Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) offers two ABET-accredited bachelors degrees: a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (EE) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering (CPE). Individuals enrolled in these degree programs are given opportunities to develop a strong background in the engineering sciences and to learn the analysis, design, and synthesis tools necessary to function successfully as active participants in traditional, new, and emerging areas of electrical and computer engineering related technologies. The ECE department continues to be recognized locally and nationally for the quality of its undergraduate programs. As a result, ECE graduates continue to find high-paying jobs or are accepted into graduate schools nationwide.

Direct Admission Criteria

Applicants entering UTSA as Freshmen or Freshmen Transfers (fewer than 12 transferable semester credit hours) will be directly admitted to the CPE or EE, program if they:

  • meet all UTSA undergraduate admission requirements,
  • qualify for enrollment in MAT 1214 Calculus I , or a higher level mathematics course, and
  • are ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class (no minimum SAT or ACT scores required), or
  • are ranked below the top 10 percent of their high school class and have a minimum 1200 SAT* or 25 ACT score.

Applicants with SAT scores below 1200 or ACT scores below 25 may undergo admission by committee review. 

Transfer requirements for direct admission to the CPE or EE program for students who have earned 12 or more transferable semester credit hours:

  • meet all UTSA undergraduate transfer admission requirements, and
  • have completed MAT 1214 Calculus I  and WRC 1013 Freshman Composition I , or the equivalents, with grades of “C-” or better, and
  • meet grade point average requirements:
  1. applicants with a transfer grade point average of 3.00 or higher may be granted direct admission to the major, or
  2. applicants with a transfer grade point average below 3.00 may be granted admission to the College by ­committee review.

Applicants who do not meet CPE and EE admission requirements will be admitted to the Engineering, Math, and Sciences Studies in the University College. Students have three semesters to complete Calculus I with a grade of "C-" or better and meet the major Transfer Requirements.

“C-” Grade Rule

A grade of “C-” or better in any science, engineering, or mathematics course required for an engineering degree or any other course that is a prerequisite to a required CPE, (EE) or Engineering (EGR) course indicates satisfactory preparation for further engineering education. Any course assigned a grade below a “C-” must be repeated before enrolling in any course for which it is a prerequisite. This requirement is subject to both the Gateway Course and Three-Attempt Limit rules.

Program Educational Objectives

The educational objectives of the Electrical Engineering program are that our graduates will:

  1. Contribute their technical knowledge to better their lives and society
  2. Assume positions of leadership and responsibility in their electrical engineering related careers
  3. Pursue graduate and professional studies
  4. Conduct themselves in a professional manner that meets or exceeds the expectations of their employers

The educational objectives of the Computer Engineering program are that our graduates will:

  1. Engage in life-long learning, remaining current and becoming leaders in their profession
  2. Advance and expand in their computer engineering related careers by applying their engineering knowledge and skills
  3. Contribute productively to the workforce in state, regional, national and international industries and government organizations
  4. Communicate effectively, provide enabling solutions to societal challenges, and respond to technical, business, social, ethical, and human needs of the society through their professional endeavors.

Meeting Program Objectives

To meet the program objectives, the curriculum for the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Electrical Engineering and the curriculum for the B.S. degree in Computer Engineering are organized into a flexible 126-semester-credit-hour structure that provides high-quality education in the fundamentals of engineering, in addition to a thorough coverage of the major specialties within electrical engineering and computer engineering. For electrical engineering students, a selection of technical electives is provided to allow in-depth concentration in selected areas such as: communication; computer; digital signal processing (DSP); electronic materials and devices; systems and control; and electric power engineering. For students seeking the B.S. degree in Computer Engineering, the selection of technical electives are from areas of digital system design, computer architecture, VLSI design, engineering programming languages and embedded systems.

Department faculty of outstanding quality work in concert to provide the two degree programs that are challenging to students, with depth in engineering sciences, design orientation, and modern laboratory experience. The program objectives are accomplished via a three-tiered curriculum structure comprised of the lower-division core (the first two years), the upper-division core (concentrated primarily in the third year), and the senior-level electives, each of which are briefly described below.

Lower-Division Core

The lower-division core provides students with a diverse range of courses over a broad base of basic technical and specialized courses in mathematics, physics, and chemistry; computer hardware and software fundamentals; electric circuit fundamentals and electrical engineering laboratory experience; statics and dynamics; and communication skills, humanities, and social sciences.

Upper-Division Core

The upper-division core for electrical engineering and computer engineering provides students with a basic education in the fundamentals of electrical and computer engineering.

The upper-division core in electrical engineering includes: fundamentals of circuits (3 semester credit hours), controls (3 semester credit hours), electromagnetics (3 semester credit hours), electronics (6 semester credit hours), electronic devices (3 semester credit hours), and probability and random processes (3 semester credit hours). Many of these fundamental courses include the use of modern software tools for design and analysis. These fundamentals are supplemented with one hands-on laboratory course (3 semester credit hours). Written and technical communication is further emphasized in the laboratory course.

The upper-division core in computer engineering includes: fundamentals of circuits (3 semester credit hours), C++ and data structures (3 semester credit hours), microcomputer systems (3 semester credit hours), electronics (6 semester credit hours), electronic devices (3 semester credit hours), and probability and random processes (3 semester credit hours). Many of these fundamental courses include the use of modern software tools for design and analysis. These fundamental courses are supplemented with one hands-on laboratory course (3 semester credit hours). Written and technical communication is further emphasized in the laboratory course.

Senior-Level Electives

In the senior year, electrical engineering students enroll in five technical electives (15 semester credit hours), a senior laboratory course (3 semester credit hours), and the capstone design sequence (5 semester credit hours). Students in the technical elective courses have ample opportunities to learn and use modern software tools. The capstone sequence not only provides a major design experience but also emphasizes teamwork, proposal development, communication skills, and professional and ethical responsibility. Electrical engineering students are required to choose one of the six technical areas and to select a minimum of two technical electives (6 semester credit hours) from the chosen area. The remaining three technical electives (9 semester credit hours) may be selected either from the same area or from the other five areas, including one course at the graduate level and/or 3 semester credit hours from an engineering cooperative program. Computer engineering students are required to choose five technical electives from a list of approved technical electives for Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. The engineering cooperative program provides an opportunity for students to obtain practical experience by enrolling in the co-op course for 3 credit hours and working in an approved industry. Students who want to pursue graduate studies are encouraged to enroll in a graduate class during their last year, which will be counted as one of the remaining technical electives.

Engineering Design Experience

Design process in electrical engineering and in computer engineering is emphasized throughout all four years. Engineering design is distributed throughout the programs starting from the second semester in EE 2513 Logic Design. During their junior and senior years, students take five technical elective courses which all have design components. During the seventh semester, students also take EE 4113 Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory II, in which they must design complex circuits. Modern software tools usage, design and analysis, and formal written report writing are integrated components of several of the electrical and computer engineering courses. EE 3113 Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory I and EE 4113 Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory II emphasize hands-on experiments using basic to advanced capability instruments and formal written, as well as oral, reports. In EE 4812 Electrical Engineering Design I, CPE 4812 Computer Engineering Design I, EE 4813 Electrical Engineering Design II, and CPE 4813 Computer Engineering Design II, students are required to design, implement, test, demonstrate and make an oral presentation on an electronic or computer system.

Other courses with design emphasis that electrical engineering students take include: EE 3213 Electromagnetic Engineering, EE 3323 Electronic Devices, EE 3413 Analysis and Design of Control Systems, EE 3463 Microcomputer Systems I, EE 4313 Electronic Circuits II, and EE 4323 Dielectric and Optoelectronic Engineering Laboratory.

