EET and ComET
Frequently Asked Questions

New Students

Q: Will my A.A.S degree transfer to ODU.
A: ALL associate degrees from regionally accredited institutions will transfer to ODU.  However, the amount of transfer credit and how it applies to the BSET degree depends on the type of associate degree and the institution from which it is transferred.  Generally speaking the following is a good guide:

1. An AAS degree in electronics technology (or similar discipline) from a Virginia community college (VCCS) will satisfy ENGN110, ENGN111, EET110, EET120, EET125, EET200, EET205, EET210, EET220, EET225.  Other credits will be transferred according to the ODU Transfermation guide.  AAS degrees from non-Virginia community colleges must be evaluated by the EET program director.
2. An AS, AA, or AA&S degree from a regionally accredited institution will usually satisfy all lower level (100 and 200 level) general education requirements.  This includes English composition, social science perspective, history perspective, philosophical perspective, fine and performing arts perspective, and foreign language perspective.

Q: How are my transfer credits evaluated?
A: Transfer credit evaluation is a two-stage process.  First, ODU admissions evaluates your non-technical credits and posts the transfer equivalencies on your ODU transcript.  Second, a departmental evaluation is performed by a departmental advisor.  During this process, the credits posted by admissions are applied to the degree plan.  Keep in mind that credits will be applied only where they match the ODU requirements (for example, a Navy course in the F14 aircraft flight control systems cannot be applied to satisfy any ODU requirements).  Also, at this time technical credits are evaluated and fit to EET requirements.  You may not necessarily see specific credits for EET courses show up on your ODU transcript; however, the departmental evaluation form will show these credits.

Q: I am a transfer student and I disagree with my transfer evaluation.  There is a course that I took at XYZ University that I think is equivalent to one of the ODU general education requirements.  However, admissions evaluated the course as an elective.
A: First of all, it will be a waste of time to argue your case with admissions or your advisor.  They have no control over how general education courses are transferred (admissions uses a book that lists the transfer equivalencies).  Instead, plead your case to the department that controls the course in question.  For example, if the course is a social science, take it to the Sociology Department.  Go prepared.  Take the original course syllabus, course description from the catalog, textbook (if you still have it), homework papers, tests, whatever material you have that supports your argument.  Also, take along an ODU transfer equivalency form, with all the blanks filled out so that all the evaluator has to do is sign the form (i.e. make it as easy as possible for him/her).  If he or she agrees and signs the form, be sure to deliver a copy of it to your advisor to place in your records folder.

Q: I'm waiting for my application for admission to ODU to be approved, but the semester is starting soon.  Will I be able to take courses?
A: Yes.  You may apply for non-degree-seeking status so that you can register for, and take courses.  Then when your application is approved, any courses you have taken will be applied to your degree requirements.

Q: I took foreign language in high school.  Do I have to take foreign language again at ODU?
A: It depends.  You can satisfy the foreign language requirement at ODU in one of three ways:

1. Take a two-semester sequence of any ONE foreign language at ODU.  These will be courses numbered 101F and 102F, such as SPAN101F and SPAN102F.
2. Graduate from high school before 1986.  An official high school transcript will be required as proof sent from your high school directly to ODU admissions.
3. Take either three years of one foreign language or two years each of two foreign languages in high school.  Again, an official high school transcript will be required as proof.

Q: What is a "catalog year" and what is it's significance.
A: Your catalog year is the year in which you began taking courses at ODU.  However, if you take courses at ODU for more than 6 years, your catalog year begins sliding forward.  Therefore, your catalog year can never be more than 6 years old.  The requirements for your degree are determined by your catalog year.  You may graduate under the degree requirements in effect in your catalog year, or any catalog after that.  In some cases, if a degree requirements are reduced, it may be to your advantage to graduate under a newer catalog year than the one when you were admitted to the university.

Q: I can't register for the classes I need because they are closed.  What do I do?
A: First, you can avoid many of these situations by taking advantage of early registration.  Waiting until the "last minute" to register is a recipe for frustration and the likelihood you will not get into the classes you need.  If a class you need is closed, you have three possible remedies:

1. Contact the instructor listed for the course to see if he or she will overload you into the class. Keep in mind that instructors are not required to overload classes, so if the answer is "no", drop it and move on to 2) below.
2. Check Leo-Online frequently (at least daily) to see if someone has dropped out of the class, leaving an empty seat.  This method works well at the end of exams (when folks discover that they failed a class and need to repeat it, which rearranges their schedule), and a few days before the semester start (another time when many are rearranging their schedules).
3. As a last resort, show up for the first meeting of the class and ask for an overload.  Make the process easy for the instructor by having a drop/add form filled out and ready for him/her to sign.  This works well if there are empty chairs remaining when the class begins.  Most instructors don't mind extra students as long as there are enough chairs.
    
