Program Overview

Major in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Concentration

The Electrical Engineering program at Colorado State University is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in the principles and practices of electrical engineering. The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET and is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to pursue a career in electrical engineering.

Program Description

Electrical engineering is a broad discipline that is essential to our everyday lives. The program at Colorado State University is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the principles of electrical engineering, including circuit analysis, electronics, and electromagnetics. Students will also have the opportunity to explore a range of specializations, including biomedical engineering, communications and signal processing, computer engineering, and controls and robotics.

Learning Objectives

The program is designed to meet the following learning objectives:

1. Identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems in electrical systems and devices by applying principles of electrical engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. Apply the engineering design process to produce electrical engineering solutions, balancing technical objectives with broader considerations including public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
3. Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in electrical engineering and make informed judgments, considering their impact in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. Function effectively on teams, collaborating on tasks related to electrical engineering, to establish goals, task plans, and to meet task objectives.
6. Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze results, and use principles of electrical engineering to draw conclusions.
7. Acquire and apply new knowledge in electrical engineering, leveraging appropriate learning strategies.

Program Requirements

The program requires a total of 126 credits, including:

• 30 credits in the first year, including:
  • CHEM 111: General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)
  • CHEM 112: General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)
  • CO 150: College Composition (GT-CO2)
  • ENGR 111: Fundamentals of Engineering
  • ENGR 114: Engineering for Grand Challenges
  • MATH 160: Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)
  • MATH 161: Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1)
  • PH 141: Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1)
• 32 credits in the second year, including:
  • ECE 205: Analog Circuits I
  • ECE 206: Analog Circuits II
  • ECE 232: Introduction to Project Practices
  • ECE 252: Introduction to Digital Circuits
  • ECE 253: Microcontrollers and C for Internet-of-Things
  • ECE 303/STAT 303: Introduction to Communications Principles
  • MATH 261: Calculus for Physical Scientists III
  • MATH 340: Intro to Ordinary Differential Equations
  • PH 142: Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (GT-SC1)
• 33 credits in the third year, including:
  • ECE 311: Linear System Analysis I
  • ECE 312: Linear System Analysis II
  • ECE 331: Electronics Principles I
  • ECE 332: Electronics Principles II
  • ECE 341: Electromagnetic Fields and Devices I
  • ECE 342: Electromagnetic Fields and Devices II
  • JTC 300 or CO 301B: Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)
  • Science/Math/Engineering Electives (See list below)
• 31 credits in the fourth year, including:
  • ECE 401: Senior Design Project I
  • ECE 402: Senior Design Project II
  • ECON 202: Principles of Microeconomics (GT-SS1)
  • Technical Electives (See list below)
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Historical Perspectives

Science/Math/Engineering Electives

The following courses are available as science/math/engineering electives:

• BC 351: Principles of Biochemistry
• BIOM 200: Fundamentals of Biomedical Engineering
• BIOM 350A: Study Abroad--Ecuador: Prosthetics
• BIOM 350C: Study Abroad--Ireland: Biomedical Engineering and Healthcare
• BMS 300: Principles of Human Physiology
• BMS 301: Human Gross Anatomy
• BMS 325: Cellular Neurobiology
• BMS 345: Functional Neuroanatomy
• BZ 310: Cell Biology
• CBE 160: MATLAB for Chemical and Biological Eng
• CHEM 245: Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
• CHEM 246: Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory
• CIVE 260: Engineering Mechanics-Statics
• CIVE 371: Study Abroad--Peru: Grand Challenges in Engineering in Peru
• CS 165: CS2--Data Structures
• CS 214: Software Development
• CS 220: Discrete Structures and the Applications
• CS 310H/IDEA 310H: Design Thinking Toolbox: Mixed Reality Design
• CT 301: C++ Fundamentals
• CT 307: High Performance Programming in Rust
• DSCI 320/MATH 320: Optimization Methods in Data Science
• ECE 395A: Independent Study 2
• ECE 395B: Independent Study: Open Option Project 2
• ECE 395C: Independent Study : Vertically Integrated Project 2
• ENGR 300: 3D Printing Lab for Engineers
• ENGR 422: Technology Entrepreneurship
• ENGR 478: Applied Engineering Data Analytics
• HES 307: Biomechanical Principles of Human Movement
• IDEA 310L: Design Thinking Toolbox : Creating Things That Think
• IDEA 310O: Design Thinking Toolbox: Digital Interaction and Game Design
• LIFE 103: Biology of Organisms-Animals and Plants (GT-SC1)
• MATH 151: Mathematical Algorithms in Matlab I
• MATH 229: Matrices and Linear Equations
• MATH 235: Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning
• MATH 301: Introduction to Combinatorial Theory
• MATH 317: Advanced Calculus of One Variable
• MATH 331: Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
• MATH 332: Partial Differential Equations
• MATH 360: Mathematics of Information Security
• MATH 366: Introduction to Abstract Algebra
• MATH 369: Linear Algebra I
• MATH 474: Introduction to Differential Geometry
• MECH 200A: Introduction to Manufacturing Processes: Lecture
• MECH 200B: Introduction to Manufacturing Processes : Laboratory
• MECH 201: Engineering Design I
• MECH 202: Engineering Design II
• MECH 237: Introduction to Thermal Sciences
• MECH 339: Thermodynamics I for Mechanical Engineers
• MIP 300: General Microbiology
• PH 314: Introduction to Modern Physics
• PH 341: Mechanics
• PH 353: Optics and Waves
• PSY 253: Human Factors and Engineering Psychology
• STAT 158: Introduction to R Programming
• SYSE 501: Foundations of Systems Engineering

