Catalog for The School of Engineering

History

Founded in 1900, the School of Engineering is the third oldest school of the University and is the oldest engineering school in the state. Instruction in engineering dates from 1854 when a Department of Engineering was established by the Board of Trustees to complement a strong program in the natural sciences.

Mission Statement

The School of Engineering at The University of Mississippi strives continuously to improve the quality of teaching, research, and service. In so doing, the school

1. prepares students with a broad-based education for entering the engineering profession, for advanced studies, and for careers in research;
2. develops in students leadership skills, communication and creative thinking skills, global perspective, and commitment to lifelong learning; and
3. provides practicing professionals with continuing education opportunities.

The school capitalizes on its engineering science tradition, its low student-to-faculty ratio, and the liberal arts environment of The University of Mississippi to give our graduates the abilities to adapt to the rapid changes in engineering and to give our graduates the interdisciplinary background and capacity for innovation that sets them apart from the graduates of larger engineering schools.

Statement of Goals

1. To provide an environment conducive to learning, teaching, and research. This includes a diverse and multicultural first-rate faculty, staff, and students and state-of-the-art facilities.
2. To provide a top-quality ABET accredited undergraduate program suitable for the 21st century.
3. To foster a vibrant graduate program and to perform quality research in line with national trends and achieve national recognition in selected areas.
4. To establish strong partnerships and lasting relationships with industry, government, professional societies, alumni, and academia.
5. To make significant contribution to the technological and economic development of the state of Mississippi and the region through education, research, and service.
6. To increase the visibility of the School of Engineering locally and nationally.

Programs and Degrees

The programs of study offered by the School of Engineering stress the engineering sciences and are based on the fundamental concepts of natural science and mathematics. These programs serve the state and the nation in five basic engineering fields: chemical, civil, electrical, geological, and mechanical as well as the fields of computer science and telecommunications.

The four-year Bachelor of Science curricula in chemical, civil, electrical, geological, and mechanical engineering are designed to prepare students for the practice of the profession of engineering. Each of these Bachelor of Science curricula is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: (410) 347-7700. The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is designed to give students a thorough education in contemporary computer science. This program in computer science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: (410) 347-7700.

The four-year Bachelor of Engineering curricula are extremely broad and are designed to provide students the opportunity to gain an understanding of engineering, scientific, and technical knowledge that will enhance their career objectives in such areas as, for example, engineering science, medicine, law, telecommunications, military, management, and sales. The curricula are individually designed to meet each student's needs but in general provide three paths of study: (1) a pre-professional path that stresses technology as well as breadth of education, (2) a terminal path that provides a broad education with emphasis on science and technology, and (3) a telecommunications path that stresses science and technology while providing a foundation knowledge in the rapidly expanding field of telecommunications.

The School of Engineering offers through its graduate program the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in engineering science. Students interested in these degrees should consult the Graduate School catalog.

Accreditation

The Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: (410) 347-7700, has accredited the Bachelor of Science curricula in chemical, civil, electrical, geological, and mechanical engineering. The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: (410) 347-7700. The school and its component departments are members of the Engineering College Administrative Council and the Engineering College Research Council. The school has student chapters of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Association for Computing Machinery, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Tau Beta Pi, the engineering national honorary fraternity, Association of Engineering Geologists, National Society of Professional Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers, and the Institute of Transportation Engineers.

Buildings

The School of Engineering occupies quarters in Carrier Hall, built for the school and given to the University by the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Carrier, and in Frank A. Anderson Hall. Carrier Hall and Anderson Hall both are air conditioned with classrooms sound-insulated from the laboratories and have been designed in consultation with outstanding engineers to accomplish progressive instruction and research. Additional facilities are housed in the Engineering Sciences Annex, Weir Hall, and Old Chemistry Building.

Research and Experimentation

The school's faculty is actively involved in independent research and is eager to cooperate with industrial and engineering organizations in the investigation and solution of technical problems. Such services as may be rendered by the engineering laboratories are available to industry and the engineering profession. The University of Mississippi Center of Computing and Information Systems, housed in Powers Hall, is available to the state's agencies and to industry for investigation in the field of electronic data processing, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, materials testing systems, and microwave antenna laboratories are housed in Carrier Hall, the Engineering Sciences Annex, and Old Chemistry Building.

Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute

The purpose of the Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute (MMRI) is to promote the use of the state's mineral resources. This purpose is achieved by providing mineral-related research opportunities. The disciplines of engineering are essential to finding answers to the many problems confronting the industrial use of minerals. The purpose also is advanced in that the research serves to train and educate faculty and students. The end results of many of the MMRI research grants have been master's theses. The institute also works with other schools within the University, other institutions of higher learning, and state agencies. Within the framework of MMRI, Congress approved the Marine Minerals Technology Center (MMTC), a national center to study and characterize offshore minerals. The research conducted by MMTC affords opportunities for graduate students. The two research vessels maintained by MMTC in Biloxi provide the means for the research and hands-on experience. The research involves electronic surveys (seismic, etc.) as well as drill sampling.

Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering

The center was established to achieve three major objectives: research, education, and services. Basic and applied research in computational modeling of hydrodynamic, hydraulic, water resources, environmental engineering, and sediment transport problems, as well as computational methodologies are being pursued. Graduate degree programs leading to an M.S. and Ph.D. are being offered. Short courses and workshops to equip the professionals with the newly developed research and design tools have been conducted. The center also has served governmental agencies, other academic institutions, professional societies, and international organizations to find the solutions to hydroscience and engineering problems, and to advance the forefront of science and engineering methodology in computational modeling of hydrosystems.

Telecommunications

This program surveys various aspects of the industry. Students taking the Bachelor of Engineering degree may choose to take an emphasis in telecommunications. A certificate in telecommunications may be awarded to a candidate after the completion of the requirements for an emphasis. Details may be obtained from the instructional program coordinator.

Placement Service

Through the Career Center, the University offers assistance to graduating students, alumni, and students who leave the University prior to graduation in finding suitable employment. Conferences between agents of prospective employers, students, and members of the engineering faculty are arranged through this office.

Cooperative Education Program

Qualified students in the school may participate in the Cooperative Education Program. Through the alternating pattern of work experience and classroom study, the co-op program helps many students find greater meaning in their career education process. Following completion of the freshman year, students desiring to co-op may alternate work and study periods for the next three years while completing the sophomore and junior academic work. The last two semesters (senior year) of class work should be taken consecutively. Transfer students may participate in the program; however, the completion of a minimum of two work periods for any student is required.