Selective Major 

Beginning with the Summer 2025 continuing student application cycle, students will be able to apply to one of our majors once per year (between Summer and Fall quarters).  Note that space will be limited and acceptance to our majors is not guaranteed.  For more information about the admission process and criteria please see the UC San Diego Selective Majors Page. 

- ECE 35 and ECE 45 must be taken at UC San Diego or another UC campus.
- Students applying to switch to the Engineering Physics major will need to apply after their second year due to the scheduling of PHYS4A and PHYS4C. PHYS4A is offered in winter quarter while PHYS4C is offered the following fall quarter. 
- Screening courses that are not from AP credit must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a C- or better.

Capped Major

Until spring 2025, 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.

The Capped Major admissions process for the Computer Engineering (EC26) major is closed as of spring 2024. Students will have an opportunity to apply to the Computer Engineering (EC26) major through the Selective Major process starting in summer 2025. Note that space will be limited and acceptance to the CE major is not guaranteed. 

In order to be considered for EE, EP or EE & Society, you must take the following steps:

1. Take the ECE screening courses. 

Students who want to switch or declare EE, EE & Society or EP must complete the following screening courses before they can apply through the JSOE Major Change Application. 

Screening Courses that are not from AP credit must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a C- or better:

Electrical Engineering and Electrical Engineering & Society Majors:
MATH 20A, 20B, 20C
PHYS 2A or 2AR, 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 

*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.

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.
• 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 the fall quarter, they should apply when the winter Selective Major Application becomes available. 

Keep in mind that the Capped Major Application process will be changing to the Selective Major Application process and students can only apply once per year (between Summer and Fall quarters). Note that space will be limited, and acceptance to our majors is not guaranteed.

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.

Beginning with the Summer 2025 application cycle, students will be able to apply to one of our majors once per year (between Summer and Fall quarters).

Can I apply to two engineering majors at a time?

No, the Selective 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.

Beginning with the Summer 2025 application cycle, students will be able to apply to one of our majors once per year (between Summer and Fall quarters).

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 Selective 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 Selective 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 Selective 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 through the Selective Major process starting in summer 2025. Note that space will be limited and acceptance to the CE major is not guaranteed. 

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 was accepted as an undeclared or non-ECE major for fall 2024. How can I declare or switch to the CE (EC26) major?

See information above regarding "Selective Major". If you have further questions, please contact Admissions.

I was accepted as an EE, EP or EE & Society major for fall 2024. How can I switch to the CE (EC26) major?

See information above regarding "Selective Major". If you have further questions, please contact Admissions.

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.