There is limited space available in the INSPIRE program. If you would like to apply to join, please complete the Google form at this link. Once you are approved, you will be given an Enrollment code for Engr 13A, the Fall quarter INSPIRE seminar. You will also be placed into a peer group with a peer mentor based on your declared engineering major.
No! As long as you are taking a full load (at least 12 units), the seminar and INSPIRE program are included with your tuition. Further, not only is there no cost, but we will pay you to participate! INSPIRE participants will receive $300, paid as $150 after successfully participating in the Fall quarter seminar and social activities, and as $150 after successfully participating in the Winter quarter seminar and social activities.
Yes! INSPIRE students will receive $300 for their participation. They will receive $150 after completing the Fall quarter requirements, and another $150 after completing the Winter quarter requirements. Plus, there will be free food at many events!
The transition to college is different for everyone. But a common experience for nearly everyone is that the courses are likely to be more challenging than your high school courses. It can also take time to meet the other students in your major and find a peer group. INSPIRE will help with both of these challenges. It will give you the information you need to navigate UCSB, and it will immediately connect you with a group of peers (other first-years) in your major, as well as peer mentors (juniors and/or seniors) in your major who have successfully tackled the same challenges you are about to face. The two components together (UCSB navigation skills + a peer group/peer mentor) will help to quickly set you on a path for success at UCSB, right at the beginning of your college journey! Don’t wait until your second or third year to connect with others in your major and find out all UCSB has to offer - do it right from the very first day!
The seminar will meet for 1 hour and 15 minutes per week on Fridays. There will occasionally be something to read outside of class time, or an activity, but there is not “homework” in the traditional sense. There will also be social gatherings with your peer mentor and peer group, which will often include free food or a fun activity. Activities outside of the seminar time will be a time that each peer group agrees on, and will not be every week.
There will occasionally be something to read outside of class time, or an activity, but there is not “homework” in the traditional sense. There will also be social gatherings with your peer mentor and peer group, which will often include free food or a fun activity. Activities outside of the seminar time will be a time that each peer group agrees on, and will not be every week.
The Disabled Students Program (DSP) offers a robust program to accommodate students with a wide variety of documented needs. Learn more here.
Yes! Both Engr 13A and 13B will earn you a unit each towards your graduation credit requirements. UCSB students need 180 units to graduate, and these courses will count towards those units. Also, every UCSB student must take 12 credits per quarter. The one unit for Engr 13A and 13B will count towards these units.
Two things: participate in a 75 minute seminar on Fridays, and participate in fun social activities with your mentor group and the full INSPIRE cohort.
In Fall 2026, the INSPIRE seminar will be held as Engr 13A, which will meet Fridays from 11-12:15 in ILP 2211. Weekly meetings will consist of engaging activities to learn about campus resources, meet other first years in your major, and learn “the ins and outs” of UCSB, your major, and how to succeed in first year coursework.
In addition to the seminar, there will occasionally be social activities with your peer group and mentor at times mutually agreed upon by your peer group. This may be lunch, coffee, or other informal get-togethers. These are optional but participation is highly encouraged.
In Winter 2027, the INSPIRE seminar will be held as Engr 13B. It will consist of guest speakers, including UCSB Engineering alumni, faculty, and local engineering industry leaders. Talks will be about career and internship opportunities in INSPIRE majors, to help give students a vision for their future in the discipline. We will also discuss the importance of creating professional networks, which are groups of individuals who can help you reach your professional goals. The time and location for the Engr 13B seminar is not yet determined, but it will likely be on Fridays.
Similar to Fall quarter, there will also be occasional social activities during Winter quarter with your peer group and mentor at times mutually agreed upon by your peer group.
No. To be in the INSPIRE program, you need to participate in the seminar both quarters. If you agree to join the program, the expectation is that you will participate in both Fall and Winter quarters.
Yes! For the 2026-27 academic year, INSPIRE will be open to all College of Engineering majors for the first time! This includes students in the newly created Artificial Intelligence major. However, the program is not large enough to accommodate all first-year students. Because capacity is limited, you must apply by completing the Google form here. If you are accepted to participate in the program, you will receive an email with an enrollment code for Engr 13a before the start of Fall quarter.
UCSB offers a wide variety of summer programs for incoming first-year students, such as FSSP, SIMS, MAX, and others. These are all great programs! However, they are all different than INSPIRE, with different goals and different purposes. So the answer is yes, even if you have participated in one of these other terrific programs, you would still benefit from all INSPIRE has to offer.
Yes! Any first-year student in the College of Engineering is welcome to apply directly through our Google form linked here.