Dual-Degree Engineering

Baskin School of Engineering
335 Baskin Engineering Building
(831) 459-2158
http://www.soe.ucsc.edu

Program Description

Prior to establishing the Jack Baskin School of Engineering (SOE), UC Santa Cruz developed a dual-degree program with the College of Engineering at UC Berkeley (UCB) to meet the growing demand for engineers with both solid technical training and a broad liberal arts education. In addition to the challenging engineering majors offered at Baskin SOE, interested students may still pursue the dual-degree program option. As dual- degree majors, students spend three years at UCSC completing major requirements for a bachelor’s degree in the social sciences, humanities, or the arts. Students also complete their engineering prerequisite courses in science, mathematics, and engineering for admission to UCB while at UC Santa Cruz. Students who maintain a grade point average of  3.2 or higher in their engineering preparatory courses are eligible to transfer to UCB and complete their fourth and fifth years in the dual- degree program. Once admitted to UCB, students complete requirements for a degree in a chosen engineering specialty, while also completing any remaining courses for their UCSC non-engineering major and general education. Students complete one major from each of the following lists:

UCB Engineering Majors

Bioengineering
Civil and environmental engineering
Engineering sciences
Industrial engineering and operations research
Manufacturing engineering
Materials science
Mechanical engineering
Nuclear engineering

Recommended UCSC Majors

American studies
Anthropology
Business management economics
Community studies
Economics
Environmental studies
Feminist Studies
Film and digital media
History
History of art and visual culture
Legal studies
Linguistics
Literature
Philosophy
Politics
Psychology
Sociology

Upon completion of the program, the student receives two bachelor’s degrees: a B.A. in a social science, humanities, or arts field from UCSC and a B.S. in engineering from UCB. Although the UCSC major cannot be in the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences or the School of Engineering, many combinations of fields are possible in the dual-degree program; examples include engineering along with economics, sociology, or philosophy. Specific curriculum and education plans for dual-degree students are developed in consultation with an engineering adviser and tailored to the needs of individual students. A committee composed of faculty from both UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley jointly provide direction and oversight of the program. Students must enter the dual-degree program as first-quarter freshmen, beginning their course work at UCSC in the fall quarter.

Admission

In addition to completing the courses required for UC admission, high school students who plan to pursue the dual-degree engineering route at UCSC should develop a strong background in mathematics and physics.

Prospective students who wish to be considered for the dual-degree program should indicate it as their first choice of major on the UC Application for Undergraduate Admission. When the application is received by the Office of Admissions, additional information about the dual-degree program will be sent to the applicant in late January, along with a request for the applicant’s specific choice of majors at UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz. Admission to the campus does not guarantee admission to the dual-degree program.

The admissions committee for the dual-degree program reviews each application on an individual basis. Criteria for selection includes the applicant’s strong performance in academic courses (particularly science and math), the applicant’s essay, and excellent test scores. Dual-degree program applicants will also need to complete a formal application to UC Berkeley as a transfer student at the appropriate point in their UCSC studies.

Preparation for Dual-Degree Engineering Program

Dual-degree students typically enroll in a variety of classes while at UCSC due to the need to congruently fulfill their UCSC major and their required preparation for their UCB major. Following are example classes that dual-degree students may take as preparation for the engineering major while at UCSC.

Applied Mathematics and Statistics 27/L, Mathematical Methods for Engineers/ Laboratory
Applied Mathematics and Statistics 131, Introduction to Probability Theory
Chemistry 1B/M and 1C/N, General Chemistry/Laboratories
Computer Science 12A/L, Introduction to Programming/Laboratory; or 60N, Beginning Programming: Natural Sciences
Earth Sciences 10, Geologic Principles
Earth Sciences 142, Soil Properties and Mechanics
Electrical Engineering 70/L, Introduction to Electronic Circuits/Laboratory
Engineering 50/L, Engineering Mechanics/Laboratory
Mathematics 19A-B, Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics
Mathematics 23A-B, Multivariable Calculus
Physics 5A/L, 5B/M, and 5C/N, Introduction to Physics series/Laboratories; or Physics 6A/L, 6B/M, and 6C/N, Introductory Physics series/Laboratories
Physics 160, Practical Electronics