Engineering
2011-12 General Catalog
Baskin School of Engineering
335 Baskin Engineering Building
(831) 459-2158
http://www.soe.ucsc.edu
Dean’s office
335 Baskin Engineering
(831) 459-2158
Undergraduate office
227 Baskin Engineering
(831) 459-5840
Graduate office
398J/K Engineering 2
(831) 459-2576
Arthur Ramirez, Dean
Professor Charles E. McDowell, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Affairs
Professor Peyman Milanfar, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research
Baskin School of Engineering
The Baskin School of Engineering has a high-technology focus incorporating programs and curricula that educate students to meet the changing demands of society and a high-technology global marketplace. The school offers a stimulating academic environment that provides a foundation for professional growth as well as a lifetime of learning. The Baskin School’s programs and courses prepare students for the human aspects, as well as the technical challenges, of careers in engineering, computer science, and bioinformatics. The Baskin School of Engineering includes the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, the Department of Biomolecular Engineering, the Department of Computer Engineering, the Department of Computer Science, and the Department of Electrical Engineering. The Department of Technology and Information Management is awaiting approval.
Graduate Study
The Baskin School of Engineering offers 12 graduate programs designed to prepare students for advanced study and research in major areas of biomolecular, computer, and electrical engineering, as well as computer science and statistics and stochastic modeling:
Biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics master of science (M.S.) and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.)
Computer engineering M.S. and Ph.D.
Computer science M.S. and Ph.D.
Electrical engineering M.S. and Ph.D.
Statistics and applied mathematics M.S. and Ph.D
Technology and information management M.S. and Ph.D.
These programs are described in subsequent sections. The aim of these programs is to develop professionals who can address the complex scientific and technological problems of today and tomorrow.
Undergraduate Study
The School of Engineering offers 12 undergraduate degree programs in the following majors.
Bioengineering bachelor of science (B.S.)
Bioinformatics B.S. or combined B.S./Graduate
Computer engineering B.S. or combined B.S./M.S.
Computer science bachelor of arts (B.A.) and B.S.
Computer science: computer game design B.S.
Electrical engineering B.S.
Network and digital technology B.A.
Robotics engineering B.S.
Technology and information management B.S.
Bioengineering. The bioengineering program prepares graduates for a rewarding career at the interfaces between engineering, medicine and biology. UCSC bioengineering graduates will have a thorough grounding in the principles and practices of bioengineering and the scientific and mathematical principles upon which they are built; they will be prepared for further education (both formal and informal) and for productive employment in industry. The program includes a broad range of courses in the sciences, engineering, ethics, and other topics, and is co-sponsored by the Departments of Biomolecular Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology.
Bioinformatics. The bioinformatics curriculum combines mathematics, the physical sciences, computer science, and engineering to explore and understand biological data from high-throughput experiments, such as genome sequencing and gene expression chips. The immense growth of biological information stored in computerized databases has led to a critical need for people who can understand the languages, tools, and techniques of mathematics, science, and engineering. The undergraduate bioinformatics degree program prepares students for graduate school or a career in the fast-paced pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries.
Computer Engineering. The computer engineering curriculum focuses on making digital systems that work. It overlaps with computer science on one end (software systems) and with electrical engineering on the other (digital hardware). The emphasis of our program is on design rather than analysis—on making things work, rather than on explaining the abstract theory of computation or electronics. The program’s emphasis on problem solving provides both excellent training for future engineers and a strong foundation for graduate study. The computer engineering B.S. program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The combined B.S./M.S. program provides an opportunity for outstanding undergraduates to begin advanced study and earn both degrees in five years.
Computer Science. The computer science curriculum has options that include topics in hardware and software, giving students a solid grounding in both theoretical and practical aspects of computer technology and computer usage. The bachelor of arts focus is designed to give students a solid grounding in both theoretical and practical topics in computer science, computer engineering, and mathematics while leaving flexibility for a broad program of study, including many courses outside of science and engineering. The bachelor of science curriculum has a stronger concentration in the sciences, with more courses in computer science and computer engineering, as well as courses in physics or chemistry. Students become proficient in many areas, with a good academic foundation for various careers in the software industry, as well as preparation for graduate school.
Computer Science: Computer Game Design. The computer game design curriculum is a four-year interdisciplinary program that focuses on the technical, dramatic, and artistic elements of computer games. The program provides a rigorous education in computer science, in concert with a broad introduction to those aspects of art, music, narrative, digital media, and computer engineering most relevant to games. An intensive year-long game design studio sequence permits students to create substantial video games as part of a multi-student team. Students receive proficiency in many aspects of computer science, a good academic foundation for careers in the computer game industry or information technology industry, or for the pursuit of graduate studies in computer science, or computer game design.
