Geogria Institute of Technology

In order to try to help you sort out all the many different rules, regulations and requirements, we are providing a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ's) that we hope will cover most of the most common concerns. This is an evolving effort and we will try to organize the FAQ's into logical groups to make it easier to find the relevant questions. We also welcome suggestions and new questions from AE students, staff and faculty. The easiest way is to email your question to Prof. Sankar or Prof. Craig (not both). We'll try to answer it and if we think it is useful, we'll add it to the FAQ's below.

Another way to look for answers to questions is to use the Georgia Tech search menu on the main Georgia Tech web page. The Georgia Tech web pages are scanned regularly in order to update the search database, and we've found that a good deal of information from the AE Web Pages gets captured and indexed. You may be pleasantly surprised by how easy this is to use (try the link above).

Table of Contents

AE Academic Advising
Humanities and Social Sciences
Other Required Non-AE Courses
Computer Science Requirements
General

AE Academic Advising

Question: I don't know who my AE Academic Advisor is; how do I find out?

You can go to the AE Web Pages under Academics and go to the Undergraduate section and look for the link to "schedule an appointment." This will take you to pages that will list your AE Academic Advisor's name. This is also where you can go to make an advising appointment if your Advisor is using this feature. Or you can contact the AE Academic Office for this information.

 

Question: When is academic advising?

Academic Advisement is listed in the Georgia Tech Official School Calendar. Normally, it occurs on a Monday-Wednesday around the 12th week of the term.

 

Question: Do I really have to see my AE Academic Advisor each semester?

Yes. This is required, and AE places a hold on your preregistration until you meet with your AE Academic Advisor during Academic Advisement. We think it is very important for you to meet with your Advisor each semester to make sure that you are making good progress on your program of study. We hope that this will reduce the possibility for schedule problems and keep you updated on the latest AE requirements. We hope that it will also make your program of study as easy as possible to pursue!

 

Question: I can't preregister because there is a "Hold" on my preregistration. None of my friends in other Schools have this problem. What's wrong?

AE places an "preregistration" hold on all AE undergraduates each semester. When you see your AE Academic Advisor during Academic Advising, you must complete a course schedule, have it signed by your Advisor, and turn it in (along with your plastic folder) to the AE Academic Office. Only then will the AE Academic Office remove the hold.

 

Question: I have noticed on the flowchart in my plastic folder is identified as "Credit Sheet A1" but a friend has one that shows "Credit Sheet A1" and another has a one that shows "Credit Sheet F1." What does this mean?

AE has created several programs of study that include the same courses but offered on different semesters in order to balance the teaching load and reduce the class sizes. The A1 and A2 are the designations for these schedules for the 1999-2001 Catalog and F1 and F2 refer to the 2001-2003 Catalog..

 

Question: I've had problems scheduling some classes so can I switch to using another flowchart?

If at all possible, please try to follow the flowchart (A1 or A2) that you have in your plastic folder. These are different schedules designed to balance course sections between fall and spring semesters. If you feel you have to change, please consult your AE Academic Advisor.

 

Question: I've gotten a D (or an F) in an AE course. Can I continue with the program of study shown on my flowchart and retake this course when time permits?

NO! If you got an F in a required AE course, you must take this course immediately before you take any other courses that list this as a prerequisite. If you got a D, you can continue with other courses, but your grades may suffer because you did not repeat the D. You are only allowed up to 2 D's in required AE courses, so plan carefully!

Humanities and Social Sciences

Question: The 1999-2001 Catalog says some of the humanities and social sciences electives taken must be at a higher level. Is this still the case?

No. The institute did away with the depth requirement. We no longer require it.

 

Question: What is the 9+22 rule? Is this still in effect?

The 9+22 rule allowed a student to take as few as 9 semester hours of humanities or as few as nine semester hours of social sciences, as long as the total number of humanities and social sciences add up to 22 semester hours. This was done to assist the students caught in the quarter-to-semester transition, and was intended to help students who are ready to graduate but lost an hour or so humanities credit due to the conversion. This rule expired in Spring 2000. Students graduating after Spring 2000 are required to take 12 hours humanities and 12 hours of social sciences.

 

Question: How do I determine what courses count for Humanities and for Social Science requirements?

This is part of the Core Curriculum and the lists of approved courses is shown at the end of the chapter, Information for Undergraduate Students, in the Catalog (p. 31 in the 2001-03 Catalog).

 

Question: How do I list the Humanities and SS hours on the Degree Petition?

Convert the quarter hours to the semester hours using a conversion factor of 1.5 e.g. 3 quarter hours = 2 semester hours.

 

Question: I took an LCC course that was listed as being for Humanities credit in the Catalog in effect when I first enrolled. This course does not appear in the current Catalog. Can I still use it even if I plan to graduate under the newer Catalog?

Yes. You can use any courses that have appeared on the approved list in any of the Catalogs in effect while you are a student.

 

Question: Do ENGL 1101 and 1102 count towards the required humanities hours?

Yes.

 

Question: Do HIST/Political Science/INTA and the ECON 2010 courses required in our program count toward the 12 required social science hours?

Yes.

 

Question: Does Technical Communications (LCC3401) count towards the Humanities requirement?

