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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do research at Baskin Engineering?

Yes. Many professors encourage undergraduate students to conduct research and provide various opportunities throughout the year. Some research positions are paid and/or can be completed for course credit. 

Is there going to be time for extracurricular activities?

Absolutely! There are more than 180 student clubs at the university and students are encouraged to join a club (or a few!) that catches their interest. Club participation is a great way to meet new friends, pursue passions, and gain hands-on experience.

How hard is it to get into undergrad classes?

It depends on the class you are trying to enroll in. Some classes have less seats than others and tend to fill up fast. If you see that a class is full, it’s always best to join the waitlist, as more spots may become available near the start of the quarter.

What are the class sizes for the lower and upper division classes under the engineering school?

Annual undergraduate class size by division and department can be viewed on the ​​Institutional Research, Assessment, and Policy Studies website

What is the diversity breakdown for engineering?

The university creates charts detailing undergraduate major count by gender and race/ethnicity every academic year. That data can be viewed on the ​​Institutional Research, Assessment, and Policy Studies website.

Is it hard to get help and talk to professors due to large class sizes? 

Almost every course offers in-person faculty office hours so students can get their questions answered and obtain the extra help they may need. Also, larger classes tend to have at least one graduate teaching assistant (TA). TAs often hold office hours and smaller discussion groups to assist students in completing assigned coursework and/or lab work. 

Which residential college is best for incoming engineering students?

Each of our 10 residential colleges have their perks based on proximity to students’ ideal amenities. For the most part, you should not be choosing based on accessibility to the engineering school, as many lower division courses are spread out around campus. Most undergraduate students don’t spend much time at Baskin Engineering until their 3rd and 4th year. 

What majors are housed in the school of engineering?

View the list of degree programs offered by the Baskin School of Engineering.

Can I switch into computer science if I was accepted into another engineering program?

The UC Santa Cruz computer science major is currently impacted. This means that incoming freshmen must be admitted as a proposed computer science (B.A or B.S.) student to be eligible to later declare a computer science major, and transfer students must be admitted to the major at the time of admission to UCSC. The computer science minor is an option for students interested in pursuing computer science programming.

What relationship does Baskin Engineering have with tech in Silicon Valley?

We have several Silicon Valley industry partnerships. Many of our students and faculty are involved in industry-academia research projects, programs, and internships. Additionally, the Baskin Engineering Corporate Sponsored Senior Projects Program (CSSPP) provides engineering students the opportunity to gain industry-level skills while also delivering effective solutions for corporate sponsor products.

What companies collaborate with the engineering school?

A few of our industry partners are Amazon, Dell, and Oracle. To get an idea of the companies that regularly partner with the Baskin School of Engineering, view the Corporate Sponsored Senior Projects Program (CSS-PP) list of sponsors.

What internship opportunities are available to students?

There are a variety of opportunities available to students year-round. Students should utilize the UCSC Career Center Handshake platform, which provides an up-to-date list of available student job and internship opportunities. We also have a Career Success Team within Baskin Engineering, who work with students on career coaching, advice, and counseling. For direct support, please contact Erin Busch, Career Engagement Specialist, at esbusch@ucsc.edu.

What are the employment rates of new graduates?

Employment rate data is hard to collect. Instead, we recommend looking at the first destination survey on the ​​Institutional Research, Assessment, and Policy Studies website to get an idea of the various roles graduates from our engineering programs first obtain. 

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