2006–2007 - Florida Institute of Technology

Restricted Elective
A restricted elective is an elective selected from a specified
academic discipline. The academic discipline is included in the
specification of the elective, e.g., Restricted Elective (Chemistry)
or Restricted Elective (CHM). The level of the elective may be
specified by the academic unit.
Technical Elective
A technical elective is a course in any field of science or engineering,
subject to department or program approval. Courses classified
as mathematics, basic science, applied science, engineering
science, engineering design or some combination of these satisfies
the requirement. These courses should be at a level appropriate
to the level at which they appear in the program.
Engineering Science Elective
Engineering sciences have their roots in mathematics and basic
sciences but carry knowledge further toward a creative application.
These studies provide bridges between mathematics, basic
science and engineering practice. Lists of approved engineering
science electives are included with the program listings.
Engineering Design Elective
Engineering design is the process of devising a system, component
or process to meet desired needs. It is a decision-making
process, often iterative, in which the basic sciences, mathematics
and engineering sciences are applied to convert resources
optimally to meet a stated objective. Among the fundamental
elements of the design process are the establishment of objectives
and criteria, synthesis, analysis, construction, testing and
evaluation. Central to the process are the essential and complementary
roles of synthesis and analysis. Each engineering design
course includes some of the following features: development
of student creativity, use of open-ended problems, formulation
of design-problem statements and specifications, consideration
of alternative solutions, feasibility considerations, detailed
system descriptions and a variety of realistic constraints, such
as economic factors, safety, reliability, aesthetics, ethics and
social impact. A list of approved engineering design electives is
normally available in each engineering department office.
Foreign Languages
Students who have had less than two years of foreign-language
study at the secondary level may enroll in elementary language
courses at Florida Tech. Students who have had two or more
years of foreign-language study at the secondary level and students
who transfer one year of foreign-language study to Florida
Tech from another college or university must enroll in intermediate
courses. Native or multilingual speakers of foreign languages
may not enroll in elementary or intermediate courses; they
may, however, enroll in advanced-level courses. Final decisions
regarding the placement of students in foreign-language courses
will be made by the head of the department of humanities and
communication.
Academic Regulations
The following paragraphs represent an abbreviated presentation
of some of the more commonly encountered regulations affecting
undergraduate students at Florida Tech. (See also “Academic
Information” in this section.) For other academic policies and
regulations, the vice provost for academic affairs should be
consulted. Academic policies are subject to change effective with
succeeding catalogs.
22 Florida Tech
Attendance
Students registered for any course are expected to attend all lectures
and must attend all laboratories, examinations, quizzes and
practical exercises, subject to penalties specified by the instructor
for that course.
Students who miss class must obtain permission from the course
instructor to make up missed work. This permission must be
requested at the earliest possible opportunity, and before the
absence if possible. The student must arrange with the instructor
to make up the missed work. The makeup must be completed
within two weeks after the absence. In the case of missed final
examinations, the policy on Incompletes (I) applies. In mitigating
circumstances, the instructor, with the concurrence of the
academic unit head offering the course, may require an alternative
to making up the missed work.
If circumstances require a student to report late for a class or to
leave before the class is over, prior notification should be given to
the instructor if possible. Repeated occurrences may result in the
student being temporarily denied admission to the classroom.
The professor of military science of the Army ROTC unit has
sole authority to determine attendance regulations in ROTC
classes.
Classification
All new students are classified as freshmen unless they have
completed sufficient transferable credit hours at another college
or university to qualify for advanced standing at Florida Tech.
The university operates on the semester system, and course
credits are computed on that basis. For those students who have
completed college work elsewhere, classification is based on
credit hours accepted at Florida Tech rather than the amount of
work presented.
To be classified as a sophomore, a student must have completed
at least 30 credit hours; as a junior, at least 56 credit hours; and
as a senior, at least 85 credit hours.
Students whose studies at Florida Tech began under the quarter
system are classified on the basis of all credits earned under both
systems with quarter hours being translated to semester hours
according to the ratio three quarter hours to two semester hours.
Course Substitution
Course substitutions or any other deviation from the stated
requirements of a degree offered at Florida Tech must have the
written approval of the student’s academic adviser and the academic
unit head.
Dual Majors and Additional Degrees
The dual major is recognized any time a student completes all
degree requirements for two of the bachelor’s degree programs
listed on the inside back cover of this catalog. On completion
of the requirements for both programs, the student receives
one diploma noting both majors (e.g., “Bachelor of Science in
Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Science” or “Bachelor of
Science in Biological Sciences/Ecology and Marine Biology
Options.”) A student who graduates in one program and completes
the requirements for a second major in a subsequent term
will be issued a new diploma recognizing both fields on return of
the first diploma. In the case of three or more majors, the student
must select the two that will appear on the diploma. In all cases,