Program Overview

Electrical Engineering - Bachelor of Science (BSEE)

The Electrical Engineering - Bachelor of Science (BSEE) program provides graduates with the opportunity to enter the profession of engineering and engage in work as a design, production, testing, consulting, research, teaching, or management professional in a wide variety of careers.

Requirements

• Required courses in engineering, physical science, and mathematics are interwoven throughout the curriculum to provide a balanced education in the fundamentals of the electrical engineering profession.
• The core courses are complemented by technical electives, humanities and social sciences electives, free electives, and a writing course for a total of 128 credits required for the degree.
• A Bachelor's of Science in Electrical Engineering cannot be earned in combination with a BS in Electrical & Computer Engineering or Integrated Design Engineering-Electrical Emphasis.
• A BS in Electrical Engineering also cannot be completed alongside any of the following minors: electrical engineering, computer engineering, and signals & systems engineering.

Prerequisites and Passing Grades

• All courses must be taken for a letter grade.
• The minimum passing grade for a course that is a prerequisite or corequisite for another required course is C-.
• If a grade of D+ or lower is received in a course which is a prerequisite to another, the student may not register for the subsequent course until the first grade has been raised to a C- or higher.
• If a grade of D+ or lower is received in a course which is a corequisite to another, the course must be repeated until a grade of C- or higher is achieved.
• ECEN 4610 Capstone Laboratory Part 1 and ECEN 4620 Capstone Lab, Part 2 both require a grade of C- or higher for graduation.

Required Courses

Sample Four-Year Plan of Study

The following information represents a sample 8-semester sequence of study only. Up-to-date curricular information and policies can be found on the ECEE Advising website.

Learning Outcomes

During the first several years after completion of their baccalaureate studies:

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

The electrical engineering curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to meet these objectives as follows:

• Graduates will be situated in growing careers involving the design, development, or support of electrical or electronic systems, devices, instruments, or products, or will be successfully pursuing an advanced degree.
  • Graduates attaining the electrical engineering degree will have comprehensive knowledge and experience in the concepts and design of electrical and electronic devices, circuits, and systems.
  • Electrical engineering graduates will have attained other professional skills that will be useful throughout their careers, including verbal and written communication and the ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams.
  • The electrical engineering curriculum is rich in laboratory work. Graduates will have achieved extensive practical experience in the laboratory techniques, tools, and skills that provide a bridge between theory and practice.
• Graduates will have advanced in professional standing based on their technical accomplishments and will have accumulated additional technical expertise to remain globally competitive.
  • Electrical engineering graduates experience a curriculum that contains a broad core of classes focused on mathematical and physical principles that are fundamental to the field of electrical engineering.
  • Hence, they understand the physical and mathematical principles underlying electrical and electronic technology, and are able to analyze and solve electrical engineering problems using this knowledge.
• Graduates will have demonstrated professional and personal leadership and growth.
  • To lay the foundation for a long career in a rapidly changing field, a broad background of fundamental knowledge is required.
  • This is achieved in the electrical engineering curriculum through a sequence of required classes in mathematics, physics, and the electrical engineering core.
  • In addition, the graduate must be capable of lifelong learning; this is taught through assignments and projects that require independent research and study.

Student Outcomes

By the completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
• 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.
• Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• 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.
• Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
• Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
• Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

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

The bachelor's–accelerated master's (BAM) degree program options offer currently enrolled CU Boulder undergraduate students the opportunity to receive a bachelor's and master's degree in a shorter period of time. Students receive the bachelor's degree first but begin taking graduate coursework as undergraduates (typically in their senior year).

Because some courses are allowed to double count for both the bachelor's and the master's degrees, students receive a master's degree in less time and at a lower cost than if they were to enroll in a stand-alone master's degree program after completion of their baccalaureate degree. In addition, staying at CU Boulder to pursue a bachelor's–accelerated master's program enables students to continue working with their established faculty mentors.

Admissions Requirements

BS and MS in Electrical Engineering

In order to gain admission to the BAM program named above, a student 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.

BS in Electrical Engineering, Professional ME in Engineering Management

In order to gain admission to the BAM program named above, a student must meet the following criteria:

• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or higher.
• Have at least junior class standing.

Program Requirements

For all programs above, students 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 six 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.

Students can refer to the Electrical & Computer Engineering/Electrical Engineering BAM and Engineering Management BAM webpages for more information.