Major requirements for the College of Engineering

student showing off an engineering project of a LED lighted board.

 

Students applying for transfer admission to selective majors must meet additional course and GPA requirements. All courses must be taken for a letter grade with no grade less than C. All major preparatory course requirements must be completed by the end of spring term before fall enrollment.

All majors in the College of Engineering are selective and have additional transfer requirements. Overall UC-transferable coursework must meet a minimum 3.10 GPA and a 3.20 GPA in major preparation (except Computer Science).

Applicants applying for a TAG must meet higher GPA requirements: Both overall UC-transferable coursework and major preparation GPAs must meet a minimum 3.5 GPA. NOTE: Computer Science is not open to TAG.

Students are expected to take courses comparable to the UC Davis course requirements as long as they are offered at the California Community College (CCC) they attend. When the ASSIST website indicates “no comparable course” or “not articulated,” the selective major course requirement will be waived for UC Davis admission/TAG, but must be completed after enrolling at UC Davis. You can find CCC courses that are comparable to UC Davis courses using the ASSIST website.

TIP: Learn more about Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credit and how the ASSIST website can help you.

To be well prepared, it is strongly recommended that students complete all lower-division coursework requirements for their major, as shown on the ASSIST website.

TIP: If you are preparing for multiple Engineering majors, start by completing the common major preparation courses that all Engineering majors share and then complete any additional requirements required for each major listed above.

Preparation for all Engineering majors*

Requirements in addition to general admission requirements and TAG criteria:

  • Complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.20 GPA in the entire group of courses
    • Chemistry 2A (not required for Computer Engineering)
    • Mathematics 21A/B/C/D
    • Mathematics 22A/B
    • Physics 9A/B
    • Physics 9C (not required for Environmental Engineering)

*Except Computer Science

TAG applicants must achieve a minimum overall 3.50 GPA in UC-transferable coursework and a 3.50 in their major preparation GPA.

Aerospace Science and Engineering

Requirements in addition to general admission requirements or TAG criteria:

  • Complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.20 GPA in the entire group of courses if following the general admissions requirements. TAG applicants should complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.50 GPA in the entire group of courses.
    • Chemistry 2A/B
    • Communication 1 or Engineering 3
    • Engineering 4, 6, 17, 35 and 45
    • Mathematics 21A/B/C/D
    • Mathematics 22A/B
    • Physics 9A/B/C
    • English 3 OR University Writing Program 1

Biochemical Engineering

Requirements in addition to general admission requirements or TAG criteria:

  • Complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.20 GPA in the entire group of courses  if following the general admissions requirements. TAG applicants should complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.50 GPA in the entire group of courses.
    • Biological Sciences 2A
    • Chemistry 2A/B/C
    • Organic Chemistry 128A/B, 129A
    • Engineering Computer Science (ECS) 32A or Chemical Engineering (ENG CHM) 60
    • Mathematics 21A/B/C/D
    • Mathematics 22A/B
    • Physics 9A/B/C
    • English 3 or University Writing Program 1 or Comparative Literature 1 or Comparative Literature 2 or Comparative Literature 3 or Comparative Literature 4 or Native American Studies 5
    • Engineering 17
      • or Engineering 35
      • or Engineering 45

Biological Systems Engineering

Requirements in addition to general admission requirements or TAG criteria:

  • Complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.20 GPA in the entire group of courses if following the general admissions requirements. TAG applicants should complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.50 GPA in the entire group of courses.
    • Biological Sciences 2A
    • Chemistry 2A/B
    • Engineering 3
      or Communications 1
      or Communications 3
    • Engineering 6 or Engineering Computer Science (ECS) 32A
    • Engineering 17, 35
    • Mathematics 21A/B/C/D
    • Mathematics 22A/B
    • Physics 9A/B/C
    • University Writing Program 1 or English 3 or Comparative Literature 1 or Comparative Literature 2 or Comparative Literature 3 or Comparative Literature 4 or Native American Studies 5

Additional Recommendations:

  • Biological Sciences 2B/C

 

Biomedical Engineering

Requirements in addition to general admission requirements or TAG criteria:

  • Complete the following  coursework and maintain a 3.20 GPA in the entire group of courses if following the general admissions requirements. TAG applicants should complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.50 GPA in the entire group of courses.
    • Biological Sciences 2A
    • Chemistry 2A/B/C
    • Organic Chemistry 8A/B
      or Organic Chemistry 118A/B
    • Engineering 6, 17
    • Mathematics 21A/B/C/D
    • Mathematics 22A/B
    • Physics 9A/B/C
    • English 3 or University Writing Program 1

 

Chemical Engineering

Requirements in addition to general admission requirements or TAG criteria:

  • Complete the following  coursework and maintain a 3.20 GPA in the entire group of courses if following the general admissions requirements. TAG applicants should complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.50 GPA in the entire group of courses. 
    • Chemistry 2A/B/C
    • Organic Chemistry 128A/B, 129A
    • Engineering Computer Science (ECS) 32A or ECH 060
    • Engineering 17
      or Engineering 35
      or Engineering 45
    • Mathematics 21A/B/C/D
    • Mathematics 22A/B
    • Physics 9A/B/C
    • English 3 or University Writing Program 1 or Comparative Literature 1 or Comparative Literature 2 or Comparative Literature 3 or Comparative Literature 4 or Native American Studies 5

Civil Engineering

Requirements in addition to general admission requirements or TAG criteria:

