The Bachelor of Applied Science in Integrated Engineering is a multi-disciplinary program, which offers students the flexibility to define a unique path through their engineering degree.
IGEN core courses introduce students to the fundamentals of eight engineering disciplines: ELEC, MECH, CPEN, CIVL, MTRL, MINE, ENVE, CHBE. Technical electives are combined from primary, secondary, tertiary disciplines, which allows students to build skills in areas specific to their individual interests and career goals.
Three full-year project courses offer hands-on experience with designing, building and testing products and devices: IGEN 230, IGEN 330, IGEN 430. A course in Entrepreneurship (COMR 280) provides business and project management context.
IGEN offers students a breadth of learning plus hands-on opportunities to practice the main activities of Engineers, including design, problem-solving, teamwork and learning how to learn.
Understanding your Curriculum
Engineering curriculum can be updated throughout your degree to ensure your learning is as relevant to industry as possible.
Select the year you were placed/joined year 2 of your program, to find the curriculum that you should follow. For example, if you were placed in your program/joined year 2 in September 2025, select the Visual Guide or curriculum list that reflects this
Visual Guide
The Visual Guide helps students to understand the prerequisites/corequisites of each course and how a specific course applies to future courses in the program.
It is recommended you make the guide full screen (arrows on the top right) in order to fully utilize the information.
Course Plan & Registration Guide
Below is the standard course path that Integrated Engineering students are recommended to follow. If you have taken your courses off-cycle in a previous year, please refer to your APR to determine your remaining degree requirements.
- Reserved capacity seats will be set up for Integrated Engineering students in the sections listed below
- Students are expected to register in all required courses by July 31. After this date, any unused reserved capacity seats will be released to students on the waitlist.
Some courses may have additional sections offered beyond those listed below; however, these sections may conflict with your timetable and will not have seats reserved specifically for Integrated Engineering students. If you choose to take an alternate section, you may need to join the waitlist and are not guaranteed a seat.
If you intend on taking a reduced course load, please review our general advice on reduced courseload for BASc students.
You can also find your degree requirements on the UBC Calendar.
Alternates to Core IGEN courses
In situations with unbalanced timetables or with unavoidable course conflicts, there are a handful of alternates available for core IGEN courses, which must be approved in advance by an EAS Academic Advisor. Students must obtain prior approval for substitutions, otherwise they will not be allowed, and the original course must be taken.
Please book an academic advising appointment to discuss your situation.
Year 2
| Year 2 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | ||||||
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Lecture Section | Lab Section | Discussion Section | Registration Notes |
| MATH 253 | Multivariable Calculus | 3 | 10R | – | – | |
| MATH 255 | Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 | 101 | – | – | |
| CHBE 241 | Material and Energy Balances | 3 | 101 | – | T1D | |
| CIVL 215 | Fluid Mechanics I | 4 | 101 | – | T1A, T1B | |
| ELEC 204 | Linear Circuits | 4 | 101 | – | T1A | |
| ELEC 205 | Electronics Laboratory | 1 | – | L1A, L1B | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |||||
| Term 2 | ||||||
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Lecture Section | Lab Section | Discussion Section | Registration Notes |
| APSC 278 | Engineering Materials | 3 | 201 | – | – | |
| APSC 279 | Engineering Materials Laboratory | 1 | – | 205, 216, 217, 218 | – | |
| CPEN 312 | Digital Systems and Microcomputers | 3 | 201 | L2A, L2C, L2D, L2E, L2K | – | |
| IGEN 201 | Integrated Technical Communication | 3 | 201 | – | – | Students failing IGEN_V 201 will be required to pass APSC_V 201 subsequently. |
| CHBE 244 | Chemical and Biological Engineering Thermodynamics I | 3 | 201 | – | T2A | |
| MECH 260 | Introduction to Mechanics of Materials | 3 | 201 | – | T2A | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |||||
| Full Year (Term 1 – Term 2) | ||||||
