Capped Major Application

The ECE Department may grant admission to UC San Diego undergraduate students who were not admitted to the department as entering students. Admission will be considered for students who have completed the screening courses below demonstrating special aptitude for the ECE curriculum. In order to be considered, you must take the following steps:
 

1. Take the ECE screening courses. Students who want to switch or declare one of the four ECE majors must complete the following screening courses before they can apply through the JSOE Capped Major Change Application. 

Screening Courses:

SPRING and FALL 2020 screening courses:

  • The ECE Department will allow screening courses to be taken P/NP during spring quarter 2020 and fall quarter 2020 only.
  • Admissions decisions will be based on available grades in the screening courses and overall GPA.
  • A grade of "P" will not apply towards the screening courses GPA.

WINTER and SPRING 2021 screening courses must be taken for a letter grade.

Electrical Engineering and Electrical Engineering & Society Majors:

  • MATH 20A, 20B, 20C
  • PHYS 2A, 2B (PHYS 4A and 4C are acceptable)
  • ECE* 35, 45

Engineering Physics

  • MATH 20A, 20B, 20C
  • PHYS 4A (offered in winter quarter only) and PHYS 4C (offered in fall quarter only)
  • ECE* 35, 45

Computer Engineering**:

  • MATH 20A, 20B, 20C
  • PHYS 2A, 2B  (PHYS 4A and 4C are acceptable)
  • ECE* 35, 45
  • CSE 8A+8B or CSE 11 (If you've had previous programing experience)

*EFFECTIVE SUMMER 2023, ECE 35 and 45 must be completed at UC San Diego or another UC campus.

2. Apply using the JSOE Major Change Application.

  • Students may apply in any quarter after they have completed the screening courses above, but should take into consideration time to graduation. 
  • You are required to submit a Quarter by Quarter plan and get College approval if you have 150 or more units.
  • ECE will rank applicants according to grades received in the courses from the screening list. All courses will be weighed equally. 
  • A 3.5 GPA in the screening courses is considered competitive.
  • Results are sent through the VAC.

Completing screening courses and getting a high GPA in the screening courses does NOT guarantee admissions.

**The Capped Major admissions process for the Computer Engineering (EC26) major will be changing.

Starting in the summer 2024 application cycle, there will be no spots available for continuing students who wish to apply to switch to the CE (EC26) major.

  • The spring 2024 application cycle will be the last application cycle where spots will be available for continuing students to apply to the CE (EC26) major. 
  • All screening courses must be completed by the end of winter quarter 2024 in order to apply for the spring 2024 application cycle.
  • The ECE Department strictly enforces prerequisites in ECE 35 and ECE 45. Please plan accordingly. MATH 18, 20A-20B and PHYS 2A must be completed prior to enrolling in ECE 35. 
  • If you do not have MATH 18, 20A-20B and PHYS 2A completed before fall quarter 2023, you will not be eligible to apply to switch to the Computer Engineering major.
  • There are no changes to the Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics or EE & Society Capped Major Application process.

Please note:

  • Current EE, EP and EE & Society majors can switch to another major within the ECE Department EXCEPT Computer Engineering by using the Major/Minor Tool on Tritonlink.
  • EE, CE and EE & Society majors who wish to switch to Engineering Physics should keep in mind that the PHYS 4 series is required for the EP major.
  • Current Computer Engineering majors in the ECE Department can switch to EE, EP, or EE & Society through the Major/Minor Tool in Tritonlink.
  • Continuing students who want to switch to the Computer Engineering major in the ECE Department must complete screening courses, get a competitive screening courses GPA and apply through the JSOE Capped Major Application until the spring 2024 application cycle only.
  • AP scores and screening courses taken outside of UC San Diego must be posted on a student's academic history by the time the application closes. Transcripts submitted to  the department will not be accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions:

When should I apply?

The Capped Major Change Application opens each quarter for the ECE Department. 

Students should apply at the end of the quarter they are completing their last screening course(s). For example, if a student is enrolled in their last screening course(s) in fall quarter, they should apply when the winter Capped Major Application becomes available. 

How many times can I apply?

Students can apply more than once but should consider time to degree if they are not accepted. Students who have 150 or more units are required to submit a Quarter by Quarter plan and get college approval to switch majors.

Can I apply to two engineering majors at a time?

No, the Capped Major Application allows students to apply to only one engineering major at a time.

Is there an advantage to applying during a specific quarter?

No, there is no advantage to applying during a specific quarter because the number of applications vary significantly quarter by quarter.

Will the admissions committee review my grades in my other courses?

No, the admissions committee will only consider the grades in screening courses when they review applications.

I got a C- in one of the screening courses. Can I retake it and if I get a better grade, will the better grade count?
  • If a student receives a C- or better in a screening course, retakes it and gets a better grade, the Capped Major Application will not count the better grade.
  • If a student receives a D or F in a screening course, retakes it and gets a C- or better, the Capped Major Application will count the better grade.
I have AP credit for MATH 20A-B, PHYS 2A-B. Can I retake them and if I get As in the courses, will the As count in my screening courses GPA?

No, the grades will not count in your screening courses GPA. The Capped Major Application will recognize that you already have credit for these courses and will not count the grades in the screening courses GPA.

