The Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a major in electrical engineering requires a minimum of 128 s.h. of coursework. The major provides technical depth and breadth along with the flexibility for students to customize their programs according to their own goals and interests. Students choose one of several elective focus areas according to the type of job or research they plan to pursue. More than 20 EFAs are available, such as bioinformatics, business, communication systems, medical imaging, nanotechnology, power systems, and software engineering; for a complete list, see Elective Focus Areas. Students may also work with their academic advisor to create a customized EFA plan tailored to their goals and objectives.
EE students complete B.S.E. core requirements, including: RHET:1030 Rhetoric; ENGR:1100 Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving; ENGR:1300 Introduction to Engineering Computing; and courses in chemistry, engineering mathematics and fundamentals, and physics. Students must earn a grade of C-minus or higher in the core requirements MATH:1550 Engineering Mathematics I: Single Variable Calculus and MATH:1560 Engineering Mathematics II: Multivariable Calculus.
Students also complete the curriculum designed for their major program, which covers four major stems: mathematics and basic sciences, engineering topics, an elective focus area, and the general education component. For information about the curriculum stems, see Bachelor of Science in Engineering in the Catalog.
Electrical Engineering students complete the curriculum listed under Academic Plans. During their second year, they select an elective focus area (EFA) in consultation with their academic advisor. Students typically begin EFA courses in their third year.
Course Work
EE students must complete 7 core courses; 10 math, science and communication courses; 6 required Electrical Engineering program courses; 5 electrical or computer track courses; one depth elective; one breadth elective; 6 approved elective focus area (EFA) courses; 5 general education courses (GEC); and a two-semester capstone design sequence.
The electrical engineering major requires the following course work.
Core Engineering Courses
| Course Code | Title | Semester Offered | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGR:1000 | Engineering Success for First-Year Students | Fall | 1 |
| ENGR:1100 | Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving | Fall | 3 |
| ENGR:1300 | Introduction to Engineering Computing | Fall & Spring | 3 |
| ENGR:2110 | Engineering Fundamentals I: Statics | All | 2 |
| ENGR:2120 | Engineering Fundamentals II: Electrical Circuits | All | 3 |
| ENGR:2130 | Engineering Fundamentals III: Thermodynamics | All | 3 |
| ENGR:2730 | Computers in Engineering | All | 3 |
Math, Science and Communication Courses
| Course Code | Title | Semester Offered | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHET:1030 | Rhetoric | All | 4 |
| CHEM:1110 | Principles of Chemistry I | All | 4 |
| PHYS:1611 | Introductory Physics I | All | 4 |
| PHYS:1612 | Introductory Physics II (with laboratory) | Fall & Spring | 4 |
| MATH:1550 | Engineering Mathematics I: Single Variable Calculus | All | 4 |
| MATH:1560 | Engineering Mathematics II: Multivariable Calculus | All | 4 |
| MATH:2550 | Engineering Mathematics III: Matrix Algebra | All | 2 |
| MATH:2560 | Engineering Mathematics IV: Differential Equations | All | 3 |
| MATH:3550 | Engineering Mathematics V: Vector Calculus | Fall & Spring | 3 |
| STAT:2020 | Probability and Statistics for the Engineering and Physical Sciences | All | 3 |
Required Program Courses
Students select one of two curricular tracks—computer or electrical—to help prepare them for their EFA course work.
| Course Code | Title | Semester Offered | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECE:2400 | Linear Systems I | Spring | 3 |
| ECE:2410 | Principles of Electronic Instrumentation | Spring | 3 |
| ECE:3000 | Professional Seminar: Electrical Engineering | Fall | 1 |
| ECE:3320 | Introduction to Digital Design | Fall | 3 |
| ECE:3410 | Electronic Circuits | Fall | 3 |
| ECE:3700 | Electromagnetic Theory | Fall | 3 |
| Track Courses | Electrical or Computer (See below) | 15 |
Electrical Track Courses
Students in the electrical track complete these track courses. Click Here for Curriculum Guide
| Course Code | Title | Semester Offered | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECE:3400 | Linear Systems II | Fall | 3 |
| ECE:3410 | Electronic Circuits | Fall | 3 |
| ECE:3500 | Communications Systems | Spring | 3 |
| ECE:3600 | Control Systems | Spring | 3 |
| ECE:3720 | Semiconductor Devices | Spring | 3 |
Embedded Systems.
