Electrical and Computer Engineering

John Gesink, Chair
Main Office: B-262 CEAS (Parkview Campus)
Telephone: (269) 276-3150
Fax: (269) 276-3151

Ikhlas Abdel-Qader
Johnson Asumadu
Massood Atashbar
Bradley Bazuin
Raghvendra Gejji
Janos Grantner
Dean Johnson
Daniel Litynski
Damon Miller
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, a student will study math, general education subjects, the basic sciences, engineering sciences, and design, and will practice communicating ideas orally and in writing. In the electrical engineering program, a student 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, a student will 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.

Accelerated Degree Program

The Accelerated Master’s Degree Program (ADP) allows qualified undergraduate students in the Electrical Engineering Program or in the Computer Engineering program to complete the requirements for the Master’s degree at an accelerated pace. Currently, earning 129 undergraduate credit hours is required to receive a Bachelor’s degree in either program. The Master’s degree requirement is 33 graduate credit hours with the non-thesis option, or 30 hours with the thesis option. In either case, at least 15 hours must be taken at the 6000-level. Having enrolled in the ADP program students may count up to 12 credit hours of 5000-level courses taken during their undergraduate studies at WMU toward a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, or in Computer Engineering. Full time students may be able to complete both their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in a five-year period.

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.