Other courses with design emphasis that computer engineering students take include: EE 3313 Electronic Circuits I, EE 3323 Electronic Devices, EE 3463 Microcomputer Systems I, EE 3563 Digital Systems Design and EE 4513 Introduction to VLSI Design.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Electrical Engineering has concentrations in Communications; Computer Engineering; Digital Signal Processing (DSP); Electronic Materials and Devices; Systems and Control; and Electric Power Engineering. The program is currently accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org. The B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering offers students the opportunity to prepare for careers in areas associated with electronics and microelectronics, digital systems, communications, digital signal and image processing, controls and robotics, computer-aided design (CAD), instrumentation, bioengineering, electric power engineering, and other traditional and emerging technology areas. Through the proper selection of elective courses (at least three technical elective courses must be selected from a single technical area) to augment required courses, successful ­students will develop a specialization pertinent to many of these areas that may lead to productive employment in the public or private sector with electronics companies, high-technology industries, and government agencies. The program will also provide the opportunity for students to develop an understanding of fundamentals and current issues important for future years of learning through such activities as graduate school, distance education, professional training, and membership in professional societies.

The minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree is 126, at least 39 of which must be at the upper-division level. At least 42 of the required electrical engineering credits must be taken at UTSA. All candidates for this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements, the General Engineering requirements, and the Electrical Engineering requirements, which are listed below.

Core Curriculum Requirements (42 semester credit hours)

Students seeking the B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. The courses listed below satisfy both major requirements and Core Curriculum requirements; however, if these courses are taken to satisfy both requirements, then students may need to take additional courses in order to meet the minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree.

MAT 1214 may be used to satisfy the core requirement in Mathematics, as well as one of the General Engineering requirements. PHY 1943 and PHY 1963 may be used to satisfy the core requirement in Life and Physical Sciences, as well as two of the General Engineering requirements.

For a complete listing of courses that satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements, see Core Curriculum Component Area Requirements.

Core Curriculum Component Area Requirements

First Year Experience Requirement (3 semester credit hours)

All students must complete one of the following courses, for a total of 3 semester credit hours:

AIS 1203Academic Inquiry and Scholarship3
AIS 1213AIS: Architecture, Construction, and Planning3
AIS 1223AIS: Arts and Humanities3
AIS 1233AIS: Business3
AIS 1243AIS: Engineering, Mathematics, and Sciences3
AIS 1253AIS: Interdisciplinary Education3
AIS 1263AIS: Life and Health Sciences3
AIS 1273AIS: Social Sciences and Public Policy3

Communication (6 semester credit hours)

Students must complete the following courses, for a total of 6 semester credit hours:

WRC 1013Freshman Composition I3
WRC 1023Freshman Composition II3

Mathematics (3 semester credit hours)

Students must complete one of the following courses, for a total of 3 semester credit hours:

CS 1173Data Analysis and Visualization3
MAT 1023College Algebra with Applications3
MAT 1043Introduction to Mathematics3
MAT 1053Mathematics for Business3
MAT 1073Algebra for Scientists and Engineers3
MAT 1093Precalculus3
MAT 1133Calculus for Business3
MAT 1193Calculus for the Biosciences3
MAT 1214Calculus I4
STA 1053Basic Statistics3

Life and Physical Sciences (6 semester credit hours)

Students must complete two of the following courses for a total of 6 semester credit hours:

ANT 2033Introduction to Biological Anthropology3
AST 1013Introduction to Astronomy3
AST 1033Exploration of the Solar System3
BIO 1203Biosciences I for Science Majors3
BIO 1223Biosciences II for Science Majors3
BIO 1233Contemporary Biology I3
BIO 1243Contemporary Biology II3
CHE 1083Introduction to the Molecular Structure of Matter3
CHE 1093Introduction to Molecular Transformations3
ES 1113Environmental Botany3
ES 1123Environmental Zoology3
ES 1213Environmental Geology3
ES 2013Introduction to Environmental Science I3
ES 2023Introduction to Environmental Science II3
GEO 1013The Third Planet3
GEO 1033Geology of North American National Parks3
GEO 1123Life Through Time3
GES 2613Intro to Physical Geography3
PHY 1943Physics for Scientists and Engineers I3
PHY 1963Physics for Scientists and Engineers II3

Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 semester credit hours)

Students must complete one of the following courses, for a total of 3 semester credit hours:

AAS 2013Introduction to African American Studies3
AAS 2113African American Culture, Leadership and Social Issues3
ANT 2063Language, Thought, and Culture3
ARC 1113Introduction to the Built Environment3
ARC 2423Global History of Architecture and Urbanism: Renaissance to 19th Century3
CHN 1014Elementary Chinese I4
CLA 2013Introduction to Ancient Greece3
CLA 2023Introduction to Ancient Rome3
CLA 2323Classical Mythology3
CSH 1103Literary Masterpieces of Western Culture I3
CSH 1113Literary Masterpieces of Western Culture II3
CSH 1213Topics in World Cultures3
CSH 2113The Foreign Film3
ENG 2013Introduction to Literature3
ENG 2023Literature and Film3
ENG 2213Literary Criticism and Analysis3
ENG 2383Multiethnic Literatures of the United States3
ENG 2423Literature of Texas and the Southwest3
ENG 2443Persuasion and Rhetoric3
FRN 1014Elementary French I4
FRN 2333French Literature in English Translation3
GER 1014Elementary German I4
GER 2333German Literature in English Translation3
GES 1023World Regions & Global Change3
GLA 1013US in Global Context3
GRK 1114Introductory Classical Greek I4
HIS 2123Introduction to World Civilization to the Fifteenth Century3
HIS 2133Introduction to World Civilization since the Fifteenth Century3
HIS 2533Introduction to Latin American Civilization3
HIS 2543Introduction to Islamic Civilization3
HIS 2553Introduction to East Asian Civilization3
HIS 2573Introduction to African Civilization3
HIS 2583Introduction to South Asian Civilization3
HUM 2093World Religions3
ITL 1014Elementary Italian I4
ITL 2333Italian Literature in English Translation3
JPN 1014Elementary Japanese I4
LAT 1114Introductory Latin I4
MAS 2013Introduction to Chicano(a) Studies3
PHI 1043Critical Thinking3
PHI 2013Basic Philosophical Problems3
PHI 2023Introduction to Ancient Philosophy3
PHI 2033Introduction to Early Modern Philosophy3
PHI 2123Contemporary Moral Issues3
RUS 1014Elementary Russian I4
RUS 2333Russian Literature in English Translation3
SPN 1014Elementary Spanish I4
SPN 2333Hispanic Literature in English Translation3
WGSS 2013Introduction to Women’s Studies3
WGSS 2023Introduction to LGBTQ Studies3

Creative Arts (3 semester credit hours)

Students must complete one of the following courses, for a total of 3 semester credit hours:

AHC 1113Art History I3
AHC 1123Art History II3
ARC 1513Great Buildings and Cities of the World3
ARC 2413Global History of Architecture and Urbanism: Prehistory to Medieval3
ART 1103Introduction to Visual Arts3
BBL 2023Latino Cultural Expressions3
CLA 2033Introduction to Classical Literature3
DAN 2003Introduction to Dance3
HUM 2023Introduction to the Humanities I3
HUM 2033Introduction to the Humanities II3
HUM 2053History of Film3
MAS 2023Latino Cultural Expressions3
MUS 2243World Music in Society3
MUS 2633American Roots Music3
MUS 2653Music in Culture3
MUS 2663History and Styles of Jazz3
MUS 2673History and Styles of Rock3
MUS 2683History and Styles of Western Art Music3
MUS 2713History of Recorded Music3
MUS 2743Music and Film3
PHI 2073Philosophy of Art3

American History (6 semester credit hours)

Students must complete two of the following courses, for a total of 6 semester credit hours:

HIS 1043United States History: Pre-Columbus to Civil War Era3
HIS 1053United States History: Civil War Era to Present3
HIS 2053Texas History3

Government-Political Science (6 semester credit hours)

Students must complete two of the following courses, for a total of 6 semester credit hours:

