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 online 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/
The University of Maine The University of Maine
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