Electrical Engineering

Overview of Curriculum Requirements

*Note: There is a curriculum change going into effect in Spring 2006 which has implications for the requirements listed below. See Electrical Engineering Curriculum Changes for details.

The basic EE curriculum requires 120 credits for graduation. The courses comprising these 120 credits can be categorized into six broad areas: (1) Mathematics and the Basic Sciences, (2) Disciplinary Foundation of Electrical Engineering, (3) Electrical Engineering Electives, (4) Non-EE Technical Electives, (5) Technical Writing, and (6) General Education Requirements.

Mathematics and Basic Sciences

This area comprises 32 credits. These courses stress the mathematical techniques and scientific principles upon which engineering is based. The courses are required and include the following:

MATH140: Calculus I (4 credits)
MATH141: Calculus II (4 credits)
MATH241: Calculus III (4 credits)
MATH246: Differential Equations for Scientists & Engineers (3 credits)
MATH4xx: (One 400-level mathematics course)
PHYS161: General Physics, Mechanics and Particles Dynamics (3 credits)
PHYS260/261: General Physics, Vibrations, Waves, Heat, and E/M (4 credits)
PHYS270/271: General Physics, Electrodynamics, Light, Relativity & Modern Physics (4 credits)
CHEM135: General Chemistry for Engineers (3 credits)

These courses contribute to the required one year of mathematics and basic sciences required of all ABET accredited programs.

Disciplinary Foundation of Electrical Engineering

The Disciplinary Foundation is the core of the Electrical Engineering degree and amounts to 38 credits. Students are required to take courses in circuits and microelectronics, electrophysics, computers/programming, and electrical systems. These courses cover the fundamental electrical engineering concepts and laboratory skills common to any professional working in the field.

ENEE114: Programming Concepts for Engineering (4 credits)
ENEE204: Basic Circuit Theory (3 credits)
ENEE206: Fundamental Electric and Digital Circuits Laboratory (2 credits)
ENEE241: Numerical Techniques in Engineering (3 credits)
ENEE244: Digital Logic Design (3 credits)
ENEE303: Analog and Digital Electronics (3 credits)
ENEE307: Electronic Circuits Design Laboratory (2 credits)
ENEE313: Introduction to Device Physics (3 credits)
ENEE322: Signal and System Theory (3 credits)
ENEE324: Engineering Probability (3 credits)
ENEE350: Computer Organization (3 credits)
ENEE380: Electromagnetic Theory (3 credits)
ENEE381: Electromagnetic Wave Propagation (3 credits)

Electrical Engineering Electives

In addition to the required engineering courses, students must complete 13 credits of electrical engineering electives. The elective courses are divided into three categories. Category A is “Advanced Theory and Applications.” Category B is “Advanced Laboratory.” Category C comprises the “Capstone Design” courses. Students must take at least 3 credits from Category A, 2 credits from Category B, and 3 credits from Category C. The remaining five credits may be taken from any one category or combination of categories. See the list of approved ENEE Technical Electives for details on which courses fall into what categories.

Non-EE Technical Electives

All students are expected to complete at least 12 credits of non-electrical engineering technical electives from a list of approved courses. At least 3 of these 12 credits must be taken as a 400-level mathematics course. Courses not specifically listed may be acceptable, but to be considered for approval, a course must: a) be at the 300- or 400-level; b) be junior- or senior-level in technical content, as evidenced by significant sophomore-level prerequisites in mathematics, physics, or engineering; and/or c) make academic sense in the student's program. Approvals of special requests are made by the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies. Note: Students must earn a 'C' or higher in engineering courses (i.e., those with the prefix ENXX) used to satisfy this requirement. Students who entered an institution higher learning in spring 2005 or after must earn a 'C' or higher in all courses used to satisfy this requirement.

Technical Writing

All engineering students in the A. James Clark School of Engineering are required to complete a 3-credit, junior-level English course in technical writing. The course typically taken is ENGL393: Technical Writing.

General Education Requirements – CORE

A degree from the University of Maryland signifies more than just mere technical or narrowly defined career training. Students are offered a liberal education that prepares them to achieve the intellectual integration and awareness they need to meet challenges in their personal, social, political, and professional lives. As such, all graduates are required to complete the University's general education or CORE requirements. Students usually do 40 credits of CORE work. Some of these requirements are satisfied in the process of completing some of the major requirements.

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