Engineering Catalyst is a two-year, evidence-based program to support the academic and professional success of students with a drive to succeed in engineering. Scholars in Engineering Catalyst receive intensive and tailored support to help each scholar attain their engineering goals through their curriculum-to-career pathway. Academic coursework and community programming are designed to provide comprehensive and embedded support for math, science, and foundational engineering learning.
The Engineering Catalyst community consists of incoming and returning program scholars in value-oriented learning cohorts, supported by dedicated faculty, staff advisors, and peer mentors. Scholars also receive specialized academic and career advising.
The program is designed for incoming students who are beginning their engineering path at OU in Math 1503: College Algebra or Math 1523: Pre-Calculus and Trigonometry.
Engineering Catalyst Scholars commit to full participation in a custom two-year academic program consisting of coursework and community programming. All Scholars are expected to be working toward a degree in the Gallogly College of Engineering, enrolled in the specified curriculum path for EC scholars and dedicated to being a supportive member of the EC community. Participation in the Welcome Retreat meetings is mandatory for all new Engineering Catalyst Program Scholars.
Scholars will complete a custom academic program through the December of their second year as determined in collaboration with the Engineering Catalyst faculty and staff. This is a two-year program that requires participation during the summer term between the first and second academic years.
Our team recognizes that each student’s exact academic path is unique. Scholars receive specialized engineering academic and career advising prior to their enrollment each semester to ensure their course schedule supports progress toward their major and degree, while meeting Engineering Catalyst Program requirements. All Scholars will be required to complete the EC course progression plan.
Scholars will participate in out-of-class programming designed to support academic success, professional networking, and community building within the cohort. Programming activities have previously included potlucks provided by faculty, movie and game nights, and family receptions. Scholars have also participated in in-person team building retreats, designed to promote problem-solving, communication skills, and community connection and engagement.
Each Scholar also receives personalized coaching from Engineering Catalyst faculty and staff mentors, including Engineering Pathways faculty, GCoE faculty, program coordinators and directors, and Academic Life Coaches.
Academic and Scholarship Requirements
Engineering Catalyst Scholars are awarded a two-year scholarship beginning in their fall semester. Scholars are expected to remain in good standing with the EC program to remain eligible for subsequent semesters, through the second year. This scholarship will combine with awards you may receive from other University sources. Engineering Catalyst Scholars must meet the following requirements to remain in good standing with the Engineering Catalyst Program:
Students who do not meet the Engineering Catalyst academic and scholarship requirements may be placed on probation or dismissed from the Engineering Catalyst program. Eligibility for the Catalyst program will be checked at the beginning of each semester. Students on probation must meet with an Engineering Catalyst advisor to discuss their situation and to develop an Individualized Success Plan. Students are allowed one semester to implement the Individualized Success Plan, address any difficulties and bring their OU retention GPA to 2.5 or above.
Scholarship
Engineering Catalyst Scholars receive a two-year award package which includes a scholarship of $1,500 for each semester. In addition, a one-time scholarship of $500 will be provided for successful completion of the EC recommended summer math course. Students may apply for additional summer funds to assist with the cost of tuition and fees if the enrollment is with the University of Oklahoma.
Scholarships require the student to remain in good standing with the Engineering Catalyst Program and Gallogly College of Engineering. Scholarship eligibility is checked at the end of each semester.
Scholarship Opportunities for Returning Students
Additional scholarships may be available for current students. Students may apply for scholarships for their next academic year through the Centralized Academic Scholarship Hub (CASH). The CASH accepts applications through February 1 of the spring semester. The selection process is competitive.
Prospective scholars may apply for the Engineering Catalyst Program prior to admission to the University of Oklahoma. Successful applications will be offered admission to Engineering Catalyst upon admission to the university
Final admission to the Engineering Catalyst Program requires enrollment in MATH 1503 or MATH 1523. A student's fall math class enrollment is determined by their Math Offer or their ALEKS math assessment. Earned credit from transfer, concurrent, or AP/IB coursework may also affect a student’s fall math class enrollment at the University of Oklahoma. Visit this webpage for more information about first-year math placements at the University of Oklahoma.
All students are strongly encouraged to use the ALEKS math assessment for more precise initial math placement. OU may provide students with a Math Offer, yet ALEKS may be used to verify or improve the MATH placement offered by OU. It is strongly recommended to complete ALEKS as soon as possible and prior to your New Sooner Orientation appointment to make the most of your advising meeting.
Engineering Catalyst is a selective, by-application program. The number of Scholars admitted is limited to ensure each Scholar receives optimal resources and support for the duration of the two-year program.
Strong applicants will demonstrate:
Selected applicants will be admitted to the Engineering Catalyst Program. Program staff will verify a student's eligibility following their New Sooner Orientation. Each Scholar must submit their Engineering Catalyst Program commitment package at the start of the fall semester to finalize program enrollment. A successful applicant must maintain the following eligibility requirements for full admission:
Students will be admitted to the Engineering Catalyst Program through a competitive application process, separate from their University of Oklahoma application. The application is available as an online, written application.
We are now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 cohort. Application review will be completed in the order they are received.
| Date Beginning | Date of Notification | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Review Period | March 1, 2025 | April 1, 2025 |
| Rolling Review Period | Biweekly | Biweekly |
Review of the application will begin after the priority admission deadline. Applications for Engineering Catalyst that are received following the deadline will be given priority on a first-come, first-reviewed basis. Review of new applications after the priority deadline will continue on a weekly basis until spots are filled. Applying by the priority application deadline is encouraged to secure your place in Engineering Catalyst. Email inquires to engineeringcatalyst@ou.edu
All program communications will be delivered to the student’s OU email address only.
Selected applicants will be invited to participate in an individual information session and interview with a program faculty or staff member to evaluate fit with program resources .
Progress on your application may not be saved between working sessions. We encourage applicants to prepare their responses to the questions below in an external text editor, then copy and paste your responses into the application form. Please include a single PDF which includes all high school and dual credit, transfer credit and concurrent credit transcripts in your application.
Short Answer Questions on Application
Q1. What motivates you to pursue and engineering degree?
Q2. What steps do you take and what resources do you use to approach a new and unfamiliar challenge?
Q3. Describe a time that a teacher in an academic course (such as math, english, chemistry, etc.) suggested changes in how you were approaching a problem, task, skill, or challenge and the changes you made to address their suggestion.
Q4. How do you generally feel about math?
Q5. What personal, academic, or community supports do you expect to need to succeed in your engineering degree? Why are these supports important to your success?
Successful applicants will receive admission to Engineering Catalyst, pending verification of their enrollment in either MATH 1503 or MATH 1523 in the fall semester. A student’s fall math class enrollment will be determined by their math offer or their math assessment. Earned credit from transfer, concurrent, or AP/IB coursework may also affect a student’s fall math class enrollment at the University of Oklahoma. Visit this webpage for more information about first-year math placements at the University of Oklahoma.
Students who NEED to assess, or who are trying to place into a higher math course, are strongly recommended to complete a math assessment as soon as possible. These students should complete their final math assessment prior to their New Sooner Orientation appointment to make the most of their advising meeting.
Email:
Physical Address:
McCasland Foundation Engineering Pathways Hub
865 Asp Ave. Rm. 222
Norman, OK 73019
Mailing Address:
OU Gallogly College of Engineering
202 W. Boyd St., Room 107
Norman, OK 73019
