Frequently Asked Questions for Current Students

For more questions please visit UCSC's Office of the Registrar's web site.

Classes

I'm having trouble enrolling in my classes

Call the enrollment helpline (831-459-3939) between 8am and 5pm Monday through Thursday, and 8am and 2pm on Friday.

The class I need to get into is full

Keep trying to enroll, spaces often open up. Contact the instructor to get on a possible waiting list. Go to the first day of class. You should also consider alternate plans.

The AIS enrollment system says I have not fulfilled the prerequisites for CMPE 185 and I know I have

If you are a transfer student, AIS may not be able to read that you have fulfilled the composition requirement. Call the enrollment help line (831-459-3939) for assistance.

What if I've taken a course at another college or university after I've enrolled?

It is the intent of the Baskin School of Engineering that all degree requirements be completed either at UCSC or prior to first enrollment at UCSC. After you become a UCSC student you must obtain preapproval prior to taking a class at another UC campus, with Education Abroad Program, or at a community college. Applications and procedures for preapproval are obtained from the Undergraduate Advising Office.

Articulation agreements do not apply to currently enrolled UCSC students. You must get preapproval before taking a class at another college or university even if the course has been articulated.

When a student declares their major, minor, or proposed major in a School of Engineering program, the decision as to whether a course taken elsewhere will be accepted for this SoE major or minor will be made by the major department at that point. (Note: There is no guarantee that a course will be applicable towards a SoE major, minor, or proposed major even if the student has completed even more advanced courses in that department.)

SOE Courses

I have programming experience and want to take CMPS 12A but I did not score high enough to get into MATH 19A. What do I do?

The answer depends on your background, please contact the Undergraduate Advising Office.

Should I enroll in CMPS 10 or CMPS 12A?

To enroll in CMPS 12A, you should be at a math level ready to begin calculus (40 on the math placement exam) and have some experience with computers and/or programming. If this is not the case, enroll in CMPS 10 fall quarter, or gain more math experience by taking pre-calculus.

I placed in CMPS 12B but don’t know Java. Should I take CMPS 12A instead of 12B?

This depends on your programming experience and the language you used to write code. More experience with one language can make it easier to pick up another. But, the transition from C++ to Java is easier and more straightforward than the transition from C to Java. If in doubt, contact the 12B instructor to assess your background for that class. Most of the 12B class will know Java and you probably don’t want to start the class feeling behind.

E-Mail

How do I get a campus e-mail account?

You already have a pre assigned account! You must activate your account thorough your myUCSC Student Portal: http://my.ucsc.edu. When you activate the account you are really just setting the account password. Once an account is activated, you may obtain your email via the Cruz Mail web site located at https://cruzmail.ucsc.edu.

How do I forward my UCSC email to an account I check?

Easy! Go to: https://webmaint.ucsc.edu/cats/cgi-bin/chpobox.pl and fill in your information. Any mail sent to your UCSC email account will automatically be forwarded to the account you choose.

How do I get on the SoE undergraduate alias?

All SoE majors and proposed majors are automatically put on the list.

Computers

Should I buy my own computer?

It can be handy to have your own computer, but it is not necessary since all of the colleges have computer labs. In addition, the labs in the Baskin Engineering building are available to you and are open 24 hours a day.

What kind of computer should I buy?

Many students own personal computers. With respect to course work, there is no preference for a particular type of personal computer. The most common choice is an Intel-based machine (often called a PC) running either a version of Microsoft Windows or Linux; an increasing number of students are using Macintosh computers running OS X, which is based on Unix.

Students living on campus have access to a high-speed connection to the Internet and should make sure their computer has an Ethernet connection. Also, there are increasing numbers of wireless access points on campus making a laptop with wireless (802.11) highly desirable.

Our electronics and computer hardware labs use CAD and other software that run on Microsoft Windows. For programming assignments, students will often be expected to use Unix. This suggests that a PC running a version of Unix (Linux being the most common) or a Macintosh running OS X would be most useful. Both Linux and Mac OS X can also run Windows using programs such as VMWare (Linux) and VirtualPC (Mac).

There are program development tools for both Macs and PCs (Windows or UNIX). Regardless of the platform they choose to use, students will generally be expected to transfer the programs to the campus (Unix) system for final testing. Transferring files is a simple matter.

If you are interested in investigating or using the Linux operating system, there is an active LINUX users group on campus that periodically has installation sessions during the school year. Their web site is http://sluglug.ucsc.edu/.

Help, I don’t know Unix!

Visit: http://www2.ucsc.edu/cats/sc/help/unix/command, or use a search engine on the web to find ‘UNIX’ and there will be multiple tutorial sites available.

Math Requirements

Do I need to take the Math Placement exam?

If you have Math Advanced Placement credit, or you took a college math course (pre-calculus), you may not need to take the Math Placement exam. Otherwise you do need to take the exam to find out at what level of Math you will begin and to determine placement into CMPS12A and CMPE 16. Check with an advisor if you took a college math course.

I have Math Advanced Placement credit. What do I do?

Make a copy of the AP form showing your score and take it to the Undergraduate Advising Office. They will enter it into the computer so you can enroll in the appropriate Math class.

On the AB exam:

- an AP score of 3 = credit for precalculus (Math 3, AMS 3)

- an AP score of 4 or 5 = credit for Math 19A

On the BC exam:

- an AP score of 3 = credit for Math 19A

- an AP score of 4 or 5 = credit for Math 19B

If I score between 30 and 40 on the Math Placement exam, should I enroll in Math 11A?

No. Enroll in AMS 3 (precalculus). Then enroll in Math 19A the following quarter.

Can I take Math 11A instead of Math 19A?

