
Cabrillo's engineering program provides the facilities, equipment, and teaching faculty to present the very finest lower division engineering education, so that students transfer with full junior standing and successfully complete a degree in engineering. There are over 500 students majoring in engineering at Cabrillo making engineering one of the top ten majors at Cabrillo.
Our Mission:
The Engineering Department at Cabrillo College provides a high quality learning environment designed from the ground up to support, encourage and inspire the next generation of thinkers and do-ers. We promote these very Important elements in our program:
- HANDS-ON LEARNING:
Engineering is the application of theory to solve real world problems. Here, our courses include labs and hands-on design projects that engage students while applying theory to practice. Come get your hands dirty.
- CREATIVITY:
Engineering is a creative endeavor. It takes inventiveness to see complex problems in simpler ways, and that there are many solutions to any problem. Here you will be rewarded for coloring outside the lines.
- DIVERSITY & INCLUSION:
The world's best engineers come from every background, culture, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality representing every discipline of engineering. Here we know we grow stronger from respecting our differences and from standing in alliance with each other. You are welcome here.
- INTEGRITY:
Engineering is an honorable profession. Our instructors and staff demonstrate and promote respect, ethicality, honesty and professionalism. Here you will be able to study and collaborate in a supportive environment free from harassment and hostility.
- SUSTAINABILITY:
Engineers have the obligation to incorporate sustainability in their design principles. Here, our forward thinking is foundational and sustainability is embedded in all our courses. A greener tomorrow begins here today.
- ENGR AS A HELPING PROFESSION:
Engineers Engineers are endowed with vast potential to make positive change in our own communities and in the world. Here, we strive to produce world leaders through service-learning projects where they can practice their profession for the benefit of others. Come make a difference with us.
All the diversity of the student population is present in the engineering student body. We honor ALL students: IMMIGRANTS, UNDOCUMENTED, MUSLIMS, WOMEN, LGBTQ, DISABLED, PEOPLE OF COLOR, LIBERALS, CONSERVATIVES, PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED, FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS, VETERANS, YOUNG, and OLD.
Important to note: Approximately 50% of California graduates with BS degrees in engineering began their academic pathway at a community colleges.



Cabrillo College's engineering program began in 1960, the second year of the college's operation. Cabrillo's engineering program provides the complete lower division coursework which prepares you to transfer with full junior standing to all college/universities in California and across the United States in all the following engineering majors:
Aerospace, Marine, and Ocean Engineering
Agricultural, Biological, Biomedical, and Chemical Engineering
Civil, Environmental, Structural, & Architectural Engineering
Electrical, Computer, and Software Engineering
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Materials and Nanotechnology Engineering
Mechanical, Mechatronics, and Robotics Engineering
Nuclear and Petroleum Engineering
BENEFITS of CABRILLO's ENGINEERING PROGRAM:
Cabrillo's engineering program offers you:
small class size
cost-effective education
accessible faculty who are committed to your academic success
engaged community of students
faculty with varied disciplines and interest
modern classroom and laboratory facilities
hands-on fun engineering curriculum
transferable courses to all UC, CSU & private universities
strong foundation for you to be successful in your junior and senior years
STEM Center: place to study collaboratively with free tutoring, workshops, and computers
more than $40,000 in scholarship awarded each year
mentors and connection to engineering alums
engineering student clubs
The quality of education, the individualized attention, the convenience, and the cost are the advantages of coming to Cabrillo. History has proven that Cabrillo students do as well as, and almost always better than, those students who started as freshman at the four-year schools.
All the diversity of the student population is present in the engineering student body and active in many of the engineering student clubs:
- Aerospace Club
- AgTech Club
- Engineering Abroad Club
- Engineering Society
- Engineers Holding the Future
- K-12 Outreach Club
- Latinx United at Cabrillo in Engineering & Science (LUCES)
- Robotics Club
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
- STEAMWorks Club
- Women in Science & Engineering (WISE)
and new clubs created each year
Engineering Department Orientation to Cabrillo Engineering Students and Perspective Students
The Engineering Department Orientation is always held the week before each semester on Tuesday evening, 6:00-8:00pm.
At the orientation, you are introduced to the engr instructors, current and past students, the engineering program, and the courses and schedules.
At the end of the orientation, the department chair will check with each of you to make sure you are scheduled for the correct courses for the upcoming semester.
