Author: Judy Donahue

Undergraduate program advisor for electrical engineering and computer engineering majors.

Spring Advising Meetings

Registration for Fall and plan your next year courses.

2023 Spring:  RE studentsEE students

2021-2022 First year RE and EE students
EE Spring 2021 Advising Meeting: slides with active links. Recording (20 Min.).
RE Spring 2021 Advising Meeting: Slides; Recording (22 min)

Sophomores, juniors, & seniors not yet graduating: Click the academic year you are/were in the sophomore/junior ECE courses to view your 2nd Spring Advising meetings (Sophomore and Beyond).
To view past first-year advising meeting, click the year your began at Tech, and view the first-year meeting.

 EE Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors   Part 1  &  Part 2  

2019-2020 (pub. spring 2020)

2018-2019 (pub. spring 2019)

approved Enterprise Modules/ 3 semester option

List of Enterprise Modules (classes) which are approved for the 3-semester enterprise for design option, in place of ENT3950.  Be sure to check the schedule of classes for offerings and plan in advance.  Begin the 3-semester enterprise sequence in ENT3960, Project Work IV.

Fall approved modules:

  • ENT3959   Fundamentals of Six Sigma I
  • ENT2961   Teaming in Enterprise
  • ENT3982   Continuous Improvement Using Lean Principles

Spring approved modules:

  • ENT3963   Explore, Develop, Execute!
  • ENT3966   Design for Manufacturing
  • ENT3967   Design for Six Sigma
  • ENT3971   Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
  • ENT2962   Communication Contexts

The 3 – semester enterprise project work option is ENT3960, ENT4950, and ENT4960 plus one Approved Enterprise Module from above list.  ENT3950 does not applyENT3958 and ENT3964 may not be taken due to similarity with EE3901.

Change your major or Add a minor

Change major:

  1. To find out the latest requirements for your chosen major, see the  Degree Audits or go to the department website for flowcharts. Find out requirements for joining the department from the major advisor.
  2. Meet with the advisor of your new major to discuss switching, review program details, and submit a request to change your major when you are ready.

Add a minor:

  1. Find out the latest requirements for your chosen minor on the Degree Services website: Minor Audit Forms
  2. Meet with the advisor of the minor and submit a request to add the minor.
  3. Some credits may double count toward your major and minor. Look for courses the HASS list & the minor.
  4. CpE majors may not pursue a minor in EE or CS beginning Fall 2016.

Undecided on your Major?

Michigan Tech has an advisor for students who are undecided about their major.  Ms. Slyvia Matthew’s office is in Walker 102.

Engineering Undecided?  see Ms. Amy Monte or Ms. AJ Hamlin in Dillman 112.

Career Cruising will give ideas of majors that could involve your interests and skills.

Transfer credits from elsewhere

Transfer Services
Registrar’s Office
130 Administration Building
transfer@mtu.edu
906-487-2319

Getting Started
To take classes elsewhere and transfer them to Michigan Tech, use Michigan Tech’s online Transfer Equivalency Link along with the course schedules and catalogs from the other college. Choose courses that will transfer to an equivalent course at Tech that are required for your degree  (such as an appropriate HASS List course).

Remember: a grade of C or higher grade is required to transfer in a course!

  • To access list of courses already approved for transfer use the Michigan Tech Transfer Equivalency System.
  • If the course you want or need is not on the Transfer Credit Equivalency list, you may request to have it evaluated for transfer credit by sending the following details to the Transfer Services Office, for each course (email transfer@mtu.edu):
    • The other university or college name
    • Course ID and title
    • Syllabus – REQUIRED!
    • Textbook(s) used (usually on the syllabus)
    • Detailed Description (usually on the syllabus)
  • If all this information is available online, you can send the link to transfer@mtu.edu.  A short catalog description is not enough information to evaluate for Michigan Tech credit; you must provide the course syllabus.
  • Michigan students: complete a Guest Student Application and work with the Registrar’s office. You will need to check in with the other institution to see if anything else is required.
  • Enroll in courses. If the course(s) are prerequisites to classes you need to register for next semester, have a copy of your transcript from the transfer college sent to Michigan Tech’s office of the Registrar so that our system knows the courses you plan to transfer.

Prerequisite? If a course you are taking elsewhere is a prereq for something you want to add to your next semester’s schedule, contact Transfer Services. They can mark a course as “in session” so that your registration can proceed as normal. You still must have an official copy of your transcript from the other institution sent to Michigan Tech as soon as the prereq course is complete!

To find out if a course may count as a “UN” course, consult the Transfer Services Office before taking the course.

