NOTE FOR AY 23-24: SE 1 WILL NOT be offered in Fall 2023. SE 1 will be offered in Winter 2024. 

GE = General education/college requirement.

FS = Focus sequence course. The structural engineering major includes four focus sequences: civil structures, aerospace structures, geotechnical engineering, and structural health monitoring. For more info on specific course requirements in each focus sequence please see: Focus Sequences

FS CAPSTONE*: Most students take either SE 140A/B or SE 143A/B depending on their chosen FS with the exception of students completing the Structural Health Monitoring/Non-Destructive Evaluation (SHM/NDE) focus sequence.

TE = Technical elective course: Students must take three technical electives (TE) courses chosen from a Preapproved Technical Electives list. These courses are typically upper-division courses in the Department of Structural Engineering or other engineering departments. Students may also petition to have classes not on this preapproved list count towards their technical electives on a case-by-case basis. All technical electives must be upper-division courses (courses numbered 100 or higher).

Students should note that not all focus sequence classes will be offered every year and courses are subject to change.

Note about Math Classes: 

The recommended math sequence for science and engineering majors is the Math 20 series. Students who take the math placement exam and start with Math 3C or 4C should take Math 3C -> Math 4C -> Math 20A. We recommend Math 4C over Math 10A since it is geared towards science and engineering majors and will help students prepare for the Math 20 series. Students starting with Math 3C or 4C are also encouraged to visit the SE Undergraduate Advisor to discuss a revised academic plan.

Math 3C Revised 1st-year Academic Plan: 

With this plan, it may be best to complete summer classes at UCSD unless students can find a community college that offers back-to-back summer sessions. Math 20B & Math 20C and Phys 2A are most important since Math 20C and Phys 2A are prereqs for SE 101A. Phys 2B can be taken in 2nd year instead.

Fall	Winter	Spring	Summer Session 1	Summer Session 2
Math 3C	Math 4C	Math 20A	Math 20B	Math 20C
SE 1		Chem 6A	Phys 2A	Phys 2B

Math 4C Revised 1st-year Academic Plan:

With this plan, students can complete Math 20C and Phys 2B at UCSD or at a community college. Use assist.org to determine the appropriate community college courses. Phys 2BL can be taken later if it doesn't fit well in the summer plan. Math 20C is the most important as it's a prereq to SE 101A.

Fall	Winter	Spring	Summer
Math 4C	Math 20A	Math 20B	Math 20C
SE 1	Chem 6A	SE 3	Phys 2B
		Phys 2A	Phys 2BL*

Information on entry-level Mathematics courses can be found on the Math Testing and Placement Website.

Civil Structures Focus Sequence

Video introduction to civil structures

Safety in buildings and built infrastructure, bridges, ports, and tunnels among various others, is of paramount importance in a community. Such structures have to resist extreme loads arising from wind and earthquakes, besides several occupancy, traffic loads, and self-weight. Students taking the Civil Infrastructure Focus Sequence will become acquainted with the latest tools to design buildings and bridges. A 2-course capstone sequence will provide students with methods for the design and testing of steel and reinforced concrete structures, leading to exciting professional job opportunities.

	Fall Quarter	Winter Quarter	Spring Quarter
Freshman Year	Math 20A	Math 20B	Math 20C
	SE 1	GE	SE 3
	Chem 6A	Phys 2A	Phys 2B/2BL
	GE	GE	GE
Sophomore Year	Math 20D	Math 18	Math 20E
	SE 101A	SE 101B	SE 9
	Phys 2C/2CL	SE 110A	SE 110B
	GE	GE	SE 105
Junior Year	SE 101C	SE 115	SE 131A
	SE 125	SE 102	SE 130B
	SE 130A	SE 103	SE 150A
	GE	GE	GE
Senior Year	SE 131B	SE 140A	SE 140B
	SE 181	SE 151A	TE
	TE	TE	GE
	GE	GE	GE

 

Aerospace Structures Focus Sequence

Video introduction to aerospace structures

Students in the Aerospace Structures Focus Sequence learn about key topics which are directly applicable to future employment in companies interested in high-performance structures; for example aerospace, automotive, transportation, and wind turbine/power generation. Course topics of aircraft structure design and analysis, composite materials, and joining of composites, are all applied in an intense senior capstone design 2-course sequence in which students design, analyze, build, and test an unmanned aircraft wing structure.

