Program Overview

Electrical Engineering Option (EE)

The objective of the undergraduate program in Electrical Engineering at Caltech is to produce graduates who will attain careers and higher education that ultimately lead to leadership roles in academia, industry, and government in areas of rapidly advancing interdisciplinary technology related to telecommunications, solid-state, robotics, information, computer and electrical systems.

The program prepares its students for either graduate study, entrepreneurial careers, or research and development work in government or industrial laboratories. It inspires them to undertake careers and professional practices that provide an opportunity to address the pressing technological needs of society. It accomplishes this by building on the core curriculum to provide a broad and rigorous exposure to the fundamentals (e.g., math, science, and principles of engineering) of electrical engineering.

Aims and Scope

The program strives to maintain a balance between classroom lectures and laboratory and design experience, and it emphasizes the problem formulation, system-design, and problem solving skills that are essential to any engineering discipline. The program is also intended to develop in each student self-reliance, creativity, teamwork ability, professional ethics, communication skills, and an appreciation of the importance of contemporary issues and lifelong intellectual growth. For interested students, there are opportunities to conduct research with a faculty member.

EE Double Majors

The Electrical Engineering option allows interested students to declare Electrical Engineering as one of the majors in a double major pursuit. To enroll in the program, the student should meet and discuss their plans with the Undergraduate Option Representative. In general, approval is contingent on good academic performance by the student and demonstrated ability for handling the heavier course load. For students simultaneously pursuing a degree in a second option, courses taken as required courses for that option can also be counted as EE electives where appropriate. However, courses that count toward the electives requirement in the other option cannot be simultaneously counted toward satisfying the electives requirement in EE. To qualify for an Electrical Engineering degree, the student would need to complete all option requirements.

EE Option Requirements

1. Ma 2, EE 2, SEC10, one of SEC 11-13, EE/CS 10ab, EE/APh 40, EE 44, 45, 55, 90, and 111.
2. Two of Ph 2a, Ph 2b, Ph2c, or APh/EE 23 (Ph 12 can replace Ph 2).
3. Three of ACM 95a, ACM 95b, ACM/IDS 104, or ACM/EE/IDS 116.
4. EE 151 or EE/CS/IDS 160.
5. EE 91ab or this requirement can be waived if a student completes EE 80abc.
6. In addition to the above courses, 72 units selected from any EE course numbered over 100 or any other EE-related engineering or science course numbered over 100 (such as CDS 110 or CNS/Bi/Ph/CS/NB 187) with approval of the Undergraduate Option Representative.
7. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including courses listed above. Courses used to satisfy requirements 1 through 6 must be taken for grades, unless they are only offered pass/fail.

EE Typical Course Schedule

| | Units per term
---|---|---
| | | |
Second Year
EE 44 | Deterministic Analysis of Systems and Circuits | 12 | - | -
EE 55 | Mathematics of Electrical Engineering | 12 | - | -
EE/APh 40 | Physics of Electrical Engineering | - | 9 | -
EE 45 | Electronics Systems and Laboratory | - | - | 12
EE/CS 10 ab | Introduction to Digital Logic and Embedded Systems | - | 6 | 6
Ma 2 | Differential Equations | 9 | - | -
Ph 2 ab | Sophomore Physics | 9 | 9 | -
| Electives | - | 9 | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | - | 9 | 18
| Total |42 |42 |45
Third Year
EE 111 | Signal-Processing Systems and Transforms | 9 | - | -
EE 151 | Electromagnetic Engineering | - | - | 9
EE/CS/IDS 160 | Fundamentals of Information Transmission and Storage | - | 9 | -
EE 90 | Analog Electronics Project Lab | - | - | 9
ACM/EE/IDS 116 | Introduction to Probability Models | 9 | - | -
ACM 95 a | Intro. Methods of Applied Math. | - | 12 | -
SEC 10 | Technical Seminar Presentations | 3 | - | -
one of SEC 11-13 | Written Communication | - | 3 | -
| EE Electives 2 | 9 | 9 | -
| Electives | 9 | - | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | 9 | 9 | 9
| Total |48 |42 |48
Fourth Year (for project)
EE 91 ab | Experimental Projects in Electronic Circuits | 9 | 6 | -
| EE Electives 2 | 18 | 18 | 9
| Electives | - | 9 | 18
| HSS Electives 1 | 9 | 9 | 9
| Total |36 |42 |36
Fourth Year (for thesis)
EE 80 abc | Senior Thesis | 9 | 9 | 9
| EE Electives 2 | 18 | 18 | 9
| Electives | - | - | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | 9 | 9 | 9
| Total |36 |36 |36

EE Circuits & Electronics Track Requirements

1. Ma 2, EE 2, SEC 10, one of SEC 11-13, EE/APh 40, EE 44, 45, 55, and 111.
2. Four classes chosen from EE 113, EE 114a, EE 114b, EE124, EE/CS 119a, EE/CS 119b, EE 153.
3. One class chosen from EE 151, 152, 154, 158.
4. EE 80abc or EE 91ab.
5. In addition to the above courses, 99 units selected from any EE course excluding EE 99, or Ph 2abc (Ph 12 may be substituted for Ph 2), or ACM 95ab; 45 of which must be numbered over 100.
6. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including courses listed above. Courses used to satisfy requirements 1 through 5 must be taken for grades, unless they are only offered pass/fail.

