This is an archived copy of the 2016-17 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://bulletin.ndsu.edu.

Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering Major

The Electrical Engineering program at NDSU is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

EE Specialization

The Electrical Engineering program is designed to reflect the broad nature of the field, and students may tailor their studies within broad parameters. Students are encouraged to develop an individual program of study in close consultation with their advisers. Examples are available to illustrate how specialization may be obtained in a number of different technical areas. Students may mix and match from the examples to suit their particular interests. Technical areas include the following:

  • Biomedical Engineering: This area is firmly based in engineering and the life sciences. The integration of medicine and engineering serves to provide appropriate products, tools, and techniques for research diagnosis and treatment by health care professionals. Some important products are artificial hearts, medical imaging (MRI, ultrasound, CT scans), prosthetic devices, and computer aids for diagnosis. Biomedical engineers help identify the problems and needs that can be solved using engineering technology and systems methodology to provide high-quality health care at reasonable cost.
  • Communication and Signal Processing: These are closely related fields within electrical engineering. Communication is the process of transferring information from one point in time and space to another point. Signal processing involves signal representation, as well as signal design and filtering. Students with this specialization find challenging opportunities worldwide to meet the need for more convenient, inexpensive, and reliable communication and signal processing.
  • Computer Engineering: This area involves hardware and software for small and large computers and for all the products that have dedicated computers within the product, such as microwave ovens and automobiles.
  • Control Engineering: This is the design and implementation of algorithms for controlling physical systems. Examples include active suspension for cars, auto pilots for aircraft, and robot motion control.
  • Electromagnetics: This area includes electromagnetic compatibility, fiber optics, antennas, microwave devices, radar, sonar, satellite systems, power and communication transmission lines, grounding, shielding, and propagation.
  • Electronics and Microelectronics: Examples are integrated circuits, VLSI, transistors, lasers, consumer electronics, defense electronics, power electronics, and electronic materials.
  • Optical Engineering: The Optical Engineering area was developed jointly with the Department of Physics. The Optical Engineering area prepares future engineers in such areas as quantum theory; coherent/incoherent, polarized/non-polarized light; geometric, physical and Fourier optics; holography; and image processing and acquisition.
  • Power Systems: This area includes the generation, transmission, distribution, and utilization of electric energy subject to safety, environmental, and economic concerns.

Major Requirements

Major: Electrical Engineering

Degree Type: B.S.E.E.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 126

General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree

  • A dynamic list of approved general education courses offered by term is available on the NDSU General Education Requirements website.
  • General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, if applicable.
First Year Experience (F)1
Skills For Academic Success (Also offered with the following prefixes: ABEN, AGRI, BUSN, HD&E, ME, NURS, PHRM)
Communication (C)12
College Composition I
College Composition II
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Upper Division Writing
Quantitative Reasoning (R) 3
Science and Technology (S) 10
Humanities and Fine Arts (A) 6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) 6
Wellness (W) 2
Cultural Diversity (D) *†
Global Perspectives (G) *†
Total Credits40

Major Requirements

Electrical Engineering Core Requirements
ECE 111Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering3
ECE 173Introduction to Computing *4
ECE 275Digital Design *4
ECE 311Circuit Analysis II4
ECE 320Electronics I3
ECE 321Electronics II2
ECE 331Energy Conversion4
ECE 341Random Processes3
ECE 343Signals & Systems4
ECE 351Applied Electromagnetics4
ECE 376Embedded Systems4
ECE 401Design I (capstone)1
ECE 403Design II (capstone)2
ECE 405Design III (capstone)3
MATH Courses Required
MATH 129Basic Linear Algebra *3
MATH 165Calculus I (May satisfy general education category R)4
MATH 166Calculus II *4
MATH 265Calculus III (w/ vectors) *4
MATH 266Introduction to Differential Equations *3
Other Courses Required
CHEM 121General Chemistry I (May satisfy general education category S)3
EE 206Circuit Analysis I *4
Select one of the following: (May satisfy general education category C)3
Business and Professional Writing
Writing in the Technical Professions
Writing in the Sciences
Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal
ENGR 402Engineering Ethics and Social Responsibility1
PHYS 251University Physics I (May satisfy general education category S)4
PHYS 252University Physics II (May satisfy general education category S)4
Select one of the following lab courses (May satisfy general education category S):1
General Chemistry I Laboratory
University Physics I Laboratory
University Physics II Laboratory
ECE ElectivesSelect 9 credits of ECE 400 level electives (excluding 494 and 496)9
Includes the cross listed courses of ECE 427/IME 427; ECE 429/IME 429; ECE 411/PHYS 411; & ECE 411L/PHYS 411L
Tech Electives: Select 12 credits from the following: 12
Biobased Energy
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory
Genetics
and Genetics Laboratory
Fluid Mechanics
and Fluid Mechanics Laboratory
Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
Physical Chemistry I
Physical Chemistry II
and Physical Chemistry Laboratory
Inorganic Chemistry I
and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
Computer Science II
Discrete Mathematics
Theoretical Computer Science
Database Systems
Comparative Programming Languages
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Microcomputer Graphics
Foundations of Computer Networks
Algorithm Analysis
Operating Systems Concepts
Object-Oriented Systems
Computer Organization
Individual Study (max. of 6 cr.)
ECE 4XX
Any ECE 400 level didactic course
Field Experience (max. of 3 cr.)
Entrepreneurship for Engineers and Scientists
Engineering Economy
Program and Project Management
Quality Assurance and Control
Introduction to Abstract Mathematics
Abstract Algebra I
Abstract Algebra II
Linear Algebra
Real Analysis I
Real Analysis II
Complex Analysis
Applied Differential Equations
Fourier Analysis
Partial Differential Equations
Numerical Analysis I
Numerical Analysis II
Engineering Mechanics I
Engineering Mechanics II
Mechanics of Materials
Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
Renewable Energy Technology
Animal Cell Culture Techniques
Modern Physics
Modern Physics II
Lasers for Scientists and Engineers
Elements of Photonics
Quantum Mechanics I
Stochastic Processes
Probability and Mathematical Statistics II
Animal Physiology
Total Credits104
*

No grade less than a C accepted in these courses and before enrolling in ECE 300 level courses, excluding ECE 311.

Degree Requirements and Notes

  • A student must complete at least 60 semester credits of professional level course work in his/her program while in residence and enrolled in the college.  Students transferring into the college from programs with professional accreditation are exempt from this residency requirement but are subject to the residency requirement of NDSU.
  • In order to graduate, an ECE student must have at least a 2.0 GPA in all required EE and ECE courses taken at NDSU.  Elective ECE courses are not included in this GPA requirement.
  • Transfer Students – Transfer courses with grades less than ‘C’ in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, and any type of engineering class will not be accepted as a major requirement.
  • All Students – Students are required to attain a grade of ‘C’ or better in ECE 173 Introduction to Computing, ECE 275 Digital Design, EE 206 Circuit Analysis I, and all required MATH courses.

Note: For students interested in pursuing one of the areas of specialization, lists of recommendations for specific electives are available from the ECE Department.