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The Engineering Programs at CSUSM

The engineering program at CSUSM was made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Education, Viasat Inc., Nordson Electronic Solutions, and Hunter Industries.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded CSUSM approximately a $6 million grant under the Hispanic-Serving Institutions STEM Program (Award Number P031C160078), providing foundational funding with the following goals:

  • Develop innovative degree programs in software engineering and electrical engineering aimed to improve and expand CSUSM's capacity for serving Hispanic and/or low-income students.
  • Create a fully articulated engineering curriculum and transfer pathways between community college partners and CSUSM.
  • Build and support an educational ecosystem focused on systematic improvement and equitable student success and completion through sustainable institutionalization of evidence‐based practices.
  • Support the purchase of equipment and supplies needed to develop the new Software Engineering and Electrical Engineering laboratories in order to achieve all project outcomes.
  • Provide incentives to students to participate in activities and services designed to help them succeed.

The Viasat Engineering Pavilion is named in honor of the Carlsbad-based company Viasat that provided a $1.5 million gift to become the founding partner of CSUSM’s electrical and software engineering programs. Their generous donation provided the funding for renovating classrooms and creating modernized laboratory space, fully equipped with electronic supplies and modern instrumentation. As a result, the pavilion is an ideal technological learning environment for acquiring advanced skill-training with professional testing equipment.

Nordson Electronic Solutions and Hunter Industries each contributed $100,000 to the engineering program, which aided the creation of the Nordson Innovation Lab and the Hunter Design Lab in the pavilion.

Our expanding partnership with local industry has greatly contributed to the quality of education and experience our program offers. From student-to-professional career development workshops; to meeting face-to-face with professionals; and to industry sponsored capstone senior design projects. Our partnerships and contributors of Viasat, Hunter Industries, Nordson, which has led to the enrichment of the experience and learning facilities that the engineering program at CSUSM has to offer.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Technical knowledge
    1. Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, physics, and engineering
    2. Identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
  2. Laboratory and Design
    1. Conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data
    2. Design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints (economic, environmental, social)
  3. Communication and Collaboration
    1. Develop skills necessary to function effectively on teams
    2. Communicate effectively in both written and oral form
  4. Further study
    1. Recognize the need for, and be able to engage in, life-long learning
    2. Acquire a broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a broad societal context
  5. Professionalism
    1. Demonstrate professional and ethical responsibility
    2. Maintain currency in pertinent contemporary issues
    3. Use the techniques, skills, and modern tools necessary for engineering practice