Is Sac State a good engineering school?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

I haven’t known Sac State as having a good engineering program. I have had a few relatives who graduated from Sac State who ended up successfully in start-ups. What are your inputs on the program? (Any type of Engineering)

2

Thank you so much,that was very helpful! Good luck at UCLA! I wish to be an electrical engineer as well

3

Keep in mind though that classes, especially engineering classes, at Sac State are becoming severely impacted. It will more likely than not take you at least 5 years to graduate from Sac State.

4

Classes being impacted and taking 5 years to graduate is a common problem at many of the CSUs.

5

How about UC’s?

6

Thanks again 10s4life!

7

Slow graduation at CSUs is probably related to things other than class impaction (since they designate majors as impacted in order to avoid enrolling more students in the major than they can offer classes to). The likely causes:

  • Low admission selectivity at many CSUs. Many require remedial courses, and some may not be able to handle 15+ credit course loads every semester or quarter needed to graduate in 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
  • Many students who work while attending school and take light full time (12 credits) or part time (<12 credits) per semester or quarter instead of the 15+ needed to graduate in 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
  • Relatively voluminous general education requirements.
8

Sac State has a solid engineering program. It isn’t an elite school but, is accredited and its graduates are recruited by big firms for good jobs.

There have certainly been times when over-crowding and under-funding was an issue at Sac State (and many CSUs). My understanding (from current students) is now is not one of those times. You can’t always find the perfect instructor at your perfect time but, if you are flexible, it is not difficult to get the classes required for timely graduation. I know the school’s new president has (rightly) placed a big focus on timely graduation.

Interestingly, Sac State recently declared it’s campus ‘impacted’ which allows CSUs to limit enrollment and raise admission standards.

9

One of the biggest benefits of attending Sac State if you’re a local is you’ll save so much money on tuition and room/board–I got my degree debt free and that is a huge plus right now. I’d say aim for Cal Poly if you’re not local.
Sac State is a pretty good engineering school and often employers say you get the more practical side over the UC…

Graduated in three years in electrical engineering thanks to them accepting all your AP credits and giving you ridiculous priority registration due to taking them.

Currently job hunting but that’s expected within the first 6 months of graduating and I didn’t intern because I was an unfortunate guy to graduate too fast and… There’s so many more internships now…

10

You went to Sac State? for engineering

11

Yes.

12

http://www.csus.edu/schedule/fall2014spring2015/advisingfaq.html#apib indicates that not all AP credit counts toward subject requirements. For example, CSU Sacramento gives no subject credit for AP chemistry or any AP physics score (though they can fulfill GE).

13

At least for the civil and electrical engineers APs can limit the number of GEs you need to take to (3) public speaking, sophomore English, and a writing intensive in upper division. Engineering Economics and Senior Project count as 6 of the 9 required upper div GE credits and AP covers most of the lower div