Electrical Engineering. The electrical engineering curriculum provides a balance of engineering science and design and allows students to specialize in both the traditional topics and the latest subjects in electrical engineering. Students may concentrate their electives in the areas of electronics and optics, communications, or signals and systems. The major is designed to attract motivated students who, upon graduation, will be sought by employers in the high-tech industry. The electrical engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Network and Digital Technology. The network and digital technology B.A. program provides students with in-depth knowledge of the underlying structure and function of network and computer technology and the design processes which make these technologies function. The program, through its flexible requirements, is especially tailored to students who wish to combine technology with other fields, such as through a double major or a minor, or who, through the choice of electives, with to concentrate on the digital design or computer networks aspects of computer engineering in preparation for future employment. The network and digital technology B.A. program is offered by the Computer Engineering Department.
Technology and Information Management. The technology and information management (TIM) curriculum is multidisciplinary and focuses on the fusion of information systems, technology, and business management for two purposes: the use of information systems to solve business problems and the management of technology, which includes new product development and enterprise management. Students must learn the mathematics, science, and technical fundamentals of computer science and engineering as well as understand the environment in which information technology (IT) solutions will be applied—through economics, business, and management of technology courses. It is a rigorous, challenging major for those students wanting to pursue careers in information systems management and the management of technology.
Undergraduate Minors
Undergraduate students may choose from the following seven minor options:
Applied Mathematics. The applied mathematics minor is available to students who wish to develop 1) proficiency in modeling real-life problems using mathematics and 2) knowledge of standard, practical analytical and numerical methods for the solution of these models. This minor could be combined with a major in any of the physical, biological, mathematical, or engineering sciences as preparation for a graduate degree in that field or in applied mathematics.
Bioinformatics. The bioinformatics minor is intended primarily for bioinformatics tool users who are majoring in a biological or chemical specialty. The bioinformatics minor is also appropriate for computer science or computer engineering majors who are considering graduate work in bioinformatics.
Computer Engineering. The computer engineering minor provides a solid foundation in digital hardware, electronics, and computer software, as well as the prerequisite material in mathematics and physics. The minor is well-suited to students who wish to take part in the design of computer and embedded systems in any discipline.
Computer Science. The computer science minor is available for students whose primary interest is in another area, and are interested in the applications of computer science in other areas of study, from art and music to business and science.
Electrical Engineering. The electrical engineering minor provides a solid foundation in the core areas of electronic circuits and signals and systems, as well as the prerequisite material in mathematics and physics. Concentration of upper-division electives in either of the major tracks constitutes substantial and focused work in the discipline of electrical engineering. This minor is particularly suitable for students with majors in applied physics or any School of Engineering major.
Technology and Information Management. The technology and information management (TIM) program provides a minor in information systems and technology management (ISTM) to provide undergraduates in the School of Engineering as well in other programs and divisions in the university, such as economics and business management economics, the physical and biological sciences, and arts, the opportunity to expand the breadth of their knowledge and training to include the management of information systems and the management of technology.
Statistics. The statistics minor is available for students who wish to gain a quantitative understanding of how to a) measure uncertainty and b) make good decisions on the basis of incomplete or imperfect information and apply these skills to their interests in another field. This minor could also be combined with a major in mathematics as preparation for a graduate degree in statistics or biostatistics.
Undergraduate Advising Office
The Baskin School of Engineering undergraduate advising office offers general advising for prospective and declared undergraduates majoring in School of 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. Students may obtain additional information and assistance on the School of Engineering web site: http://ua.soe.ucsc.edu/.
Admission to School of Engineering Majors
High School Preparation for Engineering Students
It is recommended that high school students intending to apply to a School of Engineering major have completed four years of mathematics (through advanced algebra and trigonometry) and three years of science in high school. Comparable college mathematics and science courses completed at other institutions also serve to properly prepare students for these majors.
College Board Advanced Placement Credit
Prospective students are encouraged to take the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations in computer science, mathematics, economics, chemistry, or biology, because an acceptable score on these examinations may satisfy both university and major degree requirements. Students must provide official examination scores to the UCSC Office of Admissions to be granted credit toward course prerequisites or degree requirements as follows:
Biology: a score of 5 on the AP Biology examination can be substituted for Biology 20A, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Biology 20B, Development and Physiology.