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Lecture Section | Lab Section | Discussion Section | Registration Notes |
| IGEN 230 | Introduction to Engineering Design | 6 | 001 | L0A | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |||||
Year 3
| Year 3 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | ||||||
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Lecture Section | Lab Section | Discussion Section | Registration Notes |
| MECH 360 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 | 101 | – | T1A | |
| CHBE 344 | Introduction to Unit Operations | 3 | 101 | – | T1A | |
| COMR 280 | Entrepreneurship | 3 | 104 | – | – | |
| MECH 375 | Heat Transfer | 3 | 101 | – | T1A | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |||||
| Term 2 | ||||||
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Lecture Section | Lab Section | Discussion Section | Registration Notes |
| CHBE 356 | Process Dynamics and Control | 4 | 201 | – | T2A | Select one of CHBE 356 or ELEC 341 |
| ELEC 341 | Systems and Control | 201 | – | – | ||
| MTRL 280 | Materials in Design | 3 | 201 | – | T2A | |
| ELEC 344 | Applied Electronics and Electromechanics | 3 | 201 | L2A, L2B, L2C | T2A | |
| Total Credits | 10 | |||||
| Full Year (Term 1 – Term 2) | ||||||
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Lecture Section | Lab Section | Discussion Section | Registration Notes |
| IGEN 330 | Intermediate Engineering Design | 6 | 1 | L0A | – | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |||||
| Term 1 or Term 2 | ||||||
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Lecture Section | Lab Section | Discussion Section | Registration Notes |
| STAT 251 | Introductory Probability and Statistics | 3 | 101, 201 | L1A-L1K, L2A-L2L | – | |
| Humanities and Social Sciences Electives or Impact of Engineering on Society elective | 3 | Find out more about complementary studies | ||||
| Technical Electives | 6 | See below for more information on technical electives | ||||
| Total Credits | 12 | |||||
Year 4
| Year 4 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | ||||||
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Lecture Section | Lab Section | Discussion Section | Registration Notes |
| No specific Term 1 courses – see below | ||||||
| Term 2 | ||||||
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Lecture Section | Lab Section | Discussion Section | Registration Notes |
| CIVL 305 | Introduction to Environmental Engineering Applications | 3 | 201 | – | – | |
| MTRL 340 | Manufacturing in Materials Engineering | 3 | 201 | – | – | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |||||
| Full Year (Term 1 – Term 2) | ||||||
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Lecture Section | Lab Section | Discussion Section | Registration Notes |
| IGEN 430 | Advanced Engineering Design Projects | 6 | 1 | L0A | – | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |||||
| Term 1 or Term 2) | ||||||
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Lecture Section | Lab Section | Discussion Section | Registration Notes |
| APSC 450 | Professional Engineering Practice | 2 | 101, 201, 202 | – | – | |
| One of MINE_V 350, MINE_V 406, MINE_V 420, MINE_V 444, MINE_V 455 or MINE_V 465 | 3 | Select one of the listed MINE courses | ||||
| One of CHBE_V 459, CIVL_V 403, ELEC_V 481, MECH_V 431, MINE_V 396, MTRL_V 455 | 3 | Select one of the listed Engineering Economics courses | ||||
| Technical Electives | 12 | See below for more information on technical electives | ||||
| Humanities and Social Sciences Electives or Impact of Engineering on Society elective | 3 | Find out more about complementary studies | ||||
| Total Credits | 23 | |||||
Technical Electives
IGEN students must take 18 credits of technical electives in their third and fourth years. They are encouraged to take a combination of 300- and 400-level courses that support their academic and career goals. Students integrate 2 or 3 Engineering disciplines in these technical electives.
Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Requirements
- Primary: 9 credits in one engineering discipline
- Secondary: 6 credits in a different discipline
- Tertiary: 3 credits from a discipline of a student’s choice. These 3 credits are allowed to overlap with a student’s Primary and Secondary requirements. These 3 credits do not have to be from one single discipline and can consist of credits from 2 or 3 different disciplines (e.g. unused credits from 4-credit courses in the Primary or Secondary).
