Undergraduates.
Electrical Engineering Major.
The undergraduate Electrical Engineering (EE) program leads to the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) Degree with a Major in Electrical Engineering (EE). The EE program is fully accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone: (410) 347-7700.
This program provides more opportunities and is less restrictive than many other EE programs in the United States. Students use this flexibility to expand their personal horizons or to explore a personal interest more deeply. As is fitting in a University with a strong liberal-arts tradition, many students take more than the minimum required courses in the sciences and the liberal arts, and, often, complete a minor in Arts and Sciences or a second major in Arts and Sciences or Engineering in an area of professional importance. Sample programs for several popular minors and majors are illustrated in the pages that follow. In each case only a single BSE degree is awarded, with the transcript indicating the program scope and the accomplished minors and majors.
Students who plan their programs well can in their Junior and Senior years undertake independent study with faculty active at the frontiers of engineering research and/or participate in international programs.
Minimum course requirements for the Electrical Engineering (EE) program are:
- WRITING 20, during the first academic year
- 5 elective Social Sciences or Humanities courses, appropriately distributed
- A 6-course mathematics and probability/statistics sequence (MATH 31, 32, 103, 107 & 108; and STA 113 or MATH 135 or ECE 255)
- 4 natural science courses (CHEM 21L, PHYSICS 61L and 62L (see NOTE below), BIOLOGY 25L)
- EGR 53L (see NOTE below)
- ECE 27L, 51L, 52L, 53L, 54L, and 163L
- Four approved EE Concentration Electives, with two different areas represented and at least two courses in one of the elected areas
- An Engineering Design Elective
- One Elective ECE Course
- 5 Free Electives
Thirty-four distinct courses are required. An elected course that belongs to more than one requirements category may be counted only once.
These EE requirements are described in greater detail in the sections that follow and are reflected in the illustrated sample programs. Additional free electives may be taken if students opt to elect more than the minimum 34 course credits required by Duke for graduation of if they matriculate with AP credit for required courses.
The four EE Concentration Electives ensure that graduates have breadth across important areas of modern electrical engineering and that they have sufficient depth to begin professional work with confidence in at least one area. Areas of concentration for undergraduate study are described elsewhere in this Guide.
Prior to graduation, each Electrical Engineering major must complete while resident in Durham at Duke an approved Engineering Design Elective. This elective provides a significant design experience which integrates science, engineering and design principles from prior background and advanced courses. It is usually taken during the Senior year but, with permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS), it can be taken in the Junior year.
The Bulletin of Duke University for Undergraduate Instruction describes the full set of courses open to undergraduates. Much of this same information is available on-line. Because all courses are not offered each semester, students are encouraged to discuss options with their Academic Advisor and to plan a program that incorporates some flexibility, taking account of course prerequisites. Since the six basic courses ECE 27L, 51L, 52L, 53L, 54L and 163L are prerequisites for many of the advanced courses, students are encouraged to take these required courses early.
Students contemplating minors or dual majors should discuss options with their academic advisor and with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) in the second department. By careful early selection of courses, students can minimize duplication of course material and ensure full coverage of important core material.
NOTE: PHYSICS 51L and 52L are acceptable substitutes for PHYSICS 61L and 62L, respectively.
Page content last updated September 24 2007 21:35:37.