Undergraduate Programs - Overview

The Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering teaches technologies that have special significance for the 21st century. Personal computers, cellular phones, fiber-optic communications and the Internet, medical imaging systems, digital media, and laser materials processing systems are only a few of the advances arising from the disciplines of electrical and computer engineering.

Electrical and computer engineering technologies are critical to the development of virtually every field of science, technology, and medicine. Examples of application areas include electronic instrumentation for measurements; sensors and systems for environmental monitoring of pollution, land use and global warming; automatic control systems for industry and transportation; data communications for people, corporations, and governments; computer technologies for security and modeling of complex phenomena; and advanced instruments and algorithms for medical monitoring and diagnosis. These examples illustrate how electrical and computer engineering support broad areas of inquiry and address critical issues for human knowledge and welfare.

The ECE Department offers degree programs in electrical engineering, computer systems engineering, and photonics. The academic programs are a balanced mix of the underlying fundamental sciences and engineering principles and practice, as well as hands-on laboratory experiences, a team-based undergraduate design project, and ample opportunities for student involvement in one of its many world-class research laboratories. Undergraduates are encouraged to get involved with research and development efforts in faculty labs through UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program), work study, or student employment. Engineering is an applied science, and we believe it is important to start applying what is learned in the classroom as soon as possible.