Electrical Engineering and Physics
This dual program will appeal to students with broad interests in both fundamental physical sciences and applied engineering methods. Graduates, equipped with analytical problem-solving skills and technical knowledge, will be well prepared to pursue careers in a wide range of fields within industry, government, and higher education.
Major Requirements
Double Major: Electrical Engineering & Physics
Degree Type: B.S.E.E.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 136
General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree
- A list of approved general education courses is available here .
- 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, should they apply.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Credits | 39 | |
| * | May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category. |
| † | May be satisfied with courses required in the major. Review major requirements to determine if a specific upper division writing course is required. |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Engineering Core Requirements | ||
| ECE 111 | Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering | 3 |
| ECE 173 | Introduction to Computing * | 4 |
| ECE 275 | Digital Design * | 4 |
| ECE 311 | Circuit Analysis II | 4 |
| ECE 320 | Electronics for Computer Engineers | 3 |
| ECE 321 | Electronics for Electrical Engineers | 2 |
| ECE 331 | Energy Conversion | 4 |
| ECE 341 | Random Processes | 3 |
| ECE 343 | Signals & Systems | 4 |
| ECE 351 | Applied Electromagnetics | 4 |
| ECE 376 | Embedded Systems | 4 |
| ECE 401 | Design I | 1 |
| ECE 403 | Design II | 2 |
| ECE 405 | Design III | 3 |
| ECE Electives | ||
| Select 6 credits of ECE 400 level electives (excluding 494 & 496). | 6 | |
| Physics Core Requirements | ||
| PHYS 171 | Introductory Projects in Physics * | 1 |
| PHYS 251 | University Physics I * | 4 |
| PHYS 251L | University Physics I Laboratory * | 1 |
| PHYS 251R | University Physics I Recitation * | 1 |
| PHYS 252 | University Physics II * | 4 |
| PHYS 252L | University Physics II Laboratory * | 1 |
| PHYS 252R | University Physics II Recitation * | 1 |
| PHYS 350 | Modern Physics * | 3 |
| PHYS 355 | Classical Mechanics * | 3 |
| PHYS 360 | Modern Physics II * | 3 |
| PHYS 370 | Introduction to Computational Physics * | 3 |
| PHYS 462 | Thermal and Statistical Physics * | 3 |
| PHYS 485 | Quantum Mechanics I * | 3 |
| Select one from the following: * | 3-4 | |
| Optics for Scientists & Engineers and Optics for Scientists and Engineers Lab (or ECE 411 & ECE 411L)) | ||
| Lasers for Scientists and Engineers | ||
| Elements of Photonics | ||
| Physics Electives: Select one from the following * | 3 | |
| Research For Undergraduates (2 credit minimum) | ||
| Condensed Matter Physics | ||
| Quantum Mechanics II | ||
| Senior Project II | ||
MSUM Astronomy Courses (AST 300-400 level - with dept. permission) | ||
| Mathematics Courses Required | ||
| MATH 129 | Basic Linear Algebra * | 3 |
| MATH 165 | Calculus I * | 4 |
| MATH 166 | Calculus II * | 4 |
| MATH 265 | Calculus III * | 4 |
| MATH 266 | Introduction to Differential Equations * | 3 |
| Other Required Courses | ||
| EE 206 | Circuit Analysis I * | 4 |
| ENGR 402 | Engineering Ethics and Social Responsibility | 1 |
| Select one upper division writing course from the following: | 3 | |
| Business and Professional Writing | ||
| Writing in the Technical Professions | ||
| Writing in the Sciences | ||
| Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal | ||
| Total Credits | 114-115 | |
| * | 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 of Engineering. Students transferring into the College of Engineering 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 EE/PHYS student must have at least a 2.00 GPA in all required EE, ECE, and PHYS courses taken at NDSU. Elective ECE and PHYS courses are not included in this GPA requirement.
- Transfer Students: Transfer courses with grades less than a 'C' in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, and any type of engineering class will not be accepted as a major in this program.
- All Students: See footnote regarding a grade of 'C' required in identified courses.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYS 171 | 1 | ECE 111 | 3 |
| Gen Ed Wellness | 2 | ENGL 120 (Will satisfy gen ed category C) | 3 |
| COMM 110 (Will satisfy gen ed category C) | 3 | MATH 129 | 3 |
| ECE 173 | 4 | MATH 166 | 4 |
| ENGL 110 (Will satisfy gen ed category C) | 4 | PHYS 251 (Will satisfy gen ed category S) | 4 |
| MATH 165 (Will satisfy gen ed category R) | 4 | PHYS 251L (Will satisfy gen ed category S) | 1 |
| PHYS 251R | 1 | ||
| 18 | 19 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| EE 206 | 4 | PHYS 370 | 3 |
| MATH 265 | 4 | ECE 311 | 4 |
| ECE 275 | 4 | MATH 266 | 3 |
| PHYS 252 (Will satisfy gen ed category S) | 4 | Gen Ed Humanities/Fine Arts | 3 |
| PHYS 252L (Will satisfy gen ed category S) | 1 | PHYS 350 | 3 |
| PHYS 252R | 1 | ||
| 18 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ECE 320 | 3 | ECE 331 | 4 |
| ECE 321 | 2 | ECE 343 | 4 |
| PHYS 355 | 3 | ECE 351 | 4 |
| PHYS 360 | 3 | ECE 376 | 4 |
| PHYS 462 | 3 | ECE 401 | 1 |
| ENGL 320, 321, 324, or 459 (Will satisfy gen ed category C) | 3 | ||
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ECE 403 | 2 | ECE 405 | 3 |
| ENGR 402 | 1 | ECE Elective | 3 |
| PHYS 485 | 3 | ECE Elective | 3 |
| ECE 341 | 3 | Gen Ed Humanities/Fine Arts | 3 |
| PHYS Elective | 2 | Gen Ed Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| ECE/PHYS Elective | 3 | ||
| Gen Ed Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 137 | |||
