Program Overview

Electrical and Computer Engineering - Bachelor of Science (BSEC)

The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) program at the University of Colorado Boulder offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. This program provides students with a comprehensive education in the principles and practices of electrical and computer engineering, preparing them for careers in a wide range of fields, including computer hardware and software, electronics, telecommunications, and more.

Program Overview

The ECE program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the mathematical and scientific principles that underlie electrical and computer engineering. The program includes coursework in areas such as circuits, electronics, computer systems, software engineering, and electromagnetics, as well as a range of technical electives that allow students to specialize in areas of interest.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the ECE program at CU Boulder have a wide range of career opportunities available to them. Some examples of career paths include:

• Development of new electrical or electronic devices, instruments, or products
• Design of equipment or systems
• Production and quality control of electrical products for private industry or government
• Sales or management for a private firm or government
• Teaching and research in a university

Colorado Mesa University/University of Colorado Boulder Partnership Program

The University of Colorado Boulder has partnered with Colorado Mesa University (CMU) to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. This program allows students to complete the first two years of coursework at CMU and the second two years at CU Boulder, with the degree being awarded by CU Boulder.

Requirements

The ECE program at CU Boulder requires a minimum of 128 credit hours to complete. The program includes a range of required courses in areas such as mathematics, science, and engineering, as well as technical electives and a capstone design project.

Required Courses and Credits

The following courses are required for the ECE program:

• Humanities, Social Sciences, and Writing: 15 credits
• Math and Science: 32 credits
• Electrical and Computer Engineering: 44 credits
• Technical Electives: 12 credits
• Free Electives: 6 credits
• Total Credit Hours: 128

Recommended Four-Year Plan of Study

The following is a sample four-year plan of study for the ECE program:

• Year One: Fall Semester - APPM 1350, ECEN 1100, ECEN 1400, PHYS 1110, COEN 1500, Humanities & Social Sciences Elective
• Year One: Spring Semester - APPM 1360, PHYS 1120, PHYS 1140, ECEN 1310, Humanities & Social Sciences Elective
• Year Two: Fall Semester - APPM 2360, ECEN 2250, ECEN 2350, CSCI 2270, Humanities & Social Sciences Elective
• Year Two: Spring Semester - APPM 2350, ECEN 2260, ECEN 2270, ECEN 2360, ECEN 24XX
• Year Three: Fall Semester - ECEN 2370, ECEN 2703, ECEN 3810, ECEN 3XXX, General Science Elective
• Year Three: Spring Semester - ECEN 3593, ECEN 3753, Software Elective, Technical Elective, College-Approved Writing Course, Free Elective
• Year Four: Fall Semester - ECEN 4610, Advanced Concentration Elective, Technical Elective, Free Elective, Humanities & Social Sciences Elective
• Year Four: Spring Semester - ECEN 4620, Advanced Concentration Elective, Technical Elective, Technical Elective, Humanities & Social Sciences Elective

Program Educational Objectives

The ECE program at CU Boulder has the following educational objectives:

• ECE-1: Graduates will be situated in growing careers involving the design, development, or support of electrical, electronic, and computer hardware and software systems, software engineering, devices, instruments, or products, or will be successfully pursuing an advanced degree.
• ECE-2: Graduates will have advanced in professional standing based on their technical accomplishments and will have accumulated additional technical expertise to remain globally competitive.
• ECE-3: Graduates will have demonstrated professional and personal leadership and growth.

Student Outcomes

The ECE program at CU Boulder is designed to prepare students to meet the following outcomes:

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
• An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
• An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
• An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
• An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's Degree Program(s)

The ECE program at CU Boulder offers a Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's (BAM) degree program, which allows students to receive a bachelor's and master's degree in a shorter period of time. The BAM program is available in Electrical Engineering and Professional ME in Engineering Management.

Admissions Requirements

To be admitted to the BAM program, students must meet the following criteria:

• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or higher.
• Complete all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of solid B for 5000-level coursework taken as an undergraduate student; minimum of solid C for undergraduate coursework.
• Have completed 9-10 core ECEN courses (see BAM degree website for more information).
• Have at least junior class standing.

Program Requirements

Students in the BAM program may take up to and including 12 hours while in the undergraduate program, which can later be used toward the master's degree. However, only 6 credits of coursework may be double-counted toward the bachelor's degree and the master's degree. Students must apply to graduate with the bachelor's degree and apply to continue with the master's degree early in the semester in which the undergraduate requirements will be completed.