collageThere are numerous reasons to study Electrical Engineering (EE) at Oakland University (OU). One of the main reasons is the faculty. The EE faculty at OU are not only very experienced in their field but they are also very approachable, thoughtful and caring.
Oakland University has the perfect Electrical Engineering faculty for anyone looking to enter the Electric Power and Energy industries. Our electrical engineering programs are designed to teach you not only what you need to know, but also give you hands on experience with the latest tools and technology.
Electrical And Computer Engineering
Welcome to the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department!
As teacher-scholars, our faculty are experts in their areas, actively engaged in research activities, and committed to mentoring students in educational and professional endeavors. At the undergraduate level, the ECE Department offers two ABET-accredited degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.) with a major in electrical engineering and a B.S.E. with a major in computer engineering. Our undergraduate programs emphasize the importance of hands-on experience; many courses are accompanied by laboratory sessions led by faculty and graduate students.
We also offer year-round undergraduate research experiences to introduce students to playing an important role in engineering the future, presenting papers at conferences, and publishing in academic journals.
The Department offers five advanced graduate degrees: Master of Science (M.S.) in Electrical and Computer Engineering, M.S. in Embedded Systems, M.S. in Mechatronics, a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering. Graduate students also obtain hands-on experience in laboratories created in partnership with companies and government agencies. Graduate teaching and research assistantships are available.
The department has teaching and research labs for coursework, thesis work, research, and corporate use including an Automotive Antenna Range and a Scanning Electron Microscope sponsored by the National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation Program.
Requirements for the major in electrical engineering, B.S.E. program
Electrical engineering is a broad field encompassing a number of disciplines. Oakland University’s undergraduate program in electrical engineering is designed to provide students with the basic knowledge and skills for challenging careers in electrical engineering in the coming decades. The curriculum offers strong fundamentals in analog and digital circuits, communications, computers, controls, electromagnetics, electronics including VLSI systems, electronic devices, and power systems. In addition, a strong laboratory component of the program offers numerous design opportunities and allows students to relate theoretical ideas to practical problems using modern equipment and hardware/software tools. The program also provides numerous engineering design experiences. Electrical and computer engineering faculty members are engaged in research related to new developments in the field. Their activities contribute to a well-developed, up-to-date curriculum. The BSE in Electrical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Program educational objectives
The undergraduate program in Electrical Engineering will provide educational experiences aimed toward producing graduates who will:
- Become successful practitioners in an engineering or related career.
- Pursue graduate study and/or continuing education opportunities in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or other related disciplines.
- Demonstrate leadership and excel in multidisciplinary and multicultural environments.
- Function as responsible members of society with an awareness of the ethical and social ramifications of their work.
Course requirements (minimum of 129 total credits)
To earn the degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a major in electrical engineering, students must complete a minimum of 129 credits, demonstrate writing proficiency (see Undergraduate degree requirements) and meet the following requirements:
General education
The General Education Requirements are comprised of three parts: Foundations, Explorations, and Integration. In addition, U.S. Diversity requirements must also be met. For details, refer to the General Education section of the catalog. In order to satisfy both general education and other program requirements, in some of the general education areas students should select from the courses listed below:
Foundations:
- Writing Foundations – WRT 1060
- Formal Reasoning (Satisfied by MTH 1554 for engineering majors; see Mathematics and sciences)
Explorations: One course from each of the seven Explorations areas:
- Arts
- Language and Culture
- Global Perspective
- Literature
- Natural Science and Technology (satisfied by EGR 2400 or EGR 2500; see engineering core)
- Social Science (satisfied by ECN 1500, ECN 2010, or ECN 2020; see Additional Major Requirements)
- Western Civilization (satisfied by PHL 1310; see Additional Major Requirements)
Integration:
- Knowledge Applications (satisfied by MTH 1555 for engineering majors; see Mathematics and sciences)
- Capstone (satisfied by ECE 4999; see Required Professional Subjects)
U.S. Diversity:
- May be met by an approved course in the Explorations area
Writing Intensive:
- Writing Intensive in the Major (satisfied by ECE 4999; see Required Professional Subjects)
- Writing Intensive in General Education (may be met by an approved course in the Explorations area)
Additional Major Requirements:
All students must meet the following requirements. Courses from these selections can meet general education exploration areas above,
- Professional Ethics: PHL 1310 – Introduction to Ethics in Science and Engineering
- Economics: Choose one from ECN 1500, ECN 2010, or ECN 2020
In order to graduate on-schedule without taking additional courses, it is highly recommended that students meet with an SECS Undergraduate Academic Adviser concerning the selection of all of their general education courses.
