The Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering: A Comprehensive Overview
The Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) has rapidly grown into a prominent engineering institution. Commonly known as 'Bourns Engineering,' or 'BCOE', the college is dedicated to cutting-edge research, student-centered academics, and high-impact contributions to the field of engineering. BCOE is an integral part of the world-renowned University of California (UC) system, delivering the student-centered academics and purpose-driven, high-impact research the system is known for.
Historical Development and Key Milestones
Established in 1989, the Bourns College of Engineering has achieved significant milestones in a relatively short period. Founding Dean Susan Hackwood became the first woman in the country to lead an engineering college at a major research institution. The college has made pivotal scientific breakthroughs that continue to shape the field of engineering. The college has broken down many barriers since opening its doors.
Academic Departments and Programs
The Bourns College of Engineering comprises five departments, four interdepartmental programs, and an online master's program. These departments offer a range of courses and degree programs, including:
- Graduate Courses: Providing advanced study opportunities.
- Master's Degree: Offering specialized knowledge and skills in various engineering disciplines.
- Doctoral Degree: Preparing students for careers in research and academia.
Specific programs include:
- Biomedical / Bioengineering
- Electrical / Electronic / Communications
- Environmental / Environmental Health
In 2021, the college launched the UC system’s first M.S. degree in robotics, combining coursework in computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. Additional technical tracks are under development for online M.S. degree program. High-achieving engineering students benefit from UCR’s only B.S.+M.S. program, a fast-track to earning a graduate degree. The college recently welcomed its first cohort to the new inter-college data science undergraduate degree program.
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Admissions
The Marlan & Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering at University of California--Riverside (Bourns) has a rolling application deadline. Admission to the Bourns College of Engineering involves several requirements:
- Personal Statement
- Academic Transcripts
- Letters of Recommendation
Application fee waivers are available. The acceptance rate for master's and doctoral programs is approximately 44%.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition costs vary for in-state and out-of-state students. For doctoral programs, the full-time tuition is $20,301 per year for in-state residents and $35,403 per year for out-of-state students. Part-time tuition is $10,150 per year for in-state residents and $17,701 per year for out-of-state residents.
Financial aid options include work-study programs and teaching/research fellowships.
Faculty and Research
The Marlan & Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering at University of California--Riverside (Bourns) has 147 full-time faculty on staff. The 2024 Ph.D. student-faculty ratio is 3.5:1.
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BCOE is home to cutting-edge, high-risk, profoundly creative research. The college's research portfolio has grown tremendously in such a short time and has achieved national prominence. Faculty and their research teams collaborate in multidisciplinary research with colleagues at other colleges, campuses and industry leaders. Our accomplished faculty are made up of leaders in their areas of study and include more than 90 fellows of professional societies and more than 50 National Institutes of Health, NSF CAREER, Brige, and Young Investigator recipients. Their dynamic research programs address real-world problems and even define entirely new and novel research areas.
BCOE excels at research and education across a broad range of disciplines in engineering and computing. BCOE is a well-established, rapidly growing college at UCR with more than $40 million in annual research expenditures, a number that continues to grow as we expand our capabilities. Our research centers build on a model of collaboration that produces high-impact multidisciplinary research. We will continue leveraging our strengths to do technically innovative research that ethically and responsibly contributes to societal welfare. We are committed to providing the highest level of research and education expected from a top-tier R1 research university.
Research Areas
BCOE is invested in internationally recognized engineering research in hundreds of emerging areas focused on solving the world's greatest challenges. A listing of research areas by department is included below.
In addition to serving as a key contributor to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center (ERC) working to stop biological time and leading one of only nine Department of Defense Centers of Excellence addressing robust, secure, learning-based networked systems, BCOE is home to one of the country’s leading air quality research centers focused on sustainability. CE-CERT researchers partner with AVL at its light-duty testing facility to work toward zero emissions and zero traffic accidents. In 2021, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will officially open its new headquarters in Riverside, offering new opportunities for cooperation, internships, and air quality research.
Led by Charles Cai, associate research professor of chemical engineering at BCOE, the team has launched a pilot-scale biomass processing facility that converts materials like orchard trimmings and forest debris into textile-grade pulp used in fabrics such as rayon and lyocell.
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Researchers at UC Riverside have identified a brain network strongly linked to grip strength, a widely used clinical measure of frailty.
Student Body
BCOE is a leader in educating and advancing one of the most diverse student bodies in the country. In 2009 the college was named a recipient of the ABET Claire Felbinger Award for recruiting undergraduate and graduate students from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds, retaining them, and advancing them to graduate studies and careers in engineering. BCOE is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and a member of the ASEE Diversity Recognition Program. With high percentages of first generation, low-income, and Pell grant recipient students, the college is a major contributor to UCR being ranked No.
The gender distribution of enrolled master's students is 20.8% female and 77.9% male.
Most Popular Masters Programs
- Computer Science: 37 Students
- Electrical Engineering: 28 Students
- Computer Hardware Engineering: 19 Students
- Mechanical Engineering: 19 Students
- Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering: 14 Students
- Chemical Engineering: 5 Students
- Environmental Engineering: 3 Students
Most Popular Doctoral Programs
- Electrical Engineering: 20 Students
- Computer Science: 19 Students
- Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering: 15 Students
- Chemical Engineering: 14 Students
- Mechanical Engineering: 6 Students
Rankings and Recognition
UCR’s online master’s in information technology ranks No. 12 nationwide, while the online master’s in engineering ranks No. 27, with both programs improving from last year.
Campus Resources
The university provides various campus resources, including an International Students Office with a dedicated URL.
Outcomes
The college focuses on ensuring positive career outcomes for its graduates.
Events
BCOE was proud to co-host the inaugural Provost’s Lecture Series at UC Riverside, welcoming Dr. In her lecture, Engineering Leadership in a World of Accelerating Change, Dr. Liu reflected on what leadership looks like across advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, sustainable energy, robotics, and other fields central to economic prosperity and national security. During the fireside discussion with Chancellor S. Jack Hu, and Christopher Lynch, dean of the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering.
This Friday, BCOE is co-hosting the inaugural Provost’s Lecture Series, welcoming Dr. The talk, "Engineering Leadership in a World of Accelerating Change," will feature a fireside chat and audience Q&A with President Liu, Chancellor S. Jack Hu, and Christopher Lynch, dean of the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering.
FAME (Future Academics & Mentorship Excellence) is a three-day, in-person program hosted by the UCR Bourns College of Engineering for PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers preparing for academic careers. This year’s theme is human-centric engineering, with participants welcomed from across engineering disciplines.
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