POL 1013Introduction to American Politics3
and one of the following two courses:
POL 1133Texas Politics and Society3
POL 1213Civil Rights in Texas and America3

Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 semester credit hours)

Students must complete one of the following courses, for a total of 3 semester credit hours:

AMS 2043Approaches to American Culture3
ANT 1013Introduction to Anthropology3
ANT 2043Introduction to Archaeology3
ANT 2053Introduction to Cultural Anthropology3
BBL 2003Language, Culture, and Society3
BBL 2243Bilingual Families, Communities, and Schools: National and Transnational Experiences3
BIO 1033Drugs and Society3
CRJ 1113The American Criminal Justice System3
ECO 2003Economic Principles and Issues3
ECO 2023Introductory Microeconomics3
EGR 1343The Impact of Modern Technologies on Society3
ES 1003Survey Topics in Environmental Studies3
GES 1013Fundamentals of Geography3
GES 2623Human Geography: People, Place, Culture3
HTH 2413Introduction to Community and Public Health3
HTH 2513Personal Health3
IDS 2113Society and Social Issues3
PSY 1013Introduction to Psychology3
SOC 1013Introduction to Sociology3
SOC 2013Social Problems3
SOC 2023Social Context of Drug Use3

Component Area Option (CAO) (3 semester credit hours)

Students must complete either one of the following courses or any additional Core Curriculum course not previously used to satisfy a core component area requirement, for a total of 3 semester credit hours:

COM 2113Public Speaking3
EGR 1403Technical Communication3
ENG 2413Technical Writing3
PAD 1113Public Administration and Policy in American Society3
PHI 2043Introductory Logic3
Core Curriculum Component Area Requirements
First Year Experience Requirement 3
Communication 6
Mathematics 3
Life and Physical Sciences 6
Language, Philosophy and Culture 3
Creative Arts 3
American History 6
Government-Political Science 6
Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Component Area Option 3
Total Credit Hours 42

General Engineering Requirements

All degree-seeking candidates in engineering must complete the following 22 semester credit hours, as well as the Core Curriculum requirements and major requirements:

CHE 1103General Chemistry I3
EGR 2323Applied Engineering Analysis I3
MAT 1214Calculus I4
MAT 1224Calculus II4
or EGR 1324 Calculus II for Engineers
PHY 1943
PHY 1951
Physics for Scientists and Engineers I
and Physics for Scientists and Engineers I Laboratory
4
PHY 1963
PHY 1971
Physics for Scientists and Engineers II
and Physics for Scientists and Engineers II Laboratory
4
Total Credit Hours22

Gateway Courses

Students pursuing the B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering must successfully complete each of the following Gateway Courses with a grade of “C-” or better in no more than two attempts. A student who is unable to successfully complete these courses within two attempts, including dropping a course with a grade of “W” or taking an equivalent course at another institution, will be required to change his or her major.

EE 1322Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
EGR 2323Applied Engineering Analysis I
MAT 1214Calculus I

Electrical Engineering Degree Requirements

All degree-seeking candidates in Electrical Engineering must complete the following semester credit hours, as well as the Core Curriculum requirements and General Engineering requirements:

A. Required Courses
1. Electrical Engineering courses
EE 1322Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering2
EE 2423 Network Theory3
EE 2511Digital Circuit Laboratory1
EE 2513Logic Design3
EE 3113Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory I3
EE 3213Electromagnetic Engineering3
EE 3313Electronic Circuits I3
EE 3323 Electronic Devices3
EE 3413Analysis and Design of Control Systems3
EE 3423Mathematics in Signals and Systems3
EE 3463Microcomputer Systems I3
EE 4113Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory II3
EE 4313Electronic Circuits II3
EE 4812Electrical Engineering Design I2
EE 4813Electrical Engineering Design II3
EGR 2213Statics and Dynamics3
EGR 3323Applied Engineering Analysis II3
2. Supporting courses
CPE 2073Introduction to Computer Programming for Engineers3
EE 3533Probability and Stochastic Processes3
Mathematics and Science Supporting Course: Select one from the following courses:3
Contemporary Biology I
General Chemistry II
Linear Algebra
Foundations of Mathematics
Mathematical Statistics
B. Electrical engineering elective courses
Select at least two courses from a single one of the following concentrations. The other three courses may be selected from any of the concentration areas. Topics offered under EE 4953 Special Studies in Electrical Engineering may be approved as technical electives in the relevant concentration.15
Communication Concentration
Discrete Signals and Systems
Communication Systems
Digital Communications
Data Communication and Networks
Wireless Communications
Fiber Optic Communications
Computer Engineering Concentration
C++ and Data Structures
Systems Programming for Engineers
Digital Systems Design
Computer Organization and Architecture
Introduction to VLSI Design
VLSI Testing
Microcomputer Systems II
DSP Concentration
Discrete Signals and Systems
Digital Filtering
Digital Signal Processing
Digital Image Processing
Electronic Materials and Devices Concentration
Electromechanical Systems
Dielectric and Optoelectronic Engineering Laboratory
Introduction to VLSI Design
Introduction to Nanoelectronics
Advanced Topics in Micro and Nanotechnology
Systems and Control Concentration
Discrete Signals and Systems
Electromechanical Systems
Discrete-Time and Computer-Controlled Systems
Intelligent Robotics
Intelligent Control
Embedded Control Systems
Electric Power Engineering Concentration
Electromechanical Systems
Power Engineering Laboratory
Analysis of Power Systems
Power Electronics
Electric Drives
Total Credit Hours71

B.S. in Electrical Engineering – Recommended Four-Year Academic Plan

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredit Hours
AIS 1203 Academic Inquiry and Scholarship (core) 3
CHE 1103 General Chemistry I 3
EE 1322 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering 2
MAT 1214 Calculus I (core and major) 4
WRC 1013 Freshman Composition I (core) 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
EE 2511 Digital Circuit Laboratory 1
EE 2513 Logic Design 3
MAT 1224 Calculus II 4
PHY 1943 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (core and major) 3
PHY 1951 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I Laboratory 1
WRC 1023 Freshman Composition II (core) 3
CPE 2073 Introduction to Computer Programming for Engineers 3
 Credit Hours18
Second Year
Fall
EE 2423 Network Theory 3
EGR 2213 Statics and Dynamics 3
EGR 2323 Applied Engineering Analysis I 3
PHY 1963 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (core and major) 3
PHY 1971 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II Laboratory 1
American History (core) 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
EE 3313 Electronic Circuits I 3
EE 3423 Mathematics in Signals and Systems 3
EE 3463 Microcomputer Systems I 3
EGR 3323 Applied Engineering Analysis II 3
American History (core) 3
 Credit Hours15
Third Year
Fall
EE 3113 Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory I 3
EE 3323 Electronic Devices 3
EE 4313 Electronic Circuits II 3
Mathematics and Science Supporting Course 3
Language, Philosophy & Culture (core) 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
EE 3213 Electromagnetic Engineering 3
EE 3413 Analysis and Design of Control Systems 3
EE 3533 Probability and Stochastic Processes 3
EE Technical elective 3
POL 1013 Introduction to American Politics (core) 3
 Credit Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall
EE 4113 Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory II 3
EE 4812 Electrical Engineering Design I 2
EE Technical elective 3
EE Technical elective 3
POL 1133
Texas Politics and Society (core)
or Civil Rights in Texas and America
3
Creative Arts (core) 3
 Credit Hours17
Spring
ECO 2023 Introductory Microeconomics (core) 3
EE 4813 Electrical Engineering Design II 3
EE Technical elective 3
EE Technical elective 3
Component Area Option (core) 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours126

Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Computer Engineering gives the students the opportunity to acquire broad engineering skills and knowledge to enable them to design and implement computer and digital systems. The discipline of computer engineering includes topics such as logic design; digital systems design; discrete mathematics; computer organization; embedded systems design requiring assembly programming of microprocessors, high-level programming and interfacing of processors to other circuits; high-level digital design languages (HDL) and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA’s); Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuit design; and fundamental electrical engineering, mathematics, and science. The program is currently accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

The minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree is 126, at least 39 of which must be at the upper-division level. At least 42 of the required computer engineering credits must be taken at UTSA. All candidates for this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements, the General Engineering requirements, and the Computer Engineering requirements, which are listed below.

