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2024-2025 University Catalog

Electrical Engineering, BSEE (West Lafayette & Indianapolis)

Location(s): West Lafayette

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About the Program

The Electrical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Electrical and Computer engineering encompasses all areas of research, development, design, and operation of electrical and electronic systems and their components, including software. Emphasis in such varied areas as bioengineering, circuit theory, communication sciences, computers and automata, control systems, electromagnetic fields, energy sources and systems, and materials and electronic devices is available. Two degree programs are offered by the School: Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) and Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BSCmpE).

Engineers in both fields must have a strong background in mathematics and physics, a broad base in the humanities, and a command of the English language in order to provide the scope of knowledge essential for optimum professional growth. The curriculum offered by the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering meets these objectives.

Graduates from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering are sought after by all major industries. Electrical engineers hold many unusual and challenging positions in the aerospace, chemical, nuclear, automotive, medical, metallurgical, textile, railway, petroleum, and other basically non-electrical industries, as well as in computers, electronics, communications, power, and other electrical industries. Their professional roles span industrial activity, research, development, design, production, marketing, operation, field testing, and maintenance of many types of equipment for government, industry, farm, and home.

Two degree programs are offered by the school:

Electrical Engineering encompasses the development, design, research, and operation of electrical and electronic systems and components. Disciplines include VLSI and circuit design, communication and signal processing, computer engineering, automatic control, fields and optics, energy sources and systems, and microelectronics and nanotechnology.

Computer Engineering is a specialization within electrical and computer engineering offering an in-depth education in both hardware and software aspects of modern computer systems.

Electrical and Computer Engineering provides students with a versatile education that will prove valuable looking toward a professional future.  Along with problem-solving and design skills, students develop a strong foundation in math, science, and core electrical/computer engineering fundamentals.  This skillset prepares them for research and development positions in industry, management, sales, teaching, medical school, and law school.

At Birck Nanotechnology Center, engineers and scientists conduct research in emerging fields where new materials and tiny structures are built atom by atom or molecule by molecule.

Electrical and Computer Engineering Website

Electrical and Computer Engineering Major Change (CODO) Requirements   

Degree Requirements

124 Credits Required

Required Major Courses (52 credits minimum)

An overall 2.00 cumulative GPA or better in the Required Major Courses Area is required. Some courses have minimum grade requirements for pre-requisites.

Electrical Engineering Core Requirements (27 credits)

Required Seminars (3 credits)

Advanced Electrical Engineering Selectives - Choose Three (9-12 credits)

Electrical Engineering Electives (6-9 credits)

  • Select from the list of Electrical Engineering Electives  so that total credits for Required Major Courses is at least 52.
  • Must include at least three (3) Advanced-Level Laboratory courses. Advanced-Level Laboratory Courses taken as Advanced EE Selectives (ECE 36200, ECE 43800 and ECE 44000) also contribute to the Advanced-Level Laboratory requirement. No more than two (2) of these labs may be EE “Special Content” courses.
  • No more than 6 credit hours of EE “Special Content” courses can be used towards the 52 credit hours of Required Major Courses.

Senior Design Requirement - Choose One Option (4 credits)

All 20000-level courses and all but one 30000-level core course must be completed from above prior taking Senior Design (ECE 36200 prior to taking 47000). The remaining 30000-level core course must be taken with first semester of EPCS or VIP.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Option 3:

Must be taken in each of 2 consecutive semesters.

Option 4:

Must be taken in 2 consecutive semesters.

Optional Concentrations:

Other Department Requirements (72-78 credits)

Students must complete the First-Year Engineering  Requirements (29-30 credits).

(If pursuing Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, CS 15900 - Prog Appl for Engineers is required to graduate, but not required to complete the First Year Engineering program.)

First-Year Engineering Requirements (29-39 credits)

Click here for First-Year Engineering  requirements.

  • Requirement #1 - Intro to Engineering I (2-4 credits)
  • Requirement #2 - Intro to Engineering II (2-4 credits)
  • Requirement #3 - Calculus I (4-5 credits) (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning for core) 
  • Requirement #4 - Calculus II (4-5 credits) (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning for core) 
  • Requirement #5 - Chemistry I (4-6 credits) (satisfies Science #1 for core)
  • Requirement #6 - Physics (4 credits) (satisfies Science #2 for core)
  • Requirement #7 - First-Year Engineering Selective (3-4 credits)
  • Requirement #8 - Written and Oral Communication (6-7 credits) (could satisfy Written Communication, Information Literacy or Oral Communication for core)

General Engineering Requirement (3-6 credits)

C Programming (0-3 credits)

Required only if CS 15900 was not taken as the First Year Engineering (FYE) Science Selective.

