Major & Minor

The Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering degree at the University of Rochester is fully accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a sound preparation for a career in Engineering. Among the many criteria that a program must meet to be accredited are requirements for: basic sciences and mathematics; breadth of knowledge of electrical and computer engineering; depth of knowledge in some area of electrical and computer engineering; significant design experience; exposure to the ethical, social, and safety considerations that must accompany professional practice; and courses in humanities and social sciences. These criteria are satisfied through our course requirements, as outlined below and documented in our Curriculum Guide.

Undergraduate Program Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide our students with the knowledge and skills that will enable them to build productive careers in the field of Electrical and Computer Engineering. We will teach our students the principles and good practices of modern basic and applied electrical and computer engineering. We will train them to solve problems systematically, yet to think creatively, and we will develop in them an awareness of the role of engineering in modern society.

Program Objectives

The Educational Objective of the undergraduate program in Electrical and Computer Engineering is to develop engineering professionals who have:

The intellectual breadth and critical reasoning skills to enable them to successfully pursue diverse career paths, both within the engineering profession and in other areas, such as law, medicine, and business
The skills to work productively in collaborative environments
The ability to communicate effectively both within the technical community and with the public at large
Enthusiasm for creativity, research, and lifelong inquiry...and
Appreciation of the social impacts of engineering and the need to maintain the highest ethical standards in the practice of their chosen profession.

Requirements for a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Core Courses:* 52 credits
 Concentration: 8 credits
Math Courses: 20 credits
Sciences:** 12 credits
Cluster: 12 credits
Humanities/Social Sciences: 8 credits
Electives: 16 credits

* Primary writing requirement (WRT105) included. Within Electrical and Computer Engineering, the upper-level writing requirement is met through writing assignments in ECE111, 112, 113, and ECE399.

**Courses that satisfy the Natural Science requirement are the following: Physics (PHY123 or higher); Astronomy (AST111 or higher); Chemistry (CHM103 or higher); Biology (BIO110 or higher); Earth & Environmental Science (EES101 or higher); Brain & Cognitive Sciences (BCS110 or  higher).

Required Science and Mathematics Courses

Every engineer must have a good foundation in the basic sciences and mathematics, as these are the very language of engineering. This Department requires of all students:

PHY121, Mechanics  
PHY122, Electricity and Magnetism 
MTH161/142, Calculus 1
 MTH162/143, Calculus 2  
MTH165/163, Linear Algebra with Differential Equations  
MTH164, Multidimensional Calculus  
ECE270, Introduction to Probability 
One additional 4-credit Natural Science course (see above)

Optional Introductory ECE Courses

The department offers two optional introductory course in Electrical and Computer Engineering:

ECE101/EAS108, Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
ECE140/EAS103, Introduction to Audio and Music Engineering

If you want to take these optional courses, you should sign up for them during your first semester.

Required Core ECE Courses (52 credits)

To provide a breadth of knowledge of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Department requires all students to take these courses:

ECE111, Introduction to Signals & Circuits  (Circuit and System Theory)
  ECE112, Digital Circuits (Logic Design)
ECE113, Introduction to Signals & Circuits  (Circuit and System Theory)
ECE114, Introduction to Computers and Programming
ECE241, Signals and Systems  
ECE242, Communications  
ECE221, Electronic Devices & Circuits  
ECE222, Integrated Circuit Design & Analysis 
ECE230, Fields and Waves  
ECE200, Computer Organization 
ECE216, Microprocessors and Data Conversion

In addition, students must complete two 2-credit seminar courses:

ECE398, Senior Design Seminar. This course is an introduction to the process of design and serves as the starting point in the completion of the student's Senior Design Project.
ECE399, Junior Seminar, Introduces students to the ethical, social, and safety considerations in engineering practice.

Concentration ECE Courses (8 credits)

To provide a depth of knowledge in at least one area of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Department requires each student to take at least one advanced course and to complete a Capstone Design project in an area of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Options are described below.

VLSI Design 

ECE261 , ECE266, ECE269
Senior Design Project: ECE349

Signals/Systems/Communications 

Choose from the following advanced courses:  ECE244, ECE245, ECE246
 Senior design project: ECE349

Waves and Devices

Choose from the following advanced courses:  ECE223, ECE227, ECE235 , ECE266, ECE261, ECE269
Senior Design Project: ECE349

Computer Organization

ECE201 , ECE206, ECE207
Senior Design Project: ECE349

Humanities and Social Science Courses and Clusters

The Department requires all students to take at least five courses in the humanities and social sciences. These can be in either or both areas, but not all courses can be at the introductory level. The College has an additional requirement that three of these courses must constitute a "Cluster" of related work. Lists of previously-approved Clusters are available, or students can submit their own ideas for approval.