Computer Science and Engineering

The Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) major at UC San Diego teaches students to design, analyze, and build computing systems that solve real‑world problems. The program offers a strong foundation in programming, algorithms, computer architecture, software engineering, artificial intelligence, and data science. Students learn through hands‑on projects, research opportunities, and collaboration with world‑class faculty. With access to cutting‑edge facilities and a vibrant tech community, UC San Diego CSE students gain the tools to innovate and lead in a rapidly evolving industry. Graduates can find themselves in careers utilizing technology to solve society’s problems – this can be in environment, medicine, robotics, and social services.

Majors within CSE include:

Artificial Intelligence
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Computer Science w/ Specialization in Bioinformatics

Program Highlights

#12 Computer science program in the nation (#6 among public universities) according to U.S. News and World Report.
#9 Engineering school in the nation according to U.S. News and World Report.
CSE is ranked #3 in metrics-based ranking of top computer science institutions.

Computer Science and Engineering

This page is intended to give some highlights about the program. If you are interested in learning more about the major and its curriculum, visit the department website.

CSE Website

Experiential Learning and Student Life

Co-Curricular Programs

Learn how to make the most of your experience at UC San Diego within the context of your major.

Research

CSE undergraduate students can collaborate on projects and research with faculty, graduate students and other undergraduate students. Many students find opportunities for research when taking CSE classes. Distinguished faculty members are leading experts and researchers in their respective areas, with many having been recognized and honored with prestigious engineering and university teaching awards throughout their careers. Research opportunities in CSE include, but are not limited to: Early Research Scholars Program (CSE-ERSP), Engineers For Exploration, and Guided Engineering Apprenticeship in Research (GEAR). Learn more about CSE research opportunities.

Internships

CSE students can participate in a number of internships to gain hands-on experience. Finding an internship is easy through department’s resources like the Jacobs School Jobs & Internship Portal, a database used by various industry companies to search for talented students who may qualify for full-time jobs and internships. The portal allows you to create your own profile and resume, view and apply for career opportunities, and gain access to some of the top employers in your field of study.

Other resources include the Team Internship Program, a 10-12 week paid summer internship in which multidisciplinary teams of 2-5 engineering students complete a corporate-sponsored project. Learn more about CSE internship opportunities.

Study Abroad

CSE students are encouraged to explore study abroad opportunities. Studying abroad allows students to experience the culture and history of another country and gain a global perspective, all while earning academic credit toward their degree.

Learn more about study abroad opportunities for CSE.

Student Organizations

With over 600 student organizations, students are able to connect with other students who share similar interests. And, if you can't find something that interests you, it's easy to create a new one with just a few other students. Explore UC San Diego student organizations.

Be sure to check out these organizations related to your major:

Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
ColorStack
Computer Science and Engineering Society (CSES)
CSforeach
Undergraduate Bioinformatics Club (UBIC)
Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW)
Tau Beta Pai (The Engineering Honor Society)
Triton Quantitative Trading (TQT)
Triton Software Engineering (TSE)
Triton Solar Car
Video Game Development Club (VGDC)
Women In Computing

What can I do with this major?

Learn about how you can apply your major to various opportunities after you graduate. The information below is based on recent surveys from alumni in this (or similar) majors and is not an exhaustive list.

Recent Employers - Top 10 employers alumni reported working for.
Job Types - Industries and types of jobs that alumni reported.
Skills - Common skills and skills specific to the major that alumni reported gaining from this major.
Graduate Programs - The types of graduate programs alumni reported going to (if applicable)

Recent Employers

Amazon
Google
University of California
Meta
Microsoft
Qualcomm
ServiceNow
General Atomics
Oracle
Intuit

Job Types

Software Developer / QA Testers
Tutors, Teachers, and Instructors
Full Stack Software Engineers
Web Developers and Interface Designers
High School Teachers, Higher Education Teachers
General and Operations Managers
Computer Programmers
Machine Learning engineer
AI engineer

Graduate Programs

Computer Science
Computer and Information Sciences
Information Technology
Computer Software Engineering
Operations Research
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
Computer and Information Systems Security
Modeling
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Information Science

Skills

Common

Research
Teaching
Leadership
Microsoft Office
Management
Teamwork
Customer Service
Problem Solving
Public Speaking
Operations

Specific

Software Engineering
Python
Java
C++
JavaScript
Software Development
HyperText Markup Language
Cascading Style Sheet
Application Programming Interface
Computer Science

Quick Reference PDF

Want to print or save the information for this major? Download the Quick Reference PDF to keep these major details easily accessible while you explore more about UC San Diego!

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