NOTE: the IGEN Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Concentrations are not listed on any UBC-official graduation documents and transcripts. Students are encouraged to list their Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Concentrations on job applications or LinkedIn profiles. Students may request a custom letter from EAS confirming their Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Concentrations.
Courses Allowed
- Core courses taught by Applied Science in the Engineering Disciplines
- A technical elective allowed by the program which is directly relevant to the chosen engineering discipline. Students should consult with EAS to discuss any courses which may require review.
Courses Typically not Allowed
- Design courses, research-based courses, thesis courses where there is a significant focus on open-ended group work or independent design work. This includes, but is not limited to, courses where the core technical content for the course cannot be clearly identified before the course begins.
- Courses from outside of Applied Science that are not part of the core from other departments, e.g. Faculty of Science, Forestry, Land and Food Systems.
- Complementary Studies courses including Technical Communication, Engineering Economics, Impact courses, Humanities and Social Sciences Electives.
- Courses with significant overlap with existing required IGEN courses.
- Entrepreneurship Courses, even if they are run by other APSC programs.
Courses that Need to be Reviewed
Courses from Engineering programs taught outside of Applied Science, e.g. science courses in MATH, CHEM, BIOL, STAT, etc.
IGEN students typically take ownership of planning their technical electives to match their interests and goals. Below are resources that help students plan their IGEN technical electives:
- List of the most popular courses taken by IGEN students
- NOTE: this list includes all UBC courses IGEN students have taken and includes courses which may not count as approved technical electives.
- Speaking with professors or IGEN alumni about how to get involved in their field: IGEN alumni group on LinkedIn
- Speaking with IGEN peers, e.g. IGEN Student Council events
Recommended pathways for CPEN/CPSC
Pathway 1 – Taking CPEN 223 + CPEN 333
- CPEN 223 Software Design for Engineers is a relatively new course started in 2019W. It is taken by the MANU and most BMEG students. This course is not intended to be a replacement for CPEN 221, so it very likely cannot be used as a drop-in replacement where CPEN 221 is a prerequisite.
- CPEN 333 Software Design for Engineers II can be taken using CPEN 223 as a prerequisite. If CPEN 333 is completed, the two courses CPEN432 (Real-time System Design) and CPEN 442 (Introduction to Computer Security) are also available.
- CPEN 441 (Human Computer Interfaces in Engineering Design) has also been taken by several IGENs with CPEN 333 and CPEN 223, along with instructor approval.
- CPEN 223 and CPEN 333 together can be used to satisfy the 6 credits for the IGEN Tech Electives in CPEN (they are actually 7 credits, but only 3 credits of a 200-level course like CPEN 223 may count towards IGEN Tech Electives)
- Related courses:
- CPSC 259 Data Structures and Algorithms for Electrical Engineers is a core course for ELEC students. IGENs have recently had severely reduced numbers in CPSC 259 and will likely not get a chance to get into the course.
- CPEN 221 Software Construction I is a course which only CPEN and ENPH students can take, but that unlocks many higher-level CPEN classes. Formerly IGENs were able to take this course, but that seems to have become much more restricted if at all available as CPEN numbers increase.
Pathway 2 – Taking CPEN 223 + CPEN 355 + CPEN 455
- CPEN 223 Software Design for Engineers
- CPEN 355 Machine Learning with Engineering Applications IGENs would have to plan ahead and substitute MATH 318 to replace STAT 251, along with taking CPEN 223 to meet prerequisites
- CPEN 455 Deep Learning IGENs would have to plan ahead and substitute MATH 318 to replace STAT 251, along with taking CPEN 223 to meet prerequisites
- CPEN 223 and CPEN 355 and CPEN 455 together can be used to satisfy the 11 credits for the IGEN Tech Electives in CPEN (they are actually 12 credits, but only 3 credits of a 200-level course like CPEN 223 may count towards IGEN Tech Electives)
Pathway 3 – Taking CPSC 110, CPSC 121 (or MATH 220), CPSC 210 and CPSC 221
This pathway is available but not strongly advised.
