Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Electrical Engineering


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OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 124

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.

Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience: ECE 403

Contact Information:  Donald Hummels, Professor and 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 and more detailed information about the Department, its programs, career opportunities, scholarships, and a wealth of other materials are available on the Web at www.ece.umaine.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, within two to five years of graduation, graduates of the electrical engineering program will:

  1. Demonstrate a solid foundation in electrical engineering by holding positions that utilize their engineering training, advancing in their job responsibilities, 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 graduates who can carry a technical project from inception through to implementation of a successful solution. The process begins in the first year of the program when students learn to prototype digital circuits and program a microcontroller. It continues through the senior year when they complete their capstone design projects. In this latter case, students usually work in two-person teams over three semesters where they propose, specify, create, present, and demonstrate a solution to a technical problem of their choosing.

To obtain a BS degree 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 receiving a passing grade. This includes courses where a grade of AU, L, or WF is received. Students may petition the ECE faculty for exceptions to any program requirements. The program in Electrical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Electrical Engineering Degree Requirements


University General Education Requirements


Mathematics, Science, and Writing Competency: covered by required Electrical Engineering courses

Capstone Experience: Fulfilled by completing ECE 401 , ECE 402 , and ECE 403  

Human Values and Social Context (HV&SC) (18 cr. covering the areas below):

  1. Western cultural tradition
  2. Social context and institutions
  3. Cultural diversity and international perspectives
  4. Population and the environment
  5. Artistic and creative expression

Ethics: A separate course, or a course in HV&SC category within the General Education requirements.

Required Courses


ECE Technical Electives


15 total credits of ECE 300,400, or 500 level courses, excluding ECE 394. At least 9 credits of these must be from the list of Electrical Engineering focus courses:

Generic Technical Electives


  • 6 credits with advisor approval, typically 300 level or higher

Concentration in Power Engineering


The Power Concentration for Electrical Engineering majors reflects an increased background in the generation and delivery of electric energy. Students complete a collection of core and elective courses with emphasis in the design, control, and application of power and energy systems. This concentration prepares students for working in the power utility industry, construction industry, submarine and aircraft manufacturing, and/or attending graduate school for research and development in smart grid, renewable energy, and other electric energy related technologies.

To complete a Concentration in Power Engineering, students receiving the B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering must complete the required power concentration core courses, and at least six credits of approved power elective courses. Of the courses used to complete the concentration, at least seven credits must be beyond the base requirements for the Electrical Engineering degree.

Power Concentration Required Core Courses


Power Concentration Approved Elective Courses


6 credits required from the Approved Elective Course list.

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