Engineering, Jacobs School of

[ Courses]

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

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 three categories: impacted, pre-major, and open major programs as well as many graduate degree programs. For a complete list of engineering undergraduate and graduate programs, please visit our Web site at http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu. Students interested in engineering should consult the Web site and the individual department listings which follow this section of the catalog.

UCSD’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 several of the undergraduate majors. Owing to limited departmental resources, major programs to which more students apply than can be accepted have been declared impacted majors. Acceptance into an impacted 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 impacted major programs consistent with maintaining acceptable program quality and in compliance with admissions procedures and criteria approved by the Academic Senate’s Committee on Educational Policy.

Remember that admission to the university and to a college does not guarantee acceptance to an impacted major.

Freshmen

Freshmen are admitted to engineering majors in one of three ways: open majors, pre-majors and impacted majors.

Open Majors

The following majors are open to all admitted UCSD students: chemical engineering (offered through the NE department), electrical engineering, engineering science (offered through the MAE department), bioengineering: bioinformatics (offered through the BENG department), engineering sciences (offered through the SE department), environmental engineering, computer engineering (offered through the CSE department), computer engineering (offered through the ECE department), computer science, and structural engineering. All applicants who have been accepted to UCSD and indicated a pre-major or open engineering major on their application are placed directly into that major.

Pre-major Programs

There are two engineering pre-major programs offered: (1) bioengineering: pre-medical and (2) engineering physics. Incoming freshmen who identified either of these pre-majors as their first choice on their UCSD admissions application are accepted directly into these pre-majors upon admission to UCSD. 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 pre-major screening courses.

Pre-major 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 pre-majors is set individually by each engineering program. Pre-majors 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 pre-major students will take twelve to eighteen units of general-education college requirements during their first year.

Pre-major 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 pre-major will not be considered after six quarters of enrollment.

Impacted Majors

The following engineering majors are impacted: aerospace engineering, bioengineering, bioengineering: biotechnology, and mechanical engineering (MAE). Applicants must indicate one of these impacted majors 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.

Effective fall 2001, this selection is based on the freshman review criteria (Comprehensive Review) administered by the UCSD Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools.

It is strongly suggested that all students accepted into engineering programs consult their department’s academic advisor 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.

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 which follow this section of the catalog.

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 three ways: open majors, pre-majors, and impacted 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.

Open Majors

The following majors are open to all admitted UCSD transfer students: aerospace engineering (offered through MAE through spring 2011), chemical engineering (offered through NE), electrical engineering, engineering science (offered through MAE), engineering sciences (offered through SE), environmental engineering, computer engineering (offered through CSE), computer engineering (offered through ECE), computer science, mechanical engineering (offered through MAE through spring 2011), structural engineering and bioengineering: bioinformatics (offered through the BENG department).

Pre-major Programs

There are two engineering pre-major programs offered: (1) bioengineering: pre-medical and (2) engineering physics. 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 pre-major screening courses.

Pre-major transfer engineering students are expected to apply for acceptance to the major during their third quarter of their first year at UCSD. 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 pre-majors is set individually by each engineering program. Pre-majors 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 pre-major students will take twelve to eighteen units of general-education college requirements during their first year.

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

Impacted Majors

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

Transfer students who choose impacted engineering major programs (bioengineering, bioengineering: biotechnology) as their first-choice major on their UC application are strongly encouraged to complete the major preparation classes listed previously.

Acceptance to impacted majors may be limited to the best transfer applicants, e.g., those who have been admitted to UCSD 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.

It is strongly suggested that all students accepted into engineering programs consult their department’s academic advisor 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 which 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 which follow this section of the catalog.

Continuing UCSD Students

Continuing UCSD undergraduate students who wish to change into impacted majors must submit an application to the department on or before the target dates and must meet minimum requirements. Interested students should make an appointment to speak with the departmental undergraduate advisor for more details.

Access of Non-Engineering Majors to the Jacobs School of Engineering Courses

The number of students enrolled in some courses offered by departments in the Jacobs School of Engineering must be restricted to meet the resources available. Students who have successfully completed all prerequisite courses will be enrolled in these restricted courses in the following order:

  1. students accepted by the department to a major curriculum
  2. students accepted by the department to a minor curriculum
  3. students fulfilling a requirement for another major
  4. all others, with permission of the department and instructor

Students should check with the departments concerning the limitations on specific courses and the requirements needed prior to attempting to enroll.

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 co-terminal B.S./Master’s degrees in one or two engineering disciplines.

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

Orientation to Engineering

ECE 1A-B-C: 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

Integrative Engineering Education

Engineering Student Services: Engineering Student Services (ESS) facilitates and encourages the professional, academic, and personal success of engineering students. The services available through Engineering Student Services 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. In addition, support is provided to the Teams in Engineering Service (TIES) Program, Team Internship Program , and the California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS). For more information, visit the office in Engineering Building Unit 1, Room 1400, email the staff at ess@soe.ucsd.edu, or visit http://ess.ucsd.edu.

Teams in Engineering Service (TIES): Engineering undergraduates can place their technical and creative skills to work for San Diego nonprofit organizations through the Teams in Engineering Service (TIES) Program. Through TIES, multidisciplinary teams of UCSD students design, build, and deploy projects that solve technology-based problems for local community organizations, and receive technical elective (or academic) credit. 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 experience in math., science, and engineering for top 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. Earthquakes in Action; 5. Bright Ideas: Light at Work; 6. Exploring the Cosmos; 7. Biological Motivations for Tensegrity Structures; and 8. The Molecular Biology Revolution. In summer 2008, one-third of the admitted students were awarded full financial aid. For more information, visit http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/cosmos.