Bachelor's Degree Program in Electrical Engineering

Curriculum

       The electrical engineering program, including the computer option, consists of several curricular components that give the student the opportunity to build a solid foundation of basic physical principles and obtain experience in design as well as insight into the profession and practice of electrical engineering. The lecture sequence consists mostly of required core courses through which the student learns about and acquires problem solving and/or design skills in circuit analysis, structured programming in C++, analog and digital electronics, microprocessors, signals and systems, and electromagnetic fields. Furthermore, through elective courses in the last two semesters, the student can specialize in areas such as applied electromagnetics, communications, controls, digital signal processing, digital and computer systems, electromechanical systems, embedded systems, wireless components and systems, VHDL, and VLSI design. For a student in the computer option, the electives must be in the digital area (see computer option in Programs of Study section.)

       The student must also take Thermodynamics I (ME 301) as well as a three-hour course with business content related to the engineering process. This requirement is normally fulfilled by Engineering Economy I (IME 301), but can be fulfilled by an appropriate business course with academic advisor approval.

       Though many design techniques are taught in the lecture courses, the student learns the practice of electrical engineering design primarily through the 15-hour laboratory and project sequence.

       The lab courses integrate material from the lecture courses and are taught by experienced faculty members. In addition, small numbers of students allow for close interaction with the instructor. Furthermore, the laboratory facilities and equipment are modern and readily accessible. Many of the lecture courses and all of the lab courses require the use of computers as well as the oral and/or written presentation of technical material.

       Several aspects of design are taught in the sophomore and junior labs (EE 206, EE 331, and EE 332). The student’s design experience in these courses includes synthesis to meet specifications, analysis, construction, testing, and evaluation with respect to specifications. Furthermore, the sophomore and junior design projects associated with these courses are particularly valuable and establish the foundation of the design project sequence. In addition to the implementation steps described above, the projects also require the formulation of design problem statements and criteria, the consideration of alternative solutions, and system descriptions.

       The design project sequence culminates in the fourth year with the senior microprocessor project and the senior capstone project. The senior microprocessor project is done in the first half of the fall semester. The student works with a partner to design a microprocessor based system, meeting particular specifications, requiring hardware design, software development, and laboratory work. The student then builds on this experience in EE 402 during the spring semester. In this course, the student works with a team to prepare a proposal delineating the design and development of a microprocessor based product. The student also explores other aspects of engineering in EE 402 and, through the process, gains a broader view of the engineering profession.

       Work on the senior capstone project begins at the start of the fall semester and the primary deliverables for the semester are to:

• choose a senior project and ECE faculty advisor,
• develop a detailed functional description of the project,
• develop a detailed system block diagram of the project and description of its operation,
• present a proposal covering a design and an implementation plan for the project, and
• establish a web page for the project.

In addition to the effort on the capstone project, the students in EE 419 work on teams to review and analyze the deliverables for other senior projects. Lab work associated with the capstone senior project starts in the last half of the fall semester in EE 451 and is completed in EE 452 the following semester.

       The senior capstone project is a major educational component of the program. It involves the student in design at or near the professional level and requires the formulation of design specifications, consideration of alternative solutions, feasibility considerations, time management, allocation of design responsibilities, and detailed system documentation. Project advising is done on a distributed basis with the student choosing his/her project advisor from among the members of the ECE faculty.

       In addition to the technical part of the program described above, the student must also meet the University General Education requirements (see “Academic Regulations” in this catalog.) As part of the General Education requirement, the student gains effective communication skills via introductory and advanced English composition and a speech course. The General Education requirements also provide the foundation for a liberal education, which helps the student understand and participate in society as a responsible human being. Courses include Western Civilization (CIV 100), Introduction to Economics (ECO 100), as well as selections from non-western civilization, social forces, human values, and fine arts. For these last four categories, the student chooses from a list of approved courses.

       A wide range of career opportunities is available to the electrical engineering graduate in many different technical areas and industries. For those who wish to continue their professional studies, details of the M.S.E.E. program are given in the Bradley University Graduate Catalog.

Programs of Study: Electrical Engineering

Credit in the following courses must be obtained to meet degree requirements in electrical engineering, leading to the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.

Elective Descriptions

¹ General education courses must be selected from an approved list for each category. They may be taken in any sequence, not necessarily in the semester indicated. Other University general education requirements are satisfied by specific courses required above.

² Technical electives include most 300-level (or above) technical courses in computer science, mathematics, physics, or civil, industrial, mechanical, or manufacturing engineering.  Courses that are not acceptable are CE 399, CE 499, CE 524, ME 303, ME 549, all CIS courses, all CON courses, and all IMT courses.  In addition, a business course at the 300-level or above, with content related to the engineering process, can also be used as a technical elective.  All technical electives must be approved by your advisor.

⁷ EE electives are available in the areas of applied electromagnetics, communications, controls, digital signal processing, digital and computer systems, embedded systems, wireless components and systems and VLSI design. Approved EE electives include all 400- and 500-level EE courses except for EE 450, 451, and EE 452. Special topic courses are often available. See your advisor for the most current list of approved electives. A list of approved courses is available from your academic advisor.

Four EE electives are required and one must be from the control stem (EE 430, 431, or 432).

⁸ EE digital electives include:
 EE 533 Digital Image Processing
 EE 534 Digital Signal Processing
 EE 535 Engineering Applications of Neural Networks
 EE 561 Digital Systems: Logic Design
 EE 562 Digital Systems: Computer Structures
 EE 563 Advanced Electronics VLSI System Design
 EE 565 Digital Systems: Microprocessor & PC Architecture
 EE 566 Digital Systems: Memory and Interfacing
 EE 567 Digital Systems: Advance VLSI
 EE 568 VHDL Design
Special Topics: Object Oriented Programming
Special Topics: Web Based Control
Special Topics: Communication Networks

Four EE digital electives are required and one must include coverage of computer architecture (EE 562, 565, or 566). A list of approved courses is available from your academic advisor. Other special topics courses may also be approved. See your advisor for the most current list.

See "2004-2005 Undergraduate Catalog"
See "2003-2004 Undergraduate Catalog"
See "2002-2003 Undergraduate Catalog"
See "2002-2003 Undergraduate Catalog"
See "2001-2002 Undergraduate Catalog"
See "2000-2001 Undergraduate Catalog"
See "1999-2000 Undergraduate Catalog"