1. Students

The following procedures are used to evaluate, advise, and monitor students, and to determine the success of the student in meeting the educational objectives of the program.  

a. Evaluation of Students: The evaluation of students is primarily done through exams, quizzes, homework assignments, projects, and class participation.  In several courses, an oral presentation by the student is also required. In many upper level courses, a quiz or homework set is also assigned and graded at the beginning of the semester to ensure that the students have the required background.

The school and the Registrar monitor the overall (cumulative) grade point average of the student at the end of each semester to ensure that the student is performing satisfactorily. In addition to the overall GPA, the School of Aerospace Engineering has the following additional requirements.

i) Students may not have a grade of D in Math or Physics courses.

ii) Students should not have any more than two D grades in required aerospace engineering courses at the time of graduation.

iii) Students must complete the prerequisites before attempting a higher-level course.

iv) Courses in the curriculum identified by number must be taken on a letter grade basis.

v) If a student has a single deficiency at the time of graduation, the student may choose to take an examination in that material instead of retaking that course.

Some students encounter academic difficulties when they transition from the structured environment of their high schools to a large university such as Georgia Tech, and need extra guidance.  Beginning in the fall of 2001, Georgia Tech faculty began giving a mid-term grade (Satisfactory, S, or Unsatisfactory, U) in all 1000 and 2000 level courses. This grade does not affect the student's GPA or appear on the transcript, but does give an early indication of how the student is doing in the studies. Aerospace engineering students receiving a U are required to meet with the faculty advisor for academic counseling. Depending on the student’s individual situation, the student is directed to campus resources for academic and non-academic help. A record is kept of the advisor’s diagnosis of how the student may be helped. The advisor follows up on the student’s progress during the following semester and offers additional counseling as needed.

b. Advisement of Students: Every student admitted to the School of Aerospace Engineering is assigned a faculty advisor when the student is admitted into our program. The advisor also serves as a mentor throughout the student’s career in the School. The student is required to meet in person with the advisor (or a designated alternate in case the advisor is not available) at least once every semester to plan the next semester schedule, and to ensure that the student is making good progress in his/her studies. An appointment for academic advisement may be done in person, by e-mail, or over the Web. The School of Aerospace Engineering Web site gives additional details of the academic advising process (<http://www.ae.gatech.edu/undergraduate>).

c. Monitoring of Students: The student's academic advisor is responsible for monitoring the academic progress. The advisor has online access to the student's current schedule and the transcript. Monitoring includes, but is not limited to, the following activities.

i) Advising the student on the classes that must be taken during the next semester.

ii) Advance Advisement on the selection of courses for co-op and interns

iii) Monitoring the student's overall GPA, the student's grades in math and physics, and the grades in required aerospace engineering courses.

iv) Ensuring that all the prerequisites are met before the student attempts to take a higher-level course. 

v) Advising the student on the courses that remain to be taken, at least one semester in advance of graduation. The advisors go through a checklist of requirements to be satisfied at least one year prior to graduation.

vi) Previewing and signing the degree petition prior to final approval by the School.

d. Policies for Transfer Students and Transfer Credit: The following Institute-wide admission guidelines (found at the Web site <http://www.enrollment.gatech.edu/transfer/ >) are applied.

i) Applicants should have completed at least one full year of college study (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) before entering the Institute.

ii) Selection is based on the college grades and courses completed.

iii) A cumulative college grade point average of 2.7 for Georgia residents, 3.0 for nonresidents and 3.5 for international students based on a 4.0 scale is required.

iv) A grade point average in mathematics and science courses of at least 2.7 for Georgia residents, 3.0 for nonresidents, and 3.5 for international students is also required.

v) Transfer students who enroll in the Institute as degree candidates must complete the final 36 semester hours in residence at Georgia Tech.

Transfer credit is awarded by the following process. For many basic courses in mathematics, physical sciences, humanities, and social sciences, transfer credit is awarded by the Registrar with the aid of an Equivalency Table . This table is established by comparing the Georgia Tech course outlines with those of other universities and is continually updated.  This table is constructed with the advice and consent of Georgia Tech faculty teaching equivalent courses. In the event a non-aerospace engineering course that the student wishes to transfer is not on the equivalency table, the student is directed to appropriate department. The department (or School) examines the course content, student work, and grade before making a recommendation if transfer credit should be awarded.

Students requiring transfer credit in aerospace engineering or upper-level engineering courses are directed by the Registrar to the School of Aerospace Engineering, or the appropriate department. A faculty member familiar with the subject material evaluates the student’s coursework and grants transfer credit. In some instances, the student is directed to take bridge courses to learn missing material. For instance, we have created a one-hour bridge course on three-dimensional rigid body dynamics, intended for students who have studied two dimensional dynamics at another institution. We also offer a one-hour bridge course on deformable bodies intended for students who have taken statics but have not been exposed to the concepts of elasticity, and deformation.

e. Procedures to Assure Students Meet Program Requirements: As stated earlier, the advisors monitor the student’s progress at least once every semester. A flow chart has been prepared (which may be found at our undergraduate program Web site <http://www.ae.gatech.edu/undergraduate>). During academic advisement, the advisor will fill out the flow chart, and identify the courses that remain to be taken. This ensures that the student is aware of the program requirements several semesters in advance. All Degree Petitions are reviewed by the Assistant to the Chair for Undergraduate Program and the Academic Advisor during the semester prior to the graduating semester.  This gives the student a chance to remove any deficiencies during the semester before graduation. These deficiencies are noted on the Degree Petition before the petition is sent to the Registrar.