Engineering Orientation

Welcome Rams to a new phase of life as a college student! We want to help our new students with a smooth transition into the college and CSU. Our orientation programs work alongside the university’s to provide dynamic, student-centered experiences. 

Orientation Steps

Introduction to Engineering Orientation

Watch our short animated video about the steps you'll take throughout orientation. 
Play Video about Screenshot of CSU Engineering orientation video, with text "Hello and welcome to the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering.

Step 1: Pre-Orientation Checklist

Always check your Rams email

Send in your final official transcripts and exam scores

Complete the Math Placement Tool

Prepare for Registration with Advising Videos

Get the basics of registration through the CSU Advising Youtube playlist of short videos.

Make sure you are Registration Ready

Log in to ramweb.colostate.edu and complete the Registration Ready steps in the center window.

Create your Engineering Technology Services (ETS) account

Create your Engineering Technology Services (ETS) account at engr.colostate.edu/ets. This will allow you to log in to campus computers and access important software tools.

Are you ready for composition/CO150?

Gather your ACT, SAT, TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores and visit the placement website to determine if you are ready for CO150.

Take Directed Self Placement (DSP) if needed. If you do not have ACT or SAT scores, please complete the DSP through Ramweb.

Review our Principles of Community

As engineers, we only succeed if all people and ideas are valued, particularly given the complexity of the global challenges that we face. The Principles of Community support the Colorado State University mission and vision of a collaborative and vibrant community.

Step 2:
Be ready for calculus in your first year

All CSU engineering degrees begin with MATH 160 – Calculus 1 – as the first required math class and a vital prerequisite for future courses.

If you want to work with lasers, design skyscrapers, make robots, or use algae to make biofuels, you’ll find out that engineers use a lot of math.

What does "calculus ready" mean? How do you get there?

Incoming students will hear "calculus ready" a lot. It means being comfortable with algebra, trigonometry, and logarithmic and exponential functions from high school or other classes.
Being ready to take calculus in your first semester sets up the rest of your college career.

Getting “calculus ready” is the process of using resources to pass the Math Placement Tool, or completing the Precalculus Tutorials fully, to be ready and able to register for calculus in the fall.

Colorado State University uses the Math Placement Tool to determine if first-year students are ready to start with calculus (MATH 160) in engineering. 

We strongly recommend that students enroll in Calculus 1 in their first semester to be able to graduate on time.

You can still graduate on time only starting with precalculus. But it would involve taking summer courses when you could be prioritizing internships or summer jobs.

Note: Completion of the Math Placement Tool is required for all incoming engineering students, regardless of anticipated AP/IB credit for high school exams and courses completed.

The seamless path from incoming Ram to graduating with an engineering degree begins with completing the Math Placement Tool and placing into Calculus.

Step 1: Prepare for the math placement process

Math Placement involves your math plan, concept review, and practice materials.

Step 2: Complete the Math Placement Tool

Once you take the Math Placement Tool, you will be able to find your next steps towards either placing into calculus or other courses.

Encourage math program graphic

The ENcourage Engineering Math Program is a summer program to help incoming engineering students improve pre-calculus math skills and place into Calculus 1.

Questions? Preguntas?

Other questions?

If you have specific questions or topic areas you would like us to address, please don't hesitate to contact us. E-mail us at engr-orientation@colostate.edu.

Preguntas? Hablamos español!

Si tiene preguntas o otros temas de los que quisiera hablar con nosotros por favor no dude en contactarnos. Mande un coreo electrónico a Claudia.Hernandez@colostate.edu.

Getting to the CSU Campus

Frequently asked questions

Congratulations on earning college credit! In order to register for classes on time based on your credits, you will need to send a screenshot/unofficial copy of your final scores or college transcripts to engr-orientation@colostate.edu. You will also need to send a copy of your official transcripts and scores to the Office of Admissions. Once official scores and transcripts are received, the Registrar’s Office has up to 30 business days in which to officially evaluate and process them. The AP or IB equivalences page can be found here. To look up the classes you are transferring to CSU, use the Transferology website.

During Ram Orientation, you will only be able to register with the scores you have received, not your anticipated scores. Don’t worry! You can change your schedule after you get your final scores by emailing your academic advisor.

