Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering (EE) is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. Common EE tasks include designing communication systems, energy conversion and power delivery, control systems applications, design of analog and digital systems, and others. Below is a recommended plan of study for EE

EE Program Educational Objectives

Electrical Engineering graduates shall:

  1. Practice excellence in their profession using a systems approach encompassing technological, economic, ethical, environmental, social, and human issues within a changing global  environment;
  2. Function independently and in leadership positions within multidisciplinary teams;
  3. Continue life-long learning by acquiring new knowledge, mastering emerging technologies, and using   appropriate tools and methods;
  4. Adapt and independently extend their learning to excel in fields about which they are passionate;
  5. Strengthen teams and communities through collaboration, effective communication, public service, and leadership.

EE student outcomes

At the time of graduation, students will have demonstrated:

  • an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
  • an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
  • an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
  • an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
  • an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
  • an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
  • an ability to communicate effectively
  • the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and social context
  • a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
  • a knowledge of contemporary issues
  • an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

The electrical engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET,www.abet.org

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING CORE COURSES

Course Number Course Title Credits
ECE160 Engineering Practice 2
ECE180 Introduction to Signal Processing 4
ECE203 DC Circuits 4
ECE204 AC Circuits 4
ECE205 Circuits and Systems 4
ECE230 Introduction to Microcontrollers 4
ECE233 Introduction to Digital Systems 4
ECE250 Electronic Device Modeling 4
ECE300 Continuous-Time Signals Systems 4
ECE310 Communication Systems 4
ECE320 Linear Control Systems 4
ECE340 Electromagnetic Fields 4
ECE341 Electromagnetic Waves 4
ECE351 Analog Electronics 4
ECE362 Principles of Design 3
ECE370 or ECE 371 Power & Energy Systems or Sustainable Energy Systems 3
ECE380 Discrete-Time Signals and Systems 4
ECE460 Engineering Design I 3
ECE461 Engineering Design II 4
ECE462 Engineering Design III 2

SECOND MAJOR IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

The ECE Department will not allow the following second major combinations:

  1. Degree in Electrical Engineering and a Second Major in Computer Engineering.
  2. Degree in Computer Engineering and a Second Major in Electrical Engineering.

Other students outside of ECE can get a second major in EE by completing all of the courses in a required plan.

EE Second Major

Course Number Course Title Credits
ECE160 Engineering Practice 2
ECE180 Introduction to Signal Processing 4
ECE203 DC Circuits 4
ECE204 AC Circuits 4
ECE205 Circuits Systems 4
ECE230 Introduction to Microcontrollers 4
ECE233 Introduction to Digital Systems 4
ECE250 Electronic Device Modeling 4
ECE300 Continuous-Time Signals Systems 4
ECE310 Communication Systems 4
ECE320 Linear Control Systems 4
ECE340 Electromagnetic Fields 4
ECE341 Electromagnetic Waves 4
ECE351 Analog Electronics 4
ECE370

ECE371
Power & Energy Systems
or
Sustainable Energy Systems
4
ECE380 Discrete-Time Signals and Systems 4
MA381 Introduction to Probability with Applications to Statistics 4
Total   66

MINOR IN ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING (ECE)

The Minor in ECE is designed to allow students to add another dimension to their Rose-Hulman degree.

Advisor - ECE Department Head

Requirements for Minor in ECE

  • ECE203 or ES203 (not both)
  • Plus five additional ECE courses, except ECE362, ECE460, ECE461, ECE462, ECE466, and ECE206 

Example Minor for Engineering Physics and Optical Engineering

Course Number Course Title Credits
ECE203
 or
ES203
DC Circuits
 or
Electrical Systems
4
ECE180 Intro to Signal Processing 4
ECE204 AC Circuits 4
ECE205 Circuits and Systems 4
ECE300 Continuous Time Signals and Systems 4
ECE380
 or
ECE310
Discrete-Time Signals and Systems
 or
Communication Systems
4
Course Number Course Title Credits
ECE203
 or
ES203
DC Circuits
 or
Electrical Systems
4
ECE204 AC Circuits 4
ECE230 Intro to Embedded Systems 4
ECE233 Intro to Digital Systems 4
ECE250 Electronic Device Modeling 4
ECE351 Analog Electronics 4

