Mar 28, 2024  
2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Electrical Engineering


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OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 131

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: Repeating any ECE course for which a grade of F, L, or WF has been recorded requires a grade of C- or better in prerequisites for the course. Dismissal from the program will be recommended if any required course in the program is taken twice without achieving a passing grade. This includes courses where a grade of AU, L, or WF is received.

Other GPA requirements to graduate: Minimum of a cumulative 2.0 GPA for all courses taken. Minimum of a cumulative 2.0 GPA for all ECE courses taken.

Contact Information:  Donald Hummels, Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering, 101 Barrows Hall, 207 581 2223


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 ensure that students obtain a solid educational background in electrical engineering so that they are nationally competitive and successful in their chosen profession and are prepared for future graduate training.  To achieve this, towithin two to five years of graduation, graduates of the computer engineering program will:

  1. Demonstrate a solid foundation in electrical engineering by holding positions that utilize their engineering training, advancing in their job responsibilities, and/or be pursuing postgraduate education.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to function in the workplace through independent thought, problem solving, teamwork and effective communication.
  3. Be working as engineering professionals, acting ethically, adhering to standards and be committed to the welfare of employees and the general population.
  4. Participate in lifelong learning activities to continue their professional development.

Program Description
The Electrical Engineering curriculum provides students with the technical skills as well as the  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, except for the Chemistry requirement, 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 program.

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. Repeating any ECE course for which a grade of F, L, or WF has been recorded requires a grade of C- or better in prerequisites for the course. Dismissal from the program will be recommended if any required course in the program is taken twice without achieving a passing grade. This includes courses where a grade of AU, L, or WF is received. Any exceptions to the program specifics listed above require approval of the Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty.  The program in Electical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone: (410) 347-7700. 

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 the University of Maine.  The University of Maine offers programs leading to advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. These programs are described in the University of Maine Graduate School Online Catalog.

Cooperative and Research Work 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 
Many career paths are 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, Sandia Labs, Analog Devices, Mitre Corporation, International Paper, Proctor & Gamble, BAE, 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 at www.eece.maine.edu

Suggested curriculum for the B.S. in Electrical Engineering (See Footnote 1)


The curriculum  may be arranged in many ways to accommodate different goals: For example, one may obtain a double major, lighten the course load, or participate in a co-op work experience. Any variation from the above schedule should be done in consultation with the student’s advisor. Early consultation is particularly important if a co-op work experience or double major is being considered.

First Year - Second Semester


Second Year - First Semester


Third Year - First Semester


Third Year - Second Semester


Fourth Year - First Semester


Fourth Year - Second Semester


Special Requirements:


Technical Electives

The curriculum requires seven technical elective courses used to broaden a student’s knowledge. Of these seven elective courses, at least three electives must be Electrical Engineering (EE) focus courses chosen from the list below; two must be 300-level or higher ECE courses excluding ECE 394, and two must be Generic Technical Elective courses described below.

1. Courses that satisfy the Electrical Engineering Focus requirement are:

  • ECE323 Electric Power Conversion
  • ECE383 Communications Engineering I
  • ECE427 Electric Power Systems
  • ECE444 Analog Integrated Circuit Design
  • ECE445 Analysis and Design of Digital Integrated Circuits
  • ECE453 Microwave Engineering
  • ECE462 Introduction to Basic Semiconductor Devices
  • ECE464 Microelectronics Science and Engineering
  • ECE465 Introduction to Sensors
  • ECE466 Sensor Technology and Instrumentation
  • ECE484 Communications Engineering II
  • ECE498 Selected Topics in ECE with EE Focus

2. Generic technical electives include 300–level or higher ECE courses including ECE 394, or with approval of the student’s advisor, selected from various advanced Math, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering or Computer Science courses. For a minor in Business Administration or 5-year BS/MBA program, up to two technical electives can be satisfied by taking BUA 325 or BUA 350 with the provision that upon graduation, the student also satisfied all requirements for the Business minor or BS/MBA program. The following 100- and 200-level courses have been approved to satisfy the Generic Technical Elective requirement. Other courses may be permitted but require written approval from the ECE Department Chair.

  • CHB 200 Fundamentals of Process Engineering
  • CIE 231 Fundamentals of Environmental Eng.
  • COS 221 Introduction to Computer Science II
  • ECE 198 Selected Topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • EET 276 Programmable Logic Controllers
  • INV 180 Create: Innovation Engineering I
  • INV 182 Communicate: Innovation Engineering II
  • INV 392 Commercialize: Innovation Engineering III
  • MEE 150 Applied Mechanics: Statics
  • MEE 230 Thermodynamics I
  • MEE 252 Statics and Strength of Materials
  • MEE 270 Applied Mechanics: Dynamics

Areas of Concentration
Students may choose to concentrate electives in various sub-disciplines of Electrical Engineering. The recommended electives for the various specialties are listed below:

Communications and Wireless

  • ECE 383 Communications Engineering I
  • ECE 484 Communications Engineering II
  • ECE 453 Microwave Engineering

Power and Alternative Energy

  • ECE 323 Electric Power Conversion
  • ECE 427 Electric Power Systems

Microelectronics and Circuits

  • ECE 444 Analog Integrated Circuit Design
  • ECE 445 Analysis and Design of Digital Integrated Circuits 
  • ECE 462 Introduction to Basic Semiconductor Devices
  • ECE 464 Microelectronics Science and Engineering
  • PHY 236 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

State and Sensors

  • ECE 453 Microwave Engineering
  • ECE 462 Introduction to Basic Semiconductor Devices
  • ECE 464 Microelectronics Science and Engineering
  • ECE 465 Introduction to Sensors
  • ECE 466 Sensor Technology and Instrumentation

Basic Science Elective:
In addition to CHY 131/133, PHY 121 and PHY 122, the curriculum requires at least 4-credit hours in physical or biological sciences to broaden a student’s knowledge base in science. Courses satisfying the Basic Science Elective include:

  • AST 215/110 General Astronomy I
  • AST 216/110 General Astronomy II
  • BIO 100 Basic Biology
  • ERS 101 Introduction to Geology
  • ERS 102 Environmental Geology of Maine
  • PHY 236/223 Quantum Physics/Special Relativity

Human Values and Social Context and Ethics:
In addition to CMJ 103, the curriculum requires five courses to complete the General Education Requirements in Ethics and Human Values and Social Context (HV&SC). In addition to the Ethics requirement, the five areas under HV&SC are: Western Cultural Tradition, Social Contexts and Institutions, Cultural Diversity and International Perspective, Population and the Environment, and Artistic and Creative Expression. Note that CMJ 103 satisfies the Social Contexts and Institutions requirement. The structure of the ECE curriculum guarantees that all other General Education Requirements are met. You may elect to take ERS 102  to satisfy your Basic Science requirement and the “Population and the Environment” area of the 18 credit hour HV&SC requirement. This option frees up 3 credit hours which can be used to take an additional Technical Elective.

Minimum Credit Hours to Graduate: 131


Footnote 1:  This is only a sample curriculum. Adjustments, such as interchanging Human Values and Social Context (HV & SC) courses and technical electives, and switching ECE 342, ECE 351, ECE 486, and ECE 414 between Junior and Senior years, can be made to suit individual preferences. Check with your academic advisor for assistance. Be sure all degree requirements listed on the check-off sheet are met.

Footnote 2:  ERS 102 can be used to satisfy the Basic Science and HV&SC Elective under the Population and Environment categories. If  taken, the three credit hours that is freed up can be replaced with a technical elective. 

Footnote 3ECE 316 can be replaced with either CHB 350 or MAT 332.

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