Electrical engineers develop technologies and systems for a wide variety of applications ranging from telecommunications to medical imaging. They play a central role in the design and implementation of any technology that is powered by electricity as well as the generation and distribution of electric power. Topics covered in the electrical engineering curriculum include the design of electronic circuits, communication systems, control systems, and semiconductor devices. Students may opt to specialize in any of these areas as well as others that include electrical power generation and distribution, medical image processing, computer systems, or design of micro- and nano-scale optical and electronic devices.
The major provides technical depth and breadth as well as flexibility and the opportunity for students to customize their programs according to their own goals. Students choose one of several focus areas according to the type of job or research they plan to pursue. More than 20 focus areas are available; see Focus Areas on the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering website. Students also have the opportunity to work with their academic advisor to build a focus area plan that adheres to their goals and objectives. Focus areas allow students to personalize their curriculum and prepare them for the jobs or research they intend to pursue.
In their senior year, students complete a two-semester capstone design sequence culminating in a significant, original project.
Programs designed to lead to professional licensure are subject to federal regulations regarding informational disclosures. Please see Professional Licensure Disclosures by Program for further information.
Educational Objectives
Graduates of the electrical engineering program will:
- demonstrate initiative and perseverance to successfully apply the knowledge and skills gained in the EE program in their chosen technical, business, or academic careers;
- exhibit ethical leadership and vision in contributing to the technical and policy decisions of industry, government, and research enterprises;
- thrive in diverse, global, and multidisciplinary environments;
- excel at constructive communication and collaborative engagement with other engineers and professionals; and
- actively engage in lifelong-learning and mentoring activities that enhance their professional and personal development.
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) with a major in electrical engineering requires a minimum of 128 s.h. of credit. At the time of graduation, students must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00 in all college work used to complete degree requirements and in all UI coursework in order to be awarded the BSE.
The computer engineering and electrical engineering majors share a core of electrical and computer engineering courses. The electrical engineering major provides a broad background in electrical engineering concepts and practice that prepares students for graduate study or electrical engineering careers in a wide range of industries and organizations. Students begin taking focus area elective courses in their third year.
All BSE students are required to take the same collegiate curriculum. For information about these collegiate requirements, see the Bachelor of Science in Engineering, BSE in the catalog. 6 s.h. of a student's major courses fulfill the basic science or college-level math collegiate requirement. Students completing the major in electrical engineering fulfill the collegiate statistics requirement by completing STAT:2020 Probability and Statistics for the Engineering and Physical Sciences.
The BSE with a major in electrical engineering requires the following coursework.
Requirements Summary
| Requirements |
Hours |
| Collegiate Curriculum |
49 |
| Basic Science and College-Level Math, from Major Requirements or Focus Area |
6 |
| Major Requirements |
46 |
| Focus Area |
27 |
Major Requirements
Major requirements include a set of courses shared in common with the computer engineering major (29 s.h.), required courses (16 s.h.), one departmental seminar (1 s.h.), and two capstone design courses (6 s.h.).
Common Courses
Required Courses
Departmental Seminar
The major in electrical engineering includes ECE:3000 Electrical and Computer Engineering Professional Seminar (1 s.h.), typically taken in the third year.
Capstone Design Courses
In the final year of study, students complete a two-semester capstone design sequence culminating in the development and implementation of a significant, original project. The capstone design experience emphasizes teamwork, professionalism, open-ended problem solving, and the ability to work within real-world constraints and engineering standards.
Course List
| Course # |
Title |
Hours |
| |
| ECE:4880 | Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Design 1 | 3 |
| ECE:4890 | Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Design 2 | 3 |
Focus Area
Students must select focus area courses according to guidelines established by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. A number of established focus areas are available, and students also may work with their academic advisor to create a customized plan tailored to their goals and objectives. Focus areas allow students to personalize their curriculum and to prepare them for the jobs or research they intend to pursue.
Focus areas in the electrical engineering major consist of one breadth elective (at least 3 s.h.), one depth elective (3 s.h.), two electrical and computer engineering courses (prefix ECE) numbered above 5000 (6 s.h.), one additional electrical and computer engineering course (prefix ECE), two technical electives that align with the focus area (at least 6 s.h.), and two additional elective courses (6 s.h.).
Carefully selected elective and general education courses may contribute to earning a minor and/or certificate, including the Certificate in Sustainability (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) or the Certificate in Technological Entrepreneurship (College of Engineering). Students who take an additional advanced math course meet the requirements for a minor in mathematics (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences).
For a complete list of focus areas and course selection guidelines, see Focus Areas on the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering website. Although general guidelines and requirements for elective courses are listed, course recommendations for specific focus areas differ. While some courses may apply to more than one focus area requirement, a single course may only count once toward completing a focus area.
Breadth Elective
Course List
| Course # |
Title |
Hours |
| |
| ECE:3330 | Introduction to Software Design | 3 |
| ECE:3350 | Computer Architecture and Organization | 3 |
| ECE:3540 | Communication Networks | 3 |
| CS:2210 | Discrete Structures | 4 |
| CS:2230 | Computer Science II: Data Structures | 4 |
| CS:3330 | Algorithms | 3 |
Depth Elective
The depth elective must be an advanced course, normally numbered 4000 or above, in a subject area within a student's track, excluding seminars. The following courses are options for the depth elective.
Advanced Electrical and Computer Engineering Electives
Students complete at least two electrical and computer engineering courses (prefix ECE) numbered above 5000, excluding seminars. Specific recommendations vary based on focus area.
Additional Electives
Students complete at least 15 s.h. selected from additional courses in the preceding focus area categories or from a list of suggested electives for their specific focus area. At least one elective must be selected from electrical and computer engineering courses (prefix ECE) not already taken for the major.
While course recommendations for specific focus areas differ, the following is a list of potential elective courses. Courses not listed here may be able to count toward the focus area requirements; students should consult an academic advisor.
Double Major in Electrical Engineering/Computer Science and Engineering
Students may earn a double major in electrical engineering (EE) and computer science and engineering (CSE). They must satisfy all requirements of the EE major and all requirements of the CSE major.
BSE/MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering
The College of Engineering offers a Bachelor of Science in Engineering/Master of Science for electrical engineering undergraduate students who intend to earn a MS in electrical and computer engineering. BSE/MS students may take up to 12 s.h. of graduate-level coursework and do thesis-level research while they are still undergraduates. They may count 9 s.h. of graduate coursework toward both degrees. Once students complete the requirements for the bachelor's degree, they are granted the BSE, and they typically complete the MS one year later.
To be admitted to the degree program, students must have completed at least 80 s.h., have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.25, and submit a letter of application to the chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. For more information, see Joint BS/MS Degree Program Undergraduate to Graduate (U2G) on the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering website.
Electrical engineering graduates work in the design, development, testing, and integration of electronic and electrical systems used across a wide range of industries. Career paths include circuit and hardware design, embedded systems, communications and signal processing, power and energy systems, control systems, and roles supporting automation and smart technologies. Graduates may work in technology companies, manufacturing, aerospace, healthcare, telecommunications, or energy sectors, and some continue their education in engineering, business, law, or related fields.
Engineering Career Services connects students with experiential learning and professional opportunities that support their development as emerging engineers. Staff coordinate the college’s co-op and internship program, sustain strong employer relationships, and offer a variety of opportunities for students to engage with industry, including engineering career fairs and additional career-focused programming. The office provides individual advising on resumes, job and internship search strategies, interviewing, and evaluating job offers. Engineering Career Services works closely with the Pomerantz Career Center to facilitate on-campus interviewing, collect postgraduation data, and manage the university’s recruiting system, Handshake.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Electrical Engineering, BSE
This sample plan is currently being reviewed and will be added at a later date.