Mathematics and sciences
- MTH 1554 – Calculus I (4)
- MTH 1555 – Calculus II (4)
- APM 2555 – Introduction to Differential Equations with Matrix Algebra (4)
- MTH 2554 – Multivariable Calculus (4)
- CHM 1430 – Chemical Principles (4)
- PHY 1610 – Fundamentals of Physics I (4)
- PHY 1620 – Fundamentals of Physics II (4)
- Approved Math/Science Elective from list below (4)
Approved Math/Science Elective Options:
Students majoring in Electrical Engineering are advised to take MTH 2775 to broaden their knowledge of Linear Algebra. However, students who have an explicit interest in broadening their knowledge in another area of math or science should select an elective from the following approved course list:
- APM 2663 – Discrete Mathematics (4)
- APM 3332 – Applied Matrix Theory (4)
- APM 3557 – Elements Partial Differential Equations (4)
- APM 4333 – Numerical Methods (4)
- APM 4334 – Applied Numerical Methods: Matrix Methods (4)
- APM 4555 – Intermediate Ordinary Differential Equations (4)
- APM 4663 – Graph Theory and Combinatorial Mathematics (4)
- APM 4777 – Computer Algebra (4)
- BIO 1200 – Biology I (4)
- BIO 3400 – Genetics (4)
- BIO 3220 – Neurobiology (4)
- BIO 4412 – Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics (4)
- CHM 1450 – General Chemistry II (4) and CHM 1480 – General Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
- MTH 3552 – Complex Variables (4)
- PHY 3250 – Biological Physics (4)
- PHY 3260 – Medical Physics (4)
- PHY 3310 – Optics (4)
- PHY 3610 – Mechanics I (4)
- PHY 3660 – Vibrations and Waves (4)
- PHY 3710 – Foundations of Modern Physics (4)
- PHY 4310 – Lasers and Applications (4)
- or others by approval by petition to the SECS Committee on Academic Standing.
Engineering core
- EGR 1200 – Engineering Graphics and CAD (1)
- EGR 1400 – Computer Problem Solving in Engineering and Computer Science (4)
- EGR 2400 – Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering (4)
- EGR 2500 – Introduction to Thermal Engineering (4)
- EGR 2600 – Introduction to Industrial and Systems Engineering (4)
- EGR 2800 – Design and Analysis of Electromechanical Systems (4)
Required professional subjects
- ECE 2005 – Electric Circuits (4)
- ECE 2700 – Digital Logic Design (4)
- ECE 3100 – Electronic Circuits and Devices I (4)
- ECE 3105 – Electronic Circuits and Devices II (4)
- ECE 3204 – Signals and Systems (4)
- ECE 3300 – Electromagnetics I (4)
- ECE 3600 – Electrical Machines (4)
- ECE 4999 – Senior Design (4)
Professional electives
From the depth areas below students must complete two Key courses, one elective under one of the key courses, and one additional elective chosen from any 4000 level ECE course. Students with an overall GPA of 3.0 or greater may select one elective from ECE 5000 or SYS 5000 level courses. Prior approval of the chairperson of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is required for ECE 4996 and ECE 4998. The professional depth areas are:
1. Communications
Key course:
Electives:
- ECE 4220 – Fundamentals of Digital Signal Processing (4)
- ECE 4230 – Satellite-based Positioning System (4)
2. Computer Engineering
Key course:
Electives:
- ECE 4710 – Computer Hardware Design (4)
- ECE 4721 – Embedded Systems Design (4)
- ECE 4772 – High Performance Embedded Programming (4)
3. Control systems
Key course:
Electives:
4. Electromagnetics
Key course:
Electives:
5. Electronics
Key course:
Electives:
6. Robotics
Key course:
Electives:
- ECE 4510 – Machine Vision (4)
- ECE 4520 – Automotive Mechatronics I (4)
- ECE 4551 – Human Robot Interaction (4)
7. Power systems
Key course:
Electives:
Major standing
To enroll in 3000- or higher-level courses and to become candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Science with a major in Electrical Engineering, students must gain major standing. An application for major standing should be submitted prior to intended enrollment in 3000- or higher-level courses. Forms may be obtained from the SECS Undergraduate Advising Office or from the SECS website. At the time that major standing is approved, students with majors of Pre-Electrical Engineering will have their major changed to Electrical Engineering. Approval of both a major standing application and change of major to Electrical Engineering is required prior to enrolling in any 3000- or higher-level courses.
