to register from the Office of Academic and Student Affairs before registering each semester.
Course prerequisites
Students should consult class search and the course catalog for course prerequisites. Students who register for courses without the designated prerequisites may be withdrawn without their consent at any time before the final examination. Such withdrawals may be initiated by the course instructor, the program chair of the program offering the course or the dean of the college. In such cases, students do not receive monetary reimbursement.
Pass/fail grades
Students requesting credit for pass/fail courses taken at another institution must file an Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering standards petition. Each request is judged on its particular merits.
Non-Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering students
Students who are not admissible to programs in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and who enroll in another college at ASU may not register for any 300- or 400-level courses in the schools unless the courses are required in their degree programs and the students have the proper course prerequisites.
First-year composition requirement
Completion of the first-year composition requirement is required for graduation. Any student whose written or spoken English is unsatisfactory in any course may be required by the appropriate school director or program chair to take additional coursework.
Concurrent degrees
Students interested in pursuing a concurrent degree should consider several aspects:
- The degree conferral date occurs when all degree requirements are satisfied for each undergraduate degree program; that is, students receive both degrees at the same time regardless whether coursework for one degree is completed prior to the other degree.
- Admission criteria, policy for double-counting credits, and other requirements and rules are defined by the school or college offering the degree program.
- Financial aid and scholarship limits apply and may not cover all semesters; therefore, students may need to invest more time, and hence more funds, to complete concurrent degrees.
Once a decision is made to pursue a concurrent degree, the process must be set in motion:
- A student pursuing a concurrent degree must meet with both program advisors to learn about degree and graduation requirements of both degree programs and the eligibility requirements before starting the approval process. Both advisors should review the graduation plan that outlines courses the student will take each semester.
- The student must complete the concurrent degree process with each respective school or college offering the desired degree programs to request permission to pursue the concurrent degrees.
- Concurrent degree approvals result in the posting of concurrent degrees in PeopleSoft. If the student later decides to drop one of the degrees, the student should inform the University Registrar Services Graduation Office that they are no longer interested in pursuing concurrent degrees.
Change of major
Students interested in switching majors to one of the programs within the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering must meet the schools' admission requirements for transfer students. This requirement is true for students admitted to ASU as first-year or transfer students. A change of major is not guaranteed, and students interested in changing majors are encouraged to make an appointment with an advisor in the program of interest to discuss the probability of success and to develop a plan of action to ensure successful advancement to upper-division courses.
Students who were admitted as first-year students into the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, with the exception of The Polytechnic School and the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks, and who have maintained continuous enrollment in any Fulton Schools major may choose to change to any other major within the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering provided they are in good academic standing. Students admitted to The Polytechnic School or the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks must meet the transfer admission requirements in order to change to a Fulton Schools major outside of their current schools.
Evaluation of previous coursework
Transferring from one institution to another or between programs can result in a net loss of credits that count toward the degree. Thus, it is important for students who contemplate transferring into the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering from other institutions, whether community colleges or four-year institutions, to carefully study the requirements of their degree programs to get a sense of which courses may transfer.
Credit is granted for transferred courses deemed equivalent to corresponding courses in the selected program of study, subject to grade and ASU resident credit requirements. No grades lower than "C" (2.00) are accepted as transfer credit to meet the graduation requirements of the schools. Credits transferred from a community college or two-year institution are applied only as lower-division credits. For a listing of the acceptable courses transferable to the various degree programs, prospective Arizona transfer students should consult their advisors and refer to the Transfer Guide.
Some courses taken at ASU or other universities may be acceptable for general university credit but may not be applicable toward the degree requirements of the schools. Determination of those particular courses applicable to a specific degree program is made within the appropriate academic unit with approval of the dean.
Currency of coursework
Courses taken more than five years before admission to degree programs in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering are not normally accepted for credit in the engineering major, and are at the option of the program in which the applicant wishes to enroll. However, students still may earn university elective credit or General Studies credit for these courses. Courses completed within the five years preceding admission are judged for their applicability to the student's curriculum.
General education development
Students admitted to the university after successful completion of a GED examination are directly admitted to the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering BS or BSE program within their majors, provided they meet the minimum ACT or SAT score required for first-year admission to the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.
Graduation requirements
To qualify for graduation, an Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering student must have a minimum cumulative ASU GPA of 2.00 in addition to having a GPA of at least 2.00 for the courses in the major.
University graduation requirements
In addition to program and the Fulton Schools' requirements, students must meet all university graduation requirements. A well-planned program of study enables students to meet all requirements in a timely fashion. Students are encouraged to consult with an academic advisor in planning a program, to ensure they comply with all necessary requirements.
Reinstatement/readmission
Readmission
Undergraduate degree-seeking students who previously attended ASU in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering but have not been enrolled at ASU for up to seven consecutive semesters are eligible to return through quick re-entry. Students do not need to submit a new application or application fee, but they must contact an academic advisor in their program for registration.
Undergraduates who have been away from the university for more than seven semesters and want to return to ASU in an Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering program are required to apply for readmission through Admission Services. Readmission requests are processed as follows:
- Schools of Engineering students seeking readmission to the same program they left and who left ASU with either academic good standing or probation status are readmitted to that degree program with the same academic standing they had when they left ASU (i.e., good academic standing or probation).
- Students seeking readmission to an Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering program other than the program they left and who have an ASU GPA of 3.00 or greater are readmitted to the degree program with the same academic standing they had when they left ASU (i.e., good academic standing or probation).
- Students seeking readmission to an Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering program other than the program they were in when they left ASU with either academic good standing or probation status and who have an ASU GPA less than 3.00 are subject to the process of admission by change of major. These requests for readmission are reviewed on an individual basis. If the request for readmission is approved, the student is readmitted to the new degree program with the same academic standing he or she had when leaving ASU (i.e., good academic standing or on probation).
- Students seeking readmission to an Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering program and who left ASU with either ineligible or disqualified status are subject to review by the Office of Academic and Student Affairs and the program. Readmission is only considered after a student has remained out of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering for a minimum of 12 months. A student is required to supply proof of now being capable of successfully completing courses in the discipline by the completion of at least 15 hours of appropriate coursework with a GPA of 3.00 or higher and a cumulative GPA (ASU plus transfer) of at least 2.50. If the readmission request requires a change of major, then the student must complete the review process for admission by change of major. If readmission is approved, the student will return with continued probation status in the appropriate degree program.
Once readmitted, returning students are required to meet with a program advisor before enrolling in courses at ASU.
Other special requirements
Advancing to upper-division courses
The faculty in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering have identified a set of critical requirements in the first four semesters of each program whereby performance in these critical requirements is a key component in progressing in the chosen major. These critical requirements include a set of courses and performance levels required in those courses and are outlined on the major maps.