Undergraduate programs

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers programs in electrical and computer engineering. Cooperative educational arrangements with Portland-area industries, government agencies, and engineering consulting offices are available to qualified students. Qualified freshmen are encouraged to participate in the University Honors Program. Qualified upper-division students should consider the Electrical and Computer Engineering departmental honors track as described below.

The electrical engineering and computer engineering programs at Portland State University are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - Telephone: (410) 347-7700.

Degree Maps and Learning Outcomes

Program Educational Objectives

Admission requirements

Degree requirements

Electrical Engineering B.S.

Electrical Engineering Minor

Computer Engineering B.S.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering Honors track

Fast Track BS+MS Program

Admission requirements

Admission to the Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering programs.

Students may declare Electrical Engineering (EE) or Computer Engineering (CMPE) as their major at any time after enrolling at Portland State University. However, students must be admitted formally to their chosen program by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering before they will (1) be allowed to enroll in restricted upper-division courses offered by the program, and (2) be graduated from the program. Application forms may be obtained from the Office of Student Services, Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, Suite 100, Engineering Building or from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Suite 160, Fourth Avenue Building. PSU students who anticipate completing all eligibility requirements before the term for which admission to a degree program is sought may apply.

Students transferring from other institutions who want to be admitted formally to the EE and CMPE programs must:

  • Meet all eligibility requirements.
  • Apply for admission to PSU.
  • Apply for program admission to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
  • Have one copy of their transcripts sent to their engineering or computer science department.
  • Have one copy of their transcripts sent to the the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
  • Application deadlines for admission to the Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering programs are:
  • for fall term — April 15
  • for winter term — August 15

Eligibility

To be eligible for admission, each student should meet the following minimum requirements:

1. Complete, with a minimum grade of C and a minimum GPA of 2.25, a designated set of courses for each program as follows:

Electrical Engineering:

The engineering core consisting of:

Ch 221General Chemistry I

4

Ch 227General Chemistry Laboratory

1

ECE 101Exploring Electrical Engineering

4

ECE 102Engineering Computation

4

ECE 103Engineering Programming

4

ECE 171Digital Circuits

4

ECE 221Electric Circuit Analysis I

4

ECE 222Electric Circuit Analysis II

4

ECE 223Electric Circuit Analysis III

4

ECE 271Digital Systems

4

Mth 251Calculus I

4

Mth 252Calculus II

4

Mth 254Calculus IV

4

Mth 256Applied Differential Equations I

4

Mth 261Introduction to Linear Algebra

4

Ph 221General Physics (with Calculus)

3

Ph 222General Physics (with Calculus)

3

Ph 223General Physics (with Calculus)

3

Ph 214Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221

1

Ph 215Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222

1

Ph 216Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223

1

Freshman Inquiry

Ph 211, Ph 212, and Ph 213 also accepted for Ph 221, Ph 222, and Ph 223

Freshman Inquiry: Comm 220, and Wr 121 for transfer students

Computer Engineering:

Ch 221General Chemistry I

4

Ch 227General Chemistry Laboratory

1

CS 162Introduction to Computer Science

4

ECE 102Engineering Computation

4

ECE 171Digital Circuits

4

ECE 221Electric Circuit Analysis I

4

ECE 222Electric Circuit Analysis II

4

ECE 271Digital Systems

4

Mth 251Calculus I

4

Mth 252Calculus II

4

Mth 256Applied Differential Equations I

4

Mth 261Introduction to Linear Algebra

4

Ph 221General Physics (with Calculus)

3

Ph 222General Physics (with Calculus)

3

Ph 223General Physics (with Calculus)

3

Ph 214Lab for Ph 201 or Ph 211 or Ph 221

1

Ph 215Lab for Ph 202 or Ph 212 or Ph 222

1

Ph 216Lab for Ph 203 or Ph 213 or Ph 223

1

Freshman Inquiry

Ph 211, Ph 212, and Ph 213 also accepted for Ph 221, Ph 222, and Ph 223

Freshman Inquiry: Comm 220, and Wr 121 for transfer students

2. Have a minimum technical GPA of 2.25

(Technical GPA is based on an average of all major-related classes taken prior to admission).

Selective Admission

If the number of eligible applicants for admission to the Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering exceeds that for which resources are available, acceptance will be competitive. In the event selective admission becomes necessary, the GPA computed for the required courses for eligibility for program admission will be used. Priority, within reasonable limits, will be given to resident students.

Although the primary purpose of the selective admission procedures is to limit enrollment to the number of students who can be served at a high level of quality, it is recognized that the rigid application of these procedures may eliminate applicants with high potential but who, due to circumstances beyond their control, have had limited access to the type of preparatory education that is essential to achieving the high performance level required for admission. All such applicants will be considered on the basis of their life experience and leadership qualities in addition to their academic achievement.

Continuation Criteria

After admission to the Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering undergraduate program, students will be expected to make satisfactory progress toward their declared degree and will be subject to the following rules:

  1. The cumulative major GPA must be 2.00 or higher.
  2. At the conclusion of each term of the academic year, full-time students are normally expected to complete a minimum of 12 credits per term applicable toward their degree program. Part-time students are expected to complete a minimum of 12 credits per year applicable toward their degree program.
  3. The Electrical and Computer Engineering BS degree programs require that students receive a C- or better in all required upper division courses numbered 300 or higher. If a student is unable to attain this grade after completing the course three times, the student will be suspended from the program.
  4. If a student in BS EE or BS CMPE program fails the same required electrical and computer engineering course two times, they are expelled from the program. The student may reapply to the program.
  5. Students will be placed on probation when their cumulative major GPA as described in (1) is below 2.00, or their progress toward the degree is less than that described in (2).
  6. Students placed on probation for two consecutive terms or for a total of three terms will be suspended from specific degree programs. Students will also be suspended if not enrolled in Electrical and Computer Engineering courses for three consecutive terms.
  7. Students denied admission or suspended must wait at least one term before reapplying. This waiting period does not apply to those denied due to “selective admission.”

  8. Students who have twice been found in violation of the student code of conduct will be automatically suspended from the program or denied admission. Transfer students will normally be expected to provide a disciplinary record from their institution. Any incidences of academic dishonesty are grounds for denial of admission. Full details of this policy are available from the department.

Appeals

Students denied admission or suspended may request reconsideration by submitting a petition. The petition and supporting materials will be reviewed by the Electrical and Computer Engineering department chair and a recommendation will be forwarded to the dean. The appeal must be made within 30 days of notice to the student of denial of admission or suspension.

Pass/No Pass Grading Policy

All courses specifically required by the University or by the Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering programs must be taken for a letter grade unless a required course is only offered with a pass/no pass option.