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Network and Digital Technology B.A.

Information and Policies

Introduction

The UC Santa Cruz B.A. in network and digital technology provides students with in-depth knowledge of the underlying structure and function of network and computer technology and the design processes that make those technologies function. The program is tailored to students who wish to combine technology with other fields or have a general focus on digital design or computer networks. The B.A. in network and digital technology is not an engineering degree, but B.A. graduates will be prepared to work with technology development in other capacities, or join the computer network workforce. Students interested in graduate study should pursue a B.S. program.

Academic Advising for the Program

The Baskin School of Engineering undergraduate advising office offers general advising for prospective and declared undergraduates majoring in School of Engineering programs. The office handles major declarations, transfer credits, course substitutions, articulations, and degree certifications. Undergraduate students obtain and submit all paperwork requiring departmental approval to the undergraduate advising office. Transfer students should also refer to the Transfer Information and Policy section.

Baskin Engineering Building, Room 225
advising@soe.ucsc.edu
(831) 459-5840

Program Learning Outcomes

For the Network and Digital Technology B.A. degree the program learning outcomes are:

  • an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;

  • an ability to design a system, component, or process;

  • an ability to communicate effectively; and 

  • an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process

Major Qualification

Declaration of the network and digital technology major is based on performance in the following lower-division courses and associated labs required for the major. Students in their first six quarters who have completed at least 36 credits in these courses with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.30 or greater will be admitted to the network and digital technology major.

All of the following
MATH 19ACalculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

5

MATH 19BCalculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

5

Plus one of the following
AM 30Multivariate Calculus for Engineers

5

MATH 23AVector Calculus

5

Whichever is completed first

Plus one of the following
AM 10Mathematical Methods for Engineers I

5

MATH 21Linear Algebra

5

Whichever is completed first

Plus one of the following
AM 20Mathematical Methods for Engineers II

5

MATH 24Ordinary Differential Equations

5

Whichever is completed first

Plus all of the following
CSE 12Computer Systems and Assembly Language

5

CSE 12LComputer Systems and Assembly Language Laboratory

2

Plus one of the following
CSE 13EEmbedded Systems and C Programming

7

CSE 13SComputer Systems and C Programming

7

Plus all of the following
CSE 16Applied Discrete Mathematics

5

CSE 30Programming Abstractions: Python

7

Plus one of the following lecture/lab options
Either these courses

PHYS 5AIntroduction to Physics I

5

PHYS 5LIntroduction to Physics I Laboratory

1

or these courses

PHYS 6AIntroductory Physics I

5

PHYS 6LIntroductory Physics I Laboratory

1

Plus one of the following lecture/lab combinations
Either these courses

PHYS 5CIntroduction to Physics III

5

PHYS 5NIntroduction to Physics Laboratory III

1

or these courses

PHYS 6CIntroductory Physics III

5

PHYS 6NIntroductory Physics III Laboratory

1

Cumulative GPA

Students seeking to change their current major to network and digital technology after their sixth quarter must have completed the courses listed above with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.30.

Appeal Process

Students who are informed that they are not eligible to declare the major may appeal this decision by submitting a letter to the undergraduate director through the Baskin School of Engineering undergraduate advising office within 15 days from the date the notification was mailed. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department will notify the student, college, and Office of the Registrar of the decision.

How to Declare a Major

For instructions about how to declare a major in the Baskin School of Engineering, please refer to the department's website.

Transfer Information and Policy

Transfer Admission Screening Policy

Students should complete at least six courses from the following list

Lecture/lab combinations count as one course.

MATH 19ACalculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

5

MATH 19BCalculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

5

AM 10Mathematical Methods for Engineers I

5

MATH 21Linear Algebra

5

AM 20Mathematical Methods for Engineers II

5

MATH 24Ordinary Differential Equations

5

AM 30Multivariate Calculus for Engineers

5

MATH 23AVector Calculus

5

CSE 12Computer Systems and Assembly Language

5

CSE 12LComputer Systems and Assembly Language Laboratory

2

CSE 13EEmbedded Systems and C Programming

7

CSE 13SComputer Systems and C Programming

7

CSE 16Applied Discrete Mathematics

5

CSE 30Programming Abstractions: Python

7

PHYS 5AIntroduction to Physics I

5

PHYS 5LIntroduction to Physics I Laboratory

1

PHYS 6AIntroductory Physics I

5

PHYS 6LIntroductory Physics I Laboratory

1

PHYS 5CIntroduction to Physics III

5

PHYS 5NIntroduction to Physics Laboratory III

1

PHYS 6CIntroductory Physics III

5

PHYS 6NIntroductory Physics III Laboratory

1

AM 30 and MATH 23A are alternatives; only one or the other, whichever is completed first, can count toward the six courses.