Engineering Breadth Selective - Choose One (3 credits)

Mathematics Requirement - Choose One Option (10-11 credits)

Calculus I and II must be completed as part of the First Year Engineering Requirements.

Option 1 (10 credits)

Option 2 (11 credits)

Science Requirement (4-8 credits)

Physics I and General Chemistry are part of the First Year Engineering Requirements. If an FYE Science Selective other than CS 15900 is selected, it will satisfy the ECE Science Selective requirement below.

ECE General Education Course Requirement (17-18 credits)

  • General Education I (Human Cultures: Humanities) - Credit Hours: 3.00 (satisfies Human Cultures: Humanities for core)
  • General Education II (satisfies Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Education III (satisfies Science, Technology & Society for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Education IV - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Education V - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Education VI - Credit Hours: 3.00

C- or better required in all General Education Requirement Courses

  • 6 of 24 credits must be Upper level courses (Non-Introductory  or Upper-level Requirement: At least 6 credits must be 30000-level or above (or from courses with a required pre-requisite in the same department.)
  • 12 of 24 must be taken from College of Liberal Arts, the Krannert School of Management, and/or the Honors College-provided such courses are not focused primarily on engineering, technology, the natural sciences, or mathematics.
24 credits total of General Education Courses Required
 
6-7 credits are taken in First-Year Engineering
- General Education - FYE Requirement #8 (Written Communication) - Credit Hours: 3.00-4 credits (satisfies Written Communication for core)
- General Education - FYE Requirement #8 (Oral Communication) Credit Hours: 3.00 (satisfies Oral Communication for core)

Electives (0-8 credits)

Electives/Complementary Electives are used to bring total credits to the minimum 124 required for the BSEE degree. Students should carefully select these courses to complement their personal interests and their academic record.

  • Electives - Credit Hours: 0.00-8.00

Supplemental Lists

GPA Requirements

  • 2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Science degree.

University Requirements

University Core Requirements

For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
  • Information Literacy (IL)
  • Oral Communication (OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
  • Science #1 (SCI)
  • Science #2 (SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
  • Written Communication (WC) 

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement

The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry. For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

To obtain the Civics Literacy Proficiency, students will complete an educational activity as part of their chosen Civics Literacy Pathway and pass the Purdue Civics knowledge test.  The knowledge test can be completed at any time while the pathway is being perused.  There are three different pathways:

  • Civics Event pathway - Attend six approved civics-related events and pass the required exam; or
  • Civics Literacy Podcast pathway - Complete 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement that use C-SPAN material and pass the required exam; or
  • Approved course pathway - Complete  one of the following approved courses and pass the required exam.

More details about each pathway and how to complete the requirement can be found on the Civics Literacy Student Dashboard in myPurdue.

Upper Level Requirement

  • Resident study at Purdue University for at least two semesters and the enrollment in and completion of at least 32 semester hours of coursework required and approved for the completion of the degree. These courses are expected to be at least junior-level (30000+) courses.
  • Students should be able to fulfill most, if not all, of these credits within their major requirements; there should be a clear pathway for students to complete any credits not completed within their major.

Purdue in Indianapolis Students will be required to take the courses listed in First Year Engineering

Sample First-Year Engineering Plan of Study

Fall 1st Year

  • Requirement #1 - Intro to Engineering - Credit Hours: 2.00-4.00
  • Requirement #3 - Calculus I - Credit Hours: 4.00-5.00
  • Requirement #5 - Chemistry - Credit Hours: 4.00-6.00
  • Requirement #8 - Written or Oral Communication - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00

13-19 Credits

Spring 1st Year

  • Requirement #2 - Intro to Engineering II - Credit Hours: 2.00-4.00
  • Requirement #4 - Calculus II - Credit Hours: 4.00-5.00
  • Requirement #6 - Physics - Credit Hours: 4.00
  • Requirement #7 - First-Year Engineering Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00
  • Requirement #8 - Written or Oral Communication - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00

16-21 Credits

Sample Electrical Engineering Plan of Study

Combined with two semesters for FYE above, the following is an example of a 4-year plan that satisfies the BSEE degree requirements. It assumes that CS 15900 and a 4 credit hour Written Communication Foundational Core course were taken in the First Year.

Fall 2nd Year

16 Credits

Spring 2nd Year

17 Credits

Fall 3rd Year

15 Credits

Spring 3rd Year

15 Credits

Fall 4th Year

16 Credits

Spring 4th Year

  • Credits: 1.00
  • Advanced EE Selective with Adv Level Lab - Credit Hours: 8.00

  • EE Elective with Adv Level Lab

  • Engineering Breadth Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Education VI - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits

Pre-Requisite Information

For pre-requisite information, log in to mypurdue.purdue.edu and click here.

Critical Course

The ♦ course is considered critical.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major. Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful. These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program.”

Disclaimer

The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

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