Computer Engineering B.S.

Information and Policies

Introduction

The following concentrations are specializations for the computer engineering student. Students must complete all of the courses listed within their selected concentration. The four concentrations differ by only five specialized courses; the remaining courses are the same.

Systems Programming Concentration

The systems programming concentration focuses on software systems: courses include operating systems, compilers, software engineering, and advanced programming. Students finishing this concentration are very well prepared for building large software systems of all types. This concentration is the closest one to a computer science major-the main differences are that it does not require computer science theory courses, but because of the core computer engineering requirements, includes more hardware and electronics than a computer science bachelor's degree.

Computer Systems Concentration

The computer systems concentration provides a balance between software and hardware design. Students are prepared for a large variety of different design tasks, especially those requiring the integration of hardware and software systems, but may need further training for any particular specialization.

Networks Concentration

The networks concentration focuses on communication between computers, covering both network hardware and protocols. Students finishing this concentration are well prepared for the design of wired and wireless network systems.

Digital Hardware Concentration

The digital hardware concentration focuses on hardware design and includes more electronics than the other concentrations. Students finishing this concentration are well prepared for building hardware systems. This concentration is the closest one to an electronics major; the main differences are that it does not require as much electronics theory or analog electronic design, but because of the core computer engineering requirements, requires more software skills.

Program Learning Outcomes

For the Computer Engineering B.S. degree, the program learning outcomes are:

• an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;

• an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints;

• an ability to function effectively on teams that establish goals, plan tasks, meet deadlines, and analyze risk and uncertainty;

• an ability to communicate effectively; and

• an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Academic Advising for the Program

The Baskin Engineering undergraduate advising office offers general advising for prospective and declared undergraduates majoring in Baskin Engineering programs. The office handles major declarations, transfer credits, course substitutions, articulations, and degree certifications. Undergraduate students obtain and submit all paperwork requiring departmental approval to the undergraduate advising office. Transfer students should also refer to the Transfer Information and Policy section.

Baskin Engineering Building, Room 225
bsoeadvising@ucsc.edu
(831) 459-5840

Getting Started in the Major: Frosh

This major is highly course intensive and sequential; students who intend to pursue this major must begin taking classes for the major in their first quarter at the University of California, Santa Cruz. 

Math placement is required for one or more of the foundational courses for this major. For more information, please review the Math Placement website.

Transfer Information and Policy

Transfer students who want to pursue the computer engineering major, must have applied and been admitted to UC Santa Cruz as a proposed computer engineering major. 

Transfer Admission Screening Policy

Students should complete at least six of the following

Cumulative GPA

Their cumulative GPA should be at least 2.8 in all of the courses attempted.

Transfer students who wish to graduate in two years are strongly recommended to complete all lower division major requirements and most General Education requirements before coming to UC Santa Cruz.

Getting Started in the Major: Transfer Students

Transfer students should declare their major in their first quarter at UC Santa Cruz. Instructions for declaring a major in Baskin Engineering are on the Baskin Engineering undergraduate advising website.

Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process

Major Qualification

Transfer students should refer to the Transfer Admission Screening requirements. 

In order to declare the computer engineering major students must be listed as a proposed major within Baskin Engineering.  Please refer to the Baskin Engineering  "Proposed Major Retention" and its "Declaring a Baskin Engineering Major" sections in the catalog for more information. 

In addition to being listed as a proposed Baskin Engineering major, declaration of the computer engineering major in the first six quarters of enrollment at UC Santa Cruz is based on performance in the following lower-division courses required for the major:

CE Major Qualification Courses

Both of these:

And one of these (whichever is completed first):

And one of these (whichever is completed first):

And one of these:

And all of these:

Students in their first six quarters who have completed at least 36 credits in these courses will be admitted to the computer engineering major if their cumulative GPA is at least 2.8 in all the courses listed above; and if they have attempted no more than seven credits resulting in grades of C-, D+, D, D-, F or NP in all of the courses listed above.

Appeal Process

Students who are informed that they are not qualified for the major may appeal this decision by submitting a letter to the undergraduate director through the Baskin Engineering undergraduate advising office within 15 days from the date the notification was mailed. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department will notify the student, college, and Office of the Registrar of the decision.

How to Declare a Major

There are four steps to declaring a Baskin Engineering  major. For a detailed guide to this process, please consult the Baskin Engineering Declare Your Major website. 

Students should start the declaration of major process by completing Step One on the Baskin Engineering Declare Your Major website as soon as they complete 36 credits in the computer engineering major qualification courses or reach their declaration deadline quarter, whichever comes first.

Students petitioning when the campus declaration deadline is imminent (i.e., in their sixth quarter, for students admitted as frosh), will either be approved, denied, or provided with conditions (e.g., completion of some courses with certain grades) that will be resolved within at most one more enrolled quarter, even if they have not completed enough courses.

Letter Grade Policy

All students admitted to a Baskin Engineering major, or seeking admission to a major, must take all courses required for that major for a letter grade. This policy includes courses required for these degrees that are sponsored by other departments.