    

Current Students

Q: I'm graduating at the end of next semester and the courses I need are all closed.  What do I do?
A: This is a serious problem, and the reason ODU has pre-registration (early registration).  Pre-registration is designed so that graduating seniors have first choice of the courses they need so that they are sure to get them.  It is extremely frustrating for the advisor to have a graduating senior who missed pre-registration and is trying to register for classes at the last moment.  It is entirely possible that the student may not be able to get the needed classes, and will have to delay graduation for another semester.  Keep in mind that, although you are graduating, instructors are not required to overload you into a class.

Q: Am I required to attend graduation commencement?  If I can't attend, will I still graduate?
A: Graduation commencement is a ceremony and an opportunity to be recognized for your diligent effort.  However attending graduation does not automatically mean you have officially graduated.  Conversely, not attending the ceremony does not bar you from graduating.  The ODU graduation office begins processing graduations a few weeks after the ceremony.  This gives everyone involved time to grade final exams, evaluate exit exams, process transfer credits, and check for overdue library books and parking fines.  It also gives the student an opportunity to clear all debts owed the university.  Then after the evaluation, the graduation office will backdate your diploma to the commencement ceremony date, and mail it to you.

Q: I'm accepting a job position immediately after graduation commencement and I need proof that I have graduated.
A: This is a tough problem to solve.  First of all, until the graduation office certifies that you have graduated  and is it posted on your records on Leo-Online (which happens several weeks after commencement), you have not officially graduated.  Until that time, no one on campus will write a letter stating that you have officially graduated.  You need to explain to your new employer that graduation processing takes several weeks and it is impossible for you to provide proof of graduation until that time.

Q: Why can't I take junior and senior level technical classes at my local community college and transfer them to ODU.
A: Community college offer only 100 and 200 level courses.  They transfer to ODU as 100 and 200 level courses.

Q: I am an on-campus student.  All the 100 and 200 level EET classes are only offered during the daytime hours.  I work during the day.
A: You will need to take your 100 and 200 level EET classes at a local community college (TCC or TNCC) and transfer them to ODU.  See your advisor for the community college course numbers you will need.  Keep in mind that if you make a grade below a C on a transfer course, it will not transfer, and must be repeated.

Q: When is the best time to see my advisor?
A: You should see your advisor any time you have an academic question or problem.  As a minimum, you should see your advisor at least twice each year for advising and scheduling of the upcoming semester.  This should be in early November (for the spring semester) and early April (for the summer and fall semester).  Remember, if you see your advisor late, you will register late, which means the possibility that the classes you need may be closed.

Q: I've been sick a lot during the semester and I missed the final exam.  The instructor will not allow me to take the final.  What do I do?
A: This falls under the category of an "ounce of prevention".  In any university course, one extremely important fact to remember is that instructors do not apprecate surprises.  If you are chronically ill during the semester (or have some other problem beyond your control) notify your instructors immediately.  It helps to provide proof (doctor's note for illnesses, death certificate for a death in the family, etc.).  Keep your instructors appraised of your situation.  If you are ill and know you cannot be present for a test or exam, notify the instructor of your situation before the time the test is given, not afterward.

Q: What should I do prior to seeing my advisor for registration?
A: First, spend a few minutes determining what you should be taking in the coming semester.  If you're not sure, that's ok, but at least have a rough list of courses.   Then make an appoint with your advisor.  When you come in for the appointment, stop by Kaufman room 214 and pickup your records folder and bring it to your advisor.  Your advisor will look over your list of courses, compare them to the courses you need to take, approve your schedule, and then clear your advising block so that you can register.

Q: I want to take upper level EET courses at another university and transfer them.  What is the process?
A: First and most important, this must be pre-approved by the EET program director.  If you take a course at another institution and then attempt to transfer it to satisfy an EET requirement without pre-approval, it is possible that it may be denied.  Don't assume that because the course decription sounds the same as an ODU EET course, that the course will automatically transfer.  There are many factors that need to be considered such as the math level of the course, the accreditation of the institution (ABET and regional accreditation), and others.  See the EET program director for information on the approval process.  Keep in mind that there is a limit to the number of upper level (300 & 400 level) EET courses you may transfer after admission to ODU.