Major in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Concentration

Electrical engineering is a broad discipline that is essential to our everyday lives. Our professors will teach students to think like an engineer to drive what’s next in technology and create a better world for all, from advanced medical devices to self-driving cars to smart homes.  

Our students are imaginative and inventive and love the thrill of problem-solving. Whether working on a senior design project that satisfies real customer requirements to participating in a day-long hacker competition, students will have the opportunity to turn their bold ideas into original projects at every level of our program. 

Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) courses and research areas span a range of disciplines that include:
• Biomedical Engineering
• Communications and Signal Processing
• Computer Engineering
• Controls and Robotics
• Electromagnetics and Remote Sensing
• Lasers and Photonics

Learning Objectives

The ECE program educational objectives are designed and implemented around the following three principal attributes: mastery, innovation, and leadership.

Graduates of the Electrical Engineering program will be able to:

1. Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
3. Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Effective Fall 2023

In order to maintain professional standards required of practicing engineers, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 in ECE courses as a graduation requirement. It is the responsibility of any student who fails to maintain a 2.000 average to work with their advisor to correct grade point deficiencies. ECE courses required for the major at the 100, 200, and 300 level must be passed with a minimum grade of C (2.000); grades below a C will require the student to retake the course.  ECE courses designated as an elective are exempt from the C or higher minimum grade requirement. 

 Science/Math/Engineering Electives 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
BC 351	Principles of Biochemistry	4
BIOM 100	Overview of Biomedical Engineering	1
BIOM 200	Fundamentals of Biomedical Engineering	2
BMS 300	Principles of Human Physiology	4
BMS 301	Human Gross Anatomy	5
BMS 325	Cellular Neurobiology	3
BMS 345	Functional Neuroanatomy	4
BZ 310	Cell Biology	4
CBE 101	Introduction to Chemical and Biological Engr	3
CBE 101A	Introduction to Chemical and Biological Engr: Lecture	2
CBE 101B	Introduction to Chemical and Biological Engr: Laboratory	1
CHEM 112	General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)	1
CHEM 245	Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry	4
CHEM 246	Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory	1
CIVE 102	Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engr	3
CIVE 260	Engineering Mechanics-Statics	3
CIVE 371	Study Abroad--Peru: Grand Challenges in Engineering in Peru	3
CS 165	CS2--Data Structures	4
CS 220	Discrete Structures and their Applications	4
CS 253	Software Development with C++	4
CS 310H/IDEA 310H	Design Thinking Toolbox: Mixed Reality Design	3
DSCI 320	Optimization Methods in Data Science	3
ECE 101	Foundations in ECE	1
Select any course from the following: 2		Var.
ECE 395A	Independent Study
ECE 395B	Independent Study: Open Option Project
ECE 395C	Independent Study : Vertically Integrated Project
ENGR 300	3D Printing Lab for Engineers	1
ENGR 478	Applied Engineering Data Analytics	3
HES 307	Biomechanical Principles of Human Movement	3
LIFE 103	Biology of Organisms-Animals and Plants (GT-SC1)	4
MATH 151	Mathematical Algorithms in Matlab I	1
MATH 229	Matrices and Linear Equations	2
MATH 235	Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning	2
MATH 317	Advanced Calculus of One Variable	3
MATH 332	Partial Differential Equations	3
MATH 360	Mathematics of Information Security	3
MATH 366	Introduction to Abstract Algebra	3
MATH 369	Linear Algebra I	3-4
or DSCI 369	Linear Algebra for Data Science
MECH 103	Introduction to Mechanical Engineering	3
MECH 104A	Study Abroad--Germany: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering	3
MECH 200	Introduction to Manufacturing Processes	3
MECH 201	Engineering Design I	2
MECH 237	Introduction to Thermal Sciences	3-4
or MECH 337	Thermodynamics
MIP 300	General Microbiology	3
PH 314	Introduction to Modern Physics	4
PH 341	Mechanics	4
PH 353	Optics and Waves	4
PSY 253	Human Factors and Engineering Psychology	3
STAT 158	Introduction to R Programming	1

Technical Electives 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CS 314	Software Engineering	3
CS 320	Algorithms--Theory and Practice	3
CS 345	Machine Learning Foundations and Practice	3
CS 356	Systems Security	3
CS 370	Operating Systems	3
CS 4** Any CS Course at the 400-level, excluding CS 457 and CS 470
CS 5** Any CS Course at the 500-level
DSCI 475	Topological Data Analysis	2
ECE 4** Any ECE Course at the 400-level
Select any course from the following: 2		Var.
ECE 495A	Independent Study
ECE 495B	Independent Study: Open Option Project
ECE 495C	Independent Study: Vertically Integrated Projects
ECE 5** Any ECE Course at the 500-level
ENGR 570	Coupled Electromechanical Systems	3
MATH 417	Advanced Calculus I	3
MATH 418	Advanced Calculus II	3
MATH 419	Introduction to Complex Variables	3
MATH 450	Introduction to Numerical Analysis I	3
MATH 451	Introduction to Numerical Analysis II	3
MATH 460	Information and Coding Theory	3
MATH 463	Post-Quantum Cryptography	3
MATH 466	Abstract Algebra I	3
MATH 469	Linear Algebra II	3
MATH 474	Introduction to Differential Geometry	3
MECH 421	Fundamentals of Wind Energy	3
MECH 518	Orbital Mechanics	3
MECH 519	Aerospace Vehicles Trajectory and Performance	3
MECH 564	Fundamentals of Robot Mechanics and Controls	3
PH 315	Modern Physics Laboratory	2
PH 425	Advanced Physics Laboratory	2
PH 451	Introductory Quantum Mechanics I	3
PH 452	Introductory Quantum Mechanics II	3
PH 462	Statistical Physics	3
STAT 421	Introduction to Stochastic Processes	3

¹

Recommended sequence for most incoming students is Group A: CS 150B to CS 164.

²

A total of 6 credits of Independent Study may apply toward degree requirements. This includes credit for ECE 395A, ECE 395B, ECE 395C and ECE 495A, ECE 495B, and ECE 495C combined.

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:

TO PREPARE FOR FIRST SEMESTER:  The curriculum for this major assumes students enter college prepared to take calculus.   

In order to maintain professional standards required of practicing engineers, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 in electrical engineering courses as a graduation requirement. It is the responsibility of any student who fails to maintain a 2.000 average to work with their advisor to correct grade point deficiencies. ECE courses required for the major at the 100, 200, and 300 level must be passed with a minimum grade of C (2.000); grades below a C will require the student to retake the course.  ECE courses designated as an elective are exempt from the C or higher minimum grade requirement.