Core Curriculum Requirements (42 semester credit hours)

Students seeking the B.S. degree in Computer Engineering must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. The courses listed below satisfy both major requirements and Core Curriculum requirements; however, if these courses are taken to satisfy both requirements, then students may need to take additional courses in order to meet the minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree.

MAT 1214 may be used to satisfy the core requirement in Mathematics, as well as one of the General Engineering requirements. PHY 1943 and PHY 1963 may be used to satisfy the core requirement in Life and Physical Sciences, as well as two of the General Engineering requirements.

For a complete listing of courses that satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements, see Core Curriculum Component Area Requirements.

Core Curriculum Component Area Requirements

First Year Experience Requirement (3 semester credit hours)

All students must complete one of the following courses, for a total of 3 semester credit hours:

AIS 1203Academic Inquiry and Scholarship3
AIS 1213AIS: Architecture, Construction, and Planning3
AIS 1223AIS: Arts and Humanities3
AIS 1233AIS: Business3
AIS 1243AIS: Engineering, Mathematics, and Sciences3
AIS 1253AIS: Interdisciplinary Education3
AIS 1263AIS: Life and Health Sciences3
AIS 1273AIS: Social Sciences and Public Policy3

Communication (6 semester credit hours)

Students must complete the following courses, for a total of 6 semester credit hours:

WRC 1013Freshman Composition I3
WRC 1023Freshman Composition II3

Mathematics (3 semester credit hours)

Students must complete one of the following courses, for a total of 3 semester credit hours:

CS 1173Data Analysis and Visualization3
MAT 1023College Algebra with Applications3
MAT 1043Introduction to Mathematics3
MAT 1053Mathematics for Business3
MAT 1073Algebra for Scientists and Engineers3
MAT 1093Precalculus3
MAT 1133Calculus for Business3
MAT 1193Calculus for the Biosciences3
MAT 1214Calculus I4
STA 1053Basic Statistics3

Life and Physical Sciences (6 semester credit hours)

Students must complete two of the following courses for a total of 6 semester credit hours:

ANT 2033Introduction to Biological Anthropology3
AST 1013Introduction to Astronomy3
AST 1033Exploration of the Solar System3
BIO 1203Biosciences I for Science Majors3
BIO 1223Biosciences II for Science Majors3
BIO 1233Contemporary Biology I3
BIO 1243Contemporary Biology II3
CHE 1083Introduction to the Molecular Structure of Matter3
CHE 1093Introduction to Molecular Transformations3
ES 1113Environmental Botany3
ES 1123Environmental Zoology3
ES 1213Environmental Geology3
ES 2013Introduction to Environmental Science I3
ES 2023Introduction to Environmental Science II3
GEO 1013The Third Planet3
GEO 1033Geology of North American National Parks3
GEO 1123Life Through Time3
GES 2613Intro to Physical Geography3
PHY 1943Physics for Scientists and Engineers I3
PHY 1963Physics for Scientists and Engineers II3

Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 semester credit hours)

Students must complete one of the following courses, for a total of 3 semester credit hours:

AAS 2013Introduction to African American Studies3
AAS 2113African American Culture, Leadership and Social Issues3
ANT 2063Language, Thought, and Culture3
ARC 1113Introduction to the Built Environment3
ARC 2423Global History of Architecture and Urbanism: Renaissance to 19th Century3
CHN 1014Elementary Chinese I4
CLA 2013Introduction to Ancient Greece3
CLA 2023Introduction to Ancient Rome3
CLA 2323Classical Mythology3
CSH 1103Literary Masterpieces of Western Culture I3
CSH 1113Literary Masterpieces of Western Culture II3
CSH 1213Topics in World Cultures3
CSH 2113The Foreign Film3
ENG 2013Introduction to Literature3
ENG 2023Literature and Film3
ENG 2213Literary Criticism and Analysis3
ENG 2383Multiethnic Literatures of the United States3
ENG 2423Literature of Texas and the Southwest3
ENG 2443Persuasion and Rhetoric3
FRN 1014Elementary French I4
FRN 2333French Literature in English Translation3
GER 1014Elementary German I4
GER 2333German Literature in English Translation3
GES 1023World Regions & Global Change3
GLA 1013US in Global Context3
GRK 1114Introductory Classical Greek I4
HIS 2123Introduction to World Civilization to the Fifteenth Century3
HIS 2133Introduction to World Civilization since the Fifteenth Century3
HIS 2533Introduction to Latin American Civilization3
HIS 2543Introduction to Islamic Civilization3
HIS 2553Introduction to East Asian Civilization3
HIS 2573Introduction to African Civilization3
HIS 2583Introduction to South Asian Civilization3
HUM 2093World Religions3
ITL 1014Elementary Italian I4
ITL 2333Italian Literature in English Translation3
JPN 1014Elementary Japanese I4
LAT 1114Introductory Latin I4
MAS 2013Introduction to Chicano(a) Studies3
PHI 1043Critical Thinking3
PHI 2013Basic Philosophical Problems3
PHI 2023Introduction to Ancient Philosophy3
PHI 2033Introduction to Early Modern Philosophy3
PHI 2123Contemporary Moral Issues3
RUS 1014Elementary Russian I4
RUS 2333Russian Literature in English Translation3
SPN 1014Elementary Spanish I4
SPN 2333Hispanic Literature in English Translation3
WGSS 2013Introduction to Women’s Studies3
WGSS 2023Introduction to LGBTQ Studies3

Creative Arts (3 semester credit hours)

Students must complete one of the following courses, for a total of 3 semester credit hours:

AHC 1113Art History I3
AHC 1123Art History II3
ARC 1513Great Buildings and Cities of the World3
ARC 2413Global History of Architecture and Urbanism: Prehistory to Medieval3
ART 1103Introduction to Visual Arts3
BBL 2023Latino Cultural Expressions3
CLA 2033Introduction to Classical Literature3
DAN 2003Introduction to Dance3
HUM 2023Introduction to the Humanities I3
HUM 2033Introduction to the Humanities II3
HUM 2053History of Film3
MAS 2023Latino Cultural Expressions3
MUS 2243World Music in Society3
MUS 2633American Roots Music3
MUS 2653Music in Culture3
MUS 2663History and Styles of Jazz3
MUS 2673History and Styles of Rock3
MUS 2683History and Styles of Western Art Music3
MUS 2713History of Recorded Music3
MUS 2743Music and Film3
PHI 2073Philosophy of Art3

American History (6 semester credit hours)

Students must complete two of the following courses, for a total of 6 semester credit hours:

HIS 1043United States History: Pre-Columbus to Civil War Era3
HIS 1053United States History: Civil War Era to Present3
HIS 2053Texas History3

Government-Political Science (6 semester credit hours)

Students must complete two of the following courses, for a total of 6 semester credit hours:

POL 1013Introduction to American Politics3
and one of the following two courses:
POL 1133Texas Politics and Society3
POL 1213Civil Rights in Texas and America3

Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 semester credit hours)

Students must complete one of the following courses, for a total of 3 semester credit hours:

AMS 2043Approaches to American Culture3
ANT 1013Introduction to Anthropology3
ANT 2043Introduction to Archaeology3
ANT 2053Introduction to Cultural Anthropology3
BBL 2003Language, Culture, and Society3
BBL 2243Bilingual Families, Communities, and Schools: National and Transnational Experiences3
BIO 1033Drugs and Society3
CRJ 1113The American Criminal Justice System3
ECO 2003Economic Principles and Issues3
ECO 2023Introductory Microeconomics3
EGR 1343The Impact of Modern Technologies on Society3
ES 1003Survey Topics in Environmental Studies3
GES 1013Fundamentals of Geography3
GES 2623Human Geography: People, Place, Culture3
HTH 2413Introduction to Community and Public Health3
HTH 2513Personal Health3
IDS 2113Society and Social Issues3
PSY 1013Introduction to Psychology3
SOC 1013Introduction to Sociology3
SOC 2013Social Problems3
SOC 2023Social Context of Drug Use3

Component Area Option (CAO) (3 semester credit hours)

Students must complete either one of the following courses or any additional Core Curriculum course not previously used to satisfy a core component area requirement, for a total of 3 semester credit hours:

COM 2113Public Speaking3
EGR 1403Technical Communication3
ENG 2413Technical Writing3
PAD 1113Public Administration and Policy in American Society3
PHI 2043Introductory Logic3
Core Curriculum Component Area Requirements
First Year Experience Requirement 3
Communication 6
Mathematics 3
Life and Physical Sciences 6
Language, Philosophy and Culture 3
Creative Arts 3
American History 6
Government-Political Science 6
Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Component Area Option 3
Total Credit Hours 42

General Engineering Requirements

All degree-seeking candidates in engineering must complete the following 22 semester credit hours, as well as the Core Curriculum requirements and major requirements:

CHE 1103General Chemistry I3
EGR 2323Applied Engineering Analysis I3
MAT 1214Calculus I4
MAT 1224Calculus II4
or EGR 1324 Calculus II for Engineers
PHY 1943
PHY 1951
Physics for Scientists and Engineers I
and Physics for Scientists and Engineers I Laboratory
4
PHY 1963
PHY 1971
Physics for Scientists and Engineers II
and Physics for Scientists and Engineers II Laboratory
4
Total Credit Hours22

Gateway Courses

Students pursuing the B.S. degree in Computer Engineering must successfully complete each of the following Gateway Courses with a grade of “C-” or better in no more than two attempts. A student who is unable to successfully complete these courses within two attempts, including dropping a course with a grade of “W” or taking an equivalent course at another institution, will be required to change his or her major.

EE 1322Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
EE 2513Logic Design
MAT 1214Calculus I

Computer Engineering Degree Requirements

All degree-seeking candidates in Computer Engineering must complete the following semester credit hours, as well as the Core Curriculum requirements and General Engineering requirements:

A. Required courses
1. Electrical and Computer engineering courses:
EE 1322Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering2
EE 2423 Network Theory3
EE 2511Digital Circuit Laboratory1
EE 2513Logic Design3
EE 3113Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory I3
EE 3223C++ and Data Structures3
EE 3233Systems Programming for Engineers3
EE 3313Electronic Circuits I3
EE 3323 Electronic Devices3
EE 3423Mathematics in Signals and Systems3
EE 3463Microcomputer Systems I3
EE 3563Digital Systems Design3
EE 4113Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory II3
EE 4243Computer Organization and Architecture3
CPE 4812Computer Engineering Design I2
CPE 4813Computer Engineering Design II3
EGR 3323Applied Engineering Analysis II3
2. Supporting courses
CPE 2073Introduction to Computer Programming for Engineers3
or CS 2073 Computer Programming with Engineering Applications
CS 2233Discrete Mathematical Structures3
EE 3533Probability and Stochastic Processes3
B. Computer engineering electives
Select five courses including one Mathematics from the following:15
Introduction to VLSI Design
VLSI Testing
FPGA-Based System Design
Microcomputer Systems II
Embedded System Design
Digital Signal Processing
Digital Image Processing
Special Studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Computer Engineering related topics only)
Linear Algebra
Foundations of Mathematics
Fundamentals of Geometry
Total Credit Hours71

B.S. in Computer Engineering – Recommended Four-Year Academic Plan

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredit Hours
AIS 1203 Academic Inquiry and Scholarship (core) 3
EE 1322 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering 2
CHE 1103 General Chemistry I 3
MAT 1214 Calculus I (core and major) 4
WRC 1013 Freshman Composition I (core) 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
EE 2511 Digital Circuit Laboratory 1
EE 2513 Logic Design 3
MAT 1224 Calculus II 4
PHY 1943 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (core and major) 3
PHY 1951 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I Laboratory 1
WRC 1023 Freshman Composition II (core) 3
CPE 2073
Introduction to Computer Programming for Engineers
or Computer Programming with Engineering Applications
3
 Credit Hours18
Second Year
Fall
CS 2233 Discrete Mathematical Structures 3
EE 2423 Network Theory 3
EGR 2323 Applied Engineering Analysis I 3
PHY 1963 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (core and major) 3
PHY 1971 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II Laboratory 1
American History (core) 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
EE 3313 Electronic Circuits I 3
EE 3423 Mathematics in Signals and Systems 3
EE 3463 Microcomputer Systems I 3
EGR 3323 Applied Engineering Analysis II 3
American History (core) 3
 Credit Hours15
Third Year
Fall
EE 3113 Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory I 3
EE 3223 C++ and Data Structures 3
EE 3323 Electronic Devices 3
EE 3563 Digital Systems Design 3
Language, Philosophy & Culture (core) 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
EE 3233 Systems Programming for Engineers 3
EE 3533 Probability and Stochastic Processes 3
EE 4243 Computer Organization and Architecture 3
POL 1013 Introduction to American Politics (core) 3
Technical elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall
CPE 4812 Computer Engineering Design I 2
EE 4113 Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory II 3
POL 1133
Texas Politics and Society (core)
or Civil Rights in Texas and America
3
Technical elective 3
Technical elective 3
Creative Arts (core) 3
 Credit Hours17
Spring
CPE 4813 Computer Engineering Design II 3
ECO 2023 Introductory Microeconomics (core) 3
Technical elective 3
Technical elective 3
Component Area Option (core) 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours126

Integrated Bachelor of Science/Master of Science Program

The integrated B.S./M.S. (Bachelor of Science and Master of Science) program administered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is designed to make possible for highly motivated and qualified B.S. students to obtain both an undergraduate degree and an advanced degree within an accelerated timeline. Through this program, motivated B.S. students can start working with the faculty advisors on research projects as early as in their senior year.

Program Admission Requirements

Applications to the B.S./M.S. program must be submitted after the completion of 75 semester credit hours of coursework.

The B.S./M.S. program applicants must have a minimum of 3.3 for both cumulative and major grade point averages. To apply for the program, students need to:

  • Apply online under the category of Integrated B.S./M.S. (B.S. in Electrical Engineering, or Computer Engineering, and M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Advanced Materials Engineering); and
  • Submit an official UTSA transcript 

Submission of both recommendation letters and a personal statement is optional but highly recommended for consideration of scholarships.

Degree Requirements

B.S. Degree requirement: The current undergraduate degree programs in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering require 126 semester credit hours for completion with fifteen of these hours (five, 3-hour courses) as technical electives. Students accepted into the Integrated B.S./M.S. program will be required to complete 120 undergraduate credit hours and 6 graduate credit hours to replace two of the five undergraduate technical elective courses toward the B.S. degree. Undergraduate students wishing to voluntarily withdraw from the Integrated B.S./M.S. program, must use a combination of five undergraduate technical electives and graduate organized courses to satisfy the original 126-hour regular degree program requirement in order to receive their B.S. degree. Students continuing on in the Integrated B.S./M.S. program will receive their B.S. degrees once they have earned 120 undergraduate credit hours and 6 credit hours of graduate organized courses. The 6 graduate credit hours taken as an undergraduate will be counted toward the M.S. degree requirement.

M.S. Degree requirement: A student enrolled in the Integrated B.S./M.S. program can graduate by completing requirements for a thesis or nonthesis (project) option.

(i) Thesis Option: Students must complete 30 credit hours including 6 hours of thesis work.

