Curriculum in Electrical Engineering

www.ece.uiuc.edu

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 Lecture¹
0	Total

1. External transfer students take ENG 300—Engineering Transfer Lecture 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 I
3	MATH 231—Calculus II
4	MATH 241—Calculus III
4	MATH 386—Intro to Differential Eq Plus
4	PHYS 211—Univ Physics, Mechanics
4	PHYS 212—Univ Physics, Elec & Mag
2	PHYS 213—Univ Physics, Thermal Physics
2	PHYS 214—Univ Physics, Quantum Phys
31	Total

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 & Comp Engrg
4	ECE 190—Intro to Computing Systems
4	ECE 210—Analog Signal Processing
3	ECE 290—Computer Engineering, I
3	ECE 329—Intro Electromagnetic Fields
2	ECE 385—Digital Systems Laboratory
3	ECE 413—Probability with Engrg Applic or STAT 410—Statistics and Probability II
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 specialty areas of electrical engineering.

Hours	Requirements
36 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 CS 225—Data Structure & Softw Prin
4 hours	ECE 410—Digital Signal Processing, I
3 hours	ECE 430—Power Circuits & Electromechanics
4 hours	ECE 442—Electronic Circuits and ECE 443—Electronic Circuits Laboratory
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
36	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
11	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 Lecture
4	MATH 221—Calculus I¹
4	RHET 105—Principles of Composition or ECE 110—Intro Elec & Comp Engrg²
3	Elective in social sciences or humanities³
15	Total

Hours	Second Semester
4	ECE 110—Intro Elec & Comp Engrg or RHET 105—Principles of Composition²
3	MATH 231—Calculus II
4	PHYS 211—Univ 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—Univ 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 386—Intro to Differential Eq Plus
2	PHYS 213—Univ Physics, Thermal Physics
2	PHYS 214—Univ Physics, Quantum Phys
3	Elective in social sciences or humanities³
18	Total

Third Year

Hours	First Semester
3	ECE 329—Intro Electromagnetic Fields
2	ECE 385—Digital Systems Laboratory
3	ECE 413—Probability with Engrg Applic or STAT 410—Statistics and Probability II
4	Technical elective⁴
3	Elective in social sciences or humanities³
15	Total

Hours	Second Semester
3	ECE 440—Solid State Electronic Devices
10	Technical electives⁴
3	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 36 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.