Electrical and Computer Engineering

John Gesink, Chair
Ikhlas Abdel-Qader
Massood Atashbar
Johnson Asumadu
Bradley Bazuin
Liang Dong
Raghvendra Gejji
Janos Grantner
Dean Johnson
Joseph Kelemen
Daniel Litynski
Damon Miller
Hossein Mousavinezhad
Norali Pernalete
Frank Severance
Ralph Tanner

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) offers two B.S.E. programs and two M.S.E. programs in electrical or computer engineering. A Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering is also offered.

The undergraduate programs described here provide engineering education in the field of electrical/computer engineering to prepare graduates for careers in many kinds of work, including construction, consulting, design, development, manufacturing, planning, research, sales, service, and teaching.

Electrical engineering areas of specialization can include: electronics (design of integrated circuits or their applications in medicine, science, or industry), control systems (such as those used in aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, or robots), instrumentation (remote measurement from satellites or spacecraft), power systems (generation and distribution of electrical energy), and communication systems (telephone, radio, and television).

Computer engineers may specialize in: automation (computer control of machining, assembly, or other manufacturing processes), computer-aided design systems (where part of the design process is carried out by computer), digital design, speech/pattern recognition and digital signal processing, data communication (e.g., between computers), computer peripherals (sensors, terminals, displays, printers, readers, and other input/output devices), and microcomputers with their applications.

In ECE programs, you will study math, general education subjects, the basic sciences, engineering sciences, and design, and you will practice communicating your ideas orally and in writing. In the electrical engineering program, you will also learn about circuits, digital logic, digital signal processing, electric power, electromagnetics, electronics, energy conversion, computers and microcomputers, communications, instrumentation, and automatic control systems.

In the computer engineering program, you will also become familiar with analysis, design, and application of electronic digital computers and systems, including the architecture and physical construction (hardware) of digital computers, and programming (software) aspects of computers and digital systems. The computer engineering curriculum also includes courses in circuits, microcontrollers, electronics, linear systems, and digital signal processing.

Cooperative Education

Students may elect the cooperative plan of education. In this plan, the student alternates a semester of study on campus with a semester of compensated industrial experience. Students may work in any area in which computer engineers or electrical engineers may be found.

Academic Advising

Students should contact the electrical/ computer engineering academic advisor as early as possible. The advisor is available to assist in individual program planning, to recommend electives appropriate to a student’s educational objectives, to discuss employment opportunities, and to help solve academic problems. Substitutions and transfer credit must be approved by a departmental advisor, curriculum committee, and department chair. The academic advisor is located in Room E-102, CEAS, (269) 276-3260. The department chair’s office is located in Room B-236 CEAS, Parkview Campus, (269) 276-3150.