Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering: This undergraduate degree program is built around a strong basic core of mathematics, physics, and engineering science. These fundamentals are followed by intermediate courses in electrical engineering topics such as signal processing, digital design, circuit analysis, microelectronic circuits, and electromagnetics. Teamwork, communication skills, and an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving are integrated into the senior elective sequence, including a senior design seminar and capstone design course.
Joint B.S./M.S. Degree: This program allows students to receive either the bachelor of science in electrical engineering or bachelor of science in computer engineering and a master's degree in electrical and computer engineering within a five-year time frame. Students completing both a bachelor’s and master’s in electrical or computer engineering may also be eligible for the Graduate Option where they may use up to six credit hours of senior/graduate-level ECE coursework for both degrees.
In addition to required courses for the electrical engineering degree, the program offers the ability to customize studies with a variety of electives. Elective courses for the major are grouped in the following thematic areas. Students can choose to pursue one of these areas or pick electives that span multiple areas.
Electric Energy Systems
Electric Energy Systems are primarily concerned with meeting the demand for electric energy in a safe, reliable, secure, cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner. Electric energy systems comprise diverse technologies including: power system protection, control and automation, distributed and customer generation, smart grids and electricity markets, photovoltaics, power electronics, energy harvesting, power-supply microchips, high voltage engineering, energy system cybersecurity, and silicon-based microchips and microsystems.
Primary courses: ECE 3300 – Electromechanical and Electromagnetic Energy Conversion, ECE 3072 –Electrical Energy Systems, ECE 4320 – Power System Analysis and Control, ECE 4321 – Power System Engineering, ECE 4325 – Electric Power Quality, ECE 4330 – Power Electronics, ECE 4335 – Electric Machinery Analysis
Other related courses: ECE 2026 – Digital Signals Processing, ECE 3025 – Electromagnetics, ECE 3040 - Microelectronic Circuits, ECE 3550 – Feedback Control Systems, ECE 3600 – Computer Communications, ECE 3084 – Signals and Systems, ECE 4350 – Electromagnetic and Microwave Applications, ECE 4803 – Numerical Methods
Health Technologies
This path provides options to apply electrical engineering fundamentals to compelling problems in biomedicine, bioelectronics, and biosensing. Examples include: neural sensory interfaces (cochlear implants), medical wearables (apple watch), brain-computer interfaces (deep brain stimulation), biomedical circuits and systems (pacemaker), and medical ultrasound.
Courses
Bioelectronics: ECE2026 – Introduction to Signal Processing, ECE2040 – Circuit Analysis, ECE 3025 – Electromagnetics, ECE3040 – Microelectronic Circuits, ECE3043 – Measurements, Circuits and Microelectronics Laboratory, ECE4435 – Operational Amplifier Design, ECE4555 – Embedded and Hybrid Control Systems, ECE4370 – Antenna Engineering
Interactions with materials, devices and the human body: ECE3025 – Electromagnetics, ECE4350 – Electromagnetic and Microwave Applications, ECE4390 – Introduction to Radar and Electromagnetic Sensing, ECE4751 – Laser Theory and Applications, ECE/BMED 4781 – Biomedical Instrumentation, ECE/BMED 4782 – Biosystems Analysis, ECE/BMED 4784 – Engineering Electrophysiology
Biomedical signal processing and information: ECE2026 – Introduction to Signal Processing, ECE3084 – Signals and Systems, ECE3550 – Feedback Control Systems, ECE4270 – Fundamentals of Digital Signal Processing, ECE4555 – Embedded and Hybrid Control Systems, ECE4580 – Computational Computer Vision, ECE4607 – Mobile and Wireless Networks, ECE4390 – Introduction to Radar and Electromagnetic Sensing
Imaging and Display
Includes imaging in medicine (e.g., MRT), manufacturing (e.g., quality control), and security (e.g., facial recognition) as well as display technology (e.g. for cell phones, vehicles, 3D holographic displays) and involves optics and analog and digital processing.
Primary courses: ECE2026 – Introduction to Signal Processing, ECE3025 – Electromagnetics, ECE3084 – Signals and Systems, ECE4500 – Optical Engineering, ECE4580 – Computational Computer Vision, ECE4783 – Introduction to Medical Image Processing
Information Processing and Learning
This path provides options to apply electrical engineering fundamentals to compelling problems in all sectors ranging from biomedical to manufacturing and from consumer electronics to energy harvesting. At the core of this path is the understanding of discrete signals and the processes such signals undergo to extract information that fits an application. There are several sub-paths or flavors within this path: (i) Theoretical Foundations, (ii) Algorithmic and Systems, and (iii) Hardware.