Course Substitution Policy

Undergraduate engineering students who wish to substitute a major course with a course from another department at UC Santa Cruz, or from another academic institution, must first seek approval through the Baskin Engineering Undergraduate Advising Office. The advising office requires a Petition for Course Substitution be approved before credit for an alternate course can be applied to any Baskin Engineering major requirement.

Petition forms are available at the undergraduate advising office and on the Undergraduate Advising website.

Petitions and procedures for approval must be obtained from and submitted to the Undergraduate Advising Office.

Double Majors and Major/Minor Combinations Policy

Students completing the computer engineering major cannot also receive the computer engineering minor or the Network and Digital Technology B.A. degree.

Honors

Majors are considered for “Honors in the Major” and “Highest Honors in the Major” based on their GPA and on results of undergraduate research and other significant contributions to Baskin Engineering. Students with a GPA of 3.70, in most cases, receive highest honors. Students with a GPA of 3.30, in most cases, receive honors. Students with particularly significant accomplishments in undergraduate research or contributions to Baskin  Engineering may be considered with a lower GPA. Computer engineering juniors and seniors may also be eligible for election to the UC Santa Cruz chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society founded in 1885.

Materials Fee and Miscellaneous Fees

Please see the section on fees under Baskin Engineering.

Requirements and Planners

Course Requirements (all concentrations)

All students in the computer engineering major take the same core courses, which give the fundamentals of programming and hardware design, supported by the physics and mathematics necessary to understand them. Students must complete all of the courses listed within their selected concentration, and they must complete the capstone sequence. The comprehensive requirement for computer engineering majors is satisfied by completion of the capstone course.

Lower-Division Courses

All of the following

Plus one of the following

Plus one of the following

Plus all of the following

Plus one of the following

Plus all of the following

Plus one of the following options

Upper-Division Courses

Core requirements:

(In addition to the core requirements students must complete the courses for one of the concentrations.)

Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement

Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. The DC requirement in computer engineering is satisfied by one of the following:

Comprehensive Requirement

Capstone Requirement

All computer engineering students complete one of the following capstone sequences:

Both of the following courses

Or all of the following courses

Or the following course

Or all of the following courses

Or the following course

Or both of the following courses

Or the following course

Concentration Courses

All students in the computer engineering major take the same core courses, which give the fundamentals of programming and hardware design, supported by the physics and mathematics necessary to understand them. Students must complete all of the courses listed within their selected concentration, and they must complete the capstone sequence. The comprehensive requirement for computer engineering majors is satisfied by completion of the capstone course.

Computer Systems Concentration Requirements

One of the following courses

Plus the following course

Plus one of the following courses

Plus one upper-division or graduate elective

From the approved elective list for the computer engineering major.*

*Revised: 10/20/22

Digital Hardware Concentration Requirements

The following course

Plus one of the following options

Plus one of the following courses

Plus one upper-division or graduate elective

From the approved elective list for the computer engineering major or the Computer Engineering B.S. Digital Hardware Concentration Grad-Level Electives Course List.*

*Revised: 10/20/22

Networks Concentration Requirements

All of the following courses

Plus one of the following options

Either the lecture/lab combination of CSE 151 and CSE 151L, or one upper-division or graduate elective from the approved elective list for the computer engineering major.*

*Revised: 10/20/22

System Programming Concentration Requirements

The following course

Plus one of the following courses

Plus both of the following courses

Plus one of the following options

Either the lecture/lab combination of CSE 151 and CSE 151L, or one upper-division or graduate elective from the approved elective list for the computer engineering major.*

*Revised: 10/20/22

Plus one of the following courses

Planners

The tables below are for informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.

Below are two sample academic plans for students majoring in computer engineering. Since the plans for the third and fourth years will vary according to the concentration and capstone selected, placeholders for these courses have been indicated with “concentration course” and “capstone course.” As part of the major declaration process students prepare a four-year plan based on a concentration and this may affect the placement of other courses as well. Careful planning at the time of declaration is required to complete the degree within four years. Entering frosh who have little programming experience, are strongly advised to take a programming course in the fall quarter. Students completing the courses in the four-year planners will have satisfied the MF, PR-E, SI, and SR general education requirements.

Plan One for Entering Frosh
This plan is for students with programming experience who are prepared for MATH 19A.

Plan Two for Entering Frosh

This plan is for students with no programming experience who are placed into MATH 3.

Plan for Junior Transfers

Below is a sample academic plan for students transferring to UC Santa Cruz in computer engineering for their junior year. It assumes that all but one lower-division and all general education course requirements have been satisfied. Since the plans for the third and fourth years vary according to the concentration and capstone selected, placeholders for these courses have been indicated with “concentration course” and “capstone course.” As part of the major declaration process students prepare a plan based on a concentration and this may affect the placement of other courses as well. Careful planning at the time of declaration is required to complete the degree within two years.

Curriculum charts for all Baskin Engineering majors are available on the department's website.