Computer Science: a score of 3 on Exam A satisfies Computer Science 5J, Introduction to Programming in Java; a score of 4 or 5 on Exam A satisfies Computer Science 12A, Introduction to Programming, and the associated laboratory, Computer Science 12L; a score of 4 or 5 on Exam AB satisfies both Computer Science 12A, Introduction to Programming, and Computer Science 12B, Introduction to Data Structures, and the associated laboratories, Computer Science 12L, and Computer Science 12M. A score of 5 on the IBH Computer Science examination satisfies Computer Science 12A, Introduction to Programming, and the associated laboratory, Computer Science 12L; a score of 6 or 7 on the IBH Computer Science examination satisfies Computer Science 12A, Introduction to Programming, and Computer Science 12B, Introduction to Data Structures, and the associated laboratories, Computer Science 12L, and Computer Science 12M.
Economics: a score of 4 or 5 on the Microeconomics examination satisfies Economics 1, Introductory Microeconomics; a score of 4 or 5 on the Macroeconomics examination satisfies Economics 2, Introductory Macroeconomics.
Mathematics: a score of 4 or 5 on the Calculus AB examination satisfies Mathematics 19A, Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics; a score of 4 or 5 on the Calculus BC examination satisfies both Mathematics 19A-B.
Students may check with the Office of Admissions for details about other AP examinations that also satisfy university requirements.
Admission as First-Year Students
Students interested in declaring a School of Engineering major are encouraged to do so during their first year at UCSC. Some students may be admitted directly into their School of Engineering major of choice at the time they are admitted to UCSC.
First-year applicants to UCSC may apply for direct acceptance to a School of Engineering major by indicating the major as their first or second choice on the application. Applicants will be granted direct acceptance based on their high school grade point average, courses completed in mathematics and sciences, scores on standardized tests, and/or their personal statement.
To take advantage of direct acceptance, first-year students must complete the declaration of major process in their first term at UCSC or forfeit their direct acceptance status.
Students not directly admitted may still apply during their first year and their acceptance into their selected major will be based upon their School of Engineering grade point average (GPA—described below), their high school grade point average, courses completed in mathematics and sciences, and scores on standardized tests.
Post First-Year Current Students Acceptance to Majors
Any student admitted to UCSC as a lower-division student that has completed three or more quarters at UCSC can apply to declare a School of Engineering major upon completion (with a grade of C or better) of all the foundation courses for that major. Specific information about requirements and the School of Engineering major declaration process can be found at http://ua.soe.ucsc.edu/.
School of Engineering GPA Calculation
The School of Engineering GPA is calculated on grades received for all School of Engineering and Division of Physical and Biological Sciences courses. Students are strongly advised not to request Pass/No Pass grading in any School of Engineering or Division of Physical and Biological Sciences courses since a grade of P is treated as a C for calculating the School of Engineering GPA regardless of the content of the evaluation. No Pass grades are treated as an F. Although the campus GPA excludes the first 15 credits of repeated courses from the GPA calculation, all attempts are included in the School of Engineering GPA calculation. The School of Engineering GPA is used in determining acceptance into School of Engineering majors and the School of Engineering disqualification process described later in this section.
Junior Transfer Acceptance to Majors
The School of Engineering strongly encourages applications from transfer students. Due to the prerequisite structure for upper-division courses, prospective transfer students should have completed as many of the lower-division requirements for the respective majors as possible to complete the degree within a reasonable time. Students must plan carefully because many courses must be taken sequentially.
Transfer students should not follow the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) because it will not provide transfer students with enough mathematics and engineering courses to allow them to complete School of Engineering programs at UCSC in two years.
Students who apply as transfer students with junior status (90 quarter credits or more of transfer credit) who wish to earn a degree from the School of Engineering must indicate a School of Engineering major as their first choice on their UC application. (Students may also indicate an alternative School of Engineering major as their second choice.)
Junior transfers who do not list a School of Engineering major on their application to UCSC will not be considered for admission to such majors after the first day of their first quarter on campus.
Acceptance into the major is based on the student’s academic college record and preparation for the major. Applicants are encouraged to take and excel in as many courses that are equivalent to the department’s foundation courses as possible. For many School of Engineering majors, completion of a year of calculus (accepted as equivalent to Mathematics 19A-B), linear algebra, differential equations, a year of calculus-based physics courses (accepted as equivalent to Physics 5A, 5B, 5C), and two programming courses (accepted as equivalent to Computer Science 12A/L, Computer Science 12B/M, or Computer Engineering 12/L or Computer Engineering 13/L) are strongly recommended. An applicant will be approved, conditionally approved, or declined. Only students who have completed most or all of the foundation courses will be approved or conditionally approved for acceptance into the major.
