SULTAN QABOOS UNIVERSITY

ACADEMIC
College of Engineering

R E G U L AT I O N S

FOR

ENGINEERING
STUDENTS

P R E - S P E C I A L I Z AT I O N A C A D E M I C A D V I S I N G
U N I T ( PA A U )
PREPARED BY D R MUBARAK, D R SULAI MAN, D R . I SSAM AND D R. HASSAN
 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Dr. Nabeel Al-Rawahi

Dean

Dr. Nasser Al Azri Dr. Hassan Al-Lawati Dr. Mubarak Al Alawi

Assistant Dean for Postgraduate Studies Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Assistant Dean for Training and
and Research Studies Community Service
PAAU, WHO WE ARE?
• PAAU stands for a “Pre-specialized Academic Advisory Unit”.
• PAAU provides academic advising services to all students who are not
specialized yet.
• PAAU has started functioning in Fall 2014.
• PAAU is a team of eight advisers from the different engineering
programs dedicated to serve the advising goal which is to provide a nurturing
learning environment that helps students graduate within the stipulated duration.
PAAU TEAM

PAAU is supervised by
Dr. Nabeel Al-Rawahi
CoEng Dean

Civil & Architectural Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering

PAAU works with

Dr. Hassan Al-Lawati
ADUS CoEng

Petroleum and Chemical Engineering Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

 Civil and Architectural Eng.

Electrical and Computer Eng.

Mechanical and Industrial Eng.

Petroleum and Chemical Eng.

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 STUDENTS DISTRIBUTION
College of Engineering Student Population Spring 2022

3000

2500 2443
No of student

2000

1500

1000 895

500 398 354 348

333
115
0
CAE ECE MIE MCTE PCE No Major Total

Department
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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(1) Degree Plan (your study life guide), where to find it?
FROM: www.squ.edu.om

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(1) Degree Plan (your study life guide), where to find it?
FROM: www.squ.edu.om/engineering

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(1) Degree Plan, where to find it?

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 University (U)

College (C)
Sultan Qaboos University
Department (D)

Major (A) College of Engineering

Petroleum and Mechanical and Electrical and Civil and

Chemical Eng. Industrial Eng. Computer Eng. Architectural Eng.

Chemical and Petroleum and Electrical and

Industrial Mechanical Civil Architectural
Process Natural Gas Computer

Mechatronics

Courses are either: Required (R) or optional/Elective (E)

ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(2) Understanding the Degree Plan
– Course classification:
• University Requirements (UR)
• University Electives (UE)
• College requirements (CR)
• College electives (CE)
• Department requirements (DR)
• Department Electives (DE)
• Major Requirement (AR)
• Major electives (AE)

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(2)Understanding Degree Plan

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(2)Understanding Degree Plan

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(2)Understanding Degree Plan
• Every degree plan has two schemes: Scheme I and II

• If students are following Scheme II of the degree plan, then

they are eligible to enroll in the summer semester.

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FP ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
• Students must complete FP courses within two years.

• Cohorts 2017 and before students can register in credit

courses (including College courses) while in FP.

• Cohorts 2018 students can only register University Electives

and/or University Requirements Courses while in FP.

• FP Courses are: FPEL (ENGLISH) + FPMT* (MATH) + FPCS (IT)

*update: it is only one course.
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FP ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
University Requirements:
NEW

Course Credits Course Credits

ARAB1001 3 ARAB1060 2
SOCY1001 1 SOCY1005* 2
HIST1010 or 2 HIST1010 or 2
ISLM1010 ISLM1010
Cohort 2017 and before Cohort 2018
* SOCY1005 course is only for Omani Students

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(2) Understanding the Degree Plan
1. Courses taken in the
first two credited
semesters are the
same in all degree
plans.

2. The student is
expected to register 4
to 6 courses per
semester (with an
average credit hours =
15).
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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(2) Understanding the Degree Plan
3. The maximum
allowable credit hours
for FALL and SPRING
semesters is 18 and
the minimum is 9.

4. The maximum
allowable credit hours
for SUMMER semester
is 8 and the minimum
is 5 (two courses).

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(3) Course registration:
• Can a student drop a course after the first week of the
semester?
YES, the student is allowed to drop any course before the
end of week 10. However, a letter W will show up in his
transcript.

• How many times can a student drop a course after

the first week of the semester?
The student is allowed FOUR times to drop a course with
a grade W during his study period.
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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(3) Course registration:
• The portal system should allow the student to withdraw for the first
and second times. For the third and fourth ones, an approval of the
advisor is required.
• Any student withdrawing any course in spring semester should not be
allowed to register the same course in consecutive summer semester.

