Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering is one of the broadest of all engineering majors and is much more than just building electrical circuits. EE is the application of electronics, electrical science and technology, and computer systems to the needs of society. An electrical engineer is responsible for designing and integrating electronic/electrical systems in diverse industries such as defense, communications, transportation, manufacturing, health care, construction, power/energy, and entertainment.
Student Outcomes
The BSEE program prepares graduates to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving engineering profession through seven Student Outcomes (SO) that define what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. These outcomes (shown below) span the full spectrum of competencies required for effective engineering practice, from the ability to identify and solve complex problems using principles of mathematics, science, and engineering, to applying engineering design with consideration of public health, safety, and societal impact, communicating effectively across diverse audiences, recognizing ethical responsibilities, functioning in teams, conducting experimentation, and acquiring new knowledge throughout their careers. Together they form the foundation of a technically rigorous, professionally grounded, and human-centered engineering education.
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An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of mathematics, science, and engineering.
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An ability to 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.
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An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
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An ability to 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.
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An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
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An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
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An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Program Educational Objectives
The BSEE Program provides undergraduates with a broad technical education important for employment in the private or public sector, and it teaches them the fundamentals, current issues, and creative problem-solving skills essential for future years of learning. Within three to five years after graduation, graduates of the program are expected to:
- Engage in the practice of electrical engineering through contributions to design, product development, research, manufacturing, consulting, testing, sales, and management.
- Acquire and apply new instrumentation and design tools to address evolving engineering challenges.
- Communicate effectively in both written and oral forms with diverse audiences in professional contexts.
- Pursue continued learning and professional development through graduate studies, distance education, professional training, and active involvement in professional societies.
- Participate effectively and assume leadership roles in multidisciplinary teams with diverse professional and cultural backgrounds.
- Demonstrate awareness of the global, societal, and ethical implications of engineering design and practice.
The B.S. degree in EE begins with a first-year emphasis on math, physics, and chemistry common to all engineering students. In the second and third years, most of the course work consists of required EE lecture and laboratory courses that provide a broad exposure to the many aspects of EE. Below is a sample of the courses students will take each semester as electrical engineering majors.
Many US states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.
A description of all electrical engineering courses can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
Below is a typical 4-year course load for electrical engineering students:
First Semester (15 credits)
- MATH 140 Calculus w/Analytical Geometry
- PHYS 211 Mechanics
- ENGL 15/30 Rhetoric & Composition
- CHEM 110 Chemical Principles
- First-year seminar
Second Semester (17 credits)
- MATH 141 Calculus w/Analytical Geometry II
- PHYS 212 Electricity & Magnetism
- EDSGN 100 Engineering Design
- CMPSC 121/131 Into Programming
- ECON 102/104 Micro/Macro Economics
Third Semester (16 credits)
- EE 210 Circuits and Devices
- CMPEN 270 Logic Desgn: Theory and Practice
- CMPSC 122/132 Intermediate Programming
- MATH 220 Matrices
- MATH 250 Ordinary Differential Equations
Fourth Semester (16 credits)
- EE 200 Design Tools
- EE 310 Electronic Circuit Design
- MATH 230 Calculus and Vector Analysis
- CAS 100 A/B Effective Speech
- PHYS 214
Fifth Semester (16.5 credits)
- EE 330 Electromagnetics
- EE 340 Intro Nanelectronics
- EE 350 Continuous-time Linear Systems
- AHS Elective
- Health & Physical Activity
Sixth Semester (15 credits)
- EE 300W Design Process
- EE/CMPEN 300-level Elective
- EE/CMPEN 300-level Elective
- ENGL 202C Technical Writing
- AHS Elective
Seventh and Eighth Semesters (31.5 credits)
The order in which you take these courses may vary; please consult your adviser.
- EE 403W Capstone Design
- EE/CMPEN 300/400-level Elective
- Statistics Elective
- AHS Elective
- Related Elective
- Health & Physical Activity
- EE/CMPEN 400-level Elective
- EE/CMPEN 400-level Elective
- AHS Elective
- AHS Elective
- Related Elective
