* Course Notes and Changes for 2008-09 academic year *

The department offers two undergraduate degrees, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE). The BA degree provides a basic foundation in electrical and computer engineering that the student can build upon to construct a custom program. Because of its flexibility and large number of free electives, the BA can be combined easily with courses from other departments to create an interdisciplinary program. This may be particularly appropriate for students planning further study in law, business, or medicine.

The BSEE degree is the usual degree taken by those students planning a career of engineering practice. It is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), and can reduce the time required to become a licensed professional engineer. The program for the BSEE requires more hours and greater depth than the BA degree but still provides considerable flexibility.

Both degrees are organized around a core of required courses and a selection of elective courses from three Specialization Areas: Computer Engineering, Systems, and Photonics and Nanoengineering. Each student's program must contain a depth sequence in one area and courses from at least two areas to provide breadth. The specialization electives provide a flexibility that can be used to create a focus that crosses traditional areas. Because of the number of options, students should consult early with department advisors to plan a program that meets their needs.

New students can obtain an introduction to the ECE Department and the engineering process by taking ELEC 201; there are no prerequisites. Students considering a major in Electrical and Computer Engineering should take physics (PHYS 101, 102) and calculus (MATH 101, 102) their freshman year, and perhaps CHEM 121, depending on their area of interest. The first core course in the department, ELEC 241, is usually taken the sophomore year, along with more math and science. Students entering with advanced placement have more scheduling options and should consult with one of the department's undergraduate advisors.