Electrical Engineering, B.S.E.E.
Electrical engineers improve lives by designing, testing, and supporting a wide range of products and systems, such as medical imaging, renewable energy, robots, wireless communications, computers, and all sorts of other electronic devices. The program begins with a foundation of mathematics, science, and engineering fundamentals during the first and second years. Courses during the junior and senior years provide additional theoretical foundation and hands-on laboratory experience. Students work in teams to design, build, and test a device or system in the senior year capstone courses. EE electives and professional electives are available in various specialties for students to pursue their particular field of interest. Development of written and oral communication skills and teamwork are important components of the educational experience.
The electrical engineering program leads to a bachelor of science in electrical engineering (B.S.E.E.) degree accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Program Educational Objectives:
The electrical engineering program prepares graduates who will:
- Be successful as practicing professionals in diverse career paths or in graduate school.
- Distinguish themselves in breadth of perspective and the ability to solve complex problems.
- Be effective communicators and team members, with many assuming leadership roles.
- Be active in their profession and participate in continuing education opportunities to foster personal and organizational growth.
- Be able to advance, engage, and respond to issues of justice, ethics, diversity, equity, and inclusion in professional and civic settings.
Student Outcomes:
The Shiley School of Engineering prepares engineering majors with the following outcomes so that as graduates, they can attain the Program Educational Objectives listed above.
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- 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.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Curriculum:
The Electrical Engineering curriculum is 132 credit hours distributed into three categories:
- University Core Curriculum Requirements – 40 credit hours
- General Engineering Requirements – 42 credit hours (includes 6 credit hours shared with the Core Curriculum Requirements)
- Electrical Engineering Requirements – 56 credit hours
University Core Curriculum Requirements — 40 credit hours
All University of Portland students progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.
See Core Curriculum Requirements
Two of the three core requirements in the Scientific and Quantitative Literacy and Problem Solving Habit are satisfied by the mathematics and science requirements within the major.
EE 373 and EE 371 are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for Electrical Engineering.
General Engineering Requirements — 42 credit hours
EGR 110: For transfer students into the Shiley School who have declared a major and have not had an Introduction to Engineering course, the dean may approve the substitution of an engineering or computer science elective depending on the student’s educational background.
Professional Electives: The professional electives may be a combination of courses (each 3-credit hours or more unless approved by the program chair) offered by the University at the 200-level or higher (or equivalent transfer credit). Professional electives include the following: courses offered by the Shiley School, courses that comprise a University minor, and courses included in an approved cluster. Professional elective credit may not be awarded for AP and IB examinations, or ROTC credit. Must be taken for a grade A - F.
Electrical Engineering Requirements – 56 credit hours
Required Courses — 35 credit hours
| CS 203 | Introduction to Computer Science | 3 |
| CS 273 | Computer Science Laboratory | 1 |
| CS 305 | Data Structures | 3 |
| EE 231 | Logic Design | 3 |
| EE 261 | Electrical Circuits | 3 |
| EE 262 | Signals and Systems | 3 |
| EE 271 | Electrical Circuits Laboratory | 1 |
| EE 300 | Electrical Engineering Seminar | 1 |
| EE 301 | Electromagnetic Fields | 3 |
| EE 332 | Digital Systems Design | 3 |
| EE 334 | Embedded Systems Design | 3 |
| EE 351 | Electronic Circuits I | 3 |
| EE 352 | Electronic Circuits II | 3 |
| EE 371 | Electronic Circuits Laboratory | 1 |
| EE 373 | Digital Systems Design Laboratory | 1 |
Capstone Project I - 3 credit hours
Select one course from the following:
| EE 483 | Electrical Engineering Capstone Project I | 3 |
| EGR 483 | Multi-disciplinary Capstone Project I | 3 |
Capstone Project II - 3 credit hours
Select one course from the following:
| EE 484 | Electrical Engineering Capstone Project II | 3 |
| EGR 484 | Multi-disciplinary Capstone Project II | 3 |
Dual degrees within engineering: Students completing dual degrees within the Shiley School have two options for completing the Capstone requirements: 1) The student takes EGR 483 and EGR 484 and the student’s contributions to the capstone project include both disciplines, or 2) The student takes both discipline-specific 483 and 484 courses.
Electrical Engineering Electives - 12 credit hours
Does not include EE 48x courses. Must be taken for a grade A - F.
Engineering, Math, or Science Elective - 3 credit hours
Select one 3 credit hour engineering, computer science, math, or science course at the 300-level or higher. Must be taken for a grade A - F.
Credit minima: 30 credit hours of math and science and 45 credit hours of engineering.
Total Credit Hours: 132