  • Complete the following  coursework and maintain a 3.20 GPA in the entire group of courses if following the general admissions requirements. TAG applicants should complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.50 GPA in the entire group of courses.
    • Chemistry 2A/B
    • Engineering 3
    • Engineering 6
      or Engineering Computer Science (ENG CS) 32A
    • Engineering 35
    • Mathematics 21A/B/C/D    
    • Mathematics 22A/B
    • Physics 9A/B/C
    • English 3 or University Writing Program 1 or Comparative Literature 1 or Comparative Literature 2 or Comparative Literature 3 or Comparative Literature 4 or Native American Studies 5

Computer Engineering
  • Complete the following  coursework and maintain a 3.20 GPA in the entire group of courses if following the general admissions requirements. TAG applicants should complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.50 GPA in the entire group of courses.
    • Communication 1 or Engineering 3
    • Engineering 17
    • Engineering Computer Science (ENG CS) 20, 36A/B/C
    • Mathematics 21A/B/C/D
    • Mathematics 22A/B
    • Physics 9A/B/C
    • English 3 OR University Writing Program 1

 

Computer Science

Requirements in addition to general admission requirements. Note: Major is not available via TAG.

Overall UC-transferable coursework must meet a minimum 3.10 GPA.

  • Complete the following courses and maintain a 3.40 GPA in each of the following two series:
    • Mathematics 21A/B/C
    • Engineering Computer Science 20, 50, 36A/C  
    • Note: Effective for students enrolling at UC Davis starting fall 2025, Engineering Computer Science 36B will be required. Students will need to complete the Engineering Computer Science 36 A/B/C series.

Computer Science and Engineering

Requirements in addition to general admission requirements or TAG criteria:

  • Complete the following  coursework and maintain a 3.20 GPA in the entire group of courses if following the general admissions requirements. TAG applicants should complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.50 GPA in the entire group of courses.
    • Chemistry 2A
    • Communication 1 (Comm 3 not accepted for this major)
    • Engineering 17
    • Engineering Computer Science (ECS) 20, 36A/B/C, 50
    • Mathematics 21A/B/C/D
    • Mathematics 22A/B
    • Physics 9A/B/C/D
    • English 3 or University Writing Program 1

Additional Recommendations:

  • Familiarity with UNIX

Electrical Engineering

Requirements in addition to general admission requirements or TAG criteria:

  • Complete the following  coursework and maintain a 3.20 GPA in the entire group of courses if following the general admissions requirements. TAG applicants should complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.50 GPA in the entire group of courses
    • Chemistry 2A
    • Engineering 17
    • Electrical Computer Engineering (EEC) 7 OR Engineering Computer Science (ECS) 36A
    • Mathematics 21A/B/C/D
    • Mathematics 22A/B
    • Physics 9A/B/C/D

Additional Recommendations:

  • Communication 1 or Engineering 3
  • Engineering 6
  • English 3 OR University Writing Program 1

 

Environmental Engineering

Requirements in addition to general admission requirements or TAG criteria:

  • Complete the following  coursework and maintain a 3.20 GPA in the entire group of courses if following the general admissions requirements. TAG applicants should complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.50 GPA in the entire group of courses.
    • Chemistry 2A/B
    • Organic Chemistry 8A
    • Engineering 6
      or Engineering Computer Science (ECS) 32A
    • Engineering 35
    • Geology 50/50L
      or Atmospheric Science 60
    • Mathematics 21A/B/C/D
    • Mathematics 22A/B
    • Physics 9A/B
    • English 3 or University Writing Program 1 or Comparative Literature 1 or Comparative Literature 2 or Comparative Literature 3 or Comparative Literature 4 or Native American Studies 5.

 

Materials Science and Engineering

Requirements in addition to general admission requirements or TAG criteria:

  • Complete the following  coursework and maintain a 3.20 GPA in the entire group of courses
    • Chemistry 2A/B/C
    • Engineering 3 or Communication 1 or Communication 3
    • Chemical Engineering (ECH) 60 or Engineering 6 or Engineering Computer Science (ECS) 32A
    • Engineering 17 or Engineering 35
    • Engineering 45  
    • Mathematics 21A/B/C/D
    • Mathematics 22A/B
    • Physics 9A/B/C/D
    • English 3 or University Writing Program 1 or Comparative Literature 1 or Comparative Literature 2 or Comparative Literature 3 or Comparative Literature 4 or Native American Studies 5

 

Mechanical Engineering

Requirements in addition to general admission requirements and TAG criteria:

  • Complete the following  coursework and maintain a 3.20 GPA in the entire group of courses if following the general admissions requirements. TAG applicants should complete the following coursework and maintain a 3.50 GPA in the entire group of courses.
    • Chemistry 2A/B
    • Engineering 4, 6,17, 35
    • Mathematics 21A/B/C/D
    • Mathematics 22A/B
    • Physics 9A/B/C

Additional Recommendations:

  • Communication 1 or Engineering 3
  • Engineering 45
  • English 3 or University Writing Program 1

 

 

Additional Tips

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate credit

Visit our AP or IB exam articulation charts to find out whether your scores:

  • Earn UC transferable course credit.
  • Satisfy one UC-E (English), one UC-M (math) or another requirement of the UC 7-course pattern.
  • Meet selective major requirements specific to UC.
ASSIST

Visit the ASSIST website to identify which courses at your CCC:

  • Earn UC transferable course credit.
  • Satisfy the UC-E (English), UC-M (math) and other requirements of the UC 7-course pattern.
  • Meet selective major requirements specific to UC Davis.

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