College of Engineering

Undergraduate Advising Office
1050 Kemper Hall; (530) 752-1979; http://engineering.ucdavis.edu

Engineering is the profession in which the physical and biological sciences are applied in a practical way for the benefit of society. As an engineering student, you will learn to observe and describe technological problems and to seek useful solutions to them. Your skills upon graduation will be useful to you not only as an engineer, but also as a professional in management, sales, operations, manufacturing and other fields.

Sixteen undergraduate engineering curricula, including three formal combined major programs, are offered. Each of these is a four-year program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science. Eleven programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the nationally recognized accrediting body for engineering curricula: Aeronautical Science and Engineering, Biological Systems Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.

Minor Programs. The College of Engineering currently offers one minor program in Computational Applied Science.

The Undergraduate Programs

Applied Science

The Department of Applied Science offers two majors, one in Optical Science and Engineering and one in Computational Applied Science. The objective of the Optical Science and Engineering program is to provide a basic education in the fundamental principles of optics combined with key courses in physics, mathematics and the engineering applications of optics. There is a rapidly growing national demand for engineers educated in optical science and engineering. Much of the high-technology infrastructure is based upon optics and its applications, the most prominent being optical digital information transmission. In addition, engineers trained in optical science and engineering are in strong demand in health care and life science, optical sensing for environmental and weather applications, energy-use reduction, commercial camera and space-program optical applications, and national defense applications. Computational Applied Science deals with the interplay between the mathematics of models that arise from physical science and engineering and the numerical techniques for their computational implementation and subsequent solution. The major provides a comprehensive background in mathematics and physical science. The specific objective of the major is to enable students to construct practical numerical solutions to problems in science and engineering. Strong components of the program are the development, analysis and integration of numerical algorithms and an appreciation for the interaction among numerical simulations, theoretical models and experiments.

Majors:
Computational Applied Science, B.S.
Optical Science and Engineering, B.S.

Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Biological Systems Engineering majors learn to combine the science and art of engineering with the science of biology to design systems that influence, control, or use biological materials and organisms for improving the quality of life. Specific objectives include designing systems to process biological materials into consumer products; designing machines to interact with biological systems in disciplines ranging from agriculture to medicine; managing, recycling and using wastes; developing systems to protect and preserve our natural resources and environment; developing and improving processing systems for food; designing equipment and systems that improve nutrition and diets; and minimizing waste discharge to the environment.

Majors:
Biological Systems Engineering, B.S.

Biomedical Engineering

The Department of Biomedical Engineering advances fundamental medical concepts; creates knowledge from the molecular to the organ systems levels; and develops innovative biologics, materials, processes, implants, devices and informatics approaches. These approaches are applied to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. The objective is to prepare students for employment in companies that manufacture medical assist devices, human tissue products and therapeutics. The program also prepares students to enter a graduate program in biomedical engineering or pursue professional degrees in medicine and related health fields.

Majors:
Biomedical Engineering, B.S.

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science offers five majors, including two combined majors.

Chemical Engineering majors learn to apply chemical and engineering principles to create useful products ranging from antibiotics to zirconium, from petroleum to plutonium, from agricultural chemicals to plastics. Specific objectives include the design of industrial processes as diverse as integrated circuit materials production, integrated waste management and petroleum refining.
Biochemical Engineering majors combine chemical engineering studies with studies in the life sciences and bioprocess engineering. Bioprocess engineering is the application of engineering principles to develop, optimize and commercialize manufacturing processes. Specific objectives include pharmaceuticals production, environmental repair, industrial chemical production and food production.

Materials Science and Engineering majors learn to understand the relationships among microscopic structure, properties and behavior of materials in order to produce new and improved materials with capabilities far superior to common metals, alloys and ceramics. Specific objectives include the development of materials for high-speed transportation systems, surgical and dental implants, new generations of power plants and solid-state electronic devices in computer and optical communications technology.

Majors:
Biochemical Engineering, B.S.
Chemical Engineering, B.S.
Chemical Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering, B.S.
Materials Science and Engineering, B.S.
Electrical Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering, B.S.

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Civil Engineering majors learn to apply the principles of the physical and biological sciences and engineering to plan and design systems to improve the quality of life. Specific objectives include providing potable water and freedom from disease-carrying wastes; protecting the natural environment; mitigating the effects of earthquakes and other natural disasters; designing land-, water- and air-transportation systems; and building roads and structures.

Majors:
Civil Engineering, B.S.

Computer Science and Engineering

The field of computer science and engineering encompasses the organization, design, analysis, theory, programming and application of digital computers and computing systems. The curriculum develops versatile engineers with backgrounds spanning a broad computer/software spectrum. The Computer Science and Engineering major provides a solid background in mathematics, physics, chemistry and electronic circuits and systems—all supporting the computer hardware and software courses that form the focus of the curriculum. A key theme is the hardware/software interaction in computer system design; this theme is reflected in the balance between hardware and software course requirements and in the orientation of the courses themselves. The major requires more humanities and social science electives than other college majors, in order to produce the verbal skills and intellectual breadth demanded by today’s employers.

Major:
Computer Science and Engineering, B.S.

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Electrical Engineering majors learn to apply the principles of the physical sciences and engineering to the design, analysis, development, production and evaluation of electronic systems. Specific objectives include the provision of systems for communications, control, signal processing, integrated circuit fabrication, optoelectronics, consumer electronics and digital systems.
Computer Engineering majors study the design, development, analysis, organization, theory, programming and application of digital computers. Specific objectives include developing the student’s ability to design both software and hardware. In comparison to the Computer Science and Engineering major, the Computer Engineering major provides greater emphasis on hardware in the key hardware/software interaction in computer system design.

Majors:
Computer Engineering, B.S.
Electrical Engineering, B.S.

Mechanical and Aeronautical Science Engineering

Aeronautical Science and Engineering majors learn to apply the principles of the physical sciences and engineering to vehicles whose motion is determined by aerodynamic forces. Specific objectives include the design, development and manufacture of aircraft and other transportation systems integrating the disciplines associated with aerodynamics, propulsion, structures and guidance/control.

Mechanical Engineering majors learn to apply physical and mechanical principles to the design and manufacture of machines and products, energy conversion systems and equipment for guidance and control. Specific objectives include the provision of products and processes for intelligent manufacturing systems, biomechanical and sports equipment, power generation systems, propulsion for transportation, integration of vehicles and automated highways, and applications of computer and automation technologies.

Majors:
Aeronautical Science and Engineering, B.S.
Mechanical Engineering, B.S.
Mechanical Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering, B.S.