Undergraduate FAQs

For students getting their pilot’s license we provide either Aerosp 290 or Aerosp 390 credit depending on what has been completed. Aerosp 390 can be used as a technical elective whereas Aerosp 290 will be a general elective. Students should email Professor Carlos Cesnik to review their materials and he will decide what credit will be provided.

Aero 341

Aero 481

(rather than 343 and 483)

Aero 343 

Aero 483

(rather than 341 and 481)

Aero 205 or Aero 288 will satisfy the DBTF requirement. 

Also Pete’s Engin 100(section 7) class, but it also requires you take an additional technical elective

Aerosp 288 is equivalent to Aerosp 205 (DBTF requirement)
Aerospace 388 is equivalent to Aerosp 405 (Senior Project requirement)
Aerosp 488 can be used as a technical elective as well as double counted for SUGS
*Everyone still needs to take Aerospace 305

We usually suggest Aero 585.  It’s a 1 credit seminar, counts as tech elective

Unfortunately, Economics is considered a Social Science and cannot be used as a Tech Elective.

Aero 285 no longer exists and was replaced with Aero 200. For those still with audit sheets requesting 285, take Aero 200. For those needing Aero 200 credit on their audit and have taken Aero 285, we will direct that course there.

Yes. We count that credit as tech electives. Each project is worth a different amount of credits and is set by MDP, so be sure to check with MDP regarding how many credits you will earn in your desired project.

The college allows you to pass/fail up to 14 credits in your degree (not including Covid course grades that may have been covered). However, you cannot pass/fail any of your major required courses. This means you will most likely be utilizing pass/fail for your intellectual breadth, which includes the 300 level HU requirement. A course that is denoted as pass/fail will not impact your GPA. In order to receive a passing grade (P), you must earn at least a C- in the course. 

If you use any “covered” grades to count towards SUGS, they must have originally been a B or better grade that was covered. They can remain covered on your transcript but Rackham will confirm what grade you had earned in the course in order to verify whether it can be double-counted or transferred to SUGS.

The add/drop deadline is always 3 weeks from the first day of classes each semester. This deadline denotes the last day you can drop a course without a “W” appearing on your transcript as well as the last day to add a class without additional professor permission. 

It is easier to drop a course than it is to add a course (seats are limited and many faculty members will prevent you from joining if you have not been waitlisted and attending the course). Therefore, we recommend registering for all the courses you are considering taking and dropping courses you no longer want to take within this 3-week period. If you drop a course after the add/drop deadline it is called a late drop and will result in a “W” appearing on your transcript and you will not be reimbursed for the class cost. A late drop requires permission from the instructor and advisor approval. 

*Please note, the add/drop deadline for mini courses is earlier than this date due to the accelerated time frame. Please consult your professor for that date if you think you may want to drop the course.

From the Student Center, click Backpack/Registration, then click the Drop tab. Select the course and click Drop Selected Classes. On the confirmation screen, verify you selected the correct class and click the Finish Dropping button. If you are eligible to submit the Late Drop request form electronically, a Request for Late Drop button displays. Click the button to access the form.

A “W” on your transcript denotes that you started a course and did not complete it. Typically, this will not harm you unless you have multiple as it can show a pattern of over committing and not managing your time well. Keep in mind, a “W’ is often better than failing a class which would harm your GPA. Whereas a “W” does not affect your GPA.

In the event that you have an extenuating circumstance and cannot complete your coursework in the allotted timeframe, you can work with your professor to arrange additional time to finish. This will then be denoted on your transcript as an “i” for incomplete and will remain that way until the coursework is completed. Please note, there is a timeframe in which  the remaining coursework will need to be submitted by.

NC – No Credit
I – Incomplete
W – WithdrawP – Pass
F – Fail
NG – No Grade Reported
T – Transfer Credit

It is not uncommon to face unforeseen or difficult experiences during your studies. Although we often recommend withdrawing from a course rather than failing it and impacting your GPA, these situations do occur. If the failed course is required for your major, you will need to retake it. If it is not required, feel free to take other courses and work to bring your GPA back up.

Academic probation occurs when a student’s grade point average for a term is less than a 2.0. A student in this category will need to meet with their academic advisor to create a plan for improvement. Failure to do so will result in an academic hold on his or her account, preventing enrollment in future terms. Probation is a warning that there is a need to improve scholastic performance or further enrollment may be jeopardized.. Below are the classifications a student can hold:

• Good Standing: 2.00 GPA or better for both the term and the cumulative average.
• Probation: a deficiency of up to 10 MHP for the term or cumulative average.
• Enrollment Withheld: a deficiency of 10 MHP* or above for the term or cumulative average; or the third or greater incidence of probation. Students will have to petition for reinstatement in order to continue taking courses.
• Reinstated on Probation: Students who have been reinstated after being placed on Enrollment Withheld or Mandatory Leave. Enrollment Withheld Continued: Reinstated student who was given two or more semesters to meet conditions. Enrollment Withheld Continued will show on transcript until all conditions have been fulfilled.
• Mandatory Leave: SSC decision requiring a leave from the College of Engineering based upon unsatisfactory academic performance.  Students will have to petition for reinstatement to return after their required leave has been fulfilled.
• Dismissal: SSC decision based upon failure to meet the conditions of reinstatement. Student is no longer eligible to enroll in the College of Engineering or petition the Scholastic Standing Committee for reinstatement.

Selecting courses is often referred to as “backpacking” and allows students to plan out their classes before their official enrollment date. This process typically occurs in late October and early November to select courses for the Winter term and in March and April for the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms.

Most students will be taking a full-time course load (12 credits) as financial aid and scholarships tend to require one to be a full-time student in order to maintain funding. A student can take up to 18 credits in a semester without petitioning to take more credits, but it is most common that students take 14-16 credits each semester.

These courses are upper division (that is 300 level or above) courses from engineering, mathematics, physical science, or other courses approved by an academic advisor  The Advanced Math or Science technical elective is any Natural Science or Math courses at the 300 Level or higher, e.g. from Physics, Chemistry, Material Science, EECS, Stats, etc.

The Intellectual Breadth requirement is composed of 16 credits- 3 credits of a 300 level or higher Humanities course and 13 additional credits of any level Social Science or Humanities course. To search for these courses, please use the Wolverine Access course catalog and look for HU and SS courses.

General Electives allow you to take any course that you are interested in. Your Undergraduate degree is made up of 128 credits and students often need to take additional credits outside of the listed required courses for their major in order to meet the minimum 128 required credits.  Please note that your AP credits and Dual Enrollment credits can count in this area as well.

Everyone’s skills and interests are different, so a course that may be challenging for one person could be easier for another. We recommend discussing the courses with your classmates and assessing your enjoyment/skills in that type of coursework/content. Please be aware of enforced prerequisites as well as advisory prerequisites when selecting courses

Enforced prerequisites will prevent you from registering for a course if you have not taken them. Whereas an advisory prerequisite is a recommended course or concept that will enable you to be more successful in the class.  If you have not taken the courses listed as advisory prerequisites, you will still be able to take the class.

Students are admitted to the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering and will not be able to declare their major until closer to sophomore year with most students declaring in their second semester of sophomore year. Due to this, we encourage all admissions questions to be addressed to the University of Michigan Admissions Office.

A complete list of Aerospace courses can be found at the below link:
https://bulletin.engin.umich.edu/courses/aero/
*Please note, these are all the classes we have taught. This means some classes may not be offered and many are not required. Specific degree requirements will be covered when you declare your major