Michigan Tech General Education HASS Requirements. Don’t forget: 6 credits of HASS must be numbered 3000-4999 (“upper level”).

After Completing the Course
Have an official copy of your transcript sent to the Michigan Tech Registrar’s Office:

Office of Student Records & Registration
Administration Building
1400 Townsend Avenue Houghton, MI 49931-1295

For generic transfer course numbers, ex. HU9300L and SS9300U: “L” in the 7th position indicates the course is Lower Level, and “U” indicates Upper Level. New in 2020: transfer courses come in with a new format that looks like HU1XXX, EC4XXX, or HU3XX5. 

Here is the Tutorial on how to transfer credits from elsewhere, to Michigan Tech. Slides only .pdf

2019 Spring advising series

Spring Advising Meetings – videos- Have your flowchart handy and go to appropriate link. Prepare for registration of next set of classes and plan for next two+ semesters.

First-year and new transfer students who began Fall 2018 or Spring 2019:

Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors not yet graduating: Prepare for 3rd/4th/5th years:

How to transfer credits from elsewhere video; slides w/linksone-page instructions pdf.

How to read your Degree Audit Report

Co-op: how to take a co-op semester.

Enterprise – How to Register

Getting Started in Enterprise

1.  Figure out your course number.
How many semesters do you have remaining at Tech, on campus? This will determine which course number to register in. Then, find the section number and CRN on the Schedule of Classes.

2. Get permission.
Every semester, you must seek permission to join or continue in Enterprise. Use the fillable Approval / Waiver form for permission to enroll in ENT project work EXCEPT for ENT4950 (see below). Select “Special Approval” and then see the Enterprise advisor:

BMSE – Blue Marble Security  – Dr. Glen Archer, EERC 629
WCE – Wireless Communication – Mr. Kit Cischke, EERC 520
RSE – Robotic Systems – Dr. Jeremy Bos, EERC 623
Open Source Hardware – Rick Berkey (M&M 722E) & Shane Oberloier, EERC
AE – Aerospace – Dr. Brad King, AE registration instructions, MEEM 1014

Other enterprises:  Enterprise Program.
Also see: Schedule of Classes

3. Turn in the form.
Email the completed, signed approval/waiver form to the Student Services Center, at schedule@mtu.edu, or bring to the Registrar’s Office. Once the Approval has been entered, you will be able to go into Banweb and register in your Enterprise.

Meet with your Academic Advisor if you are uncertain which course number to register in for project work, to stay on track with your graduation semester.

Capstone Enterprise Work (4950-4960)

Once you get to your senior year, registering in ENT 4950 requires a different process. To register in ENT4950, go here: ENT4950 Registration for instructions. You will start by completing Part A, which is an online form under the tab:  Enterprise Student Resources (click forms).

For ABET accreditation standards, join an Enterprise that will provide you with an appropriate project work and responsibilities to meet design standards throughout ENT4950 and ENT4960:

  • EE Majors: must apply EE knowledge and skills in engineering design
  • CpE Majors:  must apply hardware/software integration skills in engineering design
  • CpE/EE Double Majors: apply EE knowledge/skills and hardware/software integration skills in engineering design

ECE Department Rules

The department does have some rules for completing your Enterprise Design requirements. For starters, you must plan to complete a four-semester sequence: ENT3950, ENT3960, ENT4950, then ENT4960.

  • If you to take a semester off to co-op or study abroad, do it before you take ENT4950.
  • Your last year of project work in enterprise must be consecutive semesters to apply to senior design requirements.
  • ENT4950 and ENT4960 need to be in the same enterprise.

Plan carefully and plan well in advance of graduation.  Pre-requisites required for senior-level project work (4000 level):

  • EE Majors: complete EE3901 and EE3131 before enrolling in ENT4950. Take EE3171 before or in same semester as ENT4950.
  • CpE Majors: complete EE3901 and EE3131 before enrolling in ENT4950. Take EE3173 before or in same semester as ENT4950.

Should I join Enterprise ?

Enterprise is project work, not a class.  You will be a team member working on a project for industry, competition or student ideas.  Many enterprises will require a Approval / Waiver Form signed by the faculty advisor of the enterprise you wish to join. The faculty advisor is the instructor listed in the Schedule of Classes.