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 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(5) Requirements to apply for specialization (All Cohorts):
1. Student must complete 25 credits before specialization.
2. Student must successfully complete the following courses:
1. MATH2107: Calculus I
or CHEM2101 2. CHEM 1071: General Chemistry for Engineering
or PHYS2101 3. PHYS2107: Physics I
4. ENGR1501: Introduction to Engineering
3. The student must not be on probation unless he/she
completed 40 credits.

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(6) Criteria for distribution into specialization:
1. Student choice.
2. Availability of seats in the specialization.
3. Cumulative GPA.

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(7) Procedure for specialization:
1. Student should fill up the specialization form and submit it
to the Office of Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies
after fulfilling the requirements.
2. Specialization will be announced one week after the
announcement of grades for the semester in which the
student apply for specialization.
3. Specialization process will be executed three times an
academic year (after Fall, after Spring and after Summer
semesters).
4. Distribution of students on specialization after summer
semesters will be according to criteria used in Spring
semesters regarding the GPA.
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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(8) UE not allowed for ENG students:

https://www.squ.edu.om/engineering/Students/
University-Elective-not-for-Eng-Students

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(9) Specialization Results after Fall 2021:

Total Number of Application 238

Number of Accepted Applications 187 78.6%
Number of Rejected Applications 51 21.4%

Reasons for rejections:

1- Probation
2- Not completing 25Cr
3- Not finishing one of the required courses

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(9) Specialization Results after Fall 2021:

Number of Exact Number

% available seats of seats Number of seats
AREN 6 11.22 11
CIVL 18 33.66 34 15
13 11
34
ECCE 26 48.62 49 22

MECH 17 31.79 32 11

INDU 6 11.22 11 49
32
CHPE 12 22.44 22
PNGE 8 14.96 15
MCTE 7 13.09 13
Total 100 187 187 AREN CIVL ECCE MECH INDU CHPE PNGE MCTE

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(9) Specialization Results after Fall 2021:

Min Max Average Min Max Average

cGPA cGPA cGPA cGPA cGPA cGPA
AREN 2.15 3.44 2.83 AREN 2.50 3.42 2.88
CIVL 2.01 3.30 2.50 CIVL 2.00 3.86 2.45
ECCE 2.24 3.54 2.69 ECCE 2.27 3.71 2.71
MECH 2.42 3.45 2.85 MECH 2.40 3.56 2.83
INDU 2.08 3.20 2.37 INDU 2.26 3.01 2.58
CHPE 2.33 3.83 2.82 CHPE 3.16 3.76 3.44
PNGE 2.80 3.68 3.08 PNGE 2.85 3.89 3.26
MCTE 2.96 3.60 3.17 MCTE 3.11 3.75 3.36

SP21 FL21

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
What is a GPA?
GPA stands for Grade Point Average
which is your performance indicator.

SEM GPA: is the semester GPA based

on one semester courses.

CUM GPA: is the cumulative GPA based

on all unique credit courses taken.

0-1.99 : Probation zone

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
What is a GPA?

σ(𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑒 ∗ 𝐶𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑡) 2.30 3 + (3.70)(3) 18.00

𝑆𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐺𝑃𝐴 = = = = 3.00
σ 𝐶𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑠 3+3 6

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
What is a GPA?

x = (1)(3.00)
+
x = (3)(2.30)
x = (3)(2.30) + 𝟑𝟓. 𝟏𝟎
+
x = (3)(2.30) 𝟏𝟓
+
x = (2)(2.70)
x +
= (3)(2.00)

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠 304.1

𝐶𝑈𝑀 𝐺𝑃𝐴 = = = 2.51322 ~ 2.51
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝐴𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑑 121

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
Repeating Courses? When to repeat?
- Less than or C
- In 3 Semesters

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(8) At-Risk regulations:
A student who completes the first regular semester of nine or
more credits with a semester grade point average of between
1.00 and 1.99 will be given a course load status of ‘At Risk’ and
although not on probation will be required to visit their
advisor to be able to use on-line registration.

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
• (9) Probation regulations:
A student shall be placed on probation and required to take remedial action
when:
I. The cumulative GPA falls below 2.00 or
II. The cumulative GPA is 2.00 or above but the current semester GPA falls below 1.00 or
III. The cumulative GPA is 2.00 or above but the semester GPA is below 2.00 for 2
consecutive semesters.

In such cases the student shall be required to reduce his/her course load to 12 credits or
less.

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(9) Probation regulations:
• The Probation progression: Prob01, Prob02, Prob03.
• The following messages will appear on their transcripts:
– First Probation:Warning
– Second Probation: Final Warning
– Third Probation: Required to withdraw from the University
• Unless the semester GPA falls below 1.00, the first
semester in credit should not count towards probation.
However, your course load status will be “At Risk”.

