Engineering, Jacobs School of

[ courses ]

7310 Engineering Building Unit 1, Warren Mall
http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu

All courses, faculty listings, and curricular and degree requirements described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice. Updates may be found on the Academic Senate website: http://senate.ucsd.edu/catalog-copy/approved-updates/.

The Irwin and Joan Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego comprises the Departments of Bioengineering (BE), Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), NanoEngineering (NE), and Structural Engineering (SE). The Jacobs School is directed by the dean of Engineering. The departments offer eighteen undergraduate programs that fall into two categories: capped and premajor programs, as well as many graduate degree programs. For links to engineering undergraduate and graduate programs, please visit http://jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/student/landing.sfe. Students interested in engineering should consult the website and the individual department listings that follow this section of the catalog.

UC San Diego’s six undergraduate colleges differ in their general-education requirements. Prospective students should review the general-education requirements and take them into account when planning their college curriculum.

Acceptance to Departmental Majors in the Jacobs School of Engineering

Student demand exceeds program capacity in all of the undergraduate majors. Owing to limited departmental resources, engineering major programs have more students apply than can be accepted, and have been declared capped majors. Acceptance into a capped engineering major is based on academic excellence demonstrated in high school or at a community college. Acceptance will be granted to the maximum number of students in each of these capped major programs consistent with maintaining acceptable program quality and in compliance with admissions procedures and criteria approved by the Academic Senate’s Educational Policy Committee.

Freshmen

Freshmen are admitted to engineering majors in one of two ways: premajors and capped majors.

Premajor Programs

There is one engineering premajor program: engineering physics (offered through the ECE department). Incoming freshmen who identify this premajor as their first choice on their UC San Diego admissions application are accepted directly into the premajor upon admission to UC San Diego. Subsequent acceptance to the major is dependent on performance in selected mathematics, science, and engineering screening courses as well as competitive grade point average in the premajor screening courses.

Premajor engineering students are expected to apply for acceptance to the major during the spring quarter of their freshman year. Acceptance to the major is based on the grade point average in the screening courses only. The grade point average required for acceptance to the major by premajors is set individually by each engineering program. Premajors should consult their departments concerning the appropriate screening courses and the current grade point average standards for acceptance. In addition to the courses required by the departments, it is expected that all premajor students will take twelve to eighteen units of general-education college requirements during their first year.

Premajor engineering students who are not able to apply before the end of their third quarter, or who wish to reapply following an unsuccessful application, must contact their department as soon as possible for further advising as acceptance to any engineering major that has a premajor will not be considered after six quarters of enrollment.

Capped Majors

All engineering majors are capped. Applicants must indicate an engineering major as their first choice on their UC application in order to be considered for acceptance to the major by the UC San Diego Office of Admissions.

It is strongly suggested that all students accepted into engineering programs consult their department’s academic adviser at an early stage to plan their lower-division engineering courses, and that they consult with a college academic counselor to arrange general-education courses around the required screening courses. Students admitted fall quarter should attend the engineering department’s orientation meetings during Welcome Week.

Transfers

Following California’s Master Plan for Higher Education, UC San Diego gives high priority to students transferring from California community colleges.

Transfer students are admitted to engineering majors in one of two ways: premajors and capped majors. For major-specific advising, please contact the relevant departmental undergraduate academic advising office.

Effective fall 2009, these courses are strongly recommended for all engineering transfer students for success in their major.

*Refer to the UC San Diego General Catalog to select major prerequisite recommendations for computer language courses.

Please note: Math 20D and Physics 2A-B-C are no longer part of the course preparation for the computer science major. Check the department’s website for information on the “General Science Requirement.”

Premajor Programs

There is one engineering premajor program: engineering physics (offered through the ECE Department).  Subsequent acceptance to the major is dependent on performance in selected mathematics, science, and engineering screening courses as well as competitive grade point average in the premajor screening courses.

Premajor transfer engineering students are expected to apply for acceptance to the major during their third quarter of their first year at UC San Diego. Acceptance to the major is based on the grade point average in the screening courses only. The grade point average required for acceptance to the major by premajors is set individually by each engineering program. Premajors should consult their departments concerning the appropriate screening courses and the current grade point average standards for acceptance. In addition to the courses required by the departments, it is expected that all premajor students will take twelve to eighteen units of general-education college requirements during their first year.

Premajor transfer engineering students must apply to the major before the end of their third quarter as acceptance to any engineering major that has a premajor by a transfer student will not be considered after the end the of third quarter of enrollment.

Capped Majors

All engineering majors are capped for transfer admissions. Since acceptance to capped engineering majors is quite competitive for freshman and transfer applicants alike, academic standards are high.

Transfer students who choose capped engineering major programs as their first-choice major on their UC application are strongly encouraged to complete the major preparation classes listed previously.

