ENME272 Credit by Exam

The Department of Mechanical Engineering will be offering eligible students the opportunity to receive credit by exam for ENME272, Introduction to Computer Aided Design. Credit by exam allows students to earn college credit by demonstrating mastery of a course’s material through a formal examination, rather than completing the course in a traditional classroom setting. The certification exam is for students who have prior knowledge in SOLIDWORKS. This option is available to students who have prior knowledge or experience in the subject and can prove their competency through a departmental or standardized exam. 

Below is the information about eligibility, timing, and the administrative process.  Please note that the exam will be offered ONE time before the fall 2026 semester, on August 26th, 2026 at 10am, no other dates are planned.  Additionally, we will only accept applications until close of business on August 12th, 2026.  If you have any questions about this opportunity, you can reach out to directly to your advisor.

Course Description:

Fundamentals of CAD, using solid modeling packages (Pro/E, SolidWorks, and Autodesk Inventor). Two and three dimensional drawing. Dimensioning and specifications. Introduction of CAD based analysis tools. Students will complete a design project.

Next Exam Date: August 26th 2026 at 10am

Eligibility

  • Students must be formally admitted and currently registered at the University of Maryland, College Park.
  • Student must not have been enrolled in ENME272 past the schedule adjustment period, even with a W.
  • Students may attempt the credit-by-exam only if they have not already received a grade for this course or equivalent content at UMD.
  • Students must have completed at least 12 credits at UMD with a GPA of 2.0 or higher (first-semester students exempted).
  • All course prerequisites must be completed (MATH141), or the student must obtain written approval from the Department Chair and the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost.
  • Credit-by-exam cannot be used for the final 30 credits of a student’s degree without the Provost’s approval. No more than 6 credits by examination may be counted within those 30 credits.

Application Procedure

  • Complete the Credit-by-Exam Application Form 
  • Complete Section I with your personal and contact information. For course info, fill in:
    – Course Prefix and Number: ENME272
    – Department: Mechanical Engineering
    – Semester Hours of Credit: 2
    – Grade Option: Regular (unless it satisfies an elective)
  • Justification: Provide a detailed explanation of how you acquired the course knowledge and attach any supporting materials.
    Examples:
    – Completion of a similar course at another institution (attach syllabus/ transcript).
    – Internship or professional experience involving SOLIDWORKS
  • Email the form with Section I completed to enmeundergrad@umd.edu for review

Exam Format and Rules

We administer the Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate Exam (CSWA–Academic) as a test-out option for ENME 272: Introduction to Computer-Aided Design. More information on the CSWA, including topics and a sample exam, can be found at the SOLIDWORKS Design Associate (CSWA) Website.

The exam is 3 hours long and must be proctored on campus. 

Grading: After completing the exam, the student has the option to decline to submit it for grading. If the student selects not to submit the exam, no score will appear on the official transcript. If you believe you performed poorly, it might be advisable not to submit the exam; submitting it will result in receiving a grade.

Students will receive a free voucher to take the test on the day of the exam.

To receive the voucher, students must:
 i) have an @terpmail.umd.edu or .umd.edu email address, and
 ii) download the TesterPRO Client app using the 3DEXPERIENCE® Certification Center link and create an account with their UMD email address.

Installing and logging into the TesterPRO Client app also allows students to take a free sample CSWA exam for practice.

Preparing for the Exam

SOLIDWORKS Training Video Catalog

The certification exam is for students who have prior knowledge in SolidWorks. Students have access to a catalog of SOLIDWORKS training videos that cover a wide range of topics. To access these, follow the instructions in:
 Terpware > Design & Production > SOLIDWORKS > “Sign in for access”

Create an account using your UMD email address and select the “Student” subscription.

Additional sample CSWA exams are also available online.

Accessing SOLIDWORKS

There are three options for accessing SOLIDWORKS:
 i) Install it on a Windows computer via Terpware > Design & Production > SOLIDWORKS > “Sign in for access”
 ii) Access it through the Virtual Computer Lab
 iii) Use engineering computer labs on campus (when available)

Students can use the following labs to access SOLIDWORKS

  • EGR 0310
  • EGR 0312
  • KEB 2111
  • KEB 2107

Please check the availability of each lab before visiting.

Note: SOLIDWORKS cannot be installed on macOS or Linux systems.

If you have questions about the exam please email Dr. Mohammad Fazelpour mfazelp@umd.edu

Approval and Payment

Upon departmental approval, the student will:
1. Submit a $30 payment via check to Student Financial Services (Lee Building). This is non-refundable, even if the student withdraws from taking the credit-by exam.
2. Payment of the exam fee must be made prior to sitting for the exam. Email the scanned payment receipt along with the approved form one week before the exam to the Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Office (enmeundergrad@umd.edu). The original approval form and receipt must be brought with you to the examination.

Grading

Taking the exam does not obligate you to receive a grade or UMD credit. Your options, in order:

1. Did Not Complete the Exam: If a student does not complete the exam and leaves the testing session:

  • Before closing the testing application and SolidWorks, the student must show their computer screen to the proctor.

  • The SolidWorks system will record the result as Fail.

  • The student will not receive a “W” (Withdrawal) on their transcript.

2. Completed the Exam and Accepted the Grade: If a student completes the exam:

  • The score and corresponding grade will be reported immediately.

  • Before closing the testing application and SolidWorks, the student must:

    • Show their computer screen to the proctor, and

    • Email a screenshot of their numerical score to the proctor.

  • If the student chooses to accept the grade on the day of the exam, the corresponding letter grade will be assigned.

3. Completed the Exam but Did Not Accept the Grade:

  • If a student completes the exam but chooses not to accept the letter grade, they will receive a “W” (Withdrawal) on their transcript.

  • If a student completes the exam but does not pass, they will also receive a “W” (Withdrawal) on their transcript.

You must accept or decline within two weeks of receiving your result, or a W will be recorded. A course may be attempted only once by credit-by-exam. Exam materials (questions and responses) are retained per university records retention policy.