Electrical and Computer Engineering 1
from other departments. In both curricula, a student can choose a broad
ELECTRICAL program covering an introductory treatment of a variety of areas or focus
in one or two specialized areas. An advising program, beginning in the first
AND COMPUTER year, helps students plan their program.
ENGINEERING
To provide students with hands-on experience in electrical and computer
engineering, specialized lab courses are offered at the senior level. For
example, one involves the design and fabrication of integrated circuits
and the other design and prototyping of a computer. Both classroom
Electrical engineers (EE) design and develop anything and everything
instruction and lab work are offered in signal processing and in embedded
that uses electricity, from the power systems that bring electricity to
systems, with microprocessors and personal computers incorporated into
our homes and communications systems that allow us to keep in touch
larger systems. Independent study and design projects are encouraged at
with family and friends to the electronic devices, electrical appliances,
the senior level and an honors research program is available which spans
computers, sensors, and medical equipment that shape our everyday
multiple years of the undergraduate program.
lives. Typical careers may find an EE collaborating with medical doctors
or astronauts in the space program, designing advanced automotive Although the BS in electrical engineering and BS in computer engineering
and transportation systems, and interacting with other engineers and programs are intended to prepare students for immediate entry into the
professionals. Many EEs work as scientists, inventing new kinds of profession of engineering, increasingly, students find an additional year or
electronic technology, instrumentation, and devices to help people. more of study leading to the MS degree very desirable. The PhD degree is
the most advanced degree and emphasizes training in research.
Electrical engineers design, develop, analyze, research, and manufacture
systems such as those for power generation distribution, communication,
control, and instrumentation. Electrical engineers are also concerned
with the devices that make up these systems, such as transistors,
integrated circuits, rotating machines, antennas, and fusion plasma
confinement devices. Low-power, reliable integrated circuits allow
dramatic improvements that have driven the revolution in communications
and computation. High-power transistors in combination with electronic
controls are serving as the foundation for new ways of efficiently utilizing
electrical power.
Computer engineers design, develop, analyze, research, and manufacture
hardware, software, and systems that process, store, and convey digital
information. These systems include personal computers, workstations,
mainframe computers, and embedded digital systems. Embedded systems
consist of one to many computers within other products, such as aircraft,
automobiles, communication switching systems, networking components,
biomedical instrumentation, and industrial automation systems. These
systems are characterized by the use of digital electronic hardware and
software in performing useful tasks. Computer software in combination
with digital integrated circuits provides the foundation for the current
revolution in computers and communications. This focus on software and
digital hardware distinguishes the computer engineer from the electrical
engineer.
The curriculum in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
requires a strong background in mathematics, physics, and computer
science. In addition to basic course requirements in these areas, elective
credits in the curriculum permit the student to pursue more advanced
courses in these areas or in other fields, such as chemistry, biology, and
mechanics. Additional electives in liberal studies broaden the programs to
include such areas as economics, sociology, psychology, and history.
The electrical engineering and computer engineering programs share
many courses in the first few semesters, including digital systems,
electrical circuits, and electromagnetic fields. Computer engineering
students take additional courses in computer science to provide the
software part of their background. In the junior year, the electrical
engineering program focuses on areas such as electromagnetic fields and
analog electronics whereas computer engineering deals with computer
hardware design and combined hardware/software design concepts.
Technical elective freedom in both curricula makes it possible for students
to choose from approximately 50 more specialized courses at the junior
and senior levels in electrical and computer engineering, as well as courses
