SEAS: FAQ – Prospective Students

Q – What makes Miami’s Engineering & Computing programs different than another school's?

A – Three things really stand out for Miami’s School of Engineering & Applied Science (SEAS). First, employers and graduate programs highly value the combination of technical and non-technical education that our students receive. Second, experiential opportunities such as co-ops and internships, study abroad, undergraduate research and service organizations are plentiful and highly encouraged at Miami. Third, the close relationships between students and faculty, whether as instructors, advisors or simply friends, help everyone perform at their best.

Q – How is Miami’s Engineering program ranked?

A – According to the 2009 Edition of the U.S. News & World Report "America’s Best Colleges" issue, SEAS at Miami is ranked 38th among undergraduate-focused universities (i.e. those without Ph.D. programs).

Q – How do I make sure I get into the School of Engineering & Applied Science?

A – Our school has a long history of strong academic performers with a passion for the engineering and computing fields. This allows us to directly admit students interested in our majors at the time of application and acceptance to Miami University in general. Simply declare Undecided-EAS or one of our specific majors on your application, and if you’re accepted at Miami, you’re accepted in SEAS at Miami!

Q – How do I become eligible for engineering-based scholarships?

A – The first step is declaring one of our majors on the Miami University application. Next, make sure you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the University by the deadline of February 15th, as it "flips the switch" to make you eligible for all types of aid, even if you’re determined to have no financial need. We then use the two criteria of major & need and review them in conjunction with your academic record to make many of our scholarship decisions. Some programs (e.g. Paper Science & Engineering) will also have registration parameters that must be followed for eligibility, but the rewards can be great.

Q – When will I find out if I've received an engineering-based scholarship?

A – We typically make decisions on engineering-based scholarships during the late-March/early-April time frame. This should provide enough time for considering this information in your college decision regarding Miami, whose confirmation deadline is May 1. If there is additional scholarship money left over after confirmations have been received, then additional awards may be made into the summer months.

Q – How do I visit SEAS at Miami?

A – Go to http://www.eas.muohio.edu/student-info/prospective-students/explore/ and either contact us at the phone number listed or submit the Online Reservation Form. Our standing meeting times (including a 30-minute discussion/Q&A and a 60-minute tour) are Mondays from 10:30AM-12PM and Fridays from 1:30-3PM. If these times do not fit your visiting schedule, then contact us at 513-529-0700 to arrange a time that is convenient for you. You may also want to arrange (through the Office of Admission) a campus overview and tour on the same day. Please check the Office of Admission visitation web site at http://www.miami.muohio.edu/admission/visit.cfm.

Q – What is the likelihood that I will complete my engineering or computer science degree in four years?

A – Very high! Our 10 SEAS majors are designed to be completed in four years from matriculation at Miami. This four-year plan still allows opportunities for summer internships, some study abroad programs, undergraduate research and other prospects.

Q – I read something about a 3-2 program… is that in the School of Engineering & Applied Science?

A – The 3-2 program is an option in the Engineering Physics major, which is managed by the Department of Physics in the College of Arts & Science. It was originally designed many years ago, prior to the establishment of some of our current engineering majors, to prepare students for an engineering career. Most students now simply choose one of the SEAS majors, designed as a four-year curriculum, in lieu of the 3-2 format, but in some instances it can make sense. For more information on this program, please contact the Department of Physics at Miami University.

Q – What is the ABET accreditation status of SEAS majors?

A – Seven of our majors are currently ABET accredited: Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Paper Science & Engineering and Systems Analysis. The Chemical Engineering major is currently being reviewed by ABET, with a decision expected during the 2009-2010 academic year. Software Engineering will apply for ABET accreditation upon the graduation of its first graduating class. Engineering Management and General Engineering are currently not seeking ABET accreditation.

Q – How do I major in Nursing at Miami?

A – Nursing is one of Miami’s departments which are housed at the Regional Campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, though its parent division is SEAS. It is the only SEAS program requiring a separate application and acceptance for admission. For incoming first-year students, the four-year traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is the best option. For students who already have an Associate Degree in Nursing, there is the RN-BSN completion program. If at all possible, students in the Nursing and pre-Nursing programs should be regional campus students, which is actually a much less expensive Miami experience. However, if a student must or chooses to be an Oxford campus student, there are ways to make the program work. In either case, the first year of classes must include certain chemistry and life science courses that will be used to determine if the candidate will be admitted into the Nursing program. More information can be found at http://www.eas.muohio.edu/departments/nsg/.

Q – I am currently a student at Sinclair Community College and was told about an agreement where my Associate degree classes are automatically accepted at Miami. In what program(s) does this work?

A – This is an articulation agreement that is in place for the Engineering Technology program at Miami's regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown. It will allow you to enter the BS degree completion program in either Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology or Mechanical Engineering Technology. For more information, please contact the Engineering Technology department directly at either 513-785-1804 (Hamilton campus) or 513-727-3271 (Middletown campus).

Q – What do SEAS students gain from a co-op or internship experience?

A – SEAS students are empowered to develop skills to help them long-term with respect to career searches and job prospects. To that end, students are encouraged to register with Miami’s Office of Career Services to apply, prepare and interview for co-op, internship and permanent positions. By learning the job-search process in the internship/co-op stages, students have done much of the homework they need to have a more effective permanent job search. They will know the dos/don'ts of interviewing, the differences between the types of engineering/computing positions, the kind of industries that strike their fancy and so on.
We want to allow students and companies the flexibility to choose a system that works for them, whether it means hiring students after their freshman year, having an extended co-op or internship term (say, January through August) or possibly offering an international experience. Most Miami SEAS students choose to do summer internships because the summer timeframe fits better with Miami’s curricular structure, but some do a more traditional co-op rotation. Some students are ready after one year of college, while others are better served waiting a year or two longer. If it works for the student and company, it works for SEAS and Career Services.

Q – Are there study abroad opportunities in SEAS?

A – Absolutely! We highly encourage students to take advantage of opportunities to study abroad and there are multiple ways for students to do this. The most common way is to study at Miami’s Luxembourg campus in the heart of Europe. Students choosing this option typically delay taking courses in Fine Arts, World Cultures and Humanities until they get to Luxembourg, since there currently are no engineering or computing courses offered there (though we’re working on this). Other options include a summer Engineering Study Abroad program in Krakow, Poland, the Summer Business Institute (ending with a two-week option of studying in London or Paris) and other university programs.
Another approach to gaining experience abroad is to participate in the Engineers Without Borders organization. This is a recently added chapter at Miami whose goal is to develop engineering solutions for underprivileged regions of the world. An example of this type of project is a team who developed a water pump for a village is Mali, West Africa, allowing the residents there access to clean drinking water. While not an EWB project, it is a great example of the type of project that this organization will encourage. One difference between an EWB project and a coursework-based study abroad is that no academic credit is earned through EWB, though the experience itself may be far more rewarding.

Q – Can I participate in the Miami Honors program as a SEAS student?

A – Certainly! SEAS students at Miami currently represent over 20% of the students in the University Honors program here. This is despite having only about 6% of the overall student population at Miami. Due to our size and the high participation rate in the University Honors program, SEAS does not have a separate Honors program. However, many different engineering and computing endeavors mesh extremely well with the experience-based outcomes expected of the Honors program. Please see http://www.miami.muohio.edu/academics/honors_scholars/ for more information.

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