Florida Gulf Coast University
U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering
EGN 6941 Project, Spring 2025
Last updated: Jan 3, 2025
Report Requirements: Link
Ahmed S. Elshall, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Bioengineering, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Engineering
U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering (Joint Appointment with The Water School)
Individual work culminating in a professional practice-oriented report.
This course provides credit hours for executing the research project developed in EGN 6457 Research Methods (prerequisite), as outlined in the “Big Picture”. Students will independently conduct, complete, and present their projects, with guidance from the instructor through regular progress meetings and technical support from faculty and external experts as needed.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
No textbook required. Materials will be posted on Canvas.
This schedule is tentative and may be adjusted based on individual student needs and progress. Due dates are tentative and final deadlines will be posted on Canvas. Progress meetings are one-on-one meetings spread over 3 weeks.
| Week | Date | Activity | Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Jan 6 - Jan 19 | Kickoff meeting (individual meeting) | Draft proposal |
| 3-5 | Jan 20 – Feb 9 | Progress meeting 1: Discuss final proposal (individual meeting) | Final proposal |
| 6-8 | Feb 10 – Mar 2 | Progress meeting 2: Discuss draft report (individual meeting) | Draft report |
| 9 | Mar 3 - Mar 9 | Spring break | |
| 10-12 | Mar 10 – Mar 30 | Progress meeting 3: Discuss interim report (individual meeting) | Interim report |
| 13-15 | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | Progress meeting 4: Discuss draft final report (individual meeting) | Draft final report |
| 16 | Apr 22 | Presentation due at Eagle-X (8:00 am - 1:30 pm) or in class (6:00 pm - 7:30 pm) | Presentation |
| 16 | Apr 24 | Final report due by 11:59 pm | Final report |
| Grade | Percentage | Grade | Percentage | Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 94–100% | A- | 90–93.99% | B+ | 87–89.99% |
| B | 84–86.99% | B- | 80–83.99% | C+ | 77–79.99% |
| C | 74–76.99% | C- | 70–73.99% | D+ | 67–69.99% |
| D | 64–66.99% | D- | 60–63.99% | F | Below 60% |
In the kickoff meeting in week 1, which must be attended by all students, we will plan for the rest of the semester. One-on-one progress meetings will be scheduled for the entire semester during the kickoff meeting. The progress meetings, which are online or in-person, are mandatory and graded. Additional non-graded meetings for guidance can be requested by either the student or the instructor as needed.
Your participation grade will reflect your professional attitude. You are expected to attend on time, be prepared, and effectively address feedback. Additionally, effective time management is part of the participation evaluation. For example, students who request additional final report reviews, need to do this at least one week before the final submission deadline to allow for meaningful feedback. Last-day requests should be limited to specific and legitimate questions, not for reviewing entire reports or resolving issues stemming from ignored feedback throughout the semester. Also, teamwork is a key skill and the student is expected to engage with the instructor and technical advisor (if presentas) as collaborative team members. Your participation grade will assess your professional attitude and professional maturity during the course according to the following expectations.
| Criteria | Good (9-10 Points) | Satisfactory (5-8 Points) | Needs Improvement (0-4 Points) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punctuality (5%) | Attends meeting on time, ready to begin | Late but provides valid reasons | Late with repeated invalid excuses |
| Preparedness (35%) | Prepared with clear updates, progress, and specific questions | Somehow prepared with some updates | Unprepared with vague updates |
| Responsiveness to feedback (35%) | Applies instructor feedback constructively and shows steady improvement | Applies feedback inconsistently or delays acting on it | Frequently ignores feedback or repeats previous mistakes |
| Time management (15%) | Manages deadlines effectively and requests feedback well in advance | Requests feedback with insufficient time for a meaningful response | Misses deadlines or depends on last-minute help |
| Teamwork and communication (10%) | Engages respectfully and professionally with the instructor and advisor as collaborative team members, and responds promptly to emails/requests | Communication is polite but lacks consistent collaboration | Dismissive, uncooperative, or unprofessional behavior |
You need to submit a draft proposal by week 1 following the kickoff meeting guidelines, and incorporate feedback for final approval by your first progress meeting. Your proposal needs to adhere to these guidelines. The project proposal will be graded as “meets expectations” (full credit) or “does not meet expectations” (no credit), with potential deductions for unaddressed review comments from instructor.
In-person final presentations are scheduled for April 22 (6:00–7:30 pm). While these date and time are fixed, they may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. The presentation location will be announced during the semester. Alternatively, you may present your work at Eagle X for extra credit. Winning an Eagle X Research Award guarantees an “A” grade, provided that the project report and poster are submitted on Canvas. Your presentation must be well-organized, professional, and include visual aids. Your presentation must adhere to the final presentation guidelines and rubric.
Students are required to complete their projects and document their independent work in a professional and polished report. The report must follow and adhere to this rubric.
Any instance of data falsification or fabrication will result in a grade of zero for your report and further actions as per FGCU policies and procedures. Data falsification involves manipulating real data to misrepresent results. Data fabrication involves inventing data that does not exist. Also, your proposal, report and presentation must adhere to citation and plagiarism policies, including proper referencing practices
The learning outcomes for the Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) Program are as follows.
Content/discipline knowledge and skills are assessed at the program level using appropriate coursework including examinations, assignments, and presentations.
Communication skills are assessed at the University, College, and Program levels through oral and written presentations, project reports, and other assignments throughout the curriculum.
Critical thinking skills are assessed at the University, College, and Program levels through oral and written presentations, project reports, exams, and other assignments throughout the curriculum.
FGCU has a set of central policies related to student recording class sessions, academic integrity and grievances, student accessibility services, academic disruption, generative AI, and religious observances that apply to all courses at FGCU. Be sure to review these online
Permitted with proper citation. Students must document AI usage in the appendix. Non-compliance will be treated as academic dishonesty.