AM 10 and MATH 21 are alternatives; only one or the other, whichever is completed first can count toward the six courses. 

AM 20 and MATH 24 are alternatives; only one or the other, whichever is completed first can count toward the six courses.

CSE 13E and CSE 13S are alternatives; only one or the other, whichever is completed first, can count toward the six courses.

PHYS 5A and PHYS 5L are alternatives to PHYS 6A and PHYS 6L; only one or the other can count toward the six courses.

PHYS 5C and PHYS 5N are alternatives to PHYS 6C and PHYS 6N; only one or the other can count toward the six courses.

The cumulative GPA should be at least 2.3 in all of the courses attempted from the list above regardless of whether the course is one of the six used to qualify.

Students entering UC Santa Cruz by fall 2020 and students who have catalog rights to follow the 2018-19 catalog may follow the screening requirements published in that catalog.

Students who wish to graduate in two years are strongly recommended to complete eight courses from the above list before coming to UC Santa Cruz.

Getting Started at UCSC as a Transfer Student

Transfer students should declare their major in their first quarter at UC Santa Cruz. Instructions for declaring a major in the Baskin School of Engineering are on the department's major declaration page.

Letter Grade Policy

All students admitted to a School of Engineering major, or seeking admission to a major, must take all courses required for that major for a letter grade. This policy includes courses required for these degrees that are sponsored by other departments.

Course Substitution Policy

Undergraduate engineering students who wish to substitute a major course with a course from UC Santa Cruz must first consult the School of Engineering Undergraduate Advising Office. The advising office requires a Petition for Course Substitution be approved before credit for an alternate course can be applied to any School of Engineering major requirement.

Petition forms are available at the Undergraduate Advising Office and online.

Petitions and procedures for approval must be obtained from and submitted to the Undergraduate Advising Office.

Double Majors and Major/Minor Combinations Policy

Students completing the Network and Digital technology B.A.  cannot also receive the computer engineering minor. 

Students completing the Robotics Engineering B.S. or the Computer Engineering B.S. cannot receive the Network and Digital Technology B.A. degree.

Honors

Majors are considered for “Honors in the Major” and “Highest Honors in the Major” based on their GPA and on results of undergraduate research and other significant contributions to the School of Engineering. Students with a GPA of 3.70, in most cases, receive highest honors. Students with a GPA of 3.30, in most cases, receive honors. Students with particularly significant accomplishments in undergraduate research or contributions to the School of Engineering may be considered with a lower GPA.

School of Engineering Policies

Please refer to the School of Engineering section of the catalog for additional policies that apply to all School of Engineering programs.

Materials Fee and Miscellaneous Fees

Please see the section on fees under the School of Engineering.

Requirements and Planners

Course Requirements

All students in the network and digital technology major must take the following courses. The senior comprehensive requirement is satisfied by completion of the capstone course and the portfolio exit requirement.

Lower-Division Courses

Students who may have originally pursued another major should discuss with the Baskin School of Engineering undergraduate advising office whether or not already completed coursework may be substituted for one or more lower division-requirements.

One of the following
AM 10Mathematical Methods for Engineers I

5

MATH 21Linear Algebra

5

Plus one of the following
AM 20Mathematical Methods for Engineers II

5

MATH 24Ordinary Differential Equations

5

Plus one of the following
AM 30Multivariate Calculus for Engineers

5

MATH 23AVector Calculus

5

Plus both of the following
CSE 12Computer Systems and Assembly Language

5

CSE 12LComputer Systems and Assembly Language Laboratory

2

Plus one of the following
CSE 13EEmbedded Systems and C Programming

7

CSE 13SComputer Systems and C Programming

7

Plus all of the following
CSE 16Applied Discrete Mathematics

5

CSE 20Beginning Programming in Python

5

CSE 30Programming Abstractions: Python

7

MATH 19ACalculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

5

MATH 19BCalculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics

5

Students with no prior programming will take CSE 20 before CSE 30 and CSE 12 & CSE 12L. Students with a prior programming course, AP credit, or clearing the “Test-out” bar will start with CSE 30 and CSE 12 & CSE 12L.

