Major in Electrical Engineering, Lasers and Optical Engineering Concentration

The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department is the premier place to prepare for a successful career in lasers and optics – a field that advances the science of light. Lasers hold the potential for generating a limitless form of clean energy, and they are used for everything from improving cancer detection to creating powerful computer chips. Plans are underway to build a new $150 million laser facility at CSU. That means you will gain skills and knowledge from professors who are driving innovation at one of the most powerful laser facilities in the world.

Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) courses and research 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

Career Opportunities

A field of endless possibilities, electrical engineering career paths are largely dependent on personal interests. Electrical engineering alumni hold positions ranging from a designer at a start-up company to a research scientist for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. In addition to being one of the most lucrative college majors, for the past decade electrical engineering has ranked among the top 10 majors in demand for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Almost every industry recruits electrical engineering graduates, such as aerospace, biomedical, energy, robotics, manufacturing, and automotive.  

Learning Objectives

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

Graduates of the ECE program will be able to:

1. Identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems in lasers and optical systems by applying principles of electrical engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. Apply the engineering design process to develop electrical engineering solutions for lasers and optical systems, balancing technical objectives with broader considerations including 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 lasers and optical systems and make informed judgments, considering their impact in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. Function effectively on teams, collaborating on tasks related to lasers and optical systems, to establish goals, task plans, and to meet task objectives.
6. Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze results, and use principles of electrical engineering to draw conclusions.
7. Acquire and apply new knowledge in advancing lasers and optical systems, leveraging appropriate electrical engineering learning strategies.

Effective Fall 2025

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. 

Science/Math/Engineering Electives

Technical Electives 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ECE 312	Linear System Analysis II	3
ECE 403/BIOM 403	Intro to Optical Techniques in Biomedical Eng	3
ECE 415	Semiconductor Physics and Junctions	2
ECE 430/MATH 430	Fourier and Wavelet Analysis with Apps	3
ECE 495A	Independent Study 2,3	1-3
ECE 495B	Independent Study: Open Option Project 2,3	1
ECE 495C	Independent Study: Vertically Integrated Projects 2,3	1
ECE 503	Ultrafast Optics	3
ECE 504	Physical Optics	3
ECE 505	Nanostructures Fundamentals and Applications	3
ECE 506	Optical Interferometry and Laser Metrology	3
ECE 507	Plasma Physics and Applications	3
ECE 526/BIOM 526	Biological Physics	3
ECE 527B/BIOM 527B	Biosensing: Signal and Noise in Biosensors	1
ECE 527F/BIOM 527F	Biosensing: Biophotonic Sensors Using Refractive Index	1
ECE 544	Silicon Photonics for Computing Systems	3
ECE 546	Laser Fundamentals and Devices	3
ECE 559/BIOM 559	Machine Learning in Imaging and Spectroscopy	3
ECE 572	Semiconductor Transistors	1
ECE 573	Semiconductor Optoelectronics Laboratory	3
ECE 574	Optical Properties in Solids	3
MATH 419	Introduction to Complex Variables	3
PH 315	Modern Physics Laboratory	2
PH 425	Advanced Physics Laboratory	2
PH 452	Introductory Quantum Mechanics II	3
PH 462	Statistical Physics	3

¹

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

²

Project must be a laser and optical engineering topic.

³

A total of 3 credits of Independent Study may apply toward the total degree requirements. This includes credit awarded for ECE 395A, ECE 395B, ECE 395C, ECE 495A, ECE 495B, and ECE 495C combined.

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.