The enterprise course numbers are synced with a 4-year plan beginning with semester two. The latest you should join is that point in time when you have 4 semesters left until graduation – ENT3950 – if you plan to use enterprise project work for your ENGINEERING DESIGN requirement.  Each enterprise has a unique section number as listed in the Schedule of Classes.  Ensure you are enrolling in the correct course number – This guide will help you determine that:

Enterprise Course Number REGISTRATION GUIDE

To register, bring a signed Special Approval (waiver) form to the Student Services Center in the Admin Bldg.   See your advisor if you need help determining which course number to enroll in. (see above link)

List of enterprises

There are one-credit ENT modules, which are classes that you may take as part of an Enterprise minor or concentration. ENT courses may count as “approved electives” for EE majors; or Free Electives.  A couple of these modules are on the HASS Supplemental List.

EE Electives / Focus Areas

The Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree requirements contain a number of credits for  “EE Electives“. You will see “boxes” for these credits listed on the 8-semester flowcharts, and an area of the degree audit report for EE elective coursework. This is a way to choose classes you most prefer from different focus areas or areas of specialization.

The number of credits required in EE (Technical) Electives varies depending on without or with a concentration, and the catalog year you are following. Your degree audit report shows the minimum number of “EE Electives” credits you need and how your registered and completed courses are applied toward degree requirements.

What are “EE Electives”? also called “EE Technical Electives“.

The ECE Department groups EE courses by “Focus Area” (area of specialization): Signal Processing, Power, Control, Computer, Electronics, Photonics, etc… See here for the latest list. If you plan ahead, you should be able to get all or most of the courses you prefer. Each course is typically offered once per year, either in fall or spring, so plan ahead for your next two or three semesters. Look up course prerequisites in the undergraduate course descriptions link. View the Schedule of Classes to see what courses are offered in a particular semester, when that schedule is available.

You do not have to choose one focus area, and you can mix and match the courses as you like. A concentration may use some of these courses as required courses for the concentration.

What can count?  EE courses that are mainly lecture and/or lab-based courses with the subject code of “EE”. These types of credits will not count: project, research, and independent study credits.  Specifically required courses such as EE2112 or EE3131 will not count in “EE Electives” (see “major requirements” on the degree audit report).

When should you choose EE Elective courses and howThis advising tutorial will help.
Begin to get familiar with the EE Electives list as early as the sophomore year, and ideally, no later than the end of the third year, to plan for the courses you’d prefer by the time you graduate.

Meet with Judy if you’d like help with planning future semesters with your EE Elective choices.

Take the time to consider these explorations:

– join an enterprise project team that deals with a area or two that you might be interested in

– join IEEE and/or SPIE for access to world-wide information in the field and the various focus areas; talk with mentors (ieee@mtu.edu for more info)

– become involved with undergraduate research in one of the areas you’d like to explore

– talk with faculty who teach or do research in areas you’re curious about. They are the experts.

– take a co-op semester or summer internship. This can expose you to one or more areas of specialization, and help you decide which electives you might take after you return.

– ask an acquaintance, senior student, or someone you know working in industry; inquire about job-shadowing at a company near your hometown

Summary:
“EE (Technical) Electives” are courses in topics from the various areas of specialization (focus areas) in ECE. You can mix and match them as you like. You do not have to take all the classes listed under a focus area. Choose the courses you most prefer. Plan ahead (2nd and 3rd year). 
Each concentration has a different number of “EE Elective” credits required. 

Where to find:
Focus Areas: EE electives listed by focus area and by semester in which they are offered.

Concentration flowcharts — Expand “8-Semester Flowcharts”.

All on the ECE Electrical Engineering advising page

Selecting EE Elective  courses for the BSEE (EE Technical Electives)

CpE Technical Elective  courses for the BSCpE.

CpE Technical Electives – Selecting

Although there aren’t “official” concentrations in Computer Engineering the same way there are in Electrical Engineering, you can still develop your own specialty or focus area(s) in within the degree. Choose classes you are most interested in, will help you get a CpE job you enjoy, or prepare you for a graduate degree down the road.  You can choose more classes in one area for a stronger focus, or choose a variety to have a broader knowledge base.

You may take more CpE technical elective credits than the minimum that is required.

Plan ahead to get the electives you’d like.  Most Technical Elective courses are offered in Fall or Spring (not both) so plan ahead and know what the pre-requisites are for the elective courses you want AND which semester they are offered in.  When you are in your junior-level required courses (if not before), start familiarizing yourself with the list of valid electives and identify the classes you are interested in.  Look up and know the pre-reqs.  If you’d like to know more about specific CpE skills/knowledge, ask the CpE faculty.  They are happy to talk about their areas of specialty and recommend classes!

Here you will find a list of faculty recommended courses listed by area or industry (click “Technical Electives” to open).

When selecting courses, be sure to use the list that applies to your degree requirements. Your online degree audit lists which courses fit in which categories, so review it after registering to see if things are counting where you’d like. If you have questions, contact your advisor!