Electrical and Computer Engineering - Bachelor of Science (BSEC)

A degree in electrical and computer engineering provides graduates the opportunity to enter the profession of engineering and to engage in work as a design, production, testing, consulting, research, teaching, or management professional in a wide variety of careers in the computer industry, embedded systems, telecommunications, instruments, the power and renewable energy industry, the biomedical industry, aerospace and academia. Some graduates also go on to develop careers in other professions like law and medicine.

Examples of career opportunities 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; and teaching and research in a university.

Colorado Mesa University/University of Colorado Boulder Partnership Program (Electrical & Computer Engineering)

Colorado Mesa University (CMU) and CU Boulder have created a partnership to deliver specific engineering baccalaureate programs in their entirety in Grand Junction, Colorado. The first two years of coursework are taught by CMU faculty and the second two years of coursework are taught by CU Boulder faculty located in Grand Junction. Students completing the programs will be awarded a Bachelor of Science from CU Boulder.

Degrees are offered in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and electrical & computer engineering, with additional details on the partnership program website.

Coursework requirements and plans of study specific to this partnership can be found on the Colorado Mesa University electrical and computer engineering partnership website. Learn more about this program on the CU Boulder partnership website.

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. Electrical and computer engineering is also offered in partnership with Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado. Specific coursework requirements and plans of study can be found on the partnership website.

A Bachelor's of Science (BS) in Electrical & Computer Engineering cannot be earned in combination with a BS in Electrical Engineering or Integrated Design Engineering-Electrical Emphasis. A BS in Electrical & Computer 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 better for graduation.

The minimum passing grade for a course that is not specifically a prerequisite or corequisite for another required course is D-.

The Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering Department reserves the right to drop students enrolled in ECEN courses who have not met the minimum prerequisite requirements. It is the student's responsibility to communicate with the department if summer coursework and/or transfer credit will be used to meet the prerequisite requirement.

Required Courses and Credits

Recommended Four-Year Plan of Study

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

Program Educational Objectives

The following set of program objectives for the Electrical and Computer Engineering program was developed by our faculty and our other stakeholders.

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

• 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.

The EE curriculum is designed to prepare our graduates to meet these objectives as follows:

• 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.

Graduates attaining the ECE degree will have comprehensive knowledge and experience in the concepts and design of electrical, electronic, and computer devices, circuits, and systems. Besides emphasizing computer hardware and software, the ECE curriculum also emphasizes design, integration, and application of computer systems, as well as experience in software development. This is achieved through a sequence of required courses in these areas, culminating in a major design project incorporating realistic engineering constraints. The curriculum also provides opportunities for specialization in areas such as compiler design, embedded systems, software engineering, and VLSI design, as well as in the electrical engineering specialities.

ECE 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 ECE curriculum is rich in laboratory work. ECE graduates will have achieved extensive practical experience in the laboratory techniques, tools, and skills that provide a bridge between theory and practice.

• 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 graduates experience a curriculum that contains a broad core of classes focused on mathematical and physical principles that are fundamental to the fields of electrical and computer engineering. Hence, they understand the physical and mathematical principles underlying electrical and electronic technology and computer systems and are able to analyze and solve electrical and computer engineering problems using this knowledge. In addition to basic classes in mathematics, science, and computing, the ECE curriculum includes a sequence of courses in analog and digital electronic circuits and systems, and electromagnetic fields, probability, computer software, and computer design and architecture.

• ECE-3: 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 ECE curriculum through a sequence of required classes in mathematics, physics, and the ECE core. In addition, the graduate must be capable of lifelong learning; this is taught through assignments and projects that require independent research and study.

  The curriculum includes a significant component of electives in the humanities and social sciences. ECE graduates will have knowledge of the broader contemporary issues that impact engineering solutions in a global and societal context. They will have the verbal and written communications skills necessary for a successful career in industry or academia. Graduates also understand the meaning and importance of professional and ethical responsibility.

Student Outcomes

The ECE curriculum is designed to prepare our graduates to meet these as follows:

• 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 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 in Electrical and Computer Engineering, 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 and Computer 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 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.

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