UCSB Engineering

Message from the Associate Dean

Welcome to the College of Engineering at UC Santa Barbara!

One of the College's great strengths is its small school atmosphere in a large university setting. We have state-of-the-art laboratories focused on cutting edge technologies with a tradition of undergraduate participation. With only 1,200 undergraduates, the College of Engineering offers students an opportunity to get to know faculty well to work on research projects, in individual studies, and through internships.

I encourage all students to pursue their academic and career interests to the fullest. We've had a number of students with careful mentorship from faculty turn class research projects into startup companies. Others have gone on to law school, medical school, and graduate school in engineering. Several UCSB students have appeared on Discovery Channel's Mythbusters, while others have become Disney Imagineers. These students clearly pursued their passions. You can do the same.

If you are more industry- than research-oriented, the College also offers a Technology Management Program, focusing on the business and management issues of a technical career. Students take seminars in management, ethics, marketing, and finance to prepare them for leadership positions in the corporate world.

Above all, I urge students to embrace the interdisciplinary atmosphere at the College. We have a very talented faculty and numerous Nobel Prize winners. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn from the best of the best. Challenge yourself. Be curious. Be thoughtful. Be enterprising. And enjoy your time at UCSB.

Glenn Beltz, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies