Major in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Concentration

Gain skills and knowledge to drive innovation in virtually any field.

The smarts inside your smart home. Satellites that measure weather and climate. The sensing technologies that tell a self-driving car to watch for obstacles. The imaging tools that help physicians peer inside the human body. Electrical engineering makes it all possible.

Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) courses and research areas span a range of disciplines that include:

• Aerospace
• Biomedical Engineering
• Communications and Signal Processing
• Computer Engineering
• Controls and Robotics
• Electromagnetics and Remote Sensing
• Lasers and Photonics
• Power and Energy Systems

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this program, students 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 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 2026

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. 

 Technical Electives 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ATS 550	Atmospheric Radiation and Remote Sensing	3
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 4XX Any CS course numbered 400-479, excluding CS 408, CS 457 and CS 470		4
CS 5XX Any CS course numbered 500-579		4
DSCI 475	Topological Data Analysis	2
ECE 4XX Any ECE course at the 400-level		Var.
A maximum of 3 credits may be taken from the following:
ECE 495A	Independent Study
ECE 495B	Independent Study: Open Option Project
ECE 495C	Independent Study: Vertically Integrated Projects
ECE 5XX Any ECE course at the 500-level		Var.
ENGR 430	Engineering With Drones	3
ENGR 570	Coupled Electromechanical Systems	3
MATH 417	Advanced Calculus I	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 403	Energy Engineering	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

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 126 credits, of which at least 42 credits must be upper-division (300-level or higher).

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.