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 focus areas according to the type of job or research they plan to pursue. More than 20 Focus Areas are available, such as bioinformatics, business, communication systems, medical imaging, nanotechnology, power systems, and software engineering; for a complete list, see Focus Areas. Students may also work with their academic advisor to create a customized FA 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 a focus area (FA) in consultation with their academic advisor. Students typically begin FA courses in their third year.
Course Work
CS Minor Curriculum Change
- EE computer track students no longer automatically earn a CS minor.
- This change is effective immediately no matter when a student entered the computer track or started their EE major, i.e., no grandfathering.
- EE computer track students should take a CS:3980 Computer Science Topics I course to earn a CS minor.
- IMPORTANT: ECE students should not take CS:3210 Programming Languages and Tools to satisfy the CS Minor because they do not get ECE credit for it.
- New CS minor requires can be found at https://catalog.registrar.uiowa.edu/liberal-arts-sciences/computer-science/computer-science-minor/
New Curriculum Starting Fall 2021 for all EE students.
- ENGR:2110 Statics is no longer required for the EE major. This course has been replaced with a minimum 2 s.h. focus area free elective.
- If a student has already taken Statics, then they should list it as this elective.
- ENGR:2130 Thermodynamics is no longer required for the EE major.
- This course has been replaced by a 3 s.h. ECE course for students with computer interest. Students enrolled before Fall 2021 may substitute Thermodynamics for this course. This substitution will happen automatically.
- This course has been replaced by PHYS:2704 Physics IV for students with electrical interest. Students enrolled before Fall 2021 may substitute Thermodynamics for PHYS:2704 Physics IV. This substitution will happen automatically.
EE students must complete 5 core courses; 10 math, science and communication courses; 6 required Electrical Engineering program courses; 5-6 interest courses; one depth elective; one breadth elective; 6-7 approved focus area (FA) 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:2120 | Engineering Fundamentals II: Electrical Circuits | 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 interests—computer or electrical—to help prepare them for their FA course work.
| Course Code | Title | Semester Offered | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECE:2400 | Linear Systems I | Fall & Spring | 3 |
| ECE:2410 | Principles of Electronic Instrumentation | Fall & Spring | 4 |
| ECE:3000 | Professional Seminar: Electrical Engineering | Fall | 1 |
| ECE:3320 | Introduction to Digital Design | Fall | 3 |
| ECE:3360 | Embedded Systemsa | Fall & Spring | 3 |
| ECE:3700 | Electromagnetic Theory | Fall | 3 |
| Interest Courses | Electrical or Computer (See below) | 16-19 |
aStudents enrolled before Fall 2018 may substitute a 3 s.h. technical elective course for ECE:3360 Embedded Systems.
Electrical Interest Courses
Students with electrical interest complete the following courses. Click Here for Curriculum Guide
| Course Code | Title | Semester Offered | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECE:3400 | Linear Systems II | Fall | 3 |
| ECE:3410 | Electronic Circuits | Fall | 4 |
| ECE:3500 | Communications Systems | Spring | 3 |
| ECE:3600 | Control Systems | Spring | 3 |
| ECE:3720 | Semiconductor Devices | Spring | 3 |
| PHYS:2704 | Physics IV | All | 3 |
Computer Interest Courses
Students with computer interest complete the following courses. Students may take a CS:3980 Computer Science Topics I course to earn a CS minor. Click Here for Curriculum Guide
| Course Code | Title | Semester Offered | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| CS:2210 | Discrete Structures | All | 3 |
| CS:2230 | Computer Science II: Data Structures | All | 4 |
| ECE:3330 | Software Design | Fall & Spring | 3 |
| ECE:3350 | Computer Architecture | Spring | 3 |
| CS:3330 | Algorithms | All | 3 |
Breadth Elective
Students must complete one breadth elective. Students with computer interest choose their breadth elective from the list of required electrical interest courses and ECE:3540 Communication Networks. Students with electrical interest choose their breadth elective from the list of required computer interest courses and ECE:3540 Communication Networks.
Depth Elective
Students must complete one depth elective. The depth elective must be an advanced course in a subject area within a student's designated interest (electrical or computer)—normally numbered 4000 or above.
Focus Area
Students select a focus area (FA) to personalize their curriculum and to help them prepare for the type of job or research they plan to pursue. More than 20 FAs are available, such as bioinformatics, business, communication systems, medical imaging, nanotechnology, power systems, and software engineering; for a complete list, see Focus Areas. Students may also work with their academic advisor to create a customized FA plan tailored to their goals and interests.
Students must select their seven focus area courses (6*3 + 2 = 20 s.h.), breadth elective and depth elective according to guidelines established by the department.
Students who choose their FA 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 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. Click here for more details.
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 |
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