Dec 17, 2024  
2023-2024 Academic Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Interdisciplinary Engineering, BS


The Bachelor of Science Interdisciplinary Engineering (formerly General Engineering), offered by the Interdisciplinary Engineering Program , is an interdisciplinary, broadly focused, and customizable program. The program is intended for students interested in developing engineering skills and knowledge applied across different fields of study or emerging technologies. In the BSIDE curriculum, the first two years focus on courses in math, science and general education areas similar to that of other engineering curricula, but may include prerequisite courses required for upper division studies. The second two years include required engineering depth and breadth elective courses. Students can select one of the pre-approved engineering depth 4-course sequences (12 units) from an engineering program in the college or from a 4-course focused STEM sequence. Two technical elective courses (6 units) can be chosen from other engineering programs or for supplementing the chosen depth courses or meeting the prerequisite courses for a minor. The academic breadth or minor requirement (12 units) allows students to take approved courses based on their career goal or pursue a minor degree, such as: Innovation and Law, Business, Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Green Engineering or Applied Computing for Behavioral and Social Scientists.

Summary of Degree Units

University Graduation Requirements 21
Major Preparation 30
Major Core Requirements 12
Interdisciplinary Courses 28
Technical Focus 18
Academic Breadth or Minor 12
Total 121

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

Major-Specific Graduation Requirements

The following courses in Preparation for the Major must be completed with a “C- or better”: ENGL 1B .

University Requirements


Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Abbreviations ).

Exceptions for University Graduation Requirements  apply to this major. 

Core Lower Division General Education (15 units)


Of the 39 units required by the university, 24 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3, B4, or F must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Of the 39 units, the following 15 units are not satisfied by the major or the American Institutions courses outlined below:

Upper Division General Education


Of the 9 units required by the university, 9 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with a major advisor for details.

American Institutions (6 units)


Complete one 6-unit sequence of American Institutions (US123) courses, which also satisfies GE Area D. Students may also satisfy the American Institutions Requirement  with other courses, but these may not satisfy other GE areas.

The American Studies sequence (AMS 1A /AMS 1B ; 12 units) or Humanities Honors course (HUM 2B ; 6 units) satisfies the American Institutions Requirement and additional GE Areas (see course descriptions for details).

Consult with a major advisor to select the appropriate sequence.

Physical Education


The Physical Education Requirement is waived for this major. See the Exceptions for University Graduation Requirements .

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement


At SJSU, students must pass a Writing in the Disciplines (100W) course with a  grade of C or better (C- not accepted) to meet graduation requirements. For this major, the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)  is satisfied by a course in the major.

Major Preparation (30 units)


Differential Equations or Discrete Math (3 units)


Complete one course:

Major Requirements (58 units)


Mechanics (3 units)


Complete one course:

Technical Focus (18 units)


Must be approved by the advisor.

Engineering or STEM Depth of four course sequence (12 units)


Technical Electives (6 units)


Academic Breadth or Minor (12 units)


Must be approved by the advisor.

Total Units Required (121 units)