	Fall Quarter	Winter Quarter	Spring Quarter
Freshman Year	Math 20A	Math 20B	Math 20C
	SE 1	GE	SE 3
	Chem 6A	Phys 2A	Phys 2B/2BL
	GE	GE	GE
Sophomore Year	Math 20D	Math 18	Math 20E
	SE 101A	SE 101B	SE 9
	Phys 2C/2CL	SE 110A	SE 110B
	GE	GE	SE 105*
Junior Year	SE 101C	SE 115	SE 131A
	SE 125	SE 102	SE 130B
	SE 130A	SE 160A*	SE 160B*
	GE	GE	GE
Senior Year	SE 131B	SE 143A	SE 143B
	SE 142	SE 171	TE
	TE	TE	GE
	GE	GE	GE

Note: *Students must complete SE 105 before enrolling in SE 160A and must complete SE 160A and SE 160B before enrolling in SE 143A.

Geotechnical Engineering Focus Sequence 

Video introduction on geotechnical engineering

The geotechnical focus sequence provides students with an introduction to soil mechanics and its application to the design of underground structures like foundations, retaining walls, tunnels, landfills, bridge abutments, and pavements. Students will be able to sample and classify soils and then perform experiments and analyses to interpret the compressibility, hydraulic conductivity, and shear strength of soils, all of which are needed to write and interpret a geotechnical report. Design topics include shallow and deep foundations, slopes, and retaining walls. Students will learn to apply techniques to improve and reinforce soils.

	Fall Quarter	Winter Quarter	Spring Quarter
Freshman Year	Math 20A	Math 20B	Math 20C
	SE 1	GE	SE 3
	Chem 6A	Phys 2A	Phys 2B/2BL
	GE	GE	GE
Sophomore Year	Math 20D	Math 18	Math 20E
	SE 101A	SE 101B	SE 9
	Phys 2C/2CL	SE 110A	SE 110B
	GE	GE	SE 105
Junior Year	SE 101C	SE 115	SE 131A
	SE 125	SE 102	SE 130B
	SE 130A	SE 103* (TE)	SE 150A* (TE)
	GE	GE	GE
Senior Year	SE 131B	SE 140A	SE 140B
	SE 181**	SE 182**	SE 184**
	TE	SE 151A	GE
	GE	GE	GE

*Since SE 151A has SE 103 as a prereq and SE 140A has SE 150A as a prereq, students should plan to take SE 103 and SE 150A as TE classes in their junior year.

**SE 181, SE 182, and SE 184 can be taken in sequence junior year as long as the student has completed SE 110A.

Structural Health Monitoring/Non-Destructive Evaluation (SHM/NDE) Focus Sequence

Video introduction to structural health monitoring

The Structural Health Monitoring/Nondestructive Evaluation focus sequence introduces students to a broadly interdisciplinary paradigm that integrates sensing and data acquisition, signal processing and information analytics, and risk-informed decision-making for the purpose of performing monitoring of structures for optimal life cycle performance. Students engaged in this focus sequence will take courses in nondestructive testing techniques, sensor and data acquisition principles, damage detection/localization strategies, advanced modeling model/test correlation, and a capstone experience in the context of a small-team consultancy project. Students with this introductory background can enter multiple sectors including aerospace companies, civil design/retrofit firms, engineering service/consultancy companies, and US government laboratories, to just name just a few.

	Fall Quarter	Winter Quarter	Spring Quarter
Freshman Year	Math 20A	Math 20B	Math 20C
	SE 1	GE	SE 3
	Chem 6A	Phys 2A	Phys 2B/2BL
	GE	GE	GE
Sophomore Year	Math 20D	Math 18	Math 20E
	SE 101A	SE 101B	SE 9
	Phys 2C/2CL	SE 110A	SE 110B
	GE	GE	SE 105
Junior Year	SE 101C	SE 115	SE 131A
	SE 125	SE 102	SE 130B
	SE 130A	TE	SE 163
	GE	GE	GE
Senior Year	SE 131B	SE 167*	SE 165
	SE 164**(WI21)	TE	SE 168
	TE	TE	GE
	GE	GE	GE

Note: SE 165 is the capstone class for this sequence and students are required to take an additional TE (4 TEs total).

*SE 167 can be taken in your junior year as long as the student has completed SE 101C.