UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

College of Engineering UF EDGE (Electronic Delivery of Graduate Engineering)
Gainesville, Florida

Distance Learning Program

The College of Engineering distance learning program, the UF EDGE, serves more than 250 graduate students. UF EDGE programs have been delivered to practicing engineers in Florida and throughout the world since 1982. Master of Science degrees are offered via streaming video and DVD. No campus attendance is required to complete the degree programs.

Delivery Media

Distance learning students are enrolled in classes that are given on the UF campus. The lectures are recorded and are available via streaming video at the close of business on that same day. If a student chooses, a DVD can be sent to the student, and the student should receive it on the day after the lecture is recorded. Distance learning students interact with their professors via phone, fax, e-mail, or the Internet. Many professors make course materials available to their students via course Web sites.

Programs of Study

The College of Engineering offers the following Master of Science (M.S.) degree programs via distance learning: civil engineering; computer engineering/computer science; computer engineering/computer science, with a bioinformatics track; electrical and computer engineering, with a communications track; and environmental engineering, with a specialization in water resources planning and management. The Master of Science degree requires 30 semester credit hours for completion, with a minimum 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Distance learning students may meet the credit requirement entirely by course work.

Special Programs

The College of Engineering offers graduate certificate programs in the areas of environmental policy and management. Each certificate program requires the completion of three to five 3-semester-hour courses. The curriculum consists of required courses and two or more electives chosen from a specified list.

Student Services

Library service is provided via remote access to all internal holdings and to several electronic databases through http://www.uflib.ufl.edu. Access is provided to currently registered students via a personal identification number and password for certain restricted databases.

Academic advising is provided through e-mail, fax, and telephone contact on a request basis. Distance learning students are also eligible to use the University's career placement services.

Credit Options

Students earn credit toward their degree by registering for and completing courses delivered via distance learning. Requirements for each course are the same as for on-campus students enrolled in the course.

Only graduate-level work to the extent of 9 semester credits, earned with a grade of A, B+, or B, may be transferred from an institution approved by the Graduate School or 15 semester credits from postbaccalaureate work at the University of Florida. Credits transferred from other universities are applied toward meeting the degree requirement, but the grades earned are not computed in the student's grade point average. Acceptance of transfer of credit requires approval from the student's department and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Faculty

There are 2,685 full-time faculty members at the University, with 319 in the College of Engineering. In the College of Engineering, 126 faculty members (39 percent) have taught in the distance learning program.

Admission

Admission decisions are made by the individual departments based on GRE, GPA, and letters of reference.

The University of Florida (UF) is a major, public, comprehensive, land-grant, research university. Founded in 1853, it is the state's oldest, largest, and most comprehensive university, and it is among the nation's most academically diverse public universities. With more than 48,000 students, Florida is now the fourth-largest university in the nation. Florida has a 2,000-acre campus and more than 900 buildings (including 170 with classrooms and laboratories). The northeast corner of campus is listed as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

UF is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS; 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; telephone: 404-679-4501), and the College of Engineering is accredited by ABET.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for the 2005–06 academic year are $300 per credit hour for in-state students and $961 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Achievement awards, which provide a discounted tuition of $500 per credit hour up to 30 credit hours, are available for highly qualified out-of-state students. Costs are subject to change each year. Students must purchase their own textbooks.

Financial Aid

As a general rule, a graduate student must be enrolled half-time (at least 5 semester hours per term) as a regular student in a degree program and must be a United States citizen or an eligible non-U.S. citizen to qualify for federal and/or state financial aid. Specific information is available through the Office of Student Financial Affairs. Although students may apply for Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans throughout the year, they must observe the deadlines set each semester for applying for loans for the following semester and should always apply as early as possible. Many employers have programs that can help students pay for courses.

CONTACT

Ruth Goetz, UF EDGE Registrar
College of Engineering
E-117, CSE
University of Florida
P.O. Box 116100
Gainesville, Florida 32611-6100
Phone: 352-392-9670
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://ufedge.eng.ufl.edu

Applying

Application materials can be obtained from the school to which the student is applying. For specific program information, prospective students should visit http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/grad/gradegreeprograms.html#engineering. Application information is available online through http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/start.html. Official transcripts are required from all colleges or universities attended. Admission decisions are made by the individual departments.