No.

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Other Required Non-AE Courses

Question: Do I need to take Technical Communications LCC 3401?

Only if you plan to graduate under the 2001-2003 catalog, or a later catalog.

 

Question: If I take Technical Communications (LCC3401), can I count this towards the Social Sciences or Humanities requirements?

Answer: No.

 

Question: Is the Chem II/EAS/Biology lab science elective still required?

No. You make take a 3 hour non-lab elective (including CS 1322 or CS 1362) to meet this Science requirement. See the AE Undergraduate Handbook for a list of approved courses.

 

Question: I am a transfer student with ECON 2xxx transfer credit. Do I need to take Engineering Economics?

No, if you already have ECON 2xxx credit.

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Computer Science Requirements

Question: I am a transfer student with CS 1xxx credit. May I use it to satisfy the Area B computer science requirement?

Only if the credit is for a CS 13x1 course. The second digit "3" indicates that the course covered programming theory as well as programming practice/experience. If you only received CS 1xxx credit, you need to take CS 1321 or COE 1361. NOTE: under some limited cases, a CS 1xxx course may be determined to meet the Area B requirement.

 

Question: What is the Area B requirement?

All Georgia Tech students must take a "Core Curriculum" as required by the Board of Regents. This includes a minimum number of credit hours from six core areas labelled A...F. These requirements are shown on pages 31-32 of the 2001-2003 General Catalog.

 

Question: I have heard about a new computing course for engineering students. Can I take it instead of CS1321?

The College of Engineering is developing a course that will replace CS1321 for many Schools and it is called COE1361. At present it is under development and only a few sections are being offered. AE will accept this course in place of CS1321.

 

Question: If I take COE1361, can I take any other CS courses that would normally require CS1321?

No. COE1361 cannot be used in place of CS1321 as a prerequisite for other CS courses. However, CS is developing a new course, CS1362, that is designed to be taken in sequence with COE1361. This course sequence will be treated as equivalent to CS1321-22 as far as prerequisite requirements for other CS courses are concerned. At present CS1362 is not available, though.

 

Question: Why can't I take COE1361 and then CS1322?

This is an incompatible sequence because COE1361 does not cover the prerequisites for CS1322. You must take the COE1361-CS1362 sequence.

 

Question: If I've already taken CS13x1, can I take CS1362 instead of CS1322?

We're not sure at this point because development of CS1362 has not been completed. The best current advise is, no, so you should plan on taking CS1322 if you want to learn programming.

 

Question: I'm trying to fill out a degree petition and I took CS 1301 but it is not listed in the Catalog or shown on the AE flowchart. Can't I use this course?

The Area B (Computer Science) requirement is satisfied by completing any introductory computing and/or programming course approved by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee plus 1 hour from Area A. This applies to all students graduating no later than Spring 2003. Here is a list of courses that can be used to satisfy that requirement.

• CS 13x1, CS 1301, CS 1311, CS 1321
• CS 1410
• CS 1501
• CS 17xx, CS 1700
• CS 18xx, CS 1800
• Tex 1040
• COE 1361
• CEE 4803 (Spring and Summer 2001)

Question: I'm trying to fill out a degree petition and I took AE2604 under quarters; does this satisfy my computer science requirement?

For students beginning under quarters, the Area B (Computer Science) requirement is satisfied by completing AE2604. You must still satisfy the total equivalent semester-hour requirements for graduation (132), however.

Question: I transferred credit for a computer science course that took the place of AE2604 under the quarter system. Can I use this to satisfy the Aera B (Computer Science) requirement?

Yes. Since AE2604 satisfies the requirement, any course previously accepted for transfer credit for this course, including certain CS courses at Georgia Tech, will also count.

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General

Question: How many free elective hours can I use towards my degree?

You will need 11 hours if you are graduating under the 1999-2001 Catalog. The number is 9 hours if you are graduating under the 2001-2003 or a later Catalog and you have taken the 4 hour lab science elective. It is 10 hours if you are graduating under the 2001-2003 or a later Catalog and you have taken the 3 hour science elective.

 

Question: What Catalog should I use for planning my program of study?

You may use any Catalog in effect from the term you first enroll until you graduate. This can be a tricky decision, depending on the particular changes that have been made in Catalogs. Generally, we try to use the Catalog that will lead to the simplest program of study with the fewest substitutions. Your AE Advisor should be able to help sort this out.

 

Question: I plan to graduate under the latest Catalog but I took required courses that have been replaced with different courses. How do I handle this on a degree petition?

There is a place on the degree petition to list all substitutions. We have secured "blanket" approval for most substitutions that arise when changes are made between Catalogs (check with your AE Advisor or Prof. Sankar). However, any other substitutions must generally be approved by the Institute Undergraduate Committee, or if they are AE courses, by AE, and this will require submitting a Petition stating your reasons.

 

Question: What is the Area E requirement? (What are Area requirements anyway?)

All Georgia Tech students must take a "Core Curriculum" as required by the Board of Regents. This includes a minimum number of credit hours from six core areas labelled A...F. These requirements are shown on pages 31-32 of the 2001-2003 General Catalog.

 

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