Summer Engineering Seminar (SES)

The SES program is designed to motivate young people to pursue science and engineering majors in college so they can ultimately participate in the scientific and technical workforce. It provides participants with a chance to explore the many possibilities of engineering as a career. Participants attend special workshops, complete their own engineering projects, and experience outside-of-class aspects of Santa Clara University through afternoon and evening recreational activities. 

During the week participants attend introductory level workshops spanning several disciplines of engineering that are facilitated by our engineering faculty. Topics will include: Bioengineering; Civil, Sustainable andEnvironmental Engineering; Computer Science and Engineering; Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Mechanical Engineering. Participants attend all core workshops for a broad exposure to the various disciplines and careers within the field of engineering. Workshops will be held by the School of Engineering, the focal point for engineering education at Santa Clara University.

To access the application form, click on the tab labeled "Application" below.

*Please note that selected participants will need to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. Fully Vaccinated means that it has been at least 14 days since the second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, or 14 days since your sole dose of Johnson/Janssen vaccine.

The eligibility criteria for SES are determined by the purpose and content of the program, as well as Santa Clara University's Strategic Vision. This program aims to motivate more students to pursue engineering study and workshop content is on a broad, introductory level. Santa Clara University's Strategic Vision also emphasizes education in "service to society, especially on behalf of those in greatest need," which is in line with our Jesuit identity. As such, the following criteria have been set for program participants:

• Students who will have completed their sophomore year of high school by July 1, 2023
• Students who are interested in broadly exploring the field of engineering and its various disciplines
• Students who have not been exposed to the engineering profession through high school coursework, extra-curricular activities, similar programs and close role models working in engineering
• Students who may lack the means to access engineering courses and programs, due to limited financial resources and/or a lack of school & community offerings.
• Student areas listed below are highly encouraged to apply.
• First-Generation to go to college
• Women
• Underrepresented groups in the field of engineering
• Low-Income

Please note that students will only be able to participate in one of our high school engineering programs (SEEDs or SES), as the academic content of both programs is very similar. Information on the Spring Engineering Education Days (SEEDs) Program can be found here.

All on-site fees for the SES Program are paid by the School of Engineering along with gifts from various corporate sponsors and foundations (to be listed once announced), resulting in no costs for participants who are accepted into the program.

To be considered for this program, applicants must submit a complete application consisting of the following:

1. The online application must be completed by 9:00 p.m. PDT on Sunday, March 12, 2023. The application is available here.
     
2. An essay (500 words) as part of the online application addressing the following questions: What makes you an ideal candidate for the SES program? How do you think you could benefit from the program? Questions to consider in your response may include:
   
           -What are you passionate about?
           -What drives your curiosity for engineering?
           -What kind of impact do you hope to have on society?

Each year the SES program receives hundreds of applications from across the globe for a limited number of spots, making acceptance to the program very competitive. For program consideration, applications will be evaluated based on academic performance (particularly in math and science), and the alignment with program eligibility criteria (with particular emphasis on applicant need). Applicants are informed of their status via email by Thursday, March 30, 2023.

*Please note if you applied to both SES and SEEDs the evaluation for both programs will happen simultaneously. So you will know your standing in both programs at once.

The School of Engineering provides an outstanding theoretical and practical experience for both undergraduate and graduate students in the heart of Silicon Valley. Distinguished faculty, academic excellence, personal attention, and a culture of social responsibility are hallmarks of our program.

Disciplines in the School of Engineering include applied mathematics, bioengineering, civil, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering, and engineering management and leadership. More information can be found at www.scu.edu/engineering.