The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers undergraduate
and graduate degrees in both Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering.
Additional information about the Department and programs are available on the
Web at www.eece.maine.edu.
The mission of the Electrical Engineering program is to provide quality
education, research and public service in the discipline of electrical
engineering. Toward accomplishing this mission the Department has set the
following objectives for its Electrical Engineering curriculum:
- To assist and encourage students in developing a solid foundation in
electrical engineering and some of its sub-disciplines.
- To guide students in their preparation for a broad range of career
opportunities.
- To help students develop the ability to function in the workplace through
teamwork and effective communication.
- To help students become aware of their moral, ethical, legal, and
professional obligations to hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of
the public.
- To help students develop an appreciation for the necessity of lifelong
learning.
Program Description
The Electrical Engineering curriculum provides students with the technical
skills as well as the basic mathematical and scientific background required to
advance current technology and contribute to future developments in the
electrical engineering profession. The curriculum strives to instill critical
written and oral communication skills in addition to providing a diverse
background in the humanities and social sciences.
The curriculum adopts a practical hands-on approach that combines classroom
theory and laboratory experience to produce an engineer who can carry a
technical project from inception through to the implementation of a successful
solution. The process begins in the first year of the program when students
learn to prototype digital circuits and program micro-controller boards. It
continues through the senior year when they complete their capstone design
projects. In this latter case, students, usually working in two-person teams
over three semesters, propose, specify, create, present, and demonstrate a
solution to a technical problem of their choosing.
A double major leading to a BS in both Electrical and Computer Engineering is
a popular option for many students. By a judicious choice of electives and
early planning, this option can be achieved in an extra semester or by taking
summer courses. Note that the first year curriculum is the same for electrical
and computer engineers and that the sophomore year is very similar for the two
majors. Students interested in the possibility of a double major should
consult with their advisors early in their programs.
To obtain a BS in Electrical Engineering, a student must: (1) meet all
University academic requirements; (2) meet all Electrical Engineering
curriculum requirements; and (3) have a GPA of 2.0 or better in all ECE
courses. Any exception to the above policies requires approval of the
Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty. The undergraduate degree is
accredited by the Engineering Association Commission of the Accreditation
Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Our undergraduate program prepares students for graduate work as well as
industry. Many of our students choose to pursue further study at graduate
schools across the U.S. as well as at Maine. Maine offers programs leading to
advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. These
programs are described in the University of Maine Graduate School Catalog.
Practical Experience
Students are strongly encouraged to pursue a co-op work experience. These
co-op experiences must be pre-approved by the student’s advisor and the co-op
coordinator. They may be taken during the summer as well as the fall or spring
semesters. Summer-fall and spring-summer placements are particularly
worthwhile. To gain additional practical experience many undergraduate
students take advantage of opportunities to work with ECE faculty on research
and development projects. Because many of these projects are related to
real-world problems and may actually be sponsored by industry, students gain
invaluable insight into how to apply their classroom learning to solve
industrial problems. The Department strongly encourages both of these
approaches through advising and by giving technical elective credit for
substantial experiences.
Employment Opportunities
There are many career paths open to electrical engineers - few professions
have the breadth of opportunities offered by an electrical engineering
education. In addition to technical careers, electrical engineers may enter
totally different careers such as medicine, business, or teaching where their
broad background and problem solving skills are a wonderful preparation. On
the technical side, electrical engineers may choose research, development,
sales, or management where they can use their understanding of electrical
phenomena to solve problems in such diverse areas as energy, the environment,
transportation, communications, and health care. Specific projects might
include developing a new surgical tool, or artificial organ, or working on a
more environmentally friendly energy generation system using advanced solar
cell panels, or creating a new integrated circuit that would make computers
more powerful and user-friendly. Our graduates find employment with local,
national, and international companies as well as government agencies. Specific
examples include IBM, Raytheon, National Semiconductor, Fairchild
Semiconductor, Tundra Semiconductor, Sandia Labs, Sun Microsystems, Analog Devices, Mitre,
International Paper, and Hewlett Packard. For more examples please visit our
Department web page at www.eece.maine.edu and click on the Alumni/ae link.
Scholarships
The department has several scholarships available on a competitive basis for
students majoring in electrical or computer engineering. Outstanding incoming students
should apply for college and departmental scholarships through the College of
Engineering. Scholarship information is also available by following the “Perspective Students” link at the department web page
www.eece.maine.edu/