- This combination of classes unlocks several higher-level courses in CPSC. However, students are cautioned that there is a limited number of seats available in CPSC courses to students not enrolled in a CPSC specialization. For that reason, it is not an advised direction for CPSC / CPEN courses without taking some risk of not registering into these courses.
- CPSC has a very clear list of guidelines describing prerequisite policies for their courses: CPSC prerequisite rules. Here is more information on which APSC courses accepted as pre-requisites for CPSC courses
- Further comment from the CPSC Advisor, in Summer 2020: Note that CPSC 310 is generally not available to students who are not registered in a CPSC specialization. So, realistically, the only pathway to upper level CPSC courses is to take CPSC 221, while CPSC 210 alone is not enough
- CPSC 221 (which has CPSC 210 and one of CPSC 121 or MATH 220 as prerequisites) is the course that unlocks the pathway to many upper level CPSC courses.
- Notes about CPSC 110: CPSC 110 itself would NOT count as one Tech Elective for the IGEN Tech Elective requirements, but CPSC 210 would count (only 3 credits of 200-level courses which are prereqs for 300 and 400-level classes). There is a way to challenge CPSC 110, which might be appropriate for some people: UBC CS – CPSC 110 Challenge Exam
Pathway 4 – Computer System Courses using CPEN 312 as a prerequisite
- CPEN 311 (Digital Systems Design) and CPEN 411 (Computer Architecture) are two courses which can be taken using the CPEN 312 course from the IGEN core.
- CPEN 412 (Microcomputer Systems Design) can be taken after completing CPEN 311 and CPEN 312.
- CPEN 511 Advanced Computer Architecture (offered in term 2) is a graduate-level course, but it makes sense to be taken after CPEN411 (offered in term 1) if a student is interested in computer architecture.
Reduced Course Load Guidance
Please review our general advice on reduced courseload for BASc students, as well as the program-specific information below.
Courses offered in Term 1 or Term 2 only
Courses limited to just 1 term (i.e. only offered in Term 1 or Term 2, which may limit future flexibility)
- CHBE 241 (Term 1; prerequisite to MECH 375) and CHBE 244 (Term 2) (together prerequisites to CHBE 344)
- CPEN 312 (Term 2)
- ELEC 204 (Term 1; prerequisites to CPEN 312) and ELEC 205 (Term 2) (together prerequisites to ELEC 344)
- MATH 253 (Term 1, but offered in summer)
- MATH 255 (Term 2. but offered in summer)
- CIVL 215 (Term 1. a prerequisite for MECH 375)
Courses offered in Summer
Courses which have been historically offered in the summer, to help adjust students’ schedule (including some 3rd year courses and possible complementary studies courses in upper years). Note that although these courses have been offered for at least 5 years, the actual summer schedule is not released until late Feb/early March:
- MATH 253
- MATH 255
- STAT 251
- ELEC 341 (one of the 2 options in 3rd year, needs ELEC 204)
- Engineering Economics (MINE 396, ELEC 481, MECH 431). In particular, consider the MINE 396 version, as the Mining dept has by far the strongest support for courses in economics, valuation, and related areas.