All Engineering students are required to complete the Math Placement Tool to test out of the Precalculus math courses (MATH 117-126), regardless of their AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment status. This allows for the smoothest registration experience for you. If you have any questions regarding this requirement or believe you have earned credit, please send an email to engr-orientation@colostate.edu. For more information regarding transfer credits, please refer to our admissions page, the exam transfer equivalency, transferology.com, or email us.

The Math Placement Tool covers all math courses needed as prerequisites for MATH 160 – Calculus for Physical Scientists I, which include MATH 117, 118, 124, 125, and 126. Your goal is to place into MATH 160 in your first semester to stay on track with your major curriculum and help you avoid needing to take summer math courses in the future. Students in the college have higher success rates when calculus is completed in the fall or spring semester of their first year.    

If you are not able to test out of all five Precalculus math courses using the Math Placement Tool, you have several options.

  1. You can complete the tool one additional time in a proctored format.
  2. You could also use the Precalculus Tutorial to work through the Precalculus course content after you’ve utilized the Math Placement Tool at least one time. The Precalculus Tutorial takes more time to complete, but it does allow you to review content that you may be less familiar with to help strengthen your overall math skills.
  3. Take part in our ENcourage Engineering Math Program! ENcourage is a summer program intended to help incoming engineering students who did not place “calculus ready” through the math placement tool to improve pre-calculus math skills. Students will take the math placement tool after the program, with the possibility of placing out of one or more of the pre-calculus modules, and the possibility of placing into calculus (MATH 157 or MATH 160)
  4. After completing the Math Placement Tool once is to utilize the Math Challenge Exams. This may be a good idea for you is to take the Math Challenge Exam for one individual precalculus course: MATH 117, 118, 124, 125, or 126. This might be a good idea for you if you are confident in the subject and do not feel as though you need a refresher like the Precalculus Tutorial provides.   

More information on challenging Precalculus courses for credit can be found here. We strongly recommend that you take the Math Placement Tool seriously to avoid needing follow-up! For more information, please visit the Math Placement Overview page, or email our Engineering Ram Orientation staff at engr-orientation@colostate.edu

Most laptops will work for engineering coursework, because there are plentiful computing resources provided by Engineering Technology Services (ETS). Students have 24/7 access to multiple engineering computer labs, and can even log into the engineering “virtual classroom” on their personal computers, where they can then access all the same software they can in the labs. ETS is available to help students configure this virtual classroom access. Remote access works from Windows PCs and Macs, but not Chromebooks.

If you are looking to purchase a new computer for college, RamTech (located in the Lory Student Center) also has lots of options and can give advice to students trying to decide between computer models. Additionally, Academic Networking and Computing Services (ACNS) has compiled a list of guidelines to assist students when choosing a computer.

If you haven’t received any information about Ram Orientation yet, be sure to check your CSU Office365 Outlook account. All student email is sent to this account, so it is important to check it regularly. If you don’t plan on checking this account regularly, you can also set up email forwarding to your personal account. If you are unsure how to access your Rams email account, ACNS has compiled a website for Office 365 help.

At this point in the Ram Orientation process, please direct all questions to engr-orientation@colostate.edu. We will answer your questions from that address. When you attend Ram Orientation, engineering advisors and staff will be on hand to assist you and information will be provided on your assigned academic advisor at that time.

Before your registration date, there are a few things that are important to complete. First, you must create an eID; this will be the account you use to log into all CSU-related services. Following that, it is important you complete the Math Placement Tool and Chem Prep before your Ram Orientation date. These tools will ensure that you are able to register for the classes required for your major during your first semester. For more information on the Math Placement Tool and Chem Prep, please refer to FAQ #2 and #4 above. 

Additionally, make sure you have completed “Registration Ready” in RAMweb before registration. You will see the Registration Ready section in the center panel of RAMweb when you log in. All of the actions in this panel need to be completed BEFORE your scheduled Ram Orientation session date.  The one exception to this is your advising code, which you will receive from your advisor on your registration day. Incomplete tasks will have a red “X” next to them, and completed tasks will have green checks.

For a full list of all pre-orientation checklist items that need to be completed before your scheduled Ram Orientation session, please go to https://www.engr.colostate.edu/orientation/.

