Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Electrical Engineering, BS


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Department of Engineering and Design, College of Science and Engineering

144-146 credits

Introduction

The Electrical Engineering program offers a B.S. degree in electrical engineering.

The program serves current students, industry, the University, and the citizens of the state of Washington by preparing students to find pragmatic engineering solutions to problems, while understanding the impact of their solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
 
The educational experience we provide emphasizes lab based experiential learning, teamwork, communication, and critical thinking, while the program curriculum provides current, practical engineering knowledge built on a sound mathematical and science background.

The Electrical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
 
The student begins the major in the second quarter of their freshman year with an orientation course and is generally enrolled in one or more major courses each quarter until graduation. The many laboratory courses provide a combination of practical experience with design and ultimately lead to a culminating project that spans the senior year.

The students may choose a concentration in either Electronics or Energy. Both concentrations include a common electrical engineering core.

Electronics courses involve the development, design and application of circuits, devices, and firmware for embedded systems. Content includes digital and analog electronics, embedded microcontrollers, communications, controls, and digital signal processing.
 
Energy courses include a combination of advanced electrical engineering courses and interdisciplinary courses in the sciences, economics, policy, and the environment. Topics deal with the sources, generation, control and utilization of electric power, energy conversion and storage, and smart power topics such as system analysis, protection and stability, solid state motor control, and industrial process control systems. Projects are normally interdisciplinary in collaboration with faculty in the Institute for Energy Studies.

Why Consider an Electrical Engineering Major?

Electrical and electronics engineers conduct research, and design, develop, test, and oversee the development of electronic systems and the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment and devices. This includes a broad range of applications and specializations that generally involve both hardware and software - areas such as power systems, communications, analog and digital signal processing, embedded systems, and control systems. Products developed by electrical engineers can have significant impacts on society. Recent examples include portable smart devices, medical instrumentation, electric and smart vehicles, sensor networks, and renewable and smart energy systems.

Contact Information
Engineering & Design Departmental Website: cse.wwu.edu/engd

Electrical Engineering Program Director
Todd Morton
Engineering Technology 206
360-650-2918
Todd.Morton@wwu.edu

Program Coordinator
& Pre-Major Advisor

Lisa Ochs
Engineering Technology 204
360-650-4132
Lisa.Ochs@wwu.edu

Sample Careers

Supervision and technical analysis and design | Design and development engineering | Application support | Embedded systems | Wireless and wired communications | Distribution planning | Transmission planning | Operations | Energy market analyst

Major/Career Resources

www.wwu.edu/careers/students_choosingamajor.shtml 
www.careercornerstone.org/eleceng/eleceng.htm
www.tryengineering.org/become-an-engineer/electrical-engineering

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Program Admissions: Admission to the Electrical Engineering major is a two-phase process. When students initially declare, they are designated as pre-majors. Students must complete the courses listed below in order to apply to the major. Admission to full major status is determined by academic performance and other factors including an application questionnaire about the applicant’s experience, motivation, and goals. Admission to the major is competitive. Neither completion of the prerequisites nor attainment of any specific GPA guarantees admission.

Major Prerequisite courses: MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 204, PHYS 161, PHYS 162, CSCI 140, EE 110, and EE 111. Students must obtain at least a C- in the above courses and an overall GPA in them of 2.0 or higher to be considered. AP scores are converted to GPA as follows: 5 = A; 4 = B; 3 = C.  Decisions are based on cumulative GPA in the prerequisite courses, other required Major courses, overall GPA and questionnaire responses.

Applications for admittance into Fall quarter are evaluated two times:

Spring Quarter: Applications are due by noon on the Friday before Dead Week to ET 204. Only complete, on-time applications will be considered. Applicants will be notified by the end of the week following finals week. Students who are accepted must register for Fall quarter EE courses before the end of Phase I registration. Students who do not register by the end of Phase I registration may lose their major status.

Fall Quarter: Applications are also accepted at the beginning of Fall quarter on a space available basis. In order to be considered, applications are due to ET 204 by noon on the Friday before the start of classes. Accepted students will be notified by the start of Phase III registration.

Transfer Students: A transfer student that will be transferring into Fall quarter, Year 2, will be designated as a pre-major and will need to follow the standard application process above except for EE110, which must be taken at the first opportunity on-campus. A transfer student that has previous coursework that can be transferred to EE core courses and will be entering the program sequence after Fall quarter, Year 2, may apply at any time. Acceptance will be based on space availability and academic performance. Transfer students who are interested in pursuing the EE program should meet with an advisor to discuss their options.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.

Requirements


All students must complete the supporting courses, the EE core courses, and one of the concentrations.

EE Electronics Concentration Courses (36 credits)


EE Energy Concentration Courses (34 credits)


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