Examples Minor for Computer Science and Software Engineering

Course Number Course Title Credits
ECE203  or 
ES203
DC Circuits   or
Electrical Systems
4
ECE204 AC Circuits 4
ECE230 Intro to Embedded Systems 4
ECE233 Intro to Digital Systems 4
ECE250 Electronic Device Modeling 4
ECE332 Computer Architecture II 4
Course Number Course Title Credits
ECE203  or 
ES203
DC Circuits
 or
Electrical Systems
4
ECE180 Intro to Signal Processing 4
ECE205 Circuits and Systems 4
ECE230 Intro to Embedded Systems 4
ECE233 Intro to Digital Systems 4
ECE332 Computer Architecture II 4

 Examples Minor for Mechanical Engineering

Course Number Course Title Credits
ECE203
 or
ES203
DC Circuits
 or
Electrical Systems
4
ECE204 Required AC Circuits 4
ECE370 Power & Energy Systems 4
ECE371 Sustainable Energy Systems 4
ECE470 Power Systems I 4
ECE471 Industrial Power Systems 4
Course Number Course Title Credits
ECE203
 or
ES203
DC Circuits
 or
Electrical Systems
4
ECE180 Intro to Signal Processing 4
ECE204 AC Circuits 4
ECE233 Intro to Digital Systems 4
ECE250 Electronic Device Modeling 4
ECE351 Analog Electronics 4

 

Areas of Concentration

Concentration In Energy Production, Utilization, And Forecasting

Rising energy costs, air pollution, climate change, petrochemical production, environmental friendly and green processes and machines, alternative power sources and renewable energy are some of the topics topping local, national and international news. Rose-Hulman offers a series of courses, across several disciplines that broadens, educates and addresses solutions to these relevant contemporary issues.

Students who complete any five of the recommended courses in Energy Production, Utilization, and Forecasting area of concentration may receive, upon request, a letter from their Department Head, a certificate and transcript annotation attesting to the fact that the student has completed the requirements in this area of concentration in the Energy Production, Utilization, and Forecasting. With proper planning, students should be able to take these course offerings without overload.

Recommended Energy Production, Utilization, and Forecasting Concentration Courses.

  • CE 561 Air Pollution
  • CE 590 Climate Change Assessment
  • CHE 490 Energy and the Environment
  • CHE 512 Petrochemical Processes
  • ECE 370 Power & Energy Systems
  • ECE 371 Sustainable Energy Systems
  • ME 407 Power Plants
  • ME 408 Renewable Energy

ENHANCED STUDY IN COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

Communications Concentration (intended for students majoring in EE or CPE)

ECE 310 Communication Systems plus any three courses from the list

  • ECE 312 Communication Networks
  • ECE 412 Software Defined Radio
  • ECE 414 Wireless Systems
  • ECE 415 Wireless Electronics
  • ECE 418 Fiber Optic Systems
  • ECE 510 Error Correcting Codes
  • ECE 511 Data Communication
  • ECE 553 Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuit Design

Communications Certificate (intended for students majoring in EE or CPE)

  • ECE 300 Continuous-Time Signals Systems
  • ECE 380 Discrete-Time Signals and Systems
  • ECE 310 Communication Systems
  • MA 381 Introduction to Probability with Applications to Statistics

plus any four courses from the above Communications Concentration list.

Minor in Communications (Minor in ECE with a Communications Focus) (intended for students not majoring in EE or CPE)

  • ECE203 DC Circuits
  • ECE204 AC Circuits
  • ECE205 Circuits and Systems
  • ECE300 Continuous-Time Signals Systems
  • ECE310 Communication Systems

plus one additional course from the above Communications Concentration list.

