Berkeley EECS/MSE: is graduation in 4 years possible?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>I found out about the program for Electrical Engineering and Material Science Engineering and want to go for it. [My interest is semiconductor materials and their applications in devices]However, my main concern is; is this possible in 4 years [without dying...too much]? The sample curriculum has about 5 classes lined up a semester for this to happen but I think some of the classes may be waived. Let me know if I'm wrong.</p>

<p>more relevant:
AP Calc BC- 5, AB subscore 5 and CSUF credit (equivalent to Math 1A and 1B)
Multivariable Calc & Linear Algebra & DEs- CSUF credit (equivalent to Math 53 & Math 54)
Taking AP Chem this year (Chem 1A?)
Taking AP Physics C Mechanics and E&M (I'm not really clear on what credits are possible, but my physics teacher told me there was something >_>)</p>

<p>less relevant: AP CS A, English lang, Bio, Environmental science, USH, Euro have all been taken and passed. AP English lit, Gov, Econ macro, and Japanese will be taken, and with the exception of Japanese, I think I'll be able to pass them.</p>

2

<p>Why do you want to rush it? Enjoy college as much and as long as possible.</p>

3

<p>The sample program does show a 4-year graduation with slight course overload. If you come in with a bunch of courses already fulfilled (e.g. Math through 53 and 54), those may free up enough schedule space to allow a 4-year graduation without overload, and/or allow you to take additional electives.</p>

<p>Page 7 of the UC Berkeley College of Engineering [Undergraduate</a> Handbook](<a href=“http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/advising/Undergraduate%20Handbook%2010-11]Undergraduate”>http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/advising/Undergraduate%20Handbook%2010-11) describes what AP tests and scores may be used.</p>

<p>Note: if you plan to take additional courses in out of major areas (including upper division humanities and social studies as required for the breadth requirement) for which you have AP credit, check the departments in question. For example, in Economics, you need both micro and macro AP tests to cover Economics 1.</p>

4

<p>Also, if you do go into EECS / MSE at Berkeley, you may want to consider including EE 122, CS 162, CS 169, and CS 170 in your course list. This can help you with a backup option of going into software development in case semiconductors and materials are too difficult to get a job in after graduation.</p>

<p>The [UC</a> Berkeley career center](<a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm]UC”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm) surveys graduates. MSE graduates do not seem to be doing that well in the job market. EECS graduates do better, but most job titles listed indicate software development, rather than more EE type of jobs (those going to graduate school indicate a higher percentage of EE relative to CS). L&S CS also does well.</p>

5

<p>@ucbalumnus- thanks, the undergrad handbook was really helpful!
@PurdueEE- not something I can afford to do, in terms or time or money. I plan on going to grad school, and my sister’s still in school too.</p>

6

<p>I don’t know how much you can rely on those career center results for MSE, especially since only 9 of 22 students responded (one got a job, one didn’t, one is doing “something else”, and the other six went to grad school).</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href="http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/students_alumni/post-grad-survey/pdf/Materials.pdf]Here’s[/url"&gt;http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/students_alumni/post-grad-survey/pdf/Materials.pdf]Here’s[/url</a>] a similar survey from my undergrad institution, although I know it’s not complete since I see myself and a few of my friends’ positions aren’t listed there (even though we graduated within the timeframe they state it’s from).</p>