It was nice to have an actual engineer as the instructor of the course who had been on the job for most of his life.
- Griffin H.
I enjoyed the real world insight from the field trips. We went to a construction site and Autodesk Gallery to learn about the mechanics of machines and buildings.
- James L.
Overview
Engineering is one of the top desired careers in many companies. These businesses are always in need of creative minds that can problem solve on their feet and help the company save money, solve issues, and expand their reach. If you are considering a career in Engineering, this course will help you explore what it takes to be an engineer. We will explore facets of mechanical, structural, civil, and electrical engineering in a hands-on, minds-on approach.
Excursions at UC Berkeley – Students visit Stantec, a global engineering firm where they spent time reviewing “pull schedules” that allow the orchestra of fields to come together to create a masterpiece: the new UCSF cancer center.
Hands-On Learning
Students will explore the design process and a standard problem solving approach used by engineers. They will also utilize a series of design challenges to test and gather data on the efficiency of our designs. Projects include building a scale model structure compliant with code, zoning, and budget requirements as well as creating an artificial limb.
Students will think on their feet as they work against time, budget, gravity, and limited resources to complete mini design projects covering different areas of engineering. The final project will be in the field of their choice so they can further explore a specific area.
Career Exploration
Through this course and program, you will get on-site experience and learn from experts in the field. We will gain an understanding of applied problem solving skills that are involved in Engineering.
Meet with successful professionals and experts in the fields of engineering and technology to learn more about careers and jobs in this field, and have the opportunity to ask questions and learn firsthand what it’s like to work as an engineer. This insight helps students reflect on which areas within the field of engineering is right for them.
Instructor
Reza Alam, Ph.D
Reza is an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley as well as the American Bureau of Shipping Chair in Ocean Engineering. His research areas include ocean wave power, underwater wireless communication and underwater drone technology. Born in Yazd, a small historic city at the geographic center of Iran, Reza received his BSc in Mechanical Engineering and MSc in Applied Mechanics from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. He then joined the Mechanical Engineering program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. He received his Master of Science and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, and then served as a Postdoctoral associate and Lecturer at MIT.
Note: Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners. Universities and their affiliated departments are not responsible for the Summer Springboard program in any way.
