Major/Minor Detail

Engineering (emphasis on Electrical Engineering) (BS)

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Electrical engineering is a broad field that cuts-across many other fields that utilize electrical energy: electrical/electronic devices, processes, and systems; computer systems; electromagnetic communications; and electrical control.  Thus, there are numerous well-established subfields under electrical engineering, with new ones, including increasingly multidisciplinary areas of focus (for example, nano-electronics, alternative energy, and bio-electrical engineering) being added periodically. Since electrical, electronic, computer, and electromagnetic/optoelectronic energy, communications, components, systems, and processes undergird nearly every facet of modern society’s infrastructure, the demand for electrical, electronic, computer, and related types of engineers is significant and increasing, and electrical engineering is a marketable, lucrative, geographically widespread, and fulfilling career.

An electrical engineering education and career build upon a strong foundation in mathematics, science, and engineering fundamentals, as well as, increasingly, strong laboratory/field, instrumentation, computer, problem solving, design, human relations, teamwork/leadership, economics, and communication knowledge and skills.  Historically “non-technical” issues, such as global trade, ethics, litigation, aesthetics, and the environment, are also becoming increasingly important in an electrical engineering career. 

The Electrical Engineering Program has designed a curriculum to provide its students competence in and sensitivity to these areas.  This is reflected in both the electrical engineering professional concentration area under the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degree program, and in the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) degree program.  Student knowledge, capabilities, and professionalism are also enhanced through involvement in the ASU Student Branch of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, student research and industrial internship opportunities, seminars, and a variety of other service, social, and professional activities.  

ASU electrical engineering graduates can be found in nearly every type of engineering position and have excelled in their careers.  Numerous ones have gone-on to acquire advanced degrees (master- and doctoral-level) at other institutions.  Thus, the Electrical Engineering Program does an excellent job in educating its students for the challenges and opportunities associated not only with a successful engineering career, but also with being good scholars, citizens, and contributors to society.
As does the entire College of Engineering, the Electrical Engineering Program has a mechanism in place to periodically assess its effectiveness in meeting its educational objectives and student learning outcomes.  This assessment process results in periodic modification to courses and the degree plan so as to better promote the achievement of the objectives and outcomes, themselves periodically formulated and revised, with the assistance of the Electrical Engineering Advisory Council, in relation to the evolving mission and resource base of the Program.  This occurs within the context of the evolving needs of the region and nation, and the current state-of-the profession.

The Electrical Engineering Program was established in August 2008, and thus, the BSEE degree program is not yet accredited by ABET.  In the interim period, students may obtain both the ABET-accredited BSE degree and the BSEE degree with little or no additional course requirements.