UCSB Engineering

College of Engineering Honors Program


Program Description

The College of Engineering (COE) Honors Program is designed to enrich the educational opportunities for outstanding students within the College. Students in the Honors Program will be encouraged to participate in early experiences in research and scholarship through special seminars and individualized work in regular courses, and as members of research teams. Students in the Honors Program will be provided opportunities to become peer mentors and tutors within the College.

Participation in the Honors Program offers preferential enrollment in classes for continuing students as well as graduate student library privileges. Housing is available to eligible first-year students in Scholars Halls located in several university-owned residence halls.


Eligibility

The College of Engineering invites approximately the top 10% of incoming freshmen into the Honors Program based on a comprehensive review of the applicant, including high school GPA and SAT or ACT scores, personal statements and accomplishments. Transfer students with a UC transferable GPA of 3.6 or greater are invited to join the Program.

Students who are not eligible for the Program at the time of admission may petition to enter the program after attaining a cumulative UCSB GPA of 3.5 or greater after two regular quarters at UCSB.


Lower Division Program Requirements:

To maintain Lower division Honors Program status, students must complete 10 hours of community service each year and maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA at the end of each Spring quarter.

Students are encouraged to enroll in Engineering Science 10H, the freshman level Honors Seminar, freshman and sophomore level honors courses in math and chemistry and in the honors discussion sections for their General Education courses, as appropriate.


Upper Division Honors Program

To maintain Upper division Honors Program status, students must complete 10 hours of community service each year and maintain a 3.50 or higher cumulative GPA at the end of each Spring quarter.

Graduating with Honors Program Designation and to be listed as such in the Commencement Book, students must complete 6.0 total Honors units during their junior and senior years; comprised of coursework from departmental 196, 197, 199 or graduate level courses with grades of B or higher, complete a total of 10 hours of community service and maintain a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA at the end of each Spring quarter.

Students may petition to have courses not included on the approved Honors list be considered to fulfill Honors course requirements; but it is strongly recommended that students receive approval prior to taking such a course. Students may also petition to have other experiences, such as completing courses toward their engineering major through the UC Education Abroad Program, completing creative endeavors utilizing concepts from their major, and unpaid internships, counted as honors course credit.

Students completing the Honors Program requirements will be acknowledged with a certificate at the Engineering Senior Send-Off event and will have their names included in the commencement awards book.


Joining the Honors Program after Matriculation

If you were not invited into the Honors Program at the time of admission and have completed two regular quarters at UCSB earning a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or greater, you may petition to join the Honors Program.  Please email honors(at)engineering.ucsb.edu – include your whole name and perm number in the body of the email.  If you meet the above criteria, your GOLD account will be updated to reflect your new Honors Program status and you will be added to the Honors Information Listserv.


Peer Mentor Program

Students in the College Honors Program will be asked to participate in the Honors e-buddy program.  This summer program matches current UCSB Engineering Honors students with newly admitted Engineering Honors Program students to facilitate smooth transitions to campus.  This informal virtual-peer program encourages new students to communicate with another high achieving engineering student prior to arriving at UCSB.  Typical dialogues in the e-buddy program include discussions about what kind of computer new students should buy, questions about classes and research opportunities, transportation issues (bike vs. skateboard vs. car) and more.  A call for e-buddy volunteers goes out during Spring Quarter.



Reporting Community Service Hours and Honors Courses

At the end of each academic year, Honors Program members will be prompted to report their community service hours and completion of Honors level courses.

Loss of Honors Program Status - students will be dropped from the program at the end of Spring quarter each year if:

  • Cumulative GPA falls below 3.5
  • Community services hour quotas not met

Students will be dropped from the program immediately due to:

  • Change of major out of the College
  • Academic Probation, Academic Dismissal or if the student is suspended for Academic dishonesty or any other Judicial Action.

 

Questions or suggestions about the Engineering Honors Program should be sent to:
honors(at)engineeirng.ucsb.edu