What is engineering?

The ABET definition of engineering says, “The profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences gained by study, experience, and practice is applied with judgment to develop ways to utilize, economically, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of humankind.”  Students who take ENGR 100, Introduction to Engineering spend time learning about engineering and learning about what the job is like and what a typical engineer does on a daily basis.

What are the requirements to become an engineer?

To work as an engineer (and be paid an engineer’s salary) the minimum requirement is a B.S. degree, in one of the fields of engineering, from an ABET accredited university.  Experience is not generally required.  You can check your individual discipline at the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics website www.bls.gov.

Many students seek preprofessional employment as an intern, researcher or technician and these experiences frequently help new graduates obtain employment.  GCC Engineering supports students seeking internships, but the most important step is to complete the B.S. degree in engineering from an ABET accredited institution.

Do I need a degree to work as an engineer?

Generally, yes.  Sometimes technicians and technologists do work that is similar to engineering and engineers and technicians work together with scientists but to work as an engineer, the minimum requirement is a bachelor's degree in engineering from and ABET accredited university.

What classes should I take?

GCC Engineering has recommended programs for mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, civil, electrical, and computer engineering with lists of specific courses that are recommended to take prior to transferring to the university.  The courses fall into three categories:

Fundamental coursework:  these are Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology courses

Engineering courses: these are the articulated courses in engineering like ENGR 100, Introduction to Engineering, ENGR 152 Engineering Mechanics – Statics, ENGR 156 MATLAB, and ENGR 240 Electrical Engineering Fundamentals.

General Education Courses sufficient for transfer: these are course that the Universities require in order to be admitted for transfer.  Academic Counselors can help you identify these courses such as ENGL 101.

At a minimum, engineering students should complete MATH 103E, 104E, 105 and MATH 108, Physics 101 and 102, CHEM 101 and at least three engineering courses relevant to their major starting with ENGR 100.

Should I complete IGETC Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum?

IGETC is not required for engineering majors.  IGETC is the list of general education courses applicable to the University of California (UC) system.  Some students complete IGETC because in some cases the student then does not have to take additional GE courses when they transfer.  The GCC Engineering Department recommends that students complete as many articulated engineering courses as possible prior to transfer.  One advanced strategy is to leave some of the GE courses to mix into your schedule at the University so that you don’t wind up taking 15 to 18 units of all engineering courses.  In other words, balance out your program.

Does GCC have A.S. degrees in engineering?

Yes! GCC offers A.S. degrees in the following majors: Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, and Computer Engineering (all 65-unit degrees). Click here to find program outlines.

Does GCC have Associate of Science for Transfer (AST’s) in engineering?

No, in the state of California, Engineering is exempt from the requirement of an AST; however, GCC Engineering has Engineering Transfer Certificates that substitute for AST's. Click here to find program outlines.

When should I transfer?

Students should transfer after completion of their foundational Calculus, Physics and Chemistry classes. Taking some articulated engineering courses will help but the Engineering Department feels that students should not delay too long to transfer because your required degree of a B.S. is offered at the University.  So, take your foundation courses, the GE classes required for transfer and as many articulated engineering courses as possible and then go.

What is the best engineering school to transfer to?

The best engineering school is the school where you feel most comfortable.  Many students feel that certain famous named schools are the best, but this is not the case, especially at the undergraduate level.  There is no practical difference between the California State University (CSU) system and the University of California (UC) system in terms of the quality of engineering education.  We feel that way about the most famous private institutions as well.  At the bachelor’s degree level, the only thing that matters is that the school has ABET accreditation and that you, as a student, are comfortable and like that school.

For engineering graduate school however, there may be important differences.  Most UC’s have significantly more resources for research, and they also offer PhD programs where generally the CSU’s do not.  CSU’s offer master’s degree programs and those are excellent as well.

What is the difference between UC’s and CSU’s?

When the UC’s and CSU’s systems were created it was designated that the UC’s would offer research and PhD programs and the CSU schools would be oriented more around practical educational programs.  These distinctions have been changing and are no longer enforced, however.  For the practical purpose of Community College engineering majors there is no difference; both are equally beneficial for engineering students to transfer and complete their B.S. degrees.

Which university system is better for engineers, UC’s or CSU’s?

GCC Engineering suggests that there is no practical difference between the California State University (CSU) system and the University of California (UC) system.  We feel that way about the most famous private institutions as well.  At the bachelor’s degree level, the only thing that matters is that the school has ABET accreditation and that you, as a student, are comfortable and like that school.

For engineering graduate school however, there may be important differences.  Most UC’s have significantly more resources for research, and they also offer PhD programs where generally the CSU’s do not.  CSU’s offer master's degree programs and those are excellent as well.

Should I go to a private engineering University?

Many private engineering universities are excellent.  However, we see no practical difference between the quality of programs between public and private universities.  Private universities may be more expensive to attend due to higher tuition, however, students may find that private universities can allow you to graduate sooner because they may not have financial pressures and may allow better access to the courses that you need to graduate.  Also, the cost may be offset by financial aid and scholarships.  About 5 to 10% of GCC engineering students transfer to private universities.

Does GCC have Environmental Engineering?

It is not feasible for GCC to support all disciplines so students interested in Environmental Engineering should follow the Civil Engineering program.  Some Community College transfer students complete their B.S. degrees in Civil engineering or other major discipline and pursue graduate degrees in environmental engineering.

Does GCC have Chemical Engineering?

It is not feasible for GCC to support all disciplines so students interested in Chemical Engineering should follow the Mechanical Engineering program. 

Does GCC have Biomedical Engineering?