No, the 19 series covers topics that will help you in your science or engineering major. (ISM Majors are allowed to take Econ 11A but Math 19A is strongly recommended.).

Questions About Majors

Once I’m here, where should I go if I have questions about a major in the School of Engineering?

The advisors and staff of the Undergraduate Advising Office, BE225, are available to assist you and answer your questions. You can meet with your advisor on a walk-in basis between 1:30-3:30 M-Th or schedule an appointment by calling 831-459-5840.

What do you mean, “I’m not a Computer Engineering major”?

Unlike most other majors at UCSC, the SoE majors have an admissions process separate from the rest of the University.

Unless you applied for and received direct admission to a SoE major, you entered UCSC either as a 'proposed major' or as a member of a cluster. You can apply to get into the major after completing all of the foundation courses. For a list of foundation courses and more information on admissions click here.

What is the difference between Computer Science and Computer Engineering?

The Computer Engineering B.S. builds on a foundation of mathematics and physics to study the design, construction, and use of computer and digital systems. After learning a core of electronics, programming and algorithms, and computer system design, Computer Engineering majors may specialize in hardware (digital hardware track), software (systems programming track), or the combination of the two (networks track and computer systems track).

The Computer Science B.S. and B.A. degrees build on a similar foundation. The B.S. degree requires advanced courses in algorithms, compilers, operating systems, programming languages, and the theory of computation. The B.A. degree has different tracks allowing students to specialize in software methodologies, operating systems and hardware, programming languages, theory, or graphics.

Should I major in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering?

Electrical engineers are concerned with the analysis, design, and control of electronic and electrical components, and their associated signals and systems. These components, signals, and systems make up larger systems that may include computers. At UCSC, our EE Department places particular emphasis on the following areas of interest:

• Photonics and electronics (including analog, digital, and optoelectronics)
• Communications, which includes wireless and fiber optics, signal and image processing, (including inverse problems and coding), and electromagnetics
• Remote sensing (including numerical electromagnetics, radio, radar and satellite systems)

So, if you have an interest in electronic systems and signals that may or may not include computers, EE is the more appropriate major. However, if you are more specifically interested in the inner working and design of computer and digital systems, the CE curriculum may be more appropriate.

What is the difference between a B.A. and a B.S. in Computer Science?

The B.A. program at UCSC is designed to give students a solid grounding in both theoretical and practical topics in computer science, computer engineering, and mathematics, while leaving flexibility for a broad program of study including many courses outside of the sciences, or even for a double major in another discipline. The B.S. program is appropriate for students desiring a somewhat stronger concentration on the sciences, with more courses in computer science and computer engineering as well as courses in physics or chemistry; this program also allows for electives outside of the sciences. Because many courses in both programs have prerequisites, students leaning toward either program will enjoy scheduling flexibility if they begin some preparatory courses in their first year.

Can I do a major in Electrical Engineering and a minor in Computer Science?

Yes, read the General Catalog for details on overlap between majors and minors. However, you might want to consider doing a Computer Engineering major as it brings in elements of both fields of study.

Graduation

When and how do I notify the Registrar that I am planning to graduate?

To officially graduate from UCSC you need to file an Announcement of Candidacy Form with the Office of the Registrar. The deadline for filing the form is usually during the fourth week of the quarter in which you intend to complete all of your degree requirements. If you are unable to file the form in-person, you may make an on-line request to receive the form. For more information about graduation go to the Graduation Information Section of the Navigator.

I have already submitted my Announcement of Candidacy Form to the Registrar. When will my degree be posted? When will I receive my diploma?

Your degree will be posted approximately six weeks after the end of the quarter in which you announced candidacy; your diploma will be mailed four to six months after the end of the quarter.

Jobs and Internships

How can I find out about jobs and internships?

The Baskin School of Engineering offers many employment opportunities. You may search for SOE employment opportunities at our Employment and Internship web page.

The UCSC Career Center is dedicated to providing comprehensive, quality career development and employment/internship programs and resources that prepare a diverse student/alumni community to successfully meet today and tomorrow’s challenges by:

• Offering financial support through practical and career-related work experience;
• Providing individual advising, workshops, resource materials, and special events to assist students with life planning;
• Developing employment opportunities and fostering partnerships with the on and off campus communities;
• Enhancing services through innovative technology, program development, and continuous updating of resources through research and analysis.

The Career Center is also here to assist you in finding part-time employment while in school, determining career goals, obtaining internships, applying to graduate and professional schools, and developing the necessary skills and strategies to find professional employment. www2.ucsc.edu/careers/jobs.

Faculty can be a great resource, so be sure to talk to your faculty advisor.

Note: We do not recommend that full-time students work more than 10-20 hours a week while enrolled in courses.

Readers and Tutors

The School of Engineering employs readers and tutors on a quarterly basis to provide support for instructors.

A Reader is employed to grade student papers and examinations under the supervision of the course instructor. Currently readers are paid $10.27 per hour.

A Tutor is employed to provide instructional assistance to students under the supervision of the course instructor. Currently tutors are paid $10.82 per hour.

Applications are available from the Undergraduate Advising Office and from the Human Resources (HR) Coordinators in the Engineering Business Office, BE 368. All new applicants or continuing reader/tutors must submit a new application each quarter. Completed applications are returned to the Human Resources Coordinators in the Engineering Business Office, BE 368.

The HR coordinators will provide assistance in connecting qualified applicants with specific courses and instructors. Instructors will arrange the individual interviews and make their selections.

The HR coordinator will determine the applicant’s employment status, confirm the start date of employment, distribute and explain the monthly time sheet, and complete any additional payroll paperwork as needed. Selected candidates may not work until all steps are completed and the HR coordinator confirms employment.