Primary courses: ECE 2026 - Introduction to Signal Processing, ECE 2040 - Circuit Analysis, ECE 3077 - Intro. to Probability/Statistics
Other related courses
Theoretical Foundations: ECE 3084 – Signals and Systems, ECE 4260 – Random Signals and Applications, ECE 4270 – Fundamentals of Digital Signal Processing, COE 3808 – Data Analytics for Engineers, ECE 4807 – Data Science and Optimization, ECE 4803 – Numerical Methods
Algorithmic and Systems: ECE 3084 – Signals and Systems, COE 3808 – Data Analytics for Engineers, ECE 4270 – Fundamentals of Digital Signal Processing, ECE 4271 – Applications of Digital Signal Processing, ECE 4601 – Communication Systems, ECE 4782 – Biosystems Analysis, ECE 4783 – Introduction to Medical Image Processing, ECE 4803 – Multimedia Systems (Special Topic – Visual Data Processing and Learning)
Hardware: ECE 3040 - Microelectronic Circuits, ECE 3043 - Measurements, Circuits, and Microelectronics Lab, ECE 3450 – Semiconductor Devices for Computer Engineering and Telecomm Systems, ECE 4270 – Fundamentals of Digital Signal Processing, ECE 4273 – Design Synthesis of Application-Specific Signal Processors, ECE 4445 – Audio Engineering, ECE 4803 - Implantable Microelectronics Devices, ECE 4893 – Guitar Amplification and Effects
Optics in Communications and Computing
Optics plays an essential role in connecting central offices, data centers, and massive internet users through optical fibers and free space optics. Future broadband information services supporting ultra-reliable and low latency human and machine-type communications with integrated optical fiber links, integrated photonics elements and flexible system functions in data center and radio access networks usher in an integrated fiber-wireless network infrastructure. This flexible and agile communication network incorporating infrared light wave and visible light communication channels provides diverse user applications including high-definition media distribution, smart cities, internet of things, and virtual and augmented reality.
The Optics in Communications and Computing path covers both the fundamental principles of science and engineering for optical communication systems and the technologies deployed in the real world.
Primary courses: ECE 4500 – Optical Engineering, ECE 4502 – Optical Fiber Communications, ECE 4751 – Laser Theory and Applications
Other related courses: ECE 2026 – Digital Signals Processing, ECE 3025 – Electromagnetics, ECE 3040 - Microelectronic Circuits, ECE 3600 – Computer Communications, ECE 3084 – Signals and Systems, ECE 4350 – Electromagnetic and Microwave Applications, ECE 4451 – Semiconductor Devices for Wireless and Fiber Communication, ECE 4601 – Communication Systems, ECE 4604 – Network Design and Simulation, ECE 4607 – Mobile and Wireless Networks
Optics and Photonics
Photonics for Health and Consumer Products: This path is intended to train students to work on optical and photonic devices with applications in healthcare and consumer products. This includes optical materials; components such as lenses, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, and optical detectors (photodiodes, etc.); as well as composite devices such as cameras, biosensors, room lighting, displays (monitors and TVs), solar cells, and surgical instruments.
Primary courses: ECE 3025 – Electromagnetics, ECE 3040 – Microelectronic Circuits, ECE 3084 – Signals and Systems
Intermediate courses: ECE 3450 – Semiconductor Devices for Computer Engineering and Telecom Systems, ECE 4350 – Electromagnetic and Microwave Applications, Phys 3141 – Thermodynamics, Phys 3143 – Quantum Mechanics I
Advanced courses: ECE 4451 – Semiconductor Devices for Wireless and Fiber Communication, ECE 4500 – Optical Engineering, ECE 4502 – Optical Fiber Communications, ECE 4751 – Laser Theory and Applications
Optics and Photonics for Defense and Security: Optics and photonics are playing an important role in advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems. The development of sophisticated new platforms requires a high-tech workforce that has knowledge and expertise in cutting-edge optoelectronic technologies that provide the foundation for defense and security.
The Optics and Photonics for Defense and Security path covers the fundamentals and applications of some of the following technologies: surveillance; night vision; laser rangefinders, designators, jammers, and communicators; laser weapons; fiber-optic systems; chemical and biological species detection, laser gyros for navigation, and optical signal processing.
Courses: ECE2040 – Circuit Analysis, ECE2026 – Introduction to Signal Processing, PHYS2212 – Physics II, ECE3025 – Electromagnetism, ECE3040 – Microelectronics Circuits, ECE3043 – Electrical and Electronics Circuit Laboratory, ECE3450 – Semiconductor Devices, ECE4350 – Electromagnetic and Microwave Applications (ECE3025), ECE4500 – Optical Engineering (ECE3025), ECE4502 – Optical Fiber Communications (ECE3025), ECE4751 - Laser Theory and Applications (PHYS2212), ECE4612 – Telecommunication Systems Laboratory (ECE3043), ECE4390 – Introduction to Radar and Electromagnetic Sensing (ECE4350)
*Prerequisite courses are listed in parentheses
Robotics and Autonomy
Robotics combines physics, sensing, computation, and control to achieve autonomous behavior in complex systems that move, such as self-driving cars; space, air, water and ground vehicles; legged and humanoid robots; and prosthetic devices.