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(9) Probation regulations:

• Attention: If a student goes back on probation after leaving it,

he/she will return to the level in which he/she was last time.

Example:
Normal > Prob01 > Prob02> Normal > Prob02 > Prob03

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS NEW

(9) Probation regulations: Readmission Acceptable

Semester in
after Prob03 credit
number of
credits earned
a student could be readmitted after Prob03 if all of the
3 13
following criteria are satisfied: 4 25
1. A minimum semester GPA of at least 1.80 5 37
6 49
2. A minimum cumulative GPA of at least 1.80
7 61
3. Achieve a minimal satisfactory credit accumulation 8 73
during study at the university as laid out in the table: 9 85
10 97
11 109
12 121
Semester in credit: FP Semesters are not counted as regular
13 133
semesters. But, what about Summer Semesters?

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(9) Probation regulations:
Opening Registration
1. Prob01: Portal Online system.
2. Prob02 and Prob03: Use Forms

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
Acceptable Unacceptable
(10) Maximum duration: Semester in
number of # of credits
credit Credits earned ➔Withdrawal
• Once having begun a program
of study, students are 1 0-12 —
expected to complete their 2 1-24 0
degrees within a reasonable 3 13-36 12
4 25-48 24
time frame (max. 13
5 37-60 36
semesters after FP). 6 49-72 48
• Irrespective of their course 7 61-84 60
load status, students should 8 73-96 72
achieve a minimal satisfactory 9 85-108 84
10 97-120 96
credit accumulation during
11 109-132 108
study at the University as laid 12 121-144 120
out in the following table: 13 133-156 132
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FP ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(11) Unofficial Withdrawal :
• Students will be considered to have withdrawn unofficially and
will be removed from the registration roll if they:
1. Do not register by the end of the Add/Drop period for two
consecutive semesters.
2. If the percentage of courses with grades of “FW” and “F” is
50% or more in two consecutive semesters.

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(11) Unofficial Withdrawal :
• Students will be considered to have withdrawn unofficially and
will be removed from the registration roll if they experience:
3. Failure to maintain the minimum number of credits by
receiving “FW” or “W” grade during a semester will result
in the cancellation of this semester. This semesters will be
counted against the minimum duration of study.
4. Additionally, students having the ‘F/FW’ percentage equal
50% (or more) in the Spring semester should not be
allowed to register in the Summer.
(FW means withdrawn from course for poor attendance)
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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
• Attendance Policy:
An "Absentee Warning Notice" will be issued if a student is absent for:
1. More than 10% of teaching hours that are less than 75 total contact
hours.

An "Absentee Withdrawal Notice" will be issued and the student will be deemed to
have withdrawn from the course with an 'FW' grade (see C6) if a student is absent
for:
1. More than 20% of teaching hours that are less than 75 total contact
hours.

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
• Attendance Policy: Excuse of absence is granted to all students due to:
A: Illness as certified by a valid medical certificate. official sick leave document must be
presented to the course instructor(s) within two class meeting/contact days from the end
of the leave period. Absence in final examinations?

B: Bereavement of a first-degree relative (namely: parent, brother, sister, spouse or child) as

certified by documented official evidence.

C: Involvement in extra-curricular activities, documented and approved by the University

authorities. It is only considered as excused if it is requested in advance of the proposed
absence.

D: Any other special circumstance such as Haj, birth, accompanying a first-degree relative
for medical treatment etc. as certified by stamped passport copies or other official
documents.
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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
• Misconduct Policy:
a. Plagiarism: Using the words, thoughts, ideas, results, etc., of another person in a
written assignment, without acknowledging the source, as if it were the student's
own work.
b. Copying: Copying another person's answers in an essay, assignment, paper,
laboratory report, etc. and presenting it, either wholly or with only minor changes,
as if it were the student's own work.
c. Collusion: Working with others on an assignment which is intended to be an
individual assignment, and incorporating their material into your work.
d. Switching: Submitting work completed for one course in another course
without the permission of the instructor.
e. Falsification: Inventing data or altering data that have been obtained from
legitimate sources. 43
 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
(12) More Information:
https://www.squ.edu.om/Portals/20/academi
c-en-2019.pdf?ver=2018-10-30-085736-280

“Ignorance of the law excuses not"

"!‫"الجهل بالقانون ال يعفي من املسؤولية‬

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SQU Annual Trips

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Engineering Students Societies

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ACADEMIC REGULATIONS

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION

QUESTIONS?

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