Spring 2022 Engineering Department Orientation:
Tues., Jan. 18, 2022; 6:00-8:00 pm
online via zoom:
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:
https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/93488826439?pwd=OWxMTnVVK0c1dWgzYWZPeHNoazVVQT09
Password: engr
Or iPhone one-tap (US Toll): +16699006833,93488826439# or +13462487799,93488826439#
Or Telephone:
Dial:
+1 669 900 6833 (US Toll)
+1 346 248 7799 (US Toll)
+1 253 215 8782 (US Toll)
+1 646 876 9923 (US Toll)
+1 301 715 8592 (US Toll)
+1 312 626 6799 (US Toll)
Meeting ID: 934 8882 6439
International numbers available: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/u/abCtyEZUa
Or an H.323/SIP room system:
H.323: 162.255.37.11 (US West) or 162.255.36.11 (US East)
Meeting ID: 934 8882 6439
Password: 666604
SIP: 93488826439@zoomcrc.com
Password: 666604
Or Skype for Business (Lync):
SIP:93488826439.666604@lync.zoom.us
If you missed the orientation, you can watch the zoom recording below:
What to take your first semester at Cabrillo as an Engineering major?
All Engr Majors EXCEPT Electrical,Computer,or Software Engr Majors
CG 51-STEM
ENGR 5
Choose your level of math: Math 5A (Calculus I) or Math 4 (Pre-Calculus) or Math 1 (College Algebra)
Choose your level of chemistry: CHEM 1A (College Chemistry) or CHEM 3/3L (if you did not receive an A or B in high school chemistry)
Other Course Options if you want to take another major core course in your first semester:
ENGR 25 (All Engrs) or ENGR 12 (Mech & Aero Engrs only) or ENGR 1A (Civil Arch & Structural Engrs only)
Only Electrical,Computer,or Software Engr Majors
CG 51-STEM
ENGR 5
Choose your level of math: Math 5A (Calculus I) or Math 4 (Pre-Calculus) or Math 1 (College Algebra)
Choose your level of computer science: CS 11 (C Programming) or CS 12P (Python Programming, for UCSC) or CS 1/L (if you need more experience using computers)
Other Course Options if you want to take another major core course in your first semester:
PHY 4A (College Physics) or PHY 11 (if you did not receive an A or B in high school physics)
Attend Cabrillo College's ENGR 5 Engineering as a Profession course (for College and High School Students)
Three (3) sections offered:
Section 01: Tues, Jan 25 - Apr 12, 2022, 11:10 am -2:15 pm; taught synchronous online through Conferzoom on the ENGR 5-01 Course Canvas Page
(no class: Mar 22, 2022)
Section 02: Mon, Feb 28 - May 16, 2022, 6:00 pm -9:20 pm; taught in person, Cabrillo Aptos campus, Rm 810
(no class: Mar 21 & Apr 4, 2022)
Section 03: Thurs, Mar 31- May 19, 2022, 4:00 pm -7:20 pm; taught in person, Cabrillo Watsonville Center, Rm D101
(no class: Mar 24 & Apr 7, 2022)
One In-Person Section:
Mon-Thurs, July 11-21, 2022, 9:30am - 1:45 pm
Cabrillo Aptos Campus, Rm 810
Middle, High School and College Engineering Programs
COVID-19 has prevented us from offering this camp in Summer 2021. Sorry.
ENGR 5 Engineering as a Profession
July 12 - 22, 2021; Monday-Thursday, 9:30am - 1:45 pm
(Taught synchronously on-line through Conferzoom on the ENGR 5 Course Canvas Page)
Cabrillo has connections to many engineers throughout Santa Cruz County and beyond through our 1000+ alumni. Many make a major impact on Santa Cruz county as they have returned to occupy a wide range of positions in the public and private sectors of business and professional life in our area. Many have assisted in providing part-time and summer jobs for current engineering students. Alumni are employed in professional practice throughout the state, nation and even abroad. Former students are a major source of gifts to the engineering scholarship fund and have endowed other awards.
Learn more today!
Contact:
Jo-Ann Panzardi; Chair/Instructor Engineering Department
Rm 811, Aptos Campus; 831-479-6497 or jp@cabrillo.edu
or
Cabrillo College STEM Counselors
counselor@cabrillo.edu
Contact Jo-Ann Panzardi, PE, Chair/Instructor (831) 479-6497: Engineering Department, Rm 811, Aptos Campus, or























