Student Organizations

The University of San Diego's Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering is passionate about providing opportunities that develop the "whole" student. From honors societies to fraternities to humanitarian outreach, discover how student organizations can help you connect with peers that share similar interests, network with relevant industry professionals or make a meaningful impact in your local community and beyond.

Get involved today and start building a well-rounded resume that sets you apart and kick starts your path towards a meaningful career — and have some fun doing it!

  • Alpha Pi Mu

    Alpha Pi Mu is an honor society, first initiated in 1949, that confers recognition upon the industrial engineering student who has shown exceptional academic interests and abilities in his or her field.

    Eligibility
    To be eligible, students must be Industrial and Systems Engineering majors who are either the upper one-fifth of juniors or in the upper one-third of seniors in the Industrial and Systems Engineering majors in their class. All students who meet the scholarship requirements should also exhibit positive characteristics of leadership, ethicality, sociability and widespread interest.apm

    Mission
    In addition to conferring recognition, the society mission is:

    To encourage wherever possible any movement which will advance the best interest of industrial engineering education
    To unify the student body of the Industrial and Systems Engineering Program in presenting its needs and ideals to the faculty
    To create a closer student-faculty relationship by bringing together the needs and thoughts of both
    To assist and cooperate with all organizations and persons working for the interest of industrial engineering
    To benefit its members by the association and experience that can come from bringing together a group with similar interests, objectives, and abilities, and
    To promote the professional welfare of all

    Organization contact

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  • American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers

    American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment. The Society and its members focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration and sustainability within the industry. Through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education, ASHRAE shapes tomorrow’s built environment today. ASHRAE was formed as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers by the merger in 1959 of American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHAE) founded in 1894 and The American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE) founded in 1904. 

    Mission
    To advance the arts and sciences of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigerating to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world.

    Vision
    ASHRAE will be the global leader, the foremost source of technical and educational information and the primary provider of opportunity for professional growth in the arts and sciences of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigerating.

    Organization contact

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  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers

    Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), today’s ASME is a 120,000-member professional organization focused on technical, educational and research issues of the engineering and technology community.

    ASME conducts one of the world’s largest technical publishing operations, holds numerous technical conferences worldwide, and offers hundreds of professional development courses each year. ASME sets internationally recognized industrial and manufacturing codes and standards that enhance public safety.

    Request additional information from Dr. Imane Khalil, Chapter Advisor, ikhalil@sandiego.edu. To enroll, visit www.asme.org.

    Organization contact

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  • Association for Computing Machinery

    The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) is the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, and delivers resources that advance computing as a science and a profession. ACM provides the computing field's premier Digital Library and serves its members and the computing profession with leading-edge publications, conferences, and career resources.

    ACM local chapters engage members through talks by local practitioners, visits from prominent speakers from the ACM Distinguished Speakers Program, technical and career workshops, field trips to computing installations, and social activities. Chapters are the engines that drive networking and learning on a local level. 

    Organization contact

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  • CyberSecurity Student Association

    The National Cybersecurity Student Association is a one-stop-shop to enhance the educational and professional development of cybersecurity students through activities, networking and collaboration. This group supports the cybersecurity educational programs of academic institutions, inspires career awareness and encourages creative efforts to increase the number of graduates in the field.

    The primary objective of the CyberSecurity Student Association, (CSSA), is to facilitate a welcoming cybersecurity learning community that helps USD students grow through the sharing of their experiences and skills with peers. CSSA provides members with cybersecurity training, resources, lectures, guest speakers and professional events to prepare the students for the real world. 

    For more information:
    USD's Center for CyberSecurity Engineering Technology (CCSET): Jodi Waterhouse, Director, Engineering and Technology Outreach - jodiw@sandiego.edu or 619-260-4231

    Organization contact

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  • Eta Kappa Nu

    Eta Kappa Nu is a National Electrical and Computer Engineering Honor Society founded in 1904 to encourage excellence in engineering education for the benefit of the public.

    Mission
    Eta Kappa Nu chapters seek to bring society members into a closer union to foster a culture of service and leadership in the engineering community and community at large, and to aid in continuing their professional development through association with alumni and others who have attained prominence in the industry.

    Honor and Character
    Student inductees have conferred honor upon engineering education by distinguished scholarship, activities, leadership, and exemplary character as students in Electrical or Computer Engineering. Eta Kappa Nu members are known for their leadership, teamwork, quality and character.hkp

    Eligibility
    Academically, USD students must be in the top one-fourth of juniors in Electrical Engineering or the top one-third of seniors in Electrical Engineering to be eligible for consideration.

    Organization contact

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  • Global Engineering Brigades

    The primary objective of the Global Engineering Brigades, formerly known as Engineers Without Borders and HEC, is to travel locally and globally to underserved countries and to collaborate with these communities to develop more sustainable living situations.

    Global Engineering Brigades is a student-run organization focused on fundraising and helping as many people as possible to create a healthier world. 

    Organization contact

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  • Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers

    The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is a nonprofit, technical professional association of more than 377,000 individual members in 150 countries. Through its members, the IEEE is a leading authority in technical areas ranging from computer engineering, biomedical technology and telecommunications, to electric power, aerospace and consumer electronics, among others.

    The USD Student Branch of IEEE is one of more than 1,100 student branches worldwide.

    To enroll, go to www.ieee.org.

    Organization contact

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  • Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers

    The Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE) is the world’s largest professional society dedicated solely to the support of the industrial and systems engineering profession and individuals involved with improving quality and productivity. Founded in 1948, IISE is an international, nonprofit association that provides leadership for the application, education, training, research and development of industrial engineering.