(ii) Nonthesis Option: Students must complete 33 credit hours including 3 hours of project work.

B.S./M.S. Classification

Once admitted to the Integrated B.S./M.S. program, students are allowed to take graduate courses as undergraduate students. Students admitted to the Integrated B.S./M.S. program will be reclassified from undergraduate to graduate student status when they have completed 126 semester credit hours of coursework (of any combination of graduate and undergraduate hours) toward their degrees. B.S./M.S. students can receive their B.S. degree upon completion of 126 semester credit hours, including two graduate courses, at which point the program will certify the student’s eligibility to receive the B.S. degree and request the Graduate School to change the student status in the Student Information System.  

Certificate in Artificial Intelligence

Non-UTSA students who want to pursue the certificate in Artificial Intelligence (AI) but do not wish to also be admitted into the regular Electrical and Computer Engineering programs must apply via the University's special undergraduate admission process.

A. Required course:3
Probability and Stochastic Processes
B. Electives. Four courses (12 semester credit hours) selected from the following list. Graduate courses in Artificial Intelligence may be approved as electives for the certificate.12
C++ and Data Structures (Only one of these courses can be counted towards the certificate)
Systems Programming for Engineers
Introduction to Machine Learning
Intelligent Robotics
Intelligent Control
Special Studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Internet of Things (IOT))
Special Studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Robotics)
Special Studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Cyber-Security)
Total Credit Hours15

Certificate in Computer Programming for Engineers

The undergraduate certificate program in Computer Programming for Engineers is designed so that students or professionals in electrical and computer engineering or related fields can take a focused set of courses pertinent to the broad field of computer programming. This certificate was developed in collaboration with the Department of Computer Science.

Eligibility and Admission Procedures

Current undergraduate electrical and computer engineering UTSA students are eligible for admission to the certificate program. Non-UTSA students who do not wish to also be admitted into the regular electrical and computer engineering programs must apply via the University’s special undergraduate admission process. This is the recommended option for practicing engineers who already possess a Bachelor of Science in electrical or computer engineering or related field.

The 15-semester-credit-hour program consists of two 3-credit-hour required courses and three 3-credit-hour electives.

A. Required courses:
CPE 2073Introduction to Computer Programming for Engineers3
or CS 2073 Computer Programming with Engineering Applications
or CS 1714 Computer Programming II
EE 3223C++ and Data Structures3
or CS 2124 Data Structures
B. Electives. Three courses (9 semester credit hours) selected from the following list:9
Computer and Information Security
Application Programming
Mobile and Wireless Network and Technologies
Embedded Systems
Advanced Systems Programming
Distributed Computing and Systems
Systems Programming for Engineers
Systems Programming
Introduction to Machine Learning
Machine Learning
Intelligent Robotics
Intelligent Control
Special Studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Approved Topics: Engineering Programming, Intro to Computer and Network Security, Internet of Things (IOT), or Robotics)
Other Computer Programming electives must be approved by the committee.
Total Credit Hours15

Computer Engineering (CPE) Courses

CPE 2073. Introduction to Computer Programming for Engineers. (3-1) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: MAT 1214 and completion of or concurrent enrollment in MAT 1224. Algorithmic approach to problem solving, basic programming techniques such as conditional execution (e.g., if-else), repetition (loops), and functions, implicit and explicit memory management, and intro to object oriented programming. One hour of problem solving recitation per week. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fees: LRE1 $25; STSE $30.

CPE 4812. Computer Engineering Design I. (2-1) 2 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3563 and concurrent enrollment in, or completion of, EE 3233 and EE 4113. Business planning and project management in engineering design; discussion of ethical and social issues in design; and selection of a design project, development of a detailed design proposal, and approval of a design project. (Formerly CPE 4811. Credit cannot be earned for both CPE 4812 and CPE 4811.) Differential Tuition: $110. Course fees: DL01 $50.

CPE 4813. Computer Engineering Design II. (2-3) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 4113 and CPE 4812. Complex system design; advanced ATE; project management, detailed design package, status reporting, formal oral and written technical reports, design reviews, and test plan development and execution; open-ended design project considering safety, reliability, environmental, economic, and other constraints; and ethical and social impacts. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

CPE 4911. Independent Study. (0-0) 1 Credit Hour.

Prerequisites: Permission in writing (form available) from the instructor, the Department Chair, and Dean of the College. Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 semester credit hours of independent study, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree. Differential Tuition: $55.

CPE 4912. Independent Study. (0-0) 2 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: Permission in writing (form available) from the instructor, the student’s advisor, the Department Chair, and Dean of the College. Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 semester credit hours of independent study, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree. Differential Tuition: $110.

CPE 4913. Independent Study. (0-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: Permission in writing (form available) from the instructor, the Department Chair, and Dean of the College. Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 semester credit hours of independent study, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree. Differential Tuition: $165.

CPE 4953. Special Studies in Computer Engineering. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: May vary with the topic (refer to the course syllabus on Bluebook or contact the instructor). An organized course offering the opportunity for specialized study not normally or not often available as part of the regular course offerings. Special Studies may be repeated for credit when topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree. Differential Tuition: $165.

Electrical Engineering (EE) Courses

EE 1322. Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering. (2-1) 2 Credit Hours. (TCCN = ENGR 1201)

Prerequisite: MAT 1073. An introduction to the electrical and computer engineering profession with emphasis on technical communication, team-based engineering design, professional and ethical responsibilities, contemporary issues, and software tools. One hour of recitation session per week. (Formerly EE 1323. Credit cannot be earned for both EE 1323 and EE 1322.) Course Fees: LRE1 $25; STSE $20; DL01 $50.

EE 2213. Electric Circuits and Electronics. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours. (TCCN = ENGR 2305)

Prerequisites: PHY 1963 and concurrent enrollment in, or completion of, EGR 2323. Principles of electrical circuits and systems. Basic circuit elements (resistance, inductance, mutual inductance, capacitance, independent and dependent controlled voltage, and current sources). Topology of electrical networks; Kirchhoff's laws; node and mesh analysis; DC circuit analysis; operational amplifiers; transient and sinusoidal steady-state analysis; AC circuit analysis; first- and second-order circuits; application of Laplace transforms to the analysis of RLC circuits. (Formerly EE 2214. Credit cannot be earned for both EE 2213 and EE 2214.) Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fees: LRE1 $25; STSE $30; DL01 $75.

EE 2423. Network Theory. (3-1) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 1322 and completion of or concurrent enrollment in EGR 2323 and PHY 1963. Basic network principles; simple resistive circuits; steady state responses to DC and AC signals; node-voltage and mesh-current analysis; source transformations and superposition; Thevenin and Norton equivalents; natural and step transient responses of first and second order circuits; Laplace transform in circuit analysis; and use of circuit simulation software to solve network problems. One hour of problem solving recitation per week. Generally offered: Fall, Spring, Summer. Generally offered: Fall, Spring, Summer. Course Fees: LRE1 $25; STSE $30; DL01 $75.

EE 2511. Digital Circuit Laboratory. (1-2) 1 Credit Hour.

Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in EE 2513. Introduction to digital design techniques. Implementation of basic digital logic and hardware; combinational circuits, flip-flops, registers, sequential circuits and state-machines. Generally offered: Fall, Spring, Summer. Course Fees: LRE1 $25; STSE $10.

EE 2513. Logic Design. (3-1) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 1322 and completion of or concurrent enrollment in CS 2073 or CPE 2073. Number systems, Boolean algebra, combinational and sequential circuit design; and minimization and implementation. One hour of problem solving recitation per week. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Course Fees: LRE1 $25; STSE $30; DL01 $75.

EE 3113. Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory I. (1-6) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 2423, EE 2513, and completion of or concurrent enrollment in EE 3313. Introduction to basic measurement equipment and techniques; use of circuit simulation tools; comparison to empirical performance of simple circuits using discrete devices and circuits; simple subsystem circuit design; introduction to automated data acquisition; and laboratory technical communication. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Differential Tuition: $165. Course Fees: L001 $30; DL01 $75.