It is not feasible for GCC to support all disciplines so students interested in Biomedical Engineering should follow either the Electrical or Mechanical Engineering programs.  Opportunities exist for students completing Biomedical Engineering B.S. degrees, but we also recommend considering a pathway in Electrical or Mechanical B.S. degree with a graduate degree in Biomedical Engineering.

I am not good at math; can I still study engineering?

Don’t worry most of us struggle with math.  Math is one of those subjects that requires constant effort.  You can do it!  While most engineering jobs do not use Calculus in the day-to-day work, we do need to learn calculus in order to understand the underlying concepts of physics, chemistry and biology.  If you are not good at math, it probably means that you are like the rest of us and just need to put in more effort to do well in your math courses.  We work on this in ENGR 100 Introduction to Engineering.

What engineering programs does GCC have?

GCC Engineering Department offers preparation for transfer in the following three broad disciplines:

Civil Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Mechanical/Aerospace/Manufacturing Engineering

Computer Engineering

We have AS degrees and transfer certificates in engineering.

What GE classes should I take?

GCC Engineering students should take general education classes sufficient for transfer.  Completion of IGETC is not generally required for engineering majors, even for students transferring to UC’s. It is a good idea to consult with an Academic Counselor to determine which courses are required to meet the University level requirements.  You can see which GE courses are required for transfer to CSU engineering programs in the suggested model curriculum in the Engineering Department website. 

How long will it take me to finish my B.S. degree in engineering?

Engineering is supposed to be a 4-year program, but Community College students typically take 3 years to transfer to a university and then take another 3 years to finish their B.S., so 6 years in total.  This seems long but remember that an engineering degree is very valuable and allows for interesting work, good lifetime salary and the ability to transition to many other careers.  Most students who go directly to a 4-year university program typically take 5 years at least to finish.

We recommend to Community College Engineering students to immediately begin their math sequence.  If you are not ready to take calculus it is especially important that you begin preparing for MATH 103E by taking MATH 110 Precalculus or other preparation courses.  The sequence for engineering majors can be found on the Mathematics Division web page.  Contact an Academic Counselor or the Math Division directly to begin your calculus preparation sequence.

What is Engineering Technology?

Engineering Technology is a discipline and program of study that is between engineering and technician training.  Engineering Technology programs require a little less calculus, and most courses are applied in nature with more hands-on learning.  In California there is a pathway to Professional Licensure in Engineering for those with a B.S. degree in engineering technology and additional experience required to take the PE exam.  Several of our local CSU partners have engineering technology programs for transfer such as Cal Poly Pomona, CSU Long Beach and Cal State LA.

Classes that I have taken are not listed in Assist.org, will they count towards my B.S. degree?

Assist.org is an excellent resource to determine if a course will articulate to the university that you are interested in.  It is impossible to get all courses articulated to every program at every school.  Many Universities allow for a petition process that transfer students can use to articulate their courses.  Engineering students should save their course materials including syllabi, exams, and notes in case you are asked to show some information to your counselor about a course that is not automatically transferred.  The core engineering courses at GCC all have C-ID Descriptor approval and the GCC Engineering Department has worked hard to make sure that all of the engineering courses in the four engineering transfer programs all satisfy the university transfer requirements.

How many units should I take each semester?

We talk about this in ENGR 100. The answer to this question is different for each student.  Full time is 12 units and 15 units per semester is a pace for a 4-year program.  Some students make the mistake of taking too many courses in order to try to transfer sooner and they underestimate the amount of time that is needed to be successful in engineering.  Our programs suggest 12 to 14 units each semester in order to transfer in three years.

Is engineering harder than other majors?

Engineering is not necessarily harder than other majors, but it may require more effort.  Frequently, calculus, physics, chemistry and engineering courses require more time to read complex material and solve problems.  We strongly believe that anyone can be successful in engineering; it just requires commitment and effort.

Should I take computer aided design (CAD) classes?

For mechanical and civil engineering majors the required CAD class is ENGR 122, Engineering Graphics.  No other CAD classes are required.  Many of our students choose to take additional CAD classes or pursue a Certificate of Achievement or A.S. degree in Engineering Technology – Computer Aided Design CAD Drafting but for mechanical and civil engineering these are extra courses that don’t usually transfer to university programs.

Some students who are preparing for Calculus and taking MATH 90, or Precalculus find it useful to take CAD classes because it keeps them connected to the engineering department and it develops skills that may be useful later but again, they are not generally required, and engineering students should be aware and plan their program to suit their goals.

What is the best engineering discipline where I can help people, help the environment, or make the world a better place?

Many students major in environmental, chemical, or biomedical engineering because they feel that those are the disciplines that help people.  This is true but also all engineering disciplines, including mechanical, civil, electrical and computer engineering offer opportunities to help people, the environment and to make the world a better place.  Each of these disciplines are multifaceted and there are all kinds of ways to help people. Sustainable energy production is made possible by mechanical and electrical engineers.  Civil engineers make buildings, bridges, and other structures, waterways, and parks safe, clean and sustainable. 

Who should study engineering?

Glendale Community College engineering is open to all students.  We strive to help those students who are underrepresented in engineering. Information about the makeup of engineers and scientists in the US and the definition of underrepresented students can be found here.  Universities, corporations and institutions in industry are eager to diversify their workforce.  For engineering it is imperative that diverse groups of people with different experiences and backgrounds work together to solve problems and create the best designs.  If you are wondering if engineering is right for you then the answer is YES!  You are welcome in GCC Engineering, and we hope that you feel like engineering is a home to you.