Class of 2016
You've probably already heard about all the hard work that goes into learning how to be an engineer or computer scientist. It’s no secret that these programs are
rigorous. Even so, students who are admitted to UB Engineering as first term freshmen have the ability to graduate in four years. Finish in 4 is your roadmap for
doing this. All UB Engineering students who are eligible are encouraged to participate in Finish in 4.
In addition to completing all of your responsibilities in the UB Pledge, you will need to pay attention to some additional criteria specific to your studies:
Eligibility
1. Students must be admitted to UB Engineering as an approved major by the first day of fall term classes, freshman year. Other Finish in 4 students who are
approved for an engineering major at a later date will be reviewed on a case by case basis for eligibility in an Engineering Finish in 4 Plan. Primary consideration
will be the student’s ability to satisfy all of the required courses in the new major at the same stage (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior year in program
courses) by the beginning of the next fall term. Progression criteria that might exist in your desired department still apply.
2. Students completing a double major or minor must not fall behind on the 4 year plan for one primary major. Most students will not be able to complete a
double major or minor within four years. Juniors who are admitted to and begin pursuing our Bachelors/Masters combined degree programs are not eligible to
remain in Finish in 4.
3. Students planning to study abroad during an academic term need to consult with advisor in 410 Bonner Hall before departing to confirm whether or not
continuation in the Plan is possible. Such students must complete agreed upon courses during study abroad or risk being dropped from the Plan.
Requirements for Students to Remain in Good Standing in a Finish in 4 Plan Within UB Engineering
The following requirements are in addition to the requirements specified in the UB Pledge:
1. Students must successfully complete all course requirements for their approved major as outlined in their 4 Year Plan EACH TERM. Students who fail to satisfy
all courses may utilize intersession or summer session courses that might be offered to get back into the Plan. To get back into the Plan, students must
successfully complete all courses designated for that stage in the Plan by the beginning of the next fall term. All course requisites still apply.
2. Students who wish to change their major within UB Engineering must be able to satisfy all of the required courses in the new major at the same stage by the
beginning of the next fall term and must be approved for the new major through the UB Engineering Office of Undergraduate Education.
3. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 UB average and minimum 2.0 technical average each term and overall (students cannot continue in Finish in 4 if they
are placed on either UB or Engineering probation).
4. Students majoring in mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering must achieve a minimum 2.2 GPA among MTH 141 College Calculus I, MTH 142 College
Calculus II, PHY 107 General Physics I, MAE 204 Thermodynamics I, and EAS 207 Statics to remain in the major and progress into upper level courses.
5. Students majoring in Bioinformatics with a concentration in computer science and engineering must achieve a minimum 2.5 overall GPA and a minimum 3.0
GPA in the prerequisite courses to be admitted by the end of their fourth term, and then must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all major courses in order to
remain in the program and graduate.
6. Students must satisfy departmental advisement requirements. This might entail meeting with a faculty advisor before your enrollment appointment for select
terms affecting sophomore, junior, and senior year class registration.
7. Students majoring in computer engineering (CEN), computer science (CS), or bioinformatics (BCS) must complete UBE 101 their first term and attend the
advisement/registration presentation provided in class. UBE 101 satisfies the first-term, freshman course requirement stipulated in the Finish in 4 pledge.
Honors Scholars majoring in CEN, CS, or BCS may complete UE 102 The Honors College Colloquium instead of UBE 101.
8. Students majoring in any engineering discipline other than computer engineering must complete EAS 140 and attend the advisement/registration presentation
provided in class. EAS 140 satisfies the first-term, freshman course requirement stipulated in the Finish in 4 pledge.
9. Students must complete the Library Skills Workbook by end of their freshman year. We recommend completing it in your first term.
10. Students completing the ESL 407-408 writing sequence (determined by placement), instead of ENG 101-201 or ENG 102-Humanities, must complete one more
general education course than outlined in preprinted plans in order to satisfy graduation requirements.
11. Students must submit request for Senior Year Review of Preliminary Degree Requirements to 410 Bonner Hall by October 1 of senior year.
12. Students must submit the Application for Degree by the February 15 deadline of senior year for spring (June) conferral.
Although students who fail to meet these requirements won’t be permitted to continue in Finish in 4, it might still be possible to restructure your personal plan and
graduate in a timely way. Maybe even in four years in some cases.
Advisory Notes
1. UB Engineering does not assign students to a particular academic advisor. The Office of Undergraduate Education, UB Engineering, 410 Bonner Hall, (716) 6452775, ubengineer@buffalo.edu, is your advisement unit. If you would like to consistently see one particular advisor, all you need to do is request to see that
advisor each time you make an appointment. A listing of Engineering advisors is online at: http://www.eng.buffalo.edu/undergrad/about/directory. Some
students, such as Student Athletes, Honors Scholars, Acker Scholars, and EOP students, might have additional advisement support.
2. Students should review the requirements in their Academic Advisement Report and in the 4 Year Plan every term. Questions about any discrepancies should be
addressed by an academic advisor in 410 Bonner Hall before your enrollment appointment for the subsequent term begins.
3. When appropriate, attendance at group sessions may be used in place of individual advisement.
4. Students must review email sent via the engineering student listservs on a daily basis.
5. Not all of the courses that can satisfy elective course requirements are offered every term (such as engineering electives, applied math electives, technical
electives, engineering track requirements, etc.). Minor adjustments to the standard 4 year plan showing when you should complete these can be approved by
an advisor or recommended by the program.
6. Graduation Requirements: In accordance with the undergraduate catalog, to qualify for an undergraduate degree matriculated students must be enrolled in a
degree program and satisfactorily complete the requirements of their field of study, as well as those of the university. This includes all major requirements and
general education requirements. Students must have an Overall, UB, and UB Technical GPA of 2.0 or greater and complete 30 undergraduate credit hours of
junior/senior level courses required in their major at the University at Buffalo. In addition, students must complete at least 120 credit hours. Students cannot
graduate with an Incomplete “I” grade on their record.
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