EE 3213. Electromagnetic Engineering. (3-1) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EGR 3323 and PHY 1963. Review of vector calculus, electrostatics, magnetostatics, electrodynamics, electromagnetic waves, dielectrics, boundary conditions, and RLC circuits. Selected other topics include wave guides, anisotropic crystal optics, transmission lines, fiber optics, reflection and refraction, and special relativity. One hour of problem solving recitation per week. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Differential Tuition: $165. Course Fee: DL01 $75.

EE 3223. C++ and Data Structures. (3-1) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: EE 3463. Review of C++ non-OOP concepts, object-oriented programming, inheritance, virtual functions and polymorphism, and operator overloading. In-depth study of data structures including stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, binary trees and its application to binary search trees and sorting. One hour of problem solving recitation per week. Generally offered: Fall. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 3233. Systems Programming for Engineers. (2-2) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: EE 3223. Programming low-level interfaces of Linux using Python; learning basics of Linux utilities and Python, interfacing to services in the underlying Linux kernel using Python’s system programming tools, supporting for running programs covering threads, process forks, processing files and directories and networking with pipes, socket, and queues in Python. Two hours of lecture, one hour of recitation and one hour of programming lab per week. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 3313. Electronic Circuits I. (3-1) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 2423 and PHY 1963. P-N junctions; diode circuits; BJTs and FETs; application to digital and analog circuits; and use of circuit simulation software to solve simple circuits. One hour of problem solving recitation per week. Generally offered: Fall, Spring, Summer. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 3323. Electronic Devices. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: CHE 1103 and EE 2423. Introduction to semiconductor materials, fundamentals of quantum mechanics and carrier phenomena, operating principles of P-N junction diodes, metal-semiconductor contacts (Schottky diodes), bipolar-junction transistors, field-effect transistors, photodetectors and optoelectronic devices. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 3413. Analysis and Design of Control Systems. (3-1) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3423 and EGR 2213 for electrical engineering majors; EGR 2513 and EE 2213 for mechanical engineering majors. Modeling, analysis, and design of linear automatic control systems; time and frequency domain techniques; stability analysis, state variable techniques, and other topics. Control systems analysis and design software will be used. One hour of problem solving recitation per week. Generally offered: Fall, Spring, Summer. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 3423. Mathematics in Signals and Systems. (3-1) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 2423 and EGR 2323. Basic concepts, mathematical representation of signals and systems, graphs of functions, elements of complex numbers, partial fraction expansion, properties of basic functions, including sinusoidal and complex exponential signals, phasors, time and amplitude transformations of signals, properties of signals and classification of systems, Dirac delta function, step function, convolution integral, impulse response, frequency response function for linear time invariant systems, differential-equation models, response to real sinusoidal signals, ideal filters, periodic functions and Fourier series, continuous-time Fourier transform, energy and power spectral density functions, Laplace transforms in linear system analysis, differential equations with constant coefficients, and transfer functions. One hour of problem solving recitation per week. (Formerly EE 3424. Credit cannot be earned for both EE 3424 and EE 3423.) Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 3463. Microcomputer Systems I. (3-1) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 2513 and CS 2073 or CPE 2073. Introduction to assembly- and C-language programming; architecture, peripherals, operating system interfacing principles, and development tools; and software documentation techniques. One hour of recitation per week. Generally offered: Fall, Spring, Summer. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 3513. Electromechanical Systems. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: EGR 2213. Principles of electromechanical energy conversion; polyphase circuits; dynamic analysis and simulation of energy-transfer devices; and power devices. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 3523. Discrete Signals and Systems. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: EE 3423. Time and frequency characteristics of signals and systems, sampling, discrete-time convolution, and applications of discrete-time Fourier and Z-transforms to systems. MATLAB exercises. (Formerly titled "Signals and Systems II.") Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 3533. Probability and Stochastic Processes. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3423 and EGR 2323. Probability and random variables, conditional distribution, conditional density function; operations on random variables; Central Limit Theorem; random process; spectral analysis of random processes; and linear systems with random inputs. (Formerly titled: "Random Signals and Noise.") Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 3563. Digital Systems Design. (2-3) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 2511 and EE 2513. Introduction to switching theory; design of complex combinational and sequential circuits; analysis of hazards and fault detection, location, and tolerance; and design and verification of complex circuitry using schematic entry, functional modeling, and mixed-mode simulation. Generally offered: Fall. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 4113. Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory II. (1-6) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3113, and completion of or concurrent enrollment in either EE 3563 for computer engineering majors or EE 4313 for electrical engineering majors. Complex electronic circuit subsystem design, improving measurement system performance, impact of circuit parasitics, signal integrity, electromagnetic interference, thermal analysis, printed circuit board layout, and technical communication. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Differential Tuition: $165. Course Fees: L001 $30; DL01 $75.

