Questions
Questions or suggestions about the Engineering Honors Program should be sent to honors@engineering.ucsb.edu. Please use your @ucsb email address when contacting the College.
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 in preparation for independent research and inquiry.
Advantages of membership*
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Library privileges: extended book check out and library locker request
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Honors advising
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Quarterly honors programming, including special tours and lectures
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Scholars Floors, located in several university-owned residence halls, are available to eligible first-year students
*Membership privileges are subject to change annually.
Eligibility
Upon UCSB Admission: The College of Engineering invites approximately the top 10% of incoming freshmen into the Honors Program based on a comprehensive review of the applicant. Select transfer students will be invited to join the Honors Program. Students will be notified about joining the Honors Program when notified about UCSB admission.
Students who are not eligible for the Program at the time of admission may request to enter the program after attaining a cumulative UCSB GPA of 3.5 or greater after three regular quarters at UCSB.
Students admitted to fall 2025 have one window of opportunity to join the Honors Program post-matriculation, by applying to the program between your freshman (first-year) and sophomore years, if you have completed at least 36 letter-graded units with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
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By applying to the program between your freshman (first-year) and sophomore years, if you have completed at least 36 letter-graded units with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
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By applying to the program between your sophomore and junior years, if you have completed at least 72 letter-graded units with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. (The last opportunity to join the Honors Program is the summer after the sixth regular quarter at UC Santa Barbara.)
Admission to the Honors Program, pre-matriculation, will likely be put on hiatus for students entering UCSB in fall 2026.
Annual Program Requirements
To maintain status in the program, all continuing students must:
- Complete 10 hours of community service each academic year (done during fall, winter, spring quarters) and report hours by June 15.*
- Maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA at the end of each spring quarter.
Students are encouraged to pursue enrichment activities and should review the yearly program guide for enrichment suggestions and guidance.
To graduate as an Honors Program "Scholar"
Honors Program scholars wear a scholar stole at commencement and may list their status on their resume:
- Complete 6.0 total Honors units during the junior and/or senior years with a letter-grade of B or higher in each course. Acceptable courses are:
- Departmental 196, 197, 198, 199 courses (e.g. ME 197 or CS 196)
- STEM graduate level courses numbered 200-299 (courses may not simultaneously apply to an MS degree)
- Engineering courses completed through the UC Education Abroad Program
- Notes: Capstone participation/courses do not apply to honors credit, nor do graduate courses taken to satisfy requirements for a graduate degree. Paid research positions cannot apply.
- Complete 10 community service hours for each year the student was a member of the Honors Program.
- Maintain a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA.
- Report community service and academic enrichment information by May 1 of the year they are graduating to ensure recognition for this honor.
- Submit your volunteer hours for each service activity using our Honors Community Service google form.
Note for summer and fall degree candidates: honors units must be completed by the spring quarter prior to degree completion to receive recognition of completion of the program in the spring commencement exercises.
Have you completed the Honors Program requirements to graduate? Click here for the Honors Program Completion Form.
Honors Program parameters and requirements subject to change.
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Honors Program Frequently Asked Questions