EE Circuits & Electronics Track Typical Course Schedule

| | Units per term
---|---|---
| | | |
Second Year
EE 44 | Deterministic Analysis of Systems and Circuits | 12 | - | -
EE 55 | Mathematics of Electrical Engineering | 12 | - | -
EE/APh 40 | Physics of Electrical Engineering | - | 9 | -
EE 45 | Electronics Systems and Laboratory | - | - | 12
EE/CS 10 ab | Introduction to Digital Logic and Embedded Systems | - | 6 | 6
Ma 2 | Differential Equations | 9 | - | -
Ph 2 ab | Sophomore Physics | 9 | 9 | -
| Electives | - | 9 | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | - | 9 | 18
| Total |42 |42 |45
Third Year
EE 111 | Signal-Processing Systems and Transforms | 9 | - | -
EE/MedE 124 | Mixed-mode Integrated Circuits | 9 | - | -
EE 113 | Feedback and Control Circuits | - | 9 | -
EE/MedE 114 ab | Analog Circuit Design | - | 12 | 12
ACM 95 a | Intro. Methods of Applied Math. | - | 12 | -
EE 151 | Electromagnetic Engineering | - | - | 9
EE 90 | Analog Electronics Project Lab | - | - | 9
SEC 10 | Technical Seminar Presentations | 3 | - | -
one of SEC 11-13 | Written Communication | - | 3 | -
| EE Electives 2 | 9 | - | -
| Electives | - | - | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | 9 | 9 | 9
| Total |39 |45 |48
Fourth year (for project)
EE 91 ab | Experimental Projects in Electronic Circuits | 9 | 6 | -
| EE Electives 2 | 18 | 12 | 9
| Electives | - | 9 | 18
| HSS Electives 1 | 9 | 9 | 9
| Total |36 |36 |36
Fourth year (for project)
EE 80 abc | Senior Thesis | 9 | 9 | 9
| EE Electives 2 | 18 | 12 | 9
| Electives | - | 9 | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | 9 | 9 | 9
| Total |36 |39 |36

EE Computer Engineering Track Requirements

1. Ma 2, EE 2, SEC 10, one of SEC 11-13, EE/CS 10ab, EE/Aph 40, EE 44, 45, 55, 111, and 188.
2. EE 110abc or EE/CS 119abc; EE 91ab may be substituted for EE 110c or EE/CS 119c.
3. CS 3, CS 24, and CS 124.
4. In addition to the above courses, 96 units selected from any EE course excluding EE 99, or Ph 2abc (Ph 12 may be substituted for Ph 2), or ACM 95ab; 45 of these units must be numbered over 100.
5. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including courses listed above. Courses used to satisfy requirements 1 through 4 must be taken for grades, unless they are only offered pass/fail.

EE Computer Engineering Track Typical Course Schedule

| | Units per term
---|---|---
| | | |
Second Year
EE 44 | Deterministic Analysis of Systems and Circuits | 12 | - | -
EE 55 | Mathematics of Electrical Engineering | 12 | - | -
EE/APh 40 | Physics of Electrical Engineering | - | 9 | -
EE 45 | Electronics Systems and Laboratory | - | - | 12
EE/CS 10 ab | Introduction to Digital Logic and Embedded Systems | - | 6 | 6
CS 3 | Introduction to Software Design | - | - | 9
Ma 2 | Differential Equations | 9 | - | -
Ph 2 ab | Sophomore Physics | 9 | 9 | -
| Electives | - | 9 | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | - | 9 | 9
| Total |42 |42 |45
Third Year
EE/CS 119 abc | Advanced Digital Systems Design Embedded Systems Design Laboratory | 9 | 9 | 9
EE 188 | Computer Architecture | - | - | 9
EE 111 | Signal-Processing Systems and Transforms | 9 | - | -
EE 151 | Electromagnetic Engineering | - | - | 9
EE/CS/IDS 160 | Fundamentals of Information Transmission and Storage | - | 9 | -
EE 90 | Analog Electronics Project Lab | - | - | 9
ACM/EE/IDS 116 | Introduction to Probability Models | 9 | - | -
ACM 95 a | Intro. Methods of Applied Math. | - | 12 | -
SEC 10 | Technical Seminar Presentations | 3 | - | -
one of SEC 11-13 | Written Communication | - | 3 | -
| HSS Electives 1 | 18 | 9 | 9
| Total |48 |42 |45
Fourth Year
CS 24 | Introduction to Computing Systems | 9 | - | -
CS 124 | Operating Systems | - | - | 12
| EE Electives 2 | 9 | 12 | 9
| Electives | 9 | 18 | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | 9 | 9 | 9
| Total |36 |39 |39