Plus one of the following lecture/lab combinations
Either these courses

PHYS 5AIntroduction to Physics I

5

PHYS 5LIntroduction to Physics I Laboratory

1

or these courses

PHYS 6AIntroductory Physics I

5

PHYS 6LIntroductory Physics I Laboratory

1

Plus one of the following lecture/lab combinations
Either these courses

PHYS 5CIntroduction to Physics III

5

PHYS 5NIntroduction to Physics Laboratory III

1

or these courses

PHYS 6CIntroductory Physics III

5

PHYS 6NIntroductory Physics III Laboratory

1

Upper-Division Courses

All of the following
CSE 100Logic Design

5

CSE 100LLogic Design Laboratory

2

CSE 150Introduction to Computer Networks

5

CSE 150LIntroduction to Computer Networks Laboratory

2

CSE 185E
/CSE 185S
Technical Writing for Computer Science and Engineering

5

Plus one of the following options
Either this course

CSE 101Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms

5

or these courses

ECE 101Introduction to Electronic Circuits

5

ECE 101LIntroduction to Electronic Circuits Laboratory

2

Electives

Three additional 5-credit, upper-division electives, and associated laboratories, from the approved list or the department's approved list of electives.

Digital Technology Focus

Students wishing to focus on digital technology should consider including among their courses the following (lecture-lab combinations are counted as one course):

CSE 120Computer Architecture

5

CSE 121Microprocessor System Design

5

CSE 121LMicroprocessor System Design Laboratory

2

CSE 125Logic Design with Verilog

5

CSE 125LLogic Design with Verilog Laboratory

2

ECE 101Introduction to Electronic Circuits

5

ECE 101LIntroduction to Electronic Circuits Laboratory

2

ECE 118Introduction to Mechatronics

10

ECE118LIntroduction to Mechatronics Laboratory

2

Network Technology Focus

Students wishing to focus on network technology should consider including among their courses the following (lecture-lab combinations are counted as one course):

CSE 101Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms

5

CSE 130Principles of Computer Systems Design

5

CSE 131Introduction to Operating Systems

5

CSE 151Advanced Computer Networks

5

CSE 151LAdvanced Computer Networks Laboratory

2

CSE 156Network Programming

5

CSE 156LNetwork Programming Laboratory

2

Students can only take either CSE 130 or CSE 131.

Adviser

In all cases, students should discuss their interests and elective choices with their faculty adviser.

Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement

Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division disciplinary communication (DC) requirement. The DC requirement in network and digital technology is satisfied by completing CSE 185E, Technical Writing for Computer Engineers.

CSE 185E
/CSE 185S
Technical Writing for Computer Science and Engineering

5

Comprehensive Requirement

One of the following courses must be completed. This course cannot be counted as one of the three required electives. Lecture/lab combinations count as one course.

CSE 115AIntroduction to Software Engineering

5

CSE 121Microprocessor System Design

5

CSE 121LMicroprocessor System Design Laboratory

2

CSE 125Logic Design with Verilog

5

CSE 125LLogic Design with Verilog Laboratory

2

CSE 156Network Programming

5

CSE 156LNetwork Programming Laboratory

2

ECE 118Introduction to Mechatronics

10

ECE 118LIntroduction to Mechatronics Laboratory

2

In addition, students are required to submit a portfolio and complete the exit survey. Students whose submissions are deemed inadequate, either in presentation or in content, may be required to revise and rewrite the portfolio or to complete an additional project course. The portfolios must be turned in electronically by the last day of the quarter of graduation. The online form can be found on the Computer Science and Engineering Department web pages. The portfolios will be reviewed quarterly by the computer science and engineering undergraduate committee and must include the project report of the student's capstone course.

Planners

The following are two sample academic plans: (1) a four-year plan for first-year students with no prior programming experience, and (2) a two-year plan for transfer students that have completed all lower-division major requirements except AM 30, CSE 12 and CSE 12L, CSE 13E or CSE 13S, and CSE 30. Students completing the courses in the four-year planner will have satisfied the MF and SI General Education requirements.

Four-Year Major Planner for Network and Digital Technology

  Fall Winter Spring
1st (frosh) MATH 3 MATH 19A MATH 19B
CSE 20 CSE 12 & CSE 12L  CSE 13E 
     
2nd (soph) CSE 16 PHYS 5A & PHYS 5L AM 20
AM 10 AM 30  PHYS 5C & PHYS 5N
     
3rd (jr) ECE 101 & ECE 101L CSE 100 & CSE 100L CSE 150 & CSE 150L
  CSE 30  Elective 
     
4th (sr) CSE 185E Elective Capstone course
Elective     
     

Two-Year Planner for Transfer Students

  Fall Winter Spring
1st (jr) AM 30 CSE 100 & CSE 100L CSE 150 & CSE 150L
ECE 101 & ECE 101L CSE 30  Elective 
CSE 12 & CSE 12L CSE 13E or CSE 13S  
 2nd (sr)
 
CSE 185E Elective Capstone course
Elective    
     

Curriculum charts for all BSOE majors are available at the department's website.