Summer Springboard
Fundamentals of Engineering
IN BERKELEY
DESIGN A SCALE MODEL OF A BUILDING USING PRINCIPLES OF MECHANICAL, STRUCTURAL, AND CIVIL ENGINEERING.
THIS IS A TWO-WEEK PROGRAM WHERE YOU’LL FOCUS ON ONE COURSE FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION.
Fundamentals of Engineering in Berkeley
- Explore core engineering disciplines: Delve into mechanical, structural, civil, and biomedical engineering through hands-on projects.
- Create an artificial limb: Design and build a prosthetic limb that replicates natural function and movement.
- Design a code-compliant structure: Construct a scale model of a building using principles of mechanical, structural, and civil engineering.
- Learn from professionals: Gain insights into the latest advancements in engineering and technology from industry experts.
- Visit innovative facilities: Tour the Tesla Fremont Factory and Circuit Launch, an electronics and prototype lab.
- Tailored final projects: Choose a specific engineering field to focus on for an advanced team design challenge.
Summer Springboard
Fundamentals of Engineering
About This Course
The Fundamentals of Engineering program in Berkeley offers high school students an immersive two-week experience in engineering.
Participants engage in hands-on projects across mechanical, structural, civil, and biomedical engineering disciplines. They design and build a prosthetic limb, construct a scale model of a building adhering to code and budget constraints, and tackle various design challenges that simulate real-world engineering problems.
The program also includes excursions to leading-edge facilities like the Tesla Fremont Factory and Circuit Launch, providing students with exposure to cutting-edge technology and innovation.
Throughout the course, students work on collaborative projects, culminating in a final design challenge in their chosen engineering field.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
Students engage in practical engineering tasks, such as building prosthetic limbs and constructing scale models, to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges.
Career Exploration
The program offers opportunities to interact with industry professionals, providing students with insights into various engineering careers and the skills required to succeed in the field.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this course.
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“I liked my experience at Summer Springboard. In class I got the chance to do projects that made me more interested in engineering and the excursions reinforced that.”
– P. Ananthabhotla | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Fundamentals of Engineering
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Farhad Rostamian is currently a professor at UCLA teaching courses at both Anderson School of Management and Samueli School of Engineering.
Prior to this academic position, he spent over 25 years making highly innovative and iconic products such as the pill camera (with Given Imaging), the camera for Apple’s 1st iPhone (working directly with Steve Jobs), and sensors for disposable insulin pumps (with Medtronic). He has worked in Asia, Europe and the Americas. He holds five US and international patents. His passion lies, though, in education and mentorship.
Over the last 13 years, he has successfully developed and taught courses to graduate, undergraduate and high-school students – all focused on innovation. He focuses on providing the most relevant curriculum that prepares students for the workplace, and especially for careers on technology. Dr. Rostamian’s teaching are heavily influenced by his deep industry know-how, global experience and academic expertise. His class times are filled with real world stories and examples of most innovative companies and products. He has had the pleasure of teaching and watching over 1,200 of his students graduate to join highly innovative industries and corporations or become part of the start-up revolution.
Dr. Rostamian has four degrees from UCLA: B.S., M.S., and Doctoral degree in
Electrical Engineering, plus an MBA.
DR. FARHAD ROSTAMIAN
“The educational lectures for the engineering program were amazing. They really opened my mind to the state of technology and the future of the world.”
– O. Lewis” | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Fundamentals of Engineering
Dates & Tuition
| 2026 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: June 14 – June 26, 2026 |
| Session 3: June 28 – July 10, 2026 |
| Session 5: July 12 – July 24, 2026 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $5,998 |
| Commuter Tuition: $3,298 |
| Course Supplement: $250 |
Apply by November 30 to lock in the lowest prices of the year. Tuition increases on December 1.
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: Berkeley |
| State: California |
| Campus: Berkeley |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly, NYSID and UW Foster which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.