EE Intelligent Systems Track Requirements

1. Ma 2, EE 2, SEC10, one of SEC 11-13, EE/APh 40, EE 44, and 55.
2. Math: ACM/IDS 104, ACM/EE/IDS 116 or CMS/ACM 117, IDS/ACM/CS 157, and ACM 95a.
3. Signals, Learning, Control and Communication: EE 111, CS/CNS/EE 156a, CDS 110, and EE/CS/IDS 160.
4. Depth: EE 80abc or, with approval of the Undergraduate Option Representative, a sequence of 3 courses (27 units) formed from systems-related EE, ACM, CS, or CDS courses over 100.
5. In addition to the above courses, a total of 99 units selected from any EE course excluding EE 99, or Ph 2abc (Ph 12 may be substituted for Ph 2), Ph 3, ACM 95b, or, with approval of the Undergraduate Option Representative, any systems-related ACM, CS, or CDS course numbered over 100; 45 of these units must be numbered over 100.
6. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including courses listed above. Courses used to satisfy requirements 1 through 5 must be taken for grades, unless they are only offered pass/fail.

EE Intelligent Systems Track Typical Course Schedule

| | Units per term
---|---|---
| | | |
Second Year
EE 44 | Deterministic Analysis of Systems and Circuits | 12 | - | -
EE 55 | Mathematics of Electrical Engineering | 12 | - | -
EE/APh 40 | Physics of Electrical Engineering | - | 9 | -
EE 45 | Electronics Systems and Laboratory | - | - | 12
EE/CS 10 ab | Introduction to Digital Logic and Embedded Systems | - | 6 | 6
Ma 2 | Differential Equations | 9 | - | -
Ph 2 ab | Sophomore Physics | 9 | 9 | -
| EE Electives 2 | - | - | 9
| Electives | - | - | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | - | 18 | 9
| Total |42 |42 |45
Third Year
ACM 95 a | Intro. Methods of Applied Math. | - | 12 | -
ACM/EE/IDS 116 | Introduction to Probability Models | 9 | - | -
ACM/IDS 104 | Applied Linear Algebra | 9 | - | -
IDS/ACM/CS 157 | Statistical Inference | - | - | 9
CDS 110 | Introduction to Feedback Control Systems | - | - | 9
EE 111 | Signal-Processing Systems and Transforms | 9 | - | -
CS/CNS/EE 156a | Learning Systems | 9 | - | -
EE/CS/IDS 160 | Fundamentals of Information Transmission and Storage | - | 9 | -
SEC 10 | Technical Seminar Presentations | 3 | - | -
one of SEC 11-13 | Written Communication | - | 3 | -
| EE Electives 2 | - | 9 | 9
| Electives | - | - | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | 9 | 9 | 9
| Total |48 |42 |45
Fourth Year
EE 80 abc | Senior Thesis | 9 | 9 | 9
| EE Electives 2 | 18 | 9 | 9
| Electives | - | 9 | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | 9 | 9 | 9
| Total |36 |36 |36

EE Medical Engineering Track Requirements

1. Ma 2, EE 2, SEC 10, one of SEC 11-13, EE/APh 40, EE 44, 55, and 111.
2. EE 45 or a sequence consisting of APh/EE 23 and APh/EE 24.
3. 45 units of EE courses cross-listed with MedE and numbered over 100.
4. EE 80abc or EE/MedE/BE 189ab.
5. In addition to the above courses, 96 units selected from any EE course excluding EE 99, or Ph 2abc (Ph 12 may be substituted for Ph 2), ACM 95ab, or with approval of the Undergraduate Option Representative, any EE-related MedE, BBE or CCE course numbered over 100; 45 of these units must be numbered over 100.
6. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including courses listed above. Courses used to satisfy requirements 1 through 5 must be taken for grades, unless they are only offered pass/fail.

