Electrical Engineering Major

BS degree

The Electrical Engineering program prepares students to meet changing high-technology needs in electrical engineering, and for graduate study, by providing a strong background in science, mathematics and engineering.

Electrical Engineering encompasses a broad range of specialties including communications, signal processing, instrumentation, control and automation, power conversion and distribution, RF and microwave devices and systems, and digital and analog techniques. In any of these specialties, electrical engineers work with devices and/or systems to perform various functions such as research and development, systems analysis, management, production, testing, quality control, or sales. They may pursue careers in many areas, such as monitoring and control of the environment, space exploration, aerospace and defense, ocean engineering, energy resources, biomedical engineering, information technology, law, or medicine.

The program consists of a core of basic science and mathematical courses interwoven throughout the four years of study. The student also selects 15 credit hours of general education coursework called University Studies. Students begin to identify with their field in the first and second year of study. In the junior year, students gain a foundation for further study in particular branches of electrical engineering. A senior year composed primarily of elective courses and a capstone design project allows the students to concentrate their studies in one or more areas of their choice, and hone their skills for the real world. A co-op or internship experience is also available for qualified students in cooperation with regional industries.

Students have several learning opportunities outside the classroom. Student organizations such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and Society of Women Engineers (SWE) provide a variety of extracurricular engineering activities.  Qualified students can join the Zeta Xi Chapter of Eta Kappa Nu, the Electrical and Computer Engineering National Honor Society. 

PROGRAM EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES (PEOs)

The electrical engineering program at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth provides students with the broad technical education necessary for productive employment in the public or private sector or success in graduate degree programs, and develops in them an understanding of fundamentals and current issues important for lifelong learning.

The PEOs of the electrical engineering program at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth are broad statements that describe the career and professional accomplishments that the program is preparing graduates to achieve. Three to five years after graduation, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering expects its graduates in electrical engineering to have achieved the following:

I. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Employment in the electrical engineering field in various capacities, including product design and development, field engineering, quality control, research and development, manufacturing, consulting, testing, project management, and technical marketing.

II. PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

Continuous career improvement, evidenced by assumption of greater responsibility or leadership, promotion, participation in continuing education or graduate studies, or transition into other technical or professional careers.

III. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

Awareness of the social and ethical ramifications of their work.

STUDENT OUTCOMES

The undergraduate program in electrical engineering imposes the following expectations on its graduates.

(1) Graduates will have an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.

Specifics:

(a) Identify and formulate possible solutions to complex engineering problems.

(b) Solve, i.e., implement selected solution to complex engineering problems.

(2) Graduates will have 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.

(3) Graduates will have an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.

Specifics:

(a) Written communication

(b) Oral communication

(4) Graduates will have an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgements, which must consider the impact of engineering soultions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.

Specifics:

(a) Recognize ethical responsibilities.

(b) Make informed judgements.

(5) Graduates will have an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plans tasks, and meet objectives.

Specifics:

(a) Function effectively on a team whose members provide leadership.

(b) Function effectively on a team whose members create a collaborative/inclusive environment.

(c) Function effectively on a team whose members establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives.

(6) Graduates will have an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgement to draw conclusions.

Specifics:

(a) Develop and conduct appropriate experiments.

(b) Analyze and interpret data.

(c) Use engineering judgement to draw conclusions.

(7) Graduates will have an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Calculation of the GPA in the Electrical Engineering Major

Students must have a minimum 2.000 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for all courses taken at the university in order to graduate. Students must also have a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA in the major. For purposes of this computation:

1. All courses that are used to fulfill degree requirements and have an ECE prefix (except ECE 298, ECE 400, ECE 401, ECE 495, or ECE 595) count in calculating the GPA for the Electrical Engineering major.
2. Courses required for the major but taken outside the major discipline are not counted in the calculation of the major cumulative GPA.
3. If a course is repeated, only the most recent course grade (whether higher or lower) shall be used to calculate the major cumulative GPA.