To gain major standing in Electrical Engineering, students must:
A) have an average GPA of 2.0 in the following mathematics and science courses: MTH 1554, MTH 1555, APM 2555, CHM 1430, PHY 1610 and PHY 1620;
B) have an average GPA of 2.0 in the following engineering core courses: EGR 1200, EGR 1400, EGR 2400, EGR 2500, EGR 2600, EGR 2800;
C) have no more than two grades below C in the required courses listed in A and B above;
D) have not attempted any course listed in A and B above more than three times; and
E) have not repeated more than three different courses listed in A and B. Courses in which a W (withdrawal) grade is recorded will not be counted.
Conditional major standing may be granted in the semester in which the student will complete the courses listed in A and B above.
Performance requirements
Satisfactory completion of the program requires a GPA of at least 2.0 within each course group: mathematics and sciences, engineering core, and professional courses (including required professional subjects and professional electives) and a grade of C or better in the senior design capstone course (ECE 4999). Within professional courses, at most two grades below C are permitted, at most two different courses may be repeated, and a total of three attempts per course are permitted.
Sample electrical engineering program schedule
Students entering the School of Engineering and Computer Science with the required background may follow a schedule such as the one indicated below. However, students will need additional time to complete the program if they do not have the required background upon entrance to the program.
Freshman year
Fall semester – 17 credits
- CHM 1430 – Chemical Principles (4)
- EGR 1200 – Engineering Graphics and CAD (1)
- EGR 1400 – Computer Problem Solving in Engineering and Computer Science (4)
- MTH 1554 – Calculus I (4)
- WRT or General Education (4)
Winter semester – 16 credits
- EGR 2400 – Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering (4)
- MTH 1555 – Calculus II (4)
- PHY 1610 – Fundamentals of Physics I (4)
- General Education (4)
Sophomore year
Fall semester – 16 credits
- APM 2555 – Introduction to Differential Equations with Matrix Algebra (4)
- ECE 2005 – Electric Circuits (4)
- PHY 1620 – Fundamentals of Physics II (4)
- General Education (4)
Winter semester – 16 credits
- EGR 2500 – Introduction to Thermal Engineering (4)
- EGR 2600 – Introduction to Industrial and Systems Engineering (4)
- EGR 2800 – Design and Analysis of Electromechanical Systems (4)
- General Education (4)
Junior year
Fall semester – 16 credits
- ECE 3100 – Electronic Circuits and Devices I (4)
- ECE 3204 – Signals and Systems (4)
- MTH 2554 – Multivariable Calculus (4)
- General Education (4)
Winter semester – 16 credits
- ECE 2700 – Digital Logic Design (4)
- ECE 3105 – Electronic Circuits and Devices II (4)
- ECE 3300 – Electromagnetics I (4)
- ECE 3600 – Electrical Machines (4)
Senior year
Fall semester – 16 credits
- Key course-area 1 (4)
- Key course-area 2 (4)
- Mathematics and Sciences elective (4)
- General Education (4)
Winter semester – 16 credits
- Elective-area 1 (4)
- ECE Elective (4)
- ECE 4999 – Senior Design (4)
- General education (4)
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