EE Medical Engineering Track Course Schedule

| | Units per term
---|---|---
| | | |
Second Year
EE 55 | Mathematics of Electrical Engineering | 12 | - | -
EE/APh 40 | Physics of Electrical Engineering | - | 9 | -
EE 44 | Deterministic Analysis of Systems and Circuits | 12 | - | -
EE 45 | Electronics Systems and Laboratory | - | - | 12
EE/CS 10ab | Introduction to Digital Logic and Embedded Systems | - | 6 | 6
Ma 2 | Differential Equations | 9 | - | -
Ph 2 ab | Sophomore Physics | 9 | 9 | -
| EE Electives 2 | - | - | 9
| Electives | - | - | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | - | 18 | 9
| Total |42 |42 |45
Third Year
EE 111 | Signal-Processing Systems and Transforms | 9 | - | -
EE 90 | Analog Electronics Project Lab | - | - | 9
ACM 95 ab | Intro. Methods of Applied Math. | - | 12 | 12
SEC 10 | Technical Seminar Presentations | 3 | - | -
one of SEC 11-13 | Written Communication | - | 3 | -
| EE/MedE Electives 3 | 9 | 9 | 9
| EE Electives 2 | 9 | - | -
| Electives | 9 | 9 | -
| HSS Electives 1 | 9 | 9 | 9
| Total |48 |42 |39
Fourth Year
EE 80 abc | Senior Thesis | 9 | 9 | 9
| EE/MedE Electives 3 | 9 | 9 | -
| EE Electives 2 | - | 9 | 9
| Electives | 9 | - | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | 9 | 9 | 9
| Total |36 |36 |36

EE Photonics and Quantum Track Requirements

1. Ma 2, EE 2, SEC10, one of SEC 11-13, EE/CS 10ab, EE/APh 40, EE 44, 45, 55, 111, Ph 12ab, EE 151.
2. Three of ACM 95a, ACM 95b, ACM/IDS 104, or ACM/EE/IDS 116.
3. Specialization course requirement: 27 units within one of the following specializations:
   1. Optics and Photonics: EE/APh 120, EE/APh 123, APh/EE 130, EE 153, APh/EE 131, APh/EE 132, APh/EE 190ab
   2. Quantum Technologies: EE/APh 158, APh/EE 190ab, APh/Ph 138 ab, Ph/APh 137ab, Ph/CS 219abc
   3. Solid-State Physics / Materials / Nanotechnology: EE/APh 180, APh/EE 183, APh 114 abc, APh 119
4. EE 80abc or an advanced course sequence/project with approval of the Undergraduate Option Representative
5. In addition to the above courses, a total of 54 units selected from any EE course excluding EE 99 and including no more than 18 units of APh/EE 9, Ph 12c, Ph 3, Ph125abc, or, with approval of the Undergraduate Option Representative, any EE-applicable Ph or APh course numbered over 100; 45 of these units must be numbered over 100.
6. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including courses listed above. Courses used to satisfy requirements 1 through 5 must be taken for grades, unless they are only offered pass/fail.

EE Photonics and Quantum Track Typical Course Schedule

| | Units per term
---|---|---
| | | |
Second Year
EE 44 | Deterministic Analysis of Systems and Circuits | 12 | - | -
EE 55 | Mathematics of Electrical Engineering | 12 | - | -
EE/APh 40 | Physics of Electrical Engineering | - | 9 | -
EE 45 | Electronics Systems and Laboratory | - | - | 12
EE/CS 10ab | Introduction to Digital Logic and Embedded Systems | - | 6 | 6
Ma 2 | Differential Equations | 9 | - | -
Ph 12 ab | Waves, Quantum Physics, and Statistical Mechanics | 9 | 9 | -
| EE Electives 2 | - | - | 9
| Electives | - | - | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | - | 18 | 9
| Total |42 |42 |45
Third Year
ACM 95 ab | Intro. Methods of Applied Math. | - | 12 | 12
ACM/EE/IDS 116 | Introduction to Probability Models | 9 | - | -
EE 151 | Electromagnetic Engineering | - | - | 9
EE 111 | Signal-Processing Systems and Transforms | 9 | - | -
SEC 10 | Technical Seminar Presentations | 3 | - | -
one of SEC 11-13 | Written Communication | - | 3 | -
| EE Photonics and Quantum Specialization3 | 9 | 9 | 9
| EE Electives 2 | - | 9 | -
| Electives | 9 | - | -
| HSS Electives 1 | 9 | 9 | 9
| Total |48 |42 |39
Fourth Year
EE 80 abc | Senior Thesis | 9 | 9 | 9
| EE Electives 2 | 18 | 9 | 9
| Electives | - | 9 | 9
| HSS Electives 1 | 9 | 9 | 9
| Total |36 |36 |36
Note: The typical program is not specifically required for graduation in the option. Students are expected to work out individual programs suitable to their interests and professional goals in consultation with their advisors.