UCSB College of Engineering

University Requirements

University of California Entry Level Writing Requirement

All students entering the University of California must demonstrate an ability to write effectively by fulfilling the entry level writing requirement. This requirement may be met in one of five ways prior to admission.

by achieving a score of 680 or higher on the SAT II: Subject Test in Writing;
by achieving a score of 3 or higher on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in English Composition and Literature of English Language and Composition;
by passing the University of California systemwide Analytical Writing Placement Exam while in high school;
by achieving a score of 5 or higher on the International Baccalaureate (higher level) English A Examination;
by entering the university with transcripts showing the completion of an accptable 3-semester unit or 4-quarter unit course in English composition equivalent to Writing 2 at UCSB, with a grade of C or better

Students who have not taken the Analytical Writing Placement examination and who have not met the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement in one of the other ways listed above will be required to take the examination during their first quarter at UCSB (see the Schedule of Classes for examination time and location). An appropriate score on the examination will satisfy the requirement. Only one UC examination may be taken – either the systemwide Entry Level Examination while in high school or the examination given at UCSB; and neither may be repeated.

Students who enter UCSB without having fulfilled the university’s Entry Level Writing requirement and (if they have not previously taken the systemwide examination) who do not achieve an appropriate score on the examination given on campus must enroll in Writing 1 or 1E within their fi rst year at UCSB. A grade of C or higher in Writing 1 or 1E is needed to satisfy the requirement. Students who earn a grade of C- or lower in Writing 1 or 1E will be required to repeat the course in successive quarters until the requirement is satisfied.

Once students matriculate at UCSB, they may not fulfill the requirement by enrolling at another institution. Transfer courses equivalent to Writing 2 or 50 will not be accepted for unit or subject credit unless the UC Entry Level Writing requirement has already been met. Students will only be allowed to meet the Area A requirement of the General Education Requirements with courses taken after satisfying the UC Entry Level Writing requirement. The Entry Level WritinEntry Writing requirement must be completed by the end of the third quarter of matriculation. Students who do not meet this deadline will be blocked from further enrollment at UCSB; ESL students should consult with the Writing Program.

American History & Institutions

The American History and Institutions requirement is based on the principle that American students enrolled at an American university should have some knowledge of the history and government of their country. You may meet this requirement in any one of the following ways:

by achieving a score of 3 or higher on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in American History or American Government and Politics; or
by passing a non-credit examination in American history or American institutions, offered in the Department of History during the first week of each quarter. Consult the department for further information; or
by achieving a score of 650 or higher on SAT II: Subject Test in American History; or
by completing one four-unit course (see the General Catalog or current Schedule of Classes for a list of valid courses)

Courses used to fulfill the American History and Institutions requirement may also be applied to General Education or major requirements, or both where appropriate. Equivalent courses taken at other accredited colleges or universities, in UC Extension, or in summer session may be acceptable. Students who transfer to UCSB from another campus of the University of California where the American History and Institutions Requirement has been considered satisfied will automatically fulfill the requirement at UCSB.

International students on a nonimmigrant visa may petition for a waiver of this requirement through the Director of International Students and Scholars.

Unit Requirement

A minimum of 180 quarter units is required for graduation. Most majors in the College of Engineering require more than 180 units (please refer to the COE Announcement for your curriculum year to determine the number of units required for your major).

The acceptability of transfer courses for unit credit is determined by the Office of Admissions. The applicability of such courses toward specific requirements is dertermined by the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the College of Engineering and the department chairs/advisors.

Academic Residence Requirement

Candidates for a bachelor's degree must be registered in the university for at least three terms to fulfill the university's academic residence requirement. A term is a regular quarter, including summer session, in which a student completes 6 or more units of resident (on-campus) courses. Each UC summer session in which a student completes at least two units but fewer than six is the equivalent of half a term's residence. In this context, summer session refers to the entire summer session period of twelve weeks and not to an individual summer session mini-session.

At least 35 of the final 45 units must be taken in the college or school in which the degree is to be awarded. Courses taken in UC Extension to not satisfy residence requirements.

College of Engineering residence requirement. Students in the College of Engineering must complete at least 27 upper-division units, of which at least 20 must be in the upper-division major, while in residence in the college. In the case of double majors, at least 20 upper division units bust be completed in each major (i.e., not double counted) while in residence in the College of Engineering and in the College of Letters and Science. Courses used in satisfaction of residence in one major may not be applied to residence in another major. Courses taken in University Extension and those completed in the university's Education Abroad Program do not apply to the residence requirement.

Education Abroad or UCDC Program Participants. With one modification, students who participate in the University of California Education Abroad program or UCDC program are responsible for all academic residence requirements as explained above. For students who participate in EAP or UCDC as seniors, the rule requiring 35 of the final 45 units in the college or school in which the degree is to awarded is modified to 35 of the final 90 units. Students must secure prior approval to use this modification and may graduate without returning to UCSB provided that they have satisfied all degree requirements by the end of their year abroad. Those who have any remaining degree requirements must return to UCSB to complete a minimum of 12 units on campus while fulfilling final degree requirements.

Grade-Point Average Requirement

At the time of graduation, students in the College of Engineering and the College of Letters and Science must have at least a 2.0 (C) grade-point average in (1) all courses undertaken at the University of California (UC) except those graded passed/not passed; (2) all UC courses required and acceptable for the student's overall major program, both lower- and upper-division; and (3) all UC courses required and acceptable for the student's upper-division major program.

Courses undertaken at any of the UC campuses (with the exception of UC Extension courses) are included in the computation of the grade-point average (GPA). UCSB courses taken by concurrent enrollment through Extension, beginning Fall 2000, will be included in UCSB's GPA.

Courses appropriate for satisfying major requirements must be used in the computation of the grade-point average even if they are in excess of the minimum requirements of the major program. Students who wish to receive recognition for completion of a minor must have earned a grade-point average of at least 2.0 in all courses required and acceptable for the minor, and in all courses required or acceptable for the upper-division major. Courses graded Incomplete, except those taken on a passed/not passed basis, will be included as F grades in final computations. Certain courses designated as remedial are offered for workload credit only and do not figure in calculation of the GPA.