Acceptance to capped majors may be limited to the best transfer applicants, e.g., those who have been admitted to UC San Diego with the most complete lower-division preparation and the highest college grade point averages. Since acceptance is restricted to these majors, transfer students are encouraged to apply to more than one major degree program and to include one open major in their selection.

It is strongly suggested that all students accepted into engineering programs consult their department’s academic adviser at an early stage to plan their lower-division engineering courses, and that they consult with a college academic counselor to arrange general-education courses around the required screening courses. Students admitted fall quarter should attend the engineering department’s orientation meetings during Welcome Week.

For specific program requirements for transfer students, please refer to the appropriate department’s listing that follow this section of the catalog.

Bioinformatics Programs

Students interested in applying to either the bioengineering: bioinformatics major (offered by the Department of Bioengineering), or the computer science major with a specialization in bioinformatics (offered by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering) should consult individual department listings that follow this section of the catalog.

Continuing UC San Diego Students

Effective fall 2015, all engineering majors are capped for continuing UC San Diego undergraduate students. Continuing UC San Diego undergraduate students who wish to change into capped engineering majors must submit an application to the department on or before the target dates and must meet minimum requirements. Interested students should visit this website for additional information: http://jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/academic/academic_undergrad/my_major.shtml

Double Majors and Minors

It is the policy of the UC San Diego Academic Senate not to approve double majors within engineering. Students who qualify for admission to graduate school and who have the extra time are encouraged to consider coterminal bachelor’s/master’s degrees in one or two engineering disciplines.

For more information visit http://jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/academic/academic_undergrad/bs-ms.sfe.

Orientation to Engineering

ENG 1, 2, 3: This course series has no prerequisites and students will be given an introduction to the engineering profession and our undergraduate program. Exercises and practicums will develop the problem-solving skills needed to succeed in engineering. It is offered fall, winter, and spring. For details visit http://jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/student/student_success/ace.sfe.

Integrative Engineering Education

IDEA Student Center: The IDEA Student Center facilitates and encourages the professional, academic, and personal success of engineering students. The services available through the IDEA Student Center are designed to assist students as they pursue their chosen degrees and to prepare them for life outside of the university as engineering professionals and responsible citizens. The staff serve as a resource for those interested in applying to engineering majors; getting involved in student organizations; seeking internships; accessing tutoring, scholarship, and involvement information; or for those needing a referral to on-campus and community resources. For more information, visit the office in Jacobs Hall, Room 1400, e-mail the staff at idea@soe.ucsd.edu, or visit http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/student/.

Global TIES—Teams in Engineering Service: Global TIES is an innovative program in humanitarian engineering that gives students the opportunity to apply their skills in a real-world setting. Interdisciplinary teams of students collaborate on student-directed but faculty-advised projects designing engineering and technology solutions for nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations, and the communities they serve. Projects take place in the greater San Diego area and in developing countries around the world. For details, visit http://ties.ucsd.edu.

Team Internship Program (TIP): Under the direction of the Corporate Affiliates Program, this corporate-sponsored program gives students the opportunity to develop their engineering skills in a multidisciplinary team environment that provides real-world engineering experience in preparation for entering the workforce. In these full-time, competitive summer paid internships, students work on-site with industry partners as a systems-oriented solution team focused on a clearly defined and significant project. For details, visit http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/TIP.

The California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) is a four-week residential pre-college academic enrichment experience in math, science, technology, and engineering for talented high school students. Students participate in one of the following eight academic courses (or clusters): 1. Computers in Everyday Life; 2. Engineering Design and Control of Kinetic Sculptures; 3. Living Oceans and Global Climate Change; 4. When Disaster Strikes: Earthquake Engineering; 5. From Lasers to LCDs: Light at Work; 6. Biodiesel from Renewable Sources; 7.Bioengineering/Mechanical Engineering: The Amazing Red Blood Cell; and 8. Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. Typically, one-third of admitted students are awarded financial assistance. For more information, visit http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/cosmos.

Bernard and Sophia Gordon Engineering Leadership Center: The mission of the Gordon Center is to train effective engineering leaders who create new products and jobs that benefit society. The Gordon Center offers an engineering leadership and awards program for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students with leadership potential. The Gordon Scholars participate in a comprehensive engineering leadership training program, which includes leadership workshops and forums, and summer programs that integrate theory and case studies with hands-on practice and mentoring. For details, visit http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/GordonCenter/.

The von Liebig Entrepreneurism Center is dedicated to mentoring faculty and student inventors through the proof-of-concept process. The center provides commercialization support to bridge the gap between exciting laboratory discoveries and products that address market needs. Experienced technology and business advisers guide faculty and student inventors throughout the technology assessment, proof-of-concept, and early stages of the commercialization process. The von Liebig Center’s education program prepares science and engineering students to become more effective contributors in fast-moving technology companies. The series of four graduate-level courses, undergraduate Product Design course, workshops, webinars, and seminars expose students to the basic principles of entrepreneurism, product development, technology assessment, and venture creation. For more information, visit http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/vonliebig/.