EE 4123. Power Engineering Laboratory. (1-4) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3113, completion of or concurrent enrollment in EE 4753 and EE 4763. Power Electronics Laboratory to analyze and test DC-DC converters, voltage mode and current mode control. Power Systems Simulation Laboratory to analyze and design power systems that include power flow, transmission line, transient and fault analysis. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4243. Computer Organization and Architecture. (2-3) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: EE 3463. Design of advanced state machines and computer systems, and processor design using computer-assisted design and analysis tools. Generally offered: Spring. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 4313. Electronic Circuits II. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3313 and concurrent enrollment in, or completion of, EE 3323. Multiple transistor circuits; feedback and frequency response analysis; operational amplifier analysis and design; and introduction to integrated circuit design and analysis. Design of analog and digital circuits; and use of circuit simulation software to analyze complex circuits. Generally offered: Fall, Spring, Summer. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4323. Dielectric and Optoelectronic Engineering Laboratory. (2-4) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3213, completion of or concurrent enrollment in EE 3323 for Topic 1. Principles of dielectric devices and optical components and systems. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Topic 1: Capacitance, resistance, and inductance device evaluations, impedance frequency and temperature spectrum analysis, characterization of tunable dielectric microwave materials, electromechanical coupling of piezoelectric devices. Topic 2: Lasers, photo-detectors, phase locked interferometer, electro-optical and nonlinear optic devices, optical image processing, Fourier optics, holographic recording, and photorefractive storage. Generally offered: Spring. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 4443. Discrete-Time and Computer-Controlled Systems. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3413 and completion of or concurrent enrollment in EE 3523. Sampled-data techniques applied to the analysis and design of digital control systems; stability criteria; compensation; and other topics. Generally offered: Fall. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4463. Introduction to Machine Learning. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: EE 3533. Introduction to concepts of inference and learning. Introduction to concepts of regression and classification: linear and nonlinear regression; linear discriminant analysis, logistic regression and support vector machines. Introduction to dimensionality reduction and clustering. Introduction to artificial neural networks. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4513. Introduction to VLSI Design. (2-3) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3323 and EE 3463. Design of integrated digital systems; logic simulation, standard cell libraries, circuit simulation, and other computer-aided design tools; and integrated circuit processing and device modeling. Generally offered: Fall. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 4523. Introduction to Nanoelectronics. (2-3) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in EE 3323. Fundamentals of semiconductor device physics. State-of-the-art CMOS and beyond-CMOS device technologies. Quantum transport theories of electron, phonon, and spin in nanoscale solids. Nanofabrication techniques. Low-dimensional nanomaterials for future electronics. Practical application of nanotechnology in mechanical, optical, and biological heterogeneous systems. Students will study a quantum phenomenon using a device simulation software. (Formerly titled Introduction to Micro and Nanotechnology.) (Same as EE 5503. Credit cannot be earned for both EE 4523 and EE 5503.) Generally offered: Spring. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 4533. Principles of Microfabrication. (2-3) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in EE 3323. Fundamentals of microfabrication techniques, including photolithography, thin film deposition (physical vapor deposition and chemical vapor deposition), etching, thermal oxidation, diffusion, ion implantation, chemical and mechanical polishing, and epitaxy. Nanofabrication techniques that enable sub-micron feature sizes will also be discussed (electron beam or x-ray lithography, focused ion beam, and other bottom-up approaches). Students will visit nearby research institutes and foundry companies as part of this course. (Credit cannot be earned for both EE 4533 and EE 5413.) Generally offered: Fall. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 4543. Advanced Topics in Micro and Nanotechnology. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in EE 3323. Topics to be selected from advanced sensors, actuators, engineered materials, device physics, microwave applications of MEMS structures, photonics, microelectronic devices, analog IC design, mixed-signal circuits and systems. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4553. VLSI Testing. (2-3) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: EE 3463. Faults modeling and simulation; stuck at faults, bridging faults, and functional testing; self-testing concepts; standard and test patterns; device and system testing; and design for testability. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4563. FPGA-Based System Design. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3463 and EE 3563. FPGAs replace digital circuits in most applications. This course addresses underlying theory and applications: Introduction to Field Programmable Gate Arrays; General-Purpose FPGA Architecture; Reconfigurable Computing Devices and Systems; Hardware Description Language for FPGAs; synthesizing FPGA interconnections; Global Timing Constraints; evaluating and optimizing problems for FPGA implementations; Arithmetic, Precision Analysis & Floating Point; FPGA vs. CPU partitioning. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4583. Microcomputer Systems II. (2-3) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: EE 3463. Advanced microprocessor-based system design; high-speed bus interfacing, coprocessors, and other specialized input/output devices; and high-level languages and software performance analysis. Generally offered: Spring. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4593. Embedded System Design. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3463 and EE 3563. The goal of this course is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the technologies behind embedded systems, particularly, those using computing elements: Embedded processor selection, hardware/firmware partitioning, circuit layout, circuit debugging, development tools, firmware architecture, firmware design, and firmware debugging. C programming of embedded microcontrollers, the function and use of common peripherals, and the programming and simulation (using VHDL/Verilog) of custom single-purpose processors. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4613. Communication Systems. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3423 and EE 3533. Basic theory and principles of modern analog and digital communication systems; signal and noise analysis, signal-to-noise ratio, and circuit implementations. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4623. Digital Filtering. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: EE 3423 and completion of or concurrent enrollment in EE 3463. Design and implementation of FIR and IIR filters, hardware, and software; and topics from adaptive filtering, neural networks. MATLAB exercises. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4643. Digital Signal Processing. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in EE 3523 and EE 3533. Transform techniques for discrete signal processing; discrete representation and analysis of digital filters and other topics; and A/D and D/A conversion and associated filtering techniques. Generally offered: Spring. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 4653. Digital Communications. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3423 and EE 3533. Basic digital modulation schemes: ASK, BPSK, QPSK, FSK, and QAM modulation, binary signal detection, matched filtering, bit error rate, intersymbol interference, equalization, signal-space methods, optimum receiver, fundamentals of information theory and block coding, convolutional coding and spread spectrum. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4663. Digital Image Processing. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: EE 3523. Fundamentals and some practical applications of digital image processing. Topics include image formation, sampling, and quantization; image motion and detector noise; future extraction; image enhancement and restoration by spatial filtering and maximum entropy; image coding for bandwidth compression by DPCM; transform coding, subband coding; and use of MATLAB for image processing. Generally offered: Fall. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4673. Data Communication and Networks. (2-3) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3223. Introduction to computer networks and their underlying concepts and principles. Learn layered organization of the internet in a top-down fashion: Application, Transport, Network, Data Link, and Physical layers. The course will also cover advance topics including wireless networking, wireless communication, and network security. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4683. Wireless Communications. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3423 and EE 3533. Common wireless systems and standards. Cellular radio concepts: frequency reuse and handoff strategies. Large-scale path loss models. Small-scale fading and multipath. Modulation techniques for mobile radio: performances in fading and multipath channels. Multiple access techniques. RF hardware realization issues. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 4693. Fiber Optic Communications. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3313, EE 3423, and completion of or concurrent enrollment in EE 3213. Light propagation using ray and electromagnetic mode theories, dielectric slab waveguides, optical fibers, attenuation and dispersion in optical fibers, optical fiber transmitters and receivers, electro-optical devices, and optical fiber measurement techniques. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4723. Intelligent Robotics. (3-1) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: EE 3413 or ME 3543. Coordinate transformations, forward and inverse kinematics, Jacobian and static forces, path planning techniques, dynamics, design, analysis and control of robots, sensing and intelligence. (Formerly EGR 4723 and ME 4713. Credit cannot be earned for both EE 4723 and either EGR 4723 or ME 4713.) Generally offered: Spring. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4733. Intelligent Control. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: EE 3413. Neural networks and fuzzy logic basics, approximation properties, conventional adaptive controller design and analysis, intelligent controller design and analysis techniques for nonlinear systems, and closed-loop stability. Generally offered: Spring. Differential Tuition: $165. Course Fee: DL01 $75.

EE 4743. Embedded Control Systems. (2-3) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3413 and EE 3463. Embedded system principles and control system concepts, programming, tools and their applications, embedded controls design, and analysis of industrial processes. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4753. Analysis of Power Systems. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: EE 3413. Electric energy and environment, principles of power generation, transmission and distribution, power flow analysis, faults and transient stability analysis, power systems control and renewable energy systems. Generally offered: Fall. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 4763. Power Electronics. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 3113 and EE 3413. Switch-mode power conversion, analysis and control of DC-DC converters, DC-AC inverters for motor drives and to interface renewable energy sources with utility, AC-DC rectifiers, applications in sustainable energy systems, introduction to power semiconductor devices and magnetic components. Generally offered: Spring. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4773. Electric Drives. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in EE 3513. Analysis of electric machines in combination with power electronics; torque, speed and position control; space vectors, motor drive inverter; vector control; wind energy conversion. Generally offered: Fall. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 4812. Electrical Engineering Design I. (2-1) 2 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: Completion of EE 4313, and concurrent enrollment in, or completion of, EE 4113. Business planning and project management in engineering design; discussion of ethical and social issues in design; and selection of a design project, development of a detailed design proposal, and approval of a design project. One hour of problem solving recitation per week. (Formerly EE 4811. Credit cannot be earned for both EE 4812 and EE 4811.) Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Differential Tuition: $110. Course fee: DL01 $50.

EE 4813. Electrical Engineering Design II. (2-3) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: EE 4113 and EE 4812. Complex system design; advanced ATE; project management, detailed design package, status reporting, formal oral and written technical reports, design reviews, and test plan development and execution; open-ended design project considering safety, reliability, environmental, economic, and other constraints; and ethical and social impacts. Generally offered: Fall, Spring, Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.

EE 4911. Independent Study. (0-0) 1 Credit Hour.

Prerequisites: Permission in writing (form available) from the instructor, the Department Chair, and Dean of the College. Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 semester credit hours of independent study, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree. Differential Tuition: $55.

EE 4912. Independent Study. (0-0) 2 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: Permission in writing (form available) from the instructor, the student’s advisor, the Department Chair, and Dean of the College. Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 semester credit hours of independent study, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree. Differential Tuition: $110.

EE 4913. Independent Study. (0-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: Permission in writing (form available) from the instructor, the Department Chair, and Dean of the College. Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 semester credit hours of independent study, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree. Differential Tuition: $165.

EE 4953. Special Studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

Prerequisites: May vary with the topic (refer to the course syllabus on Bluebook or contact the instructor). An organized course offering the opportunity for specialized study not normally or not often available as part of the regular course offerings. Special Studies may be repeated for credit when topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree. Generally offered: Fall, Spring. Differential Tuition: $165. Course fee: DL01 $75.