ENHANCED STUDY IN POWER SYSTEMS

Power Certificate

Take all of the following courses:

  • ECE 473 Control of Power Systems, Pre: ECE 470
  • ECE 472 Power Systems II, Pre: ECE 470
  • ECE 471 Industrial Power Systems, Pre: ECE 370
  • ECE 470 Power Systems I, Pre: ECE 370
  • ECE 371 Sustainable Energy Systems ,Pre: ECE 204
  • ECE 370 Power & Energy Systems, Pre: ECE 204
  • ECE 204 AC Circuits, Pre: ECE203 with a grade of C or better and PH113
  • ECE 203 DC Circuits, Pre: MA111 and PH112

Optical Communications Certificate

Faculty advisors: B. Black and S. Granieri

Rose-Hulman has become a leader in providing opportunities for students to choose a great mainstream degree program with flexibility to specialize in other areas of interest. This leadership is in no way limited to only traditional areas of study. One of these new areas that had a high impact in technology is optical communications. It is a rapidly growing field requiring investment beyond the traditional program structure, and is well suited to the students at Rose-Hulman All these topics are closely related to well established disciplines as optics and electronics. Considerable R&D efforts are allocated in both university and industrial laboratories enhancing the demand for both researchers and engineers with expertise in the field.

We propose the creation of a new certificate program in Optical Communications to enhance the programs currently offered. Combining expertise in Optical and Electrical Engineering, this program requires an interdisciplinary emphasis that is beyond the traditional content of either of its parent programs. This program is more than just the creation of the certificate program Optical Communications. This program will be critical to help developing a more interdisciplinary interaction for students and faculty. The creation of a workgroup within the faculty of both departments will coordinate current courses and resources, create new courses of interest for the field, and develop a showcase testbed education and research laboratory. Primary objectives include the removal of redundancy from existing courses, increasing interaction between the PHOE and ECE departments, and improving opportunities for students in the field.

This certificate is designed to give the student a firm theoretical and practical working knowledge in the area of fiber optic devices, optical communications, networks and its applications. The main purpose is to couch these fundamentals in a context that serves as the backbone for device, components and sub-system development for use in high-speed optical data and information links and networks. At the end of the program the student will be expected to:

  1. Understand the fundamental operation characteristics of high speed optoelectronic components, such as laser transmitters, light modulators and receivers and passive fiber optic components as connectors, couplers, filters, and switches.
  2. Understand the technology and performance of analog and digital fiber optic links, optical amplification and optical wavelength division multiplexing and optical time division multiplexing networks.
  3. Have a hands-on working knowledge of the use of fiber optic test equipment and techniques used by industry and telecommunication companies to test the performance of optical fiber links and components, such as, optical time domain reflectometry, optical spectrum analyzers and optical bit error testing equipment.

The Certificate will consist of 20 credit hours of which 12 credit hours will be required courses. Students interested in pursuing this Certificate should contact an ECE/PHOE certificate advisor (Professors Black, Bunch, and Granieri)

Required Courses

  • ECE 310 Communication Systems
  • OE 393 Fiber Optics and Applications
  • OE 493 Fundamentals of Optical Fiber Communications

Elective Courses (two from the list)

Only courses not required for the student's major will count for electives in the certificate.

  • ECE 380 Discrete-Time Signals and Systems
  • ECE 312 Communication Networks
  • ECE 414 Wireless Systems
  • OE 360 Optical Materials and Opto-mechanics
  • OE 435 Biomedical Optics
  • OE 450 Laser Systems and Applications
  • OE 485 Electro-Optics and Applications

Plan of Study

Freshman Open Close
Sophomore Open Close
Junior Open Close
Senior Open Close

AREA ELECTIVES
At least two of the three Area Electives must bear an ECE prefix at the 400 level or above
At most one of the Area Electives can bear an ECE or CSSE prefix at the 300 level or above
Exceptions to this requirement may be granted by the ECE Department Head

TECHNICAL ELECTIVE - Any course NOT bearing a GS, RH, IA, SV, GE, JP, and SP prefix

NOTES

  1. MA 351-356 Problem Solving Seminar may not be combined and substituted for the math elective.
  2. EE seniors are strongly encouraged to take MA 371 Linear Algebra I or MA 373 Applied Linear Algebra for Engineers
  3. EE majors are not permitted to take ECE 206 Elements of Electrical Engineering as a free electives or technical elective. Free electives may be selected from any other R-HIT courses.
  4. EE majors may take any additional mathematics or biomathematics classes to satisfy the departmental mathematics requirement, and any biology, chemistry, geology or physics courses to satisfy the departmental science requirement. Courses that are cross-referenced with any engineering courses will not satisfy either the mathematics or science requirements. 
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