I'm an EE/EP/EE&Society major, can I switch to the CE (EC26) major without taking screening courses?

No, all non-CE (EC26) majors must take screening courses and apply in order to switch to the CE (EC26) major. Starting in the summer 2024 application cycle, there will not be any spots available in the CE (EC26) major.

Can I take screening courses at my community college?

Yes, students can take screening courses that are equivalent to CSE 8A-B or CSE 11, MATH 20A-B-C and PHYS 2A-B at a community college if the courses are articulated per assist.org

I took screening courses at my community college. Will the grades I received be used to calculate the screening courses GPA?

Yes, the grades of screening courses taken at a community college will be used to calculate the screening courses GPA. The course(s) must be equivalent to a UC San Diego screening course and must be taken for a letter grade.

I have AP credit for CSE 8A, MATH20A-20B and PHYS2A-B. How will AP credit count towards the screening courses GPA?

AP scores are not assigned any grades. AP credit will satisfy the screening courses requirement but will not be factored into the screening courses GPA.

I'm a non-ECE major and I want to double major in a major offered by ECE. What should I do?

Non-ECE majors need to:
1. Complete the screening courses and get a competitive GPA in the screening courses.

2. Apply to the Jacobs School of Engineering Capped Major Application during the application period.

3. If you are admitted to the ECE Department and accept your offer of admissions, your major will be changed to an ECE major and your non-ECE major will be dropped. Your first major will be an ECE major and you will add your second non-ECE major via the Double Major Petition form. If your non-ECE major is capped, check with your non-ECE major advisor if you can declare your non-ECE major as your second major in your Double Major Petition.

4. Send the following completed forms to ece-ugadvising@ucsd.edu. Include your PID in the email.

5. Notify the ECE Undergraduate Advisors through the VAC that you have emailed your Double Major Petition forms.

Keep in mind:
Starting in the summer 2024 application cycle, there will be no spots available for continuing non-ECE majors who wish to apply to double major in CE (EC26). The spring 2024 application cycle will be the last application cycle where spots will be available for continuing non-ECE majors to apply to double major in the CE (EC26) major.  All screening courses must be completed by the end of winter quarter 2024 in order to apply for the spring 2024 application cycle.

I was accepted as an undeclared or non-ECE major for fall 2023. How can I declare or switch to the CE (EC26) major?

Undeclared or non-ECE majors must:
1. Complete screening courses (ECE 35, ECE 45, MATH 20A-B-C, PHYS 2A-B, and CSE 11 or CSE 8A+B).
2. Get a competitive screening courses GPA (3.5).
3. Apply through the JSOE Capped Major Application.

Keep in mind:

  • After the spring 2024 application cycle, there will be no spots for undeclared or non-ECE majors to apply to the CE (EC26) major. 
  • All screening courses must be completed by the end of winter quarter 2024 in order to apply for the spring 2024 application cycle.
  • Undeclared or non-ECE majors admitted in fall 2023 only have two quarters to complete screening courses. Please plan accordingly. Undeclared or non-ECE majors who wish to apply to the CE (EC26) major must complete or have credit for MATH 18, MATH 20A-20B and PHYS 2A in order to take ECE 35 in the fall and ECE 45 in the winter. Check assist.org for equivalent courses to MATH 18, MATH 20A-20B and PHYS 2A offered at California Community Colleges. Check the Math Department's Transfer Equivalencies website for courses equivalent to MATH 18, 20A and 20B.
  • If you do not have MATH 18, 20A-20B and PHYS 2A completed before fall quarter 2023, you will not be eligible to apply to switch to the Computer Engineering major.
I was accepted as an EE, EP or EE & Society major for fall 2023. How can I switch to the CE (EC26) major?

EE, EP or EE & Society must:
1. Complete screening courses (ECE 35, ECE 45, MATH 20A-B-C, PHYS 2A-B, and CSE 11 or CSE 8A+B).
2. Get a competitive screening courses GPA (3.5).
3. Apply through the JSOE Capped Major Application.

Keep in mind:

  • After the spring 2024 application cycle, there will be no spots for EE, EP or EE & Society majors to apply to the CE (EC26) major.
  • All screening courses must be completed by the end of winter quarter 2024 in order to apply for the spring 2024 application cycle.
  • EE, EP or EE & Society majors admitted in fall 2023 only have two quarters to complete screening courses. Please plan accordingly. EE, EP or EE & Society majors who wish to apply to the CE (EC26) major must complete or have credit for MATH 18, MATH 20A-20B and PHYS 2A in order to take ECE 35 in the fall and ECE 45 in the winter. Check assist.org for equivalent courses to MATH 18, MATH 20A-20B and PHYS 2A offered at California Community Colleges. Check the Math Department's Transfer Equivalencies website for courses equivalent to MATH 18, 20A and 20B.
  • If you do not have MATH 18, 20A-20B and PHYS 2A completed before fall quarter 2023, you will not be eligible to apply to switch to the Computer Engineering major.

ECE NUMBERS

What to do if you are not accepted into one of the ECE majors? See the Computing Paths website

QUESTIONS?
Please contact the ECE Undergraduate Advisors through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).

Prospective students, please email us at ece-ugadvising@ucsd.edu if you have any questions.