A proposed Sonoma State University undergraduate degree in computer engineering, bridging the gap between high school and junior college tech studies and the university's master's program, has taken a key step toward approval.

The program, already approved by the SSU Faculty Senate, has been forwarded from the Sonoma State campus to the chancellor's office for the statewide university system where it will be reviewed. Final approval rests with the California State University board of trustees.

The bachelor's degree program could begin with 20 students as soon as fall 2004.

While it comes during a time when the state budget problems are causing many cutbacks in higher education, this program can be started with minimal cost, said Saeid Rahimi, dean of the SSU School of Science and Technology.

"The start-up costs are included in the infrastructure of the existing master's program," Rahimi said. "Without the masters program, this would not be possible."

It would require hiring two new faculty members, at a cost of about $170,000, Rahimi said. Most of the classes would be taught by instructors from the masters program and adjunct faculty from high-tech companies.

Jagan Agrawal, chairman of the existing SSU science engineering post-graduate program, said the new program is tailored specifically for Sonoma County.

"The program is designed to be highly focused in electronics and communications, which is the center of so much of the high-tech industry here," Agrawal said.

The new, four-year program would be broad enough to prepare graduates to work for many of Sonoma County's high-tech companies, from telecommunications to equipment manufacturing.

It would be tied closely to SSU's existing master's program in computer and engineering science, sharing faculty and the Cerent Engineering Science Center in the newly remodeled Salazar Hall.

The science center is equipped with about $2.5 million in state-of-the-art scientific equipment, including laser scanning and atomic force microscopes and telecommunications equipment.

The master's program, entering its third year, was created at the request of North Bay tech industry, which donated $8.5 million in equipment and financial aid.

At the same time, tech companies asked SSU, which is largely a liberal arts college, to also consider an undergraduate degree program.

There is no similar undergraduate degree program within 40 miles of SSU, and the two most complete programs, at San Jose State and Cal State Sacramento, are 100 miles away.

The new program would begin with 20 students, but grow to about 160.

If approved, SSU would create a new Department of Engineering Science within the SSU School of Science and Technology, which would include both the undergraduate and graduate programs, with Agrawal as department chairman.

There are now about 1,300 students in the School of Science and Technology.