Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Electrical Engineering BS


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Electricity runs the world-which means electrical engineers have the power to change lives. As one of our students said, “One day I’m learning about new renewable energy technologies that could save the planet, and then the next day I’m learning about cutting-edge nano-robots that are used to combat cancers.” If you’ve ever taken apart a computer or appliance to figure out how it works-or if you think that sounds cool-then this is the major for you. 

Visit the Electrical Engineering academic program page for more information about the academic experience, who you will learn from, opportunities outside of class and what you can do with this degree.

Visit the Electrical Engineering department page  for contact information, a brief overview of the department and the curricular options.

Admission Criteria


  • Minimum overall GPA of 2.500 required
  • Matriculated student with academic good standing at the University at Buffalo.
  • Satisfactory performance in a series of core courses (see below). There are two paths to meet this requirement.
    1. Standard: Completion of four core courses with a combined core course grade point average of at least 2.500.
    2. Fast-Track: Completion of at least two of the four core courses (graded on an A-F bases) with a combined core course grade point average of at least 3.000.

Engineering Core Courses:

  1. Calculus 1 (MTH 141 or MTH 153)
  2. Calculus 2 (MTH 142 or MTH 154)
  3. General Chemistry 1 (CHE 101, CHE 105, or CHE 107)
  4. General Physics 1 (PHY 107 or PHY 117)

 

Current students wishing to pursue the Electrical Engineering BS must follow the instructions on the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Supplemental Application. See the complete School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Admissions Policies for details.

Course Requirements


Electrical Engineering Core (94 credits)


Technical Electives (15 Credits)


During their Junior and Senior year, students may choose to enroll in technical electives of interest. Technical electives allow undergraduates flexibility to concentrate in the broad areas of energy systems, optics and photonics, communications, signal processing and networking, and solid state electronics or to concentrate on a specific theme that may combine courses from several areas.

There are two types of electives: unrestricted technical electives and technical electives restricted to be taken from EE.

  • Three unrestricted technical electives: in principle, any 300 or 400 level course of technical nature may be considered as an unrestricted technical elective (for example, courses from SEAS, the Department of Mathematics, the Department of Physics, and others). Some restrictions may apply in cases in which courses have a large overlap with other courses in the program.
  • Two EE technical electives: Any 300 or 400 level course from the Electrical Engineering department (that is not a required course) may be considered as a technical elective.

Details on EE technical electives can be found in the UB course catalog.

Total Credits Required for Major: 109


Additional Degree Requirements Include:


  • Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements
  • Elective courses as needed to complete the 126 credit hour total

Total Credits Required for Graduation: 126


Total Credit Hours Required represents the minimum credits needed to complete this program, and may vary based on a number of circumstances. This should not be used for financial aid purposes.

Notes


*Students are permitted to take alternative programming courses EAS 230  or CSE 115  in lieu of EAS 240 , however EAS 240  is strongly preferred for Electrical Engineering majors. The alternative programming courses should only be utilized by students transferring into the program with EAS 230 , CSE 115 , or EAS 999TRCP  (general programming for transfer students) already completed. View our Computer Programming Requirement website for more information on the programming alternatives and self-study packages. 

**Students are permitted to take CSE 241  in lieu of EE 178 , however EE 178  is strongly preferred for Electrical Engineering majors. CSE 241  should only be used if the student has already completed this course or is considering a double major in Computer Engineering. 

***Students are permitted to take EAS 305  in lieu of EE 305 , however EE 305  is strongly preferred for Electrical Engineering majors. The EAS 305  option should only be utilized by students transferring into the program with EAS 305  already completed or when significant extenuating circumstances prevent a student from completing EE 305   in a timely manner. In the latter case, students should consult the department before enrolling in EAS 305 .

****Students are permitted to use PHY 151  and PHY 152  in lieu of PHY 158 , however PHY 158  is preferred for engineering majors.

*****Students are permitted to take EAS 200  in lieu of EE 202 , however EE 202  is strongly preferred for Electrical Engineering majors.EAS 200   should only be used if the student has already completed this course prior to switching majors to Electrical Engineering. 

Academic Requirements


Students in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences must have a minimum GPA of 2.000 in technical classes (engineering, math, and science classes) to be in good standing and graduate with an undergraduate degree.  To maintain academic standards and determine eligibility for continued enrollment, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences reviews the academic records of all students in an approved undergraduate SEAS major. This academic review is conducted at the end of each fall and spring semester. View the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Academic Review Policy

Transfer Credit Policy

Students seeking an undergraduate engineering degree from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences must complete 30 undergraduate credit hours of junior/senior level courses required in their major at the University at Buffalo.

Curricular Plan


A Curricular Plan provides a roadmap for completing this academic program and the UB Curriculum on time. Your actual plan may vary depending on point of entry to the university, course placement and/or waivers based on standardized test scores, earned alternative credit and/or college transfer credit. 

Total Credits: 17 or 18


Total Credits: 16 or 17


Total Credits: 15


Total Credits: 16


Total Credits: 17 or 18


Total Credits: 15


Fourth Year Fall


Total Credits: 16


Fourth Year Spring


Total Credits: 13


Total Credits Required: 126


Note: Some classes may count toward both a major and UB Curriculum requirement.

Learning Outcomes


The curriculum provides opportunities for students to develop the following knowledge, skills, and behaviors by the time of graduation:

  • an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  • an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  • an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  • an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  • an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  • an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  • an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

 

(HEGIS: 09.09 ELECTRICAL-COMMUNICA ENG, CIP14.1001 Electrical, Electronics and Communi-cations Engineering)

 

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