Important Tools and Resources
Academic Advisors
Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor on our General Engineering Advising Team. During the regular fall and spring semesters, students can meet with advisors by setting up an appointment through the Howdy Portal or Navigate App to skip the wait, or they can take advantage of virtual walk-in advising hours.
Navigate Student App
Use the Navigate Student App to help you stay on track during your first year. Available in both the Apple App and Google Play stores for free, you’ll want to take advantage of the Navigate App to stay organized.
Academic Calendar
The University-wide academic calendar contains all the important dates, including the first day of classes, holidays, and final exams.
Academic Support Services
Going into your first semester of college is a learning experience, and we have a variety of free tutoring and support services available to help you be successful. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of these resources which are designed with students in mind.
Important Topics Covered by Academic Advisors During Your NSC
Sign Up for the Right Classes
Students are expected to register for courses that follow the program of study for a degree in their college from Student Rule 1.5.1. Students who do not will have a registration hold placed as a Closet Major.
Math Placement Exam (MPE)
The MPE determines which math course you take during your first semester, so be sure to study and practice before taking your MPE. We can't stress enough how important this is. Demonstrating readiness to enroll in Calculus I (MATH 151) during your first semester is the first step toward earning your engineering degree within a four-year period. Learn more to be prepared to get into the math class that's best for you.
Sample Schedules
For College Station, Galveston, and McAllen students: Depending on your score on the MPE, your schedule will look a little different. Students scoring a 0-21 on the MPE will use schedule A, and students scoring a 22-33 on the MPE will use schedule B.
University Core Curriculum
In compliance with Texas Core Curriculum, students are required to take core classes that prepare them with foundation of knowledge around a variety of topics.
First-Year Experience Course
Hullabaloo U first-year experience courses, like CLEN 181, are designed to assist students with their transition and integration into the College of Engineering. It is an expectation that students register for a Hullabaloo U section.
University Foreign Language Requirement
The University requires all students to take at least one year of a foreign language. This requirement is completed by having taken two units of the same foreign language in high school, completing one year of the same foreign language in college or completing the credit-by-examination process. If your high school offered coding as a language course, this will not meet the requirements.
Claiming your AP or IB Credits
When accepting AP and IB credits, you’ll want to take time to meet with your advisor to make sure you are only accepting the courses you need. Once an AP/IB credit is accepted, it cannot be removed from your transcript.
AP and IB credits can only be accepted for math and chemistry with your advisor and will also depend on scoring.
Entry to a Major (ETAM)
After completing the specific coursework required for ETAM, which can be as early as your second semester, you’ll let us know which majors you are interested in. The ETAM process uses a priority method that places you in your highest preferred major possible based on your academic performance, your ETAM application and the program’s capacity. There’s also an automatic entry pathway to your first-choice major if you complete the required courses for ETAM and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.75.