Primary courses: ECE 2020 – Fundamentals of Digital System Design, ECE 2031 – Digital Design Laboratory, ECE 2040 – Circuit Analysis, ECE 2036 – Engineering Software Design, ECE 4180 – Embedded Systems Design
Signals courses: ECE 2026 – Introduction to Signal Processing, ECE 3084 – Signals and Systems, ECE 4260 – Random Signals and Applications, ECE 4270 – Fundamentals of Digital Signal Processing, ECE 4271 – Applications of Digital Signal Processing
Control courses: ECE 3550 – Feedback Control Systems, ECE 4550 – Control System Design, ECE 4555 – Embedded and Hybrid Control Systems, ECE 4560 – Introduction to Automation and Robotics, ECE 4570 – System Theory for Communication and Control, ECE 4580 – Computational Computer Vision
Sensing and Exploration
This path deals with end-to-end systems that detect and characterize the world around us, from the large (e.g., planets) to the small (e.g., biological cells). Examples include: radar systems, medical ultrasound, lasers on self-driving cars, cameras on robots, etc. There are typically three pieces that come together: (1) Front-end sensors, antennas, and associated electronics to generate and/or receive a sensing signal, (2) Interaction of the sensing signal with materials and devices, and (3) Signal processing to infer properties of the materials and devices that the signal interacted with.
Courses
Front-end: ECE2040 – Circuit Analysis, ECE 3025 – Electromagnetics, ECE3040 – Microelectronic Circuits, ECE3043 – Measurements, Circuits, and Microelectronics Laboratory, ECE4391 – Electromagnetic Compatibility, ECE4435 – Operational Amplifier Design, ECE4555 – Embedded and Hybrid Control Systems, ECE4784 – Engineering Electrophysiology, ECE4370 – Antenna Engineering
Interactions with materials and devices: ECE3025 – Electromagnetics, ECE4350 – Electromagnetic and Microwave Applications, ECE4390 – Introduction to Radar and Electromagnetic Sensing, ECE4751 – Laser Theory and Applications, ECE4784 – Engineering Electrophysiology
Signal processing: ECE2026 – Introduction to Signal Processing, ECE3084 – Signals and Systems, ECE3550 – Feedback Control Systems, ECE4271 – Applications of Digital Signal Processing, ECE4555 – Embedded and Hybrid Control Systems, ECE4580 – Computatonal Computer Vision, ECE4607 – Mobile and Wireless Networks, ECE4390 – Introduction to Radar and Electromagnetic Sensing
Telecommunications
Communication networks are the backbone of all systems in which humans and machines communicate to exchange, store, and process information. In an ever-connected world, optical, cable, and wireless communications are the technologies that make ubiquitous communication possible.
The telecommunications path covers both the fundamental principles of engineering behind communication systems and the technologies deployed in the real world. The path comes in three suggested flavors:
• The PHY layer path focuses on how to transmit information bits over noisy communication media through modulation and error control coding. The focus is more on point-to-point links, includes channel modeling, and is more mathematical.
• The NETWORKING path focuses on all the issues arising once a communication network comprises multiple terminals (routing, end-to-end reliability, congestion, flow control, medium access, security, etc.). The focus is on multi-point links and has a more computer science flavor.
• The CIRCUIT path focuses on the hardware behind communication systems (antennas, amplifiers, etc.). The focus is on circuits and has a physics flavor.
Primary courses: ECE 2040 - Circuit Analysis, ECE 2026 - Introduction to Signal Processing
The PHY layer path: ECE 3077: Probability/Statistics, ECE 3084 – Signals and Systems, ECE 4260 – Random Signals and Applications, ECE 4601 – Communication Systems, ECE 4612 – Telecommunication Systems Laboratory, ECE 4606 – Wireless Communications, ECE4500 - Optical Engineering, ECE 4502 – Optical Fiber Communications
The NETWORKING layer path: ECE 3600 – Computer Communications, ECE 4110 – Internetwork Programming, ECE 4115 – Intro to Computer Security, ECE 4604 – Network Design and Simulation, ECE 4605 – Advanced Internetworking, ECE 4607 – Mobile and Wireless Networks
The CIRCUIT path: ECE 3040 - Microelectronic Circuits, ECE3043 - Electrical and Electronic Circuits Laboratory, ECE 4370 – Antenna Engineering, ECE 4371 – Antenna Engineering Lab, ECE 4415 – RF Engineering I, ECE 4418 – RF Engineering