Electrical & Computer Engineering

Administration

  • David Castañón Department Chair
  • Mark Horenstein Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies
  • Hamid Nawab Associate Chair for Graduate Studies
  • Wayne Rennie Department Director

At Boston University, an innovative undergraduate curriculum and graduate Master of Engineering, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy programs prepare students for careers in industry, academia, and government.

The Electrical & Computer Engineering Department hosts a diverse and vibrant research portfolio in areas such as nanotechnology, photonics, energy, signal and image processing, smart lighting, communication networks, software engineering, and computer circuit design. These endeavors are categorized into three main departmental research areas: electro-physics, information systems, and sciences and computer engineering.

ECE undergraduates study today’s technologies—computers, cell phones, fiber-optic communications, medical imaging systems, digital media, and much more. Students are prepared to become leaders in the field while gaining a strong foundation in math, science, and the humanities. The department emphasizes close contact with professors in the classroom and in laboratories, and opportunities to conduct research side-by-side with faculty.

Graduate students can choose from Master of Engineering, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy programs that emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, developing an understanding of the scientific and mathematical basis of critical technologies and preparing students for the application of sophisticated analysis and design methods to solve a broad range of problems.

Research activities in the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department include electro-physics, solid-state materials and devices, photonics, electromagnetics, space science and technology, information systems, signal and image processing, multimedia processing, information and decision systems, communications and networking, computer networking and distributed systems, software engineering and more. Each area has a distinct, faculty-centered group, however interaction and interdisciplinary work are encouraged and common. Students have the opportunity to conduct research in any of these groups under the guidance of ECE faculty, through access to University-wide centers and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Research in ECE has a strong funding base from governmental agencies, foundations, and corporate sponsors.