You cannot get credit for foreign language classes from high school unless you completed a language AP or IB exam or have dual enrollment credit from another college/institution. Additionally, if you are looking to take a foreign language at CSU, you must take the Language Placement Exam to determine your level of proficiency.

The ERLC is a housing community of first-year engineering students. Our community is designed to help students succeed with all aspects of student life. We provide academic advising and tutoring, help with technology and room requests, and we’re ready to help answer whatever questions you have. More information can be found on the ERLC webpage.

Students interested in applying for the ERLC must first complete a general University Housing application and then complete the ERLC supplemental application to be considered for admission to the ERLC.

If accepted into the ERLC, University Housing will assign you to AV-Engineering.  There is no guarantee that completing the supplemental application will lead to admission to the ERLC or to being placed in AV-Engineering. For more information, please email engr-orientation@colostate.edu.

Preguntas Hechas Frecuentemente

¡Felicidades en obtener crédito universitario! Para registrarte a tus cursos a tiempo basado en tus créditos necesitas mandar una captura de tu pantalla/copia no oficial de tus calificaciones finales o expediente académico a engr-orientation@colostate.edu. Aparte de esto también tendrás que mandar una copia de tus expedientes académicos oficiales a la Oficina de Admisiones. Al recibir calificaciones y expedientes académicos oficiales la Oficina de Registros tiene hasta 30 días laborales para evaluar y procesar los documentos. La pagina de equivalentes para calificaciones AP o IB puede ser encontrada aquí. Para buscar los cursos que se trasfieren a CSU usa la pagina web de transferology.

Resultados finales de exámenes AP tomados el la primavera 2021 no estarán disponibles hasta el fin de julio o a principio del mes de agosto 2021. Durante la Orientación RAM, nada mas podrás registrarte con los resultados de examen que has recibido, no los que anticiparas. ¡No te preocupes! Puedes cambiar tu agenda después que recibas tus resultados finales al mandar un correo electrónico a tu asesor(a) académico(a).

Todos los estudiantes de Ingeniería estan requeridos de tomar el Math Placement Tool para pasar todos los cursos de Pre-Calculo (MATH 117-126), sin importar sus resultados de examen AP, IB, o estatus de inscripción doble. Esto crea una experiencia mas fácil para tu registración. Si tienes preguntas de este requerimiento, o crees que podrás tener crédito por favor manda un correo electrónico a engr-orientation@colostate.edu. Para mas información sobre créditos de transferencia, por favor visita la pagina web de admisiones, la pagina web de equivalencia transferida, o transferology.com, o mándanos un correo electrónico.  

El Math Placement Tool cubre todos los cursos de matemáticas necesitados como pre-requisitos para MATH 160 – Calculo para Ciencias Físicas I, que incluye MATH 117, MATH 118, MATH 124, MATH 125, y MATH 126. Tu meta es obtener el nivel requerido para MATH 160 en tu primer semestre para quedarte en tu curso y no tener que tomar cursos en el futuro durante el verano.

Si no puedes pasar todos los cinco cursos de pre-calculo usando el Math Placement Tool tienes algunas opciones. La primera opción es tomar el Math Placement Tool de nuevo en una manera supervisada. Después de tomar el Math Placement tool una vez, puedes usar el Pre-calculus tutorial para trabajar y revisar la materia que será utilizado en el Math Placement Tool. El Pre-calculus Tutorial toma mas tiempo de terminar, pero te deja revisar y estudiar contenido con el que no estés cómodo y te puede ayudar a reforzar tus habilidades de matemáticas. La tercera opción es después de tomar el Math Placement Tool puedes utilizar los Math Challange Exams. Cada examen representa un curso de pre-calculo singular: MATH 117, 118, 124, 125, o 126. Esta puede ser una buena idea si tienes confianza en el tema y sientes que no necesites el Pre-Calculus Tutorial. Puedes encontrar mas información sobre los Math Challenge Exams aqui. Nosotros recomendamos que tomes el Math Placement Tool en serio para evitar tener que tomarlo de nuevo, o usar diferentes recursos para pasar todos los cursos de pre-calculo. Para mas información, por favor visita nuestro  Directorio de Información de Math Placement, o manadnos un correo electrónico a nuestro personal de Orientación RAM a engr-orientation@colostate.edu.

