Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department Office: 155 Everitt Laboratory, 1406 West Green, Urbana, (217) 333-2300
Curriculum in Electrical Engineering
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering is a multifaceted discipline that has evolved incessantly over the last century, producing an astounding progression of technological innovations based on the use of electricity which have shaped virtually every aspect of modern life. Because of the variety of possible applications, electrical engineers need a broad background in mathematics and physics, and within each sub-discipline one can find application domains that strongly rely on hands-on experimental work or that are based as importantly on theoretical, mathematical and computational approaches. As technology progresses, the multidisciplinary aspects of the electrical engineering profession are also becoming more important to meet the growing demand for the design of electrical and electronic systems of ever increasing complexity in consumer, defense, and medical applications.
The curriculum starts with a core of fundamental courses on circuits, electromagnetics, solid-state electronics, and computer systems, leading to a comprehensive array of specialization courses and laboratories in all of the important areas of modern electrical engineering. These range from power and energy systems to electronics devices and integrated circuits, telecommunications and remote sensing, control systems, robotics, signal processing, bioengineering, and acoustics.
Overview of Curricular Requirements
The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation and is organized as shown below.Technical grade point average requirements for graduation and advanced-level course registration apply to students in this curriculum. These rules are summarized at the College of Engineering's undergraduate advising Web site.
Orientation and Professional Development
These courses introduce the opportunities and resources your college, department, and curriculum can offer you as you work to achieve your career goals. They also provide the skills to work effectively and successfully in the engineering profession.| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Orientation1 |
| 0 | Total |
1. External transfer students take ENG 300—Engrg Transfer Orientation instead.
Foundational Mathematics and Science
These courses stress the basic mathematical and scientific principles upon which the engineering discipline is based.| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I |
| 4 | MATH 221 - Calculus I1 |
| 3 | MATH 231 - Calculus II |
| 4 | MATH 241 - Calculus III |
| 4 | MATH 286 - Intro to Differential Eq Plus |
| 4 | PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics |
| 4 | PHYS 212 - University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 2 | PHYS 213 - Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 2 | PHYS 214 - Univ Physics: Quantum Physics |
| 31 | Total |
1. MATH 220 - Calculus may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
Electrical Engineering Technical Core
These courses stress fundamental concepts and basic laboratory techniques that comprise the common intellectual understanding of electrical engineering.| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | ECE 110 - Intro Elec & Computer Engrg |
| 4 | ECE 190 - Intro to Computing Systems |
| 4 | ECE 210 - Analog Signal Processing |
| 3 | ECE 290 - Computer Engineering I |
| 3 | ECE 313 - Probability with Engrg Applic or STAT 410 - Statistics and Probability II |
| 3 | ECE 329 - Intro Electromagnetic Fields |
| 2 | ECE 385 - Digital Systems Laboratory |
| 3 | ECE 440 - Solid State Electronic Devices |
| 2 | ECE 445 - Senior Design Project Lab |
| 28 | Total |
Technical Electives
This elective requirement gives each student freedom to define a technical course of study in electrical engineering of considerable breadth and focus. The Advanced Core ECE Electives are introductory to major subdisciplines of electrical engineering.| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 35 to include at least: | Selected from the departmentally approved List of Technical Electives |
| (i) 6 hours | Non-ECE courses |
| (ii) 3 courses | Selected from the following list of Advanced Core ECE electives: |
3-4 hours |
ECE 391 - Computer Systems Engineering or |
4 hours |
ECE 410 - Digital Signal Processing, I |
3 hours |
ECE 430 - Power Circuits & Electromechanics |
4 hours |
ECE 442 - Electronic Circuits and |
3 hours |
ECE 450 - Lines, Fields, and Waves |
| (iii) 2 courses | ECE labs identified in the List of Technical Electives |
| (iv) 22 hours | ECE courses |
| 35 | Total |
Social Sciences and Humanities
The social sciences and humanities courses, as approved by the College of Engineering, ensure that students have exposure in breadth and depth to areas of intellectual activity that are essential to the general education of any college graduate.| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 18 | Electives in social sciences and humanities approved by the College of Engineering and satisfying the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities, including cultural studies western and non-western. |
Composition
These courses teach fundamentals of expository writing.| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | RHET 105 - Principles of Composition |
| Advanced Composition. May be satisfied by completing a course with the Advanced Composition designation in either the social sciences and humanities or the free elective categories. | |
| 4 | Total |
Free Electives
These unrestricted electives give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual area of unique interest. This freedom plays a critical role in helping students to define research specialties or to complete minors. At least seven hours must be taken for a grade.| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 12 | Free electives. Additional unrestricted course work so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree. |
Suggested Sequence
The schedule that follows is illustrative, showing the typical sequence in which courses would be taken by a student with no college course credit already earned and who intends to graduate in four years. Each individual's case may vary, but the position of required named courses is generally indicative of the order in which they should be taken.First Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I |
| 0 | ENG 100 - Engineering Orientation |
| 4 | MATH 221 - Calculus I1 |
| 4 | RHET 105 - Principles of Composition or ECE 110 - Intro Elec & Computer Engrg2 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 15 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | ECE 110 - Intro
Elec & Computer Engrg or RHET 105 - Principles of Composition2 |
| 3 | MATH 231 - Calculus II |
| 4 | PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 3 | Free elective |
| 17 | Total |
Second Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | ECE 190 - Intro to Computing Systems |
| 4 | MATH 241 - Calculus III |
| 4 | PHYS 212 - University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 2 | Free elective |
| 17 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | ECE 210 - Analog Signal Processing |
| 3 | ECE 290 - Computer Engineering I |
| 4 | MATH 286 - Intro to Differential Eq Plus |
| 2 | PHYS 213 - Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 2 | PHYS 214 - Univ Physics: Quantum Physics |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 18 | Total |
Third Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | ECE 313 - Probability with
Engrg Applic or STAT 410 - Statistics and Probability II |
| 3 | ECE 329 - Intro Electromagnetic Fields |
| 2 | ECE 385 - Digital Systems Laboratory |
| 4 | Technical elective4 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 15 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | ECE 440 - Solid State Electronic Devices |
| 9 | Technical electives4 |
| 4 | Free elective |
| 16 | Total |
Fourth Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | ECE 445 - Senior Design Project Lab |
| 10 | Technical electives4 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 15 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 12 | Technical electives4 |
| 3 | Free electives |
| 15 | Total |
1. MATH 220 - Calculus may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
2. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester of the first year as authorized. The alternative is ECE 110.
3. Each student must satisfy the 18-hour social sciences and humanities requirements of the College of Engineering and the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities.
4. A minimum of 35 hours chosen from the departmentally approved list of Technical Electives. Of these, at least three courses are to be chosen from the ECE advanced core electives and two courses from the list of ECE laboratory electives; 22 hours must be ECE course work, six hours non-ECE course work, and the remaining hours may be chosen from the entire List.