    With approximately 15,000 members and 280 chapters worldwide, IISE’s primary mission is to meet the ever-changing needs of industrial and systems engineers, which includes undergraduate and graduate students, engineering practitioners and consultants in all industries, engineering managers and engineers in education, research and government.

    Request information from Dr. Leonard Perry, Chapter Advisor, laperry@sandiego.edu, (619) 260-7558. To enroll, go to www.iise.org.

    Organization contact

    Name

  • National Society of Black Engineers

    More than 29,900 members, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is one of the largest student-governed organizations in the country. Founded in 1975, NSBE now includes more than 394 College, Pre-College, and Technical Professional/Alumni chapters in the United States and abroad. NSBE's mission is "to increase the number of culturally responsibly black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community."

    Request additional information from Rhonda Harley, Advisor, rharley@sandiego.edu, (619) 260-4654. To enroll, go to www.nsbe.org.

    Organization contact

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  • Pi Tau Sigma

    Pi Tau Sigma, founded in 1915, is the International Mechanical Engineering Honor Society whose members are chosen on a basis of sound engineering ability, scholarship (upper 35%), personality, and probable future success in their chosen field of Mechanical Engineering.

    Objective
    The objective of Pi Tau Sigma is to encourage and recognize superior scholarship, in order to foster the high ideals of the engineering profession, stimulate interest in coordinate departmental activities, promote the mutual professional welfare of its members, and develop in students of Mechanical Engineering the attributes necessary for effective leadership and the taking up the responsibilities of a citizen living in a democracy.PTS

    Eligibility
    Active members are selected from the junior and senior Mechanical Engineering classes at their respective schools whose Mechanical Engineering curriculum must be accredited by ABET.

    Organization contact

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  • Society of Automotive Engineers

    SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. Their core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International also devotes resources to projects and programs in STEM education, professional certification and collegiate design competitions.

    Mission
    To advance mobility knowledge and solutions for the benefit of humanity.

    Vision
    SAE is the leader in connecting and educating mobility professionals to enable safe, clean, and accessible mobility solutions.

    Organization contact

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  • Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

    The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) was founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1974 by a group of engineers employed by the city of Los Angeles. Their objective was to form a national organization of professional engineers to serve as role models in the Hispanic community.

    The concept of Networking was the key basis for the organization. SHPE quickly established two student chapters to begin the network that would grow to encompass the nation as well as reach countries outside the United States. Today, SHPE enjoys a strong but independent network of professional and student chapters throughout the nation.

    Mission
    SHPE changes lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support and development.

    Vision
    SHPE's vision is a world where Hispanics are highly valued and influential as the leading innovators, scientists, mathematicians and engineers.

    Organization contact

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  • Society of Women Engineers

    The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is a nonprofit educational service organization dedicated to making known the need for women engineers and encouraging women to consider an engineering education. SWE members work to inform young women, their parents, counselors and the public in general of the qualifications and achievements of women engineers and the opportunities open to them and to encourage women engineers to attain high levels of educational and professional achievement.

    The USD Student Section of SWE is an organization of women and men from all engineering majors.

    To enroll, go to www.swe.org.

    Organization contact

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  • Tau Beta Pi

    Tau Beta Pi, founded in 1885, is the oldest of the engineering honor societies and the second oldest Greek letter honor society.

    Mission
    Tau Beta Pi's mission is to mark in a fitting manner those who have conferred honor upon their alma mater by distinguished scholarship and exemplary character as undergraduates in the field of engineering, or by their attainments as alumni in the field of engineering, and to foster a spirit of liberal culture in the engineering colleges.tbp_logo

    Chapter California Alpha Epsilon: Eligibility
    USD's chapter of Tau Beta Pi, California Alpha Epsilon was installed on February 25, 2012. Undergraduates at USD in all engineering majors are academically eligible for selection as members if they are in the upper one-eighth of juniors or the upper one-fifth of seniors in engineering.

    In addition to academic requirements, candidates for Tau Beta Pi membership must be evaluated for exemplary character and must complete a service project prior to their election by the student chapter members.

    Organization contact

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  • Theta Tau

    The University of San Diego's Lamda Epsilon Chapter of Theta Tau is a professional engineering fraternity devoted to bringing all fields of engineering together to develop and maintain a high standard of professional interest among its members, and to unite them in a strong bond of fraternal fellowship.

    From its start by four mining engineering students in 1904, Theta Tau has become the oldest and largest Fraternity for Engineers, with chapters across the country, and members around the world. The fellowship, academic support and personal growth our Brothers find in Theta Tau make all the difference in their personal and professional success.

    Mission
    Theta Tau's mission is to develop Engineering Leaders for Service, Profession and Brotherhood.

     

    Organization contact

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  • USD 3D Printing Club

    The USD 3D Printing Club provides a great opportunity for engineering students to learn the basics of 3D printing. Gain valuable, hands-on engineering experience by tinkering in Donald’s Garage to bring your projects to life!

    Upcoming USD 3D Printing Club Meetings
    Meetings are held the last Thursday of the month at 1:00 p.m. in Donald's Garage, Loma Hall.

    Organization contact

    Name

Mariella Saviola

Student Spotlight

Involvement is key

Working with IEEE as the Region 6 Student Representative, I have gained invaluable experience and advice from professional engineers. IEEE provides guidance and opportunities for students who wish to expand their skills beyond the classroom and to connect with other students or professional engineers. It's a lot of fun, and it's a great place to be.
MARIELLA SAVIOLA, IEEE branch officer