Nuestra oficina de Servicios de Tecnología (ETS) de Ingeniería ofrece varios recursos de computadora así que casi todas las computadoras portátiles trabajaran para tus cursos y tareas de ingeniería. Estudiantes tienen acceso 24/7 a múltiples laboratorios de computadoras, y hasta pueden iniciar sesiones de “clase virtual” en sus computadoras personales donde tienes acceso a los mismos programas que usan en el laboratorio. ETS esta disponible para ayudar a estudiantes configurar este acceso a clases virtuales. Acceso remoto se puede utilizar para PCs Windows y Macs, pero no Chromebooks.

Si estas pensado en comprar una computadora nueva para la universidad, RamTech (localizado en el Lory Student Center) tiene varias opciones y te pueden aconsejar cuando estes decidiendo entre modelos diferentes. Adicionalmente, Academic Networking and Computing Services (ACNS) tiene una lista de cosas para considerar cuando un estudiante este escogiendo una computadora.

Si no has recibido información sobre tu sesión de Orientación RAM por favor asegúrate de revisar tu cuenta de correo electrónico CSU Office365 Outlook. Toda correspondencia estudiantil es enviada a esta cuenta, así que es importante que la revises frecuentemente. Si no tienes plan de revisarla frecuentemente, puedes mandar correspondencia electrónica a tu cuenta personal. Si no estas seguro de como revisar tu cuenta electrónica Rams, ACNS ah establecido una Pagina de Ayuda.

En este punto del proceso Orientación RAM, por favor dirige todas tus preguntas a engr-orientation@colostate.edu. Contestaremos tus preguntas de esta cuenta de correo electrónico. Algunos días antes de tu sesión de Orientación RAM, recibirás un email con tus materiales virtuales, cual incluye tu lista personalizada de asesoría. Tu email también tendrá información de los cursos para los que tendrás que registrarte  durante tu Orientación RAM y el nombre y contacto de tu asesor academic@.

Antes de tu fecha de registración, hay algunas cosas importantes de terminar. Primero, tendrás que crear un eID; esta será la cuenta que utilizaras para iniciar sesiones en todos los servicios de CSU. Segundo, es importante que hagas el Math Placement Tool y Chem Prep antes de tu fecha de Orientación RAM. Estas herramientas se asegurarán que te puedas registrar para los cursos requeridos para tu programa durante el primer semestre. Para mas información sobre el Math Placement Tool y Chem prep por favor mira a la pregunta #2 y #4 arriba.

Adicionalmente, asegúrate que estés “Registration Ready” en RAMweb antes de tu registración. Veras la sección de Registration Ready en el panel del centro de RAMweb cuando inicies tu sesión. Todas las acciones en este panel necesitan estar completadas ANTES de tu fecha de Orientación RAM. La única excepción en esto será tu código de accesoria, cual recibirás de tu asesor en tu día de registro. Todos los requerimientos incompletos tendrán una “X” roja y los requerimientos completos tendrán una marca verde.

Para una lista completa de todos los requerimientos hechos antes de tu sesión Orientación RAM, por favor visita  https://www.engr.colostate.edu/orientation/.

La única manera de recibir crédito universitario para un lenguaje extranjero es al tomar el examen AP, IB, o tener crédito de un curso de inscripción doble. Adicionalmente, si esperas tomar un lenguaje extranjero en CSU, necesitaras que tomar el Language Placement Exam para determinar tu nivel de lenguaje.

El ERLC es una comunidad universitaria residencial para estudiantes de ingeniería de primer año. Nuestra comunidad esta diseñada para ayudar a estudiantes tener éxito en todos los aspectos de vida estudiantil. Proveemos asesoría académica y tutoría, ayuda con tecnología y cambios de cuarto, y estamos listos para ayudarte con cualquier pregunta que tengas. Puedes encontrar mas información en la pagina web del ERLC. Estudiantes interesados en aplicar para el ERLC necesitan llenar la Aplicación de Vivienda Universitaria general y luego hacer la aplicación adicional de el ERLC para ser considerados para admisión.

Si eres aceptad@ a el ERLC, la oficina de Vivienda Universitaria te asignara a AV-Engineering. No hay garantía que al completar la aplicación adicional tendrás admisión al ERLC o ser puesto en AV – Engineering. Para mas información por favor manda un email a engr-orientation@colostate.edu.