UCI Boosts Computer Science, Engineering Enrollment

UC Irvine said it has boosted its enrollment of computer science and engineering students to help meet California’s insatiable demand for technical workers.

This fall, UCI’s Department of Information and Computer Science expects to enroll 196 freshman, 61% more than last year’s starting class of 122. The School of Engineering is enrolling 166 freshman, up 42% from last year.

Michael Pazzani, chairman of the computer science department, said the school is also expanding its lab facilities to accommodate the growth. “We’re very aware of the critical shortage of highly skilled workers--particularly in California--and we’re growing our program as fast as possible to help meet the demand,” he said.

The number of women in the computer science program is also growing, he said, from 18 students last year to 47 this year.