Students beginning their major in fall 2018 and after will be required to take ECE:3360 Embedded Systems (spring, 3 s.h.) as one of their technical EFA courses. Students who began their major before fall 2018 are strongly encouraged to take ECE:3360 Embedded Systems (spring, 3 s.h.) as one of their technical EFA courses.
Computer Track Courses
Students in the computer track complete five track courses plus CS:2230 Computer Science II: Data Structures as an elective focus area course. Students completing the computer track earn a minor in computer science. Click Here for Curriculum Guide
| Course Code | Title | Semester Offered | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| CS:2210 | Discrete Structures | All | 3 |
| CS:2230 | Computer Science II: Data Structures (Required EFA Course) | All | 4 |
| ECE:3330 | Software Design | Fall | 3 |
| ECE:3350 | Computer Architecture | Spring | 3 |
| ECE:3360 | Embedded Systems and System Software | Spring | 3 |
| CS:3330 | Algorithms | All | 3 |
Track Breadth and Depth Elective Courses
Students complete one track breadth elective and one track depth elective.
Students in the computer track must choose their track breadth elective from the list of required electrical track courses above. Students in the electrical track must choose their track breadth elective from the list of required computer track courses. Students in either track may instead use ECE:3540 Communication Networks as their track breadth elective.
The track depth elective must be an advanced course in a subject area within a student's track—normally numbered 4000 or above.
Elective Focus Area
Students select an elective focus area (EFA) to personalize their curriculum and to help them prepare for the type of job or research they plan to pursue. More than 20 EFAs are available, such as bioinformatics, business, communication systems, medical imaging, nanotechnology, power systems, and software engineering; for a complete list, see Elective Focus Areas. Students may also work with their academic advisor to create a customized EFA plan tailored to their goals and interests.
Students complete six elective focus area courses (18 s.h.) in addition to their track breadth and track depth courses, which they choose according to guidelines established by the department.
Students who choose their EFA and GEC courses carefully may be able to earn the Certificate in Sustainability, the Certificate in Technological Entrepreneurship, or one of several undergraduate minors offered by the University without taking courses beyond those required for the electrical engineering major. Students in the computer track must take CS:2230 Computer Science II: Data Structures as an elective focus area course which in turn satisfies the requirements for a minor in computer science. Students that take one additional advanced math course meet the requirements for a minor in mathematics.
General Education Courses
Student are required to take at least 15 semester hours of General Education Component (GEC) course credit, see the General Education Component on the College of Engineering website. The requirements are the following:
- Engineering Be Creative: Complete 3 s.h.
A full list of approved courses can be found on the Engineering Be Creative Course List. - CLAS General Education Course: Complete 3 s.h.
Students must complete 3 s.h. of coursework from one of the approved CLAS GEC categories (listed below).- Interpretation of Literature
- World Languages
- Historical Perspectives
- International and Global Issues
- Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts
- Values, Society, and Diversity
- Social Science
- Complete 9 s.h. of Approved Course Subjects.
Capstone Design Courses
In their senior year, students complete a two-semester capstone design sequence culminating in the development and implementation of a significant, original project. The capstone design experience emphasizes team work, professionalism, open-ended problem solving, and the ability to work within real-world constraints and engineering standards.
| Course Code | Title | Semester Offered | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECE:4880 | Principles of Electrical and Computer Engineering Design | Fall & Spring | 3 |
| ECE:4890 | Senior Electrical and Computer Engineering Design | Fall & Spring | 3 |