Navigating Technical Breadth Courses at UCLA: A Comprehensive Guide

UCLA Samueli School of Engineering requires its students to complete a technical breadth, ensuring a well-rounded education that extends beyond their primary engineering discipline. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the technical breadth requirement, its purpose, available options, and how to navigate this crucial aspect of your engineering education at UCLA.

Introduction to UCLA's Technical Breadth Requirement

The technical breadth requirement is a cornerstone of the undergraduate engineering curriculum at UCLA Samueli. It is designed to broaden students' knowledge base and make them more versatile engineers. By venturing outside their primary field of study, students gain exposure to different engineering disciplines, fostering interdisciplinary thinking and preparing them for collaborative projects. The requirement ensures sufficient breadth outside the student’s core program.

Understanding the Purpose of Technical Breadth

The primary goal of the technical breadth requirement is to provide engineering students with a broader perspective on related fields. This broader understanding enhances their problem-solving skills, encourages innovation, and prepares them for the multifaceted challenges of the modern engineering landscape. By exploring different disciplines, students can discover new interests, refine their career goals, and develop a more holistic understanding of engineering principles.

General Requirements

To receive a bachelor’s degree in any UCLA Samueli major, students must complete a minimum of 180 units. Of the last 48 units completed for the BS degree, 36 must be earned in residence at UCLA Samueli on this campus. In addition to the requirement of at least a 2.0 (C) grade-point average (GPA) in all courses taken at any UC campus, students must achieve at least a 2.0 GPA in all upper-division courses offered in satisfaction of the subject and elective requirements of the curriculum. A 2.0 minimum GPA in upper-division mathematics, upper-division core courses, and the major field is also required for graduation.

Students admitted to the school are required to complete a two-term writing requirement-Writing I and Engineering Writing. Students whose native language is not English may need to take English Composition 1, 2, and 4 before enrolling in a Writing I course. The Engineering Writing requirement is satisfied by selecting one approved Engineering Writing (EW) course from the school writing course list or by selecting one approved Writing II (W) course. The course must be completed with a C or better grade (a C- or Passed grade is not acceptable).

Exploring Technical Breadth Options

UCLA offers a variety of technical breadth areas, allowing students to tailor their education to their specific interests and career aspirations. Some popular options include:

Business and Management: This area is particularly suited for students looking to pursue careers in management or entrepreneurship within an engineering or technical field. Courses may cover topics such as finance, marketing, or management. Effective Fall 2021, ENGR courses that are part of the Technology Management Technical Breadth Area DO NOT need to be petitioned to apply toward this sci-tech area. If your DARS does not auto-populate these classes, please submit a petition to have your DARS corrected.
Environmental Engineering: An excellent fit for students interested in sustainability, green technology, and environmental protection. Courses could focus on environmental policy, water resources, or air pollution control.
Bioengineering: A good choice for students interested in the intersection of engineering and the life sciences. Courses may cover topics such as cellular mechanics, biomedical imaging, or tissue engineering.
Nano and Micro Systems: Great for students interested in working on the cutting edge of technology with a focus on nanotechnology and microfabrication. Courses could include microelectromechanical systems, nanotechnology, or advanced materials.
Computer Science: A popular choice for students who want to strengthen their programming and software development skills. Courses might cover algorithms, artificial intelligence, or computer graphics. STUDENTS FOLLOWING THE FALL 2025 CATALOG REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO COMPLETE THIS OPTION FOR THEIR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENT.
Team Project: This option allows students to work on a team project outside of their major, collaborating with peers in other engineering disciplines. The project acts as a capstone experience that builds teamwork and communication skills.

Specific Course Examples

To provide further clarity, here are some specific courses that may fall under the technical breadth requirement, categorized by department:

Film & TV: FILM TV 122K, C148, C152C, 155, 181A, 181C, 483A, 489A, 224. Other courses subject to review; please attach syllabi and petition in advance of taking courses.
Geography: GEOG 180 (formerly 167), 181A (formerly 168), 181B (formerly 170), 181C (formerly 173) 182A (formerly 169), 182B (formerly 172) , 184 (formerly 166), and M186 (formerly M171) only.
Life Science Prep: CHEM 20A, 20B, 30A, LIFESCI 7A.
Music Industry Engineering: EC ENGR 102, MSC IND M103, 104A, 107A, 107B, 114, 115A, 116A, 116B, 125, 155, 181, MUSC C176, NEUROSCI 17. Other courses subject to review; please attach syllabi and petition in advance of taking courses.
Psychology: PSYCH 110, PSYCH 120A, PSYCH 124C, PSYCH 130, PSYCH 133A, PSYCH 133B, PSYCH 133C, PSYCH 133E, PSYCH 135, PSYCH 137A, PSYCH 137C, PSYCH 137D, PSYCH 137I, PSYCH 137J, PSYCH 150, PSYCH 152, PSYCH 161, and PSYCH 167 only EFFECTIVE WINTER 2024. Other courses subject to review; please attach syllabi and petition in advance of taking courses. NOTE: Due to a coding error in DARS that was corrected at the end of Fall 2023, you may have taken upper division PSYCH courses for your sci tech area that were not on the approved list. For classes taken in Fall 2023 or earlier, we are allowing upper division PSYCH classes that are not on the approved list to be counted toward the sci tech requirement as an exception to this policy.
Electrical & Computer Engineering: For students in the Fall 2025 catalog year or later, EC ENGR M148 is not accepted as a science and technology requirement elective.
Technology & Society: COMM 121, 151, 154, 156, 159 (formerly 188C), COM SCI 188 (HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION), DGT HUM 101, 110, 120, 125, 131, 140, M145, 150, 151, 199, M221, SOCIOL 111. Other courses subject to review; please attach syllabi and petition in advance of taking courses. Effective Fall 2018, DESMA is not a listed Sci-Tech Option because of the enrollment stress on this small department. If you have already started taking some of these courses prior to Fall 18, you may propose other dept courses that make sense for this area e.g. CS 174A or 188 (Depending on the topic).

UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, COURSES FROM THE SCI-TECH AREAS BELOW MUST BE UPPER DIVISION COURSES (100 LEVEL OR HIGHER) IN ORDER TO APPLY. FOR MOST AREAS, ANY UPPER DIVISION COURSE IS APPLICABLE TO THIS REQUIREMENT. Enrollment access to the departments listed below is at the respective department’s discretion. There is no guarantee of access to the courses. For many, enrollment is restricted for 1st pass. For this reason, we STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you begin your sci-tech coursework NO LATER THAN THE BEGINNING OF YOUR JUNIOR YEAR, particularly if you are pursuing an area outside of Engineering.

Selecting the Right Technical Breadth Area

Choosing the right technical breadth area is a crucial step in maximizing the benefits of this requirement. When making your selection, consider the following factors:

Interests: What subjects genuinely intrigue you? Choosing an area you're passionate about will make the coursework more engaging and rewarding.
Career Goals: How does the technical breadth area align with your long-term career aspirations? Select an area that complements your major and provides skills relevant to your desired industry or job function.
Skills Development: What skills do you want to develop? Consider areas that offer opportunities to enhance your problem-solving, critical thinking, or communication skills.
Major Requirements: Familiarize yourself with the specific technical breadth requirements for your engineering major. Some majors may have recommended or required areas.

Navigating the Enrollment Process

Gaining access to technical breadth courses can sometimes be competitive. Here are some tips to navigate the enrollment process:

Plan Ahead: Begin your sci-tech coursework no later than the beginning of your junior year, especially if you are pursuing an area outside of Engineering.
Consult the Catalog: Consult the UCLA General Catalog for the most current, officially approved courses and curricula.
Seek Advising: Consult with your academic advisor to discuss your interests and career goals. They can provide valuable guidance on selecting appropriate technical breadth courses and navigating the enrollment process.
Petition if Necessary: If you wish to take a course not explicitly listed as fulfilling the technical breadth requirement, be prepared to petition for its approval. Attach syllabi and any other relevant information to support your request.

General Education Requirements

General education (GE) is more than a checklist of required courses. Students may take one GE course per term on a Passed/Not Passed (P/NP) basis if they are in good academic standing. Five courses (24 units minimum) are required. Engineering writing requirement courses also approved for GE credit may be applied toward the relevant GE foundational areas. Transfer applicants may complete courses in addition to those above that satisfy degree requirements. Courses in this area supply perspectives and intellectual skills necessary to comprehend and think critically about our situation in the world as human beings. In particular, courses furnish the basic means to appreciate and evaluate the ongoing efforts of humans to explain, translate, and transform their diverse experiences of the world through such media as language, literature, philosophical systems, images, sounds, and performances. Courses in this area introduce students to the ways in which humans organize, structure, rationalize, and govern their diverse societies and cultures over time. This requirement is automatically satisfied for Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering majors. Courses in this area ensure that students gain a fundamental understanding of how scientists formulate and answer questions about the operation of both the physical and biological world. Courses also deal with some of the most important issues, developments, and methodologies in contemporary science, addressing such topics as the origin of the universe, environmental degradation, and the decoding of the human genome. Creating and maintaining a general education curriculum is a dynamic process; consequently, courses are frequently added to the list. Transfer students from California community colleges have the option to fulfill UCLA lower-division GE requirements by completing the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) prior to transfer. The curriculum consists of a series of subject areas and types of courses that have been agreed on by the University of California and the California community colleges. Although GE or transfer core courses are degree requirements rather than admission requirements, students are advised to fulfill them prior to transfer. The IGETC significantly eases the transfer process, as all UCLA GE requirements are fulfilled when students complete the IGETC courses. Students who select the IGETC must complete it entirely before enrolling at UCLA. Otherwise, they must fulfill UCLA Samueli GE requirements.

Additional Requirements

UCLA Samueli departments generally set two types of requirements that must be satisfied for award of a degree: preparation for the major (lower-division courses) and the major (upper-division courses). A major requires completion of a set of courses known as preparation for the major. Students must complete their major with a scholarship grade-point average of at least 2.0 (C) in all courses in order to remain in the major. Each course in the major department must be taken for a letter grade.

Ethics and Professionalism Requirement

The ethics and professionalism requirement is satisfied by completing one course from Engineering 182EW, 183EW, 184, 185EW, 186, 186W, or 188EW. Civil Engineers can alternately satisfy this requirement by taking Civil and Environmental Engineering 109EW.

tags: #tech #breadth #courses #ucla