Students who are approved for acceptance and who have course credit for all the foundation courses for their major must declare the major in their first term of enrollment at UCSC. The status of students who are approved for acceptance but who, upon review of their transcripts, are found not to have course credit for all the foundation courses for their major will be changed to conditionally approved.
Students who are conditionally approved must complete the remaining required foundation courses for their major in their first term at UCSC and declare the major at the beginning of the following term at UCSC. Conditionally approved students will be evaluated based upon their performance in the foundation courses attempted during their first term at UCSC. Students who are conditionally approved for the major should be prepared to declare an alternative major outside of the School of Engineering in case they are unsuccessful in their attempt to complete their remaining foundation courses.
Course Substitutions
The School of Engineering undergraduate advising office may require that a Petition for Course Substitution be approved before credit for a course completed at another institution can be applied to any School of Engineering major requirement. The undergraduate advising staff can help determine if this petition process is necessary based on transcript information provided to them by the student. This petition is in addition to and separate from the transfer credit awarded by the university. Petition forms are available at the undergraduate advising office and online at http://ua.soe.ucsc.edu/policies-forms. Each petition must be accompanied by a course description, syllabus, and verification of the number of credits earned with a grade of C or better. To guarantee equivalency, departments may sometimes require a grade of B or better. It is very helpful if students can provide further evidence of course content, such as examples of programming assignments, homework, or examinations.
Appeal Process
Appeal of negative decisions concerning School of Engineering admission will be evaluated by the academic program to which the student applied. Appeal letters must be submitted in writing to the undergraduate advising office within the time frame given in the letter of denial. Late appeals will not be considered. Letters of appeal should describe any extenuating circumstances that might affect the faculty’s evaluation of the record.
Students whose petitions are denied may still be admitted to UCSC, but they may not reapply for acceptance to the engineering major(s) for which they were originally considered.
Letter Grade Policy
The School of Engineering strongly advises students to request letter grades in all foundation courses for all engineering concentrations. Many majors in the School of Engineering have additional restrictions on the use of the Pass/No Pass option. Foundation courses should not be taken Pass/No Pass because doing so may lower students’ School of Engineering GPA and affect their admission into School of Engineering majors. Major grade requirements are as follows:
Bioengineering major: All courses required for the major must be taken for a letter grade. Two lower-division exceptions are allowed.
Bioinformatics major: Same as campus requirements, but foundation courses should not be taken Pass/No Pass, since doing so may lower the declaration GPA needed for admission to the major.
Computer engineering major: All courses required for the major must be taken for a letter grade. Two lower-division exceptions are allowed.
Computer engineering minor: Same as campus requirements.
Computer science major: All courses required for the major must be taken for letter grades. Two lower-division exceptions are allowed.
Computer game design major and minor: All courses required for the major and minor must be taken for letter grades. Two lower-division exceptions are allowed.
Electrical engineering major: All courses required for the major must be taken for letter grades. Two lower-division exceptions are allowed.
Network and Digital Technology major: All courses required for the major must be taken for a letter grade. Two lower-division exceptions are allowed.
Robotics engineering major: All courses required for the major must be taken for a letter grade. Two lower-division exceptions are allowed.
Technology and information management major: All courses required for the major must be taken for letter grades. Two lower-division exceptions are allowed (not to include Technology and Information Management 50 or 58).
Statistics minor: same as campus requirements.
Note: for admission into any School of Engineering major, a grade of Pass is treated as a C, which may adversely affect your admission to the major.
Disqualification Policy
GPA Requirement
The cumulative School of Engineering GPA is calculated from all School of Engineering and Physical and Biological Sciences courses attempted. The term School of Engineering GPA is calculated from all School of Engineering and Physical and Biological Sciences courses taken in the previous quarter as a UCSC student. Students are considered in good departmental standing when both the cumulative and the term School of Engineering GPAs are 2.0 or greater. If the cumulative and/or term GPAs are less than 2.0, the student is placed on departmental probation. Students on departmental probation whose cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the beginning of the next quarter are subject to disqualification from the major. Students with a term School of Engineering GPA that falls below 1.5 in any term are also subject to disqualification from the major. All students subject to disqualification are reviewed by their departmental faculty to determine whether to require the student to choose a different major or to be on departmental probation.
Ethics Requirement
Graduates of the Baskin School of Engineering are expected to become professionals with the highest ethical standards. Knowledge and practice of professional ethics is a requirement for the degree. Examples of professional society codes of ethics are available at www.ieee.org/about/ethics_code/index.html and www.acm.org/serving/se/code.htm. Students of the Baskin School of Engineering are also expected to adhere to high ethical standards while pursuing their undergraduate studies.