- Impact of Engineering on Society, Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship (known as Impact of Engineering): CIVL 250, MECH 410T, and a few other courses
The following chart indicates the second and third year IGEN core courses that are prerequisites for potential technical electives depending on a student’s choice of their primary, secondary, and tertiary requirement:
| Y2&3 Core Courses | Y3&4 Core Courses Impacted | Potential Technical Electives Impacted | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IGEN 201 | None | None | This is the IGEN version of technical and professional communications, tailored with the interests and nuances of the IGEN cohort in mind. It is taught by the same instructor as the 3rd year course COMM 280. It is recommended to take this course together with the cohort. |
| ASPC 278, APSC 279 | None | MANU 378, 380 MECH 329, 435 | May be the best options to postpone in Second Year |
| CHBE 241, CHBE 244 | CHBE 344 MECH 375 | CHBE 346, 362, 365, 366, 370, 376, 453, 454, 457, 477, 487 ENVE 202 MECH 380 | This series is good to keep together as both courses are only offered in their respective terms and are required to take CHBE 344 which is only offered in Term 1 |
| CIVL 215 | MECH 375 | CHBE 373 CIVL 315, 316 MECH 380, 433 | Only offered in Term 1 |
| MATH 253 | Co-reqs with MATH 255 | BMEG 220, 371 CHBE 352 ELEC 211, 311 MECH 280 | Best option to work ahead in Summer before Second Year; historically offered in the Summer |
| MATH 255 | Co-reqs with ELEC 204 | BMEG 371 CHBE 356 CIVL 303, 315 MANU 386 ELEC 221 MECH 380, 433, 466 | Best option to work ahead in Summer before Second Year; historically offered in the Summer |
| STAT 251 | MINE 350, 420 | CIVL 301, 340, 415 ELEC 422, 431 | Best option to work ahead in Summer before Y3; historically offered in the Summer |
| ELEC 204, ELEC 205 | CPEN 312, ELEC 344 | BMEG 321 ELEC 301, 341 MECH 466 | Only offered in in their respective terms |
| MECH 260 | MECH 360 | MINE 303 MECH 325, 329, 426, 435, 463 | Offered in both terms |
| COMM 280 | None | None | |
| MTRL 280 | None | None | |
| ELEC 344 | None | ELEC 451 | |
| CPEN 312 | None | CPEN 311, 411, 412 MECH 423 | |
| IGEN 230 | None | None | Very valuable for moving on to IGEN 330 and IGEN 430 |
| CHBE 344 | None | CHBE 457, 476 | |
| MECH 360 | None | CIVL 437 MECH 420, 436, 462 co-req for MECH 325, 426 | |
| MECH 375 | None | MECH 455, 462, 470, 473, 477, 489 |
Coordinated International Exchange & Co-op
Coordinated International Experience (CIE) exchange program is a specific term-based Go Global exchange program, which is customized for Applied Science undergraduate students.
Co-op is the best way to develop technical skills, make industry connections, gain hands-on experience, explore career options, and apply what you learn in the classroom to real-world problems. The UBC Applied Science Co-op Program is an optional program available to engineering students.
There are pre-approved sequence options for integrating co-op work terms into the Integrated Engineering program.
IGEN 330 & IGEN 430 are year-project courses, which can pose challenges for participation in APSC’s Co-op or CIE programs:
IGEN 330
For Co-op or CIE, special arrangements have been made with the instructors to take IGEN 330 remotely on a case-by-case basis
For CIE only, IGEN 330 has been replaced with two 3-credit design-focused courses:
- Term 1: a 3-credit design course is taken at UBC, e.g. MECH 328
- Term 2: a 3-credit design course is taken during CIE, selected with the IGEN Program Director. The majority of course assessment must be based on open-ended project work (deliverables, report, presentations)
IGEN 430
For Co-op or CIE, IGEN 430 has no alternates available. Special arrangements have been made with the instructors to take IGEN 430 remotely on a case-by-case basis.
For IGEN 430, students must confirm with the instructors their availability to be present in class for the following commitments:
- their group’s weekly 20-minute meeting with IGEN 430 instructors, which will be scheduled during IGEN 430 class times
- group presentations, typically twice per term
When to contact Integrated Engineering directly
Engineering Academic Services is available to support Integrated Engineering students with questions about course planning and registration.
Please contact Integrated Engineering directly for support with:
- Career Planning
- Industry contacts
- Reference letters
- Feedback for courses in-progress
- IGEN 230 & 330 & 430 Forms:
- Expense reimbursements
- Requesting purchases via MTRL Shipping /Receiving
- Submitting work jobs to MTRL Machine Shop
In case of any discrepancies between this page and the UBC Academic Calendar, the Calendar is to be considered correct.