Technical Electives

The following courses are available as technical electives:

• ATS 550: Atmospheric Radiation and Remote Sensing
• CS 314: Software Engineering
• CS 320: Algorithms--Theory and Practice
• CS 345: Machine Learning Foundations and Practice
• CS 356: Systems Security
• CS 370: Operating Systems
• CS 4XX: Any CS course numbered 400-479, excluding CS 457 and CS 470
• CS 5XX: Any CS course numbered 500-579
• DSCI 475: Topological Data Analysis
• ECE 4XX: Any ECE course at the 400-level
• ECE 495A: Independent Study 2
• ECE 495B: Independent Study: Open Option Project 2
• ECE 495C: Independent Study: Vertically Integrated Projects 2
• ECE 5XX: Any ECE course at the 500-level
• ENGR 430: Engineering With Drones
• ENGR 570: Coupled Electromechanical Systems
• MATH 417: Advanced Calculus I
• MATH 418: Advanced Calculus II
• MATH 419: Introduction to Complex Variables
• MATH 450: Introduction to Numerical Analysis I
• MATH 451: Introduction to Numerical Analysis II
• MATH 460: Information and Coding Theory
• MATH 463: Post-Quantum Cryptography
• MATH 466: Abstract Algebra I
• MATH 469: Linear Algebra II
• MATH 474: Introduction to Differential Geometry
• MECH 403: Energy Engineering
• MECH 518: Orbital Mechanics
• MECH 519: Aerospace Vehicles Trajectory and Performance
• MECH 564: Fundamentals of Robot Mechanics and Controls
• PH 315: Modern Physics Laboratory
• PH 425: Advanced Physics Laboratory
• PH 451: Introductory Quantum Mechanics I
• PH 452: Introductory Quantum Mechanics II
• PH 462: Statistical Physics
• STAT 421: Introduction to Stochastic Processes

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program

The program requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 in electrical engineering courses as a graduation requirement. ECE courses required for the major at the 100, 200, and 300 level must be passed with a minimum grade of C (2.000); grades below a C will require the student to retake the course. ECE courses designated as an elective are exempt from the C or higher minimum grade requirement.

Major Completion Map

The following is a sample major completion map for the Electrical Engineering program:

• Semester 1:
  • CHEM 111: General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)
  • CHEM 112: General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)
  • ENGR 111: Fundamentals of Engineering
  • MATH 160: Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)
  • Course(s) from Group A, B, or C (See options in Program Requirements Tab)
• Semester 2:
  • CO 150: College Composition (GT-CO2)
  • ENGR 114: Engineering for Grand Challenges
  • MATH 161: Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1)
  • PH 141: Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1)
• Semester 3:
  • ECE 205: Analog Circuits I
  • ECE 252: Introduction to Digital Circuits
  • MATH 261: Calculus for Physical Scientists III
  • PH 142: Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (GT-SC1)
  • Course(s) from Group A, B, or C (See options in Program Requirements Tab)
• Semester 4:
  • ECE 206: Analog Circuits II
  • ECE 232: Introduction to Project Practices
  • ECE 253: Microcontrollers and C for Internet-of-Things
  • ECE 303/STAT 303: Introduction to Communications Principles
  • MATH 340: Intro to Ordinary Differential Equations
• Semester 5:
  • ECE 311: Linear System Analysis I
  • ECE 331: Electronics Principles I
  • ECE 341: Electromagnetic Fields and Devices I
  • JTC 300 or CO 301B: Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)
  • Science/Math/Engineering Electives (See list below)
• Semester 6:
  • ECE 312: Linear System Analysis II
  • ECE 332: Electronics Principles II
  • ECE 342: Electromagnetic Fields and Devices II
  • Science/Math/Engineering Electives (See list below)
  • 1C
• Semester 7:
  • ECE 401: Senior Design Project I
  • Technical Electives (See list below)
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Historical Perspectives
• Semester 8:
  • ECE 402: Senior Design Project II
  • ECON 202: Principles of Microeconomics (GT-SS1)
  • Technical Electives (See list below)
  • The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.