Students found guilty of a single incident of academic dishonesty may, at the discretion of the department, be disqualified from the major. In addition, students may be subject to other possible university sanctions. A second incident of academic dishonesty will result in automatic disqualification from the major.
Additional Notes on Disqualification
Please note the Repeating Courses policy in the School of Engineering section of this catalog. Two failed attempts in a class will endanger your opportunity to continue in a School of Engineering major.
Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science have additional disqualification criteria. Please see those sections of this catalog for details.
Repeating Courses
No School of Engineering course may be attempted more than twice without prior approval from the chair of the department offering the course. A class in which a W is given is counted as an attempt.
Courses Taken Elsewhere After Enrollment
It is the intent of the faculty of the Baskin School of Engineering that all degree requirements be completed at UCSC or prior to first enrollment at UCSC. Course substitutions, such as taking a course at another UC campus, in the Education Abroad Program (EAP), or at a community college, require approval prior to taking the class. Applications and procedures for pre-approval are obtained from and given to the School of Engineering undergraduate advising office.
California Community College articulation agreements do not apply to enrolled students. Students must get pre-approval before taking a class at a community college.
When a student declares their major, minor, or proposed major in a School of Engineering program, the decision as to whether a course taken elsewhere is accepted for this School of Engineering major or minor is made by the major department at that point. (Note: There is no guarantee that a course will be applicable toward a School of Engineering major, minor, or proposed major even if the student has completed more advanced courses in that department.)
School-Wide Information and Policies
Computing Facilities
The Baskin School of Engineering houses research facilities and teaching laboratories in the Baskin Engineering Building for courses in programming, software design, circuits, electronics, graphics, digital design, and computer and system architecture. Emphasis in these laboratories is on state-of-the-art equipment, including personal computers, engineering workstations, a 1000-processor Linux cluster, logic analyzers, microprocessor development systems, a wireless network for mobile computers, and network support at 100MB/sec.
All Unix computers and workstations and most personal computers on campus are networked together, allowing students to access the School of Engineering and the Information Technology Services (ITS) facilities from any computer account on campus. For a more complete description of the computing facilities on campus, see http://its.ucsc.edu/.
Prerequisites
Because of the sequential nature of the School of Engineering curricula, most courses have prerequisites, which are listed in the course descriptions. Students should carefully review these descriptions in the catalog and the quarterly Schedule of Classes. Students must have passed all prerequisites of a course for which they are enrolling. Pre-enrolled students who then fail a prerequisite are no longer eligible to be enrolled in the course and will be dropped.
For example, to enroll in Computer Science 101, a prerequisite to many upper-division courses, the prerequisite courses that must be completed or in progress are Computer Science 12B, Computer Engineering 16, Mathematics 19B, and one of the following: Mathematics 21, 22, 23A, 24, or Applied Mathematics and Statistics 10.
Students who have transferable course work from another institution that appears to satisfy a UCSC course prerequisite should promptly consult with the School of Engineering’s staff advisers. Students will be asked to present records from the other institution to document the course equivalency. Until such evidence has been verified by the department, students attempting to enroll in a course using a prerequisite course that was not completed at UCSC will be informed that they have not satisfied the course prerequisite. (See the Course Substitutions section under Admission to School of Engineering Majors.)
Permission Numbers
Students not meeting the regular prerequisite requirements for courses sponsored by the Baskin School of Engineering may petition the course instructor to receive a permission number to enroll. The instructor may ask a student to demonstrate the ability and/or potential to succeed in the course or may request additional information to formulate a decision. If no instructor has been assigned to the course, please contact the undergraduate advising office for direction.
Materials Fee
Students should be aware that some laboratory courses require each student to purchase miscellaneous parts or a material kit for completion of the laboratory work. Some laboratory courses may include consumable (one-time use) parts and materials that are distributed to the entire class. Some laboratory kits include parts that the student will assemble into a project and keep. Please refer to the Baskin Engineering Laboratory Support web page for specific course material fee amounts: https://intranet.soe.ucsc.edu/lab-support/fees.
Miscellaneous Fees
Miscellaneous breakage or loss of equipment fees are assessed to address the cost of damaged laboratory equipment and loss of laboratory materials due to abuse or negligence. This fee is only charged if a student breaks or loses laboratory equipment or materials and is not a mandatory fee charged to all students taking the course. Please refer to the Baskin Engineering Laboratory Support web page for more information: https://intranet.soe.ucsc.edu/lab-support/fees.
Revised: 8/13/12
