BSEE Program Overview

  BSEE Program   Overview

  Educational Objectives

  Application Information

  BSEE Degree   Requirements

  Areas of Specialization

  Minors

  EE Curriculum Electives

  Course Descriptions

  Co-op Program

  Forms and Documents

  Blue Program Booklet

  Red Program Booklet

  Instructional Labs

  Undergrad Research

  Getting More   Information

Electrical Engineering (E E) is one of the broadest of all engineering majors and is much more than just building electrical circuits. Electrical engineering is the application of electronics, electrical science and technology, and computer systems to the needs of society. An electrical engineer is responsible for designing and integrating electronic/electrical systems in diverse industries such as defense, communications, transportation, manufacturing, health care, construction, power/energy and entertainment.

Program Objectives

The mission of our undergraduate program is to provide a high-quality education in electrical engineering for our students and to instill in them the attitudes, values, and vision that will prepare them for lifetimes of success, continued learning, and leadership in their chosen careers. A combination of required and elective courses ensures that students acquire a broad knowledge base in electrical circuits, digital systems, electronic devices, electromagnetics, and linear systems, as well as expertise in one or more areas of specialization. Additional problem-solving skills and practical experience are developed through design projects and laboratory assignments, which also provide opportunities for developing team-building and technical communication skills.

The BSEE Program provides undergraduates with the broad technical education necessary for productive employment in the public or private sector, and it develops in them an understanding of fundamentals and current issues important for future years of learning. Our program prepares students following graduation for:

Electrical engineering practice in technical assignments such as design, product development, research, manufacturing, consulting, testing, sales, and management;
Proficiency in the use of modern design tools;
Participation and leadership on teams comprised of individuals with diverse professional and cultural backgrounds;
Effective written and oral communication skills;
Appreciation of the implications of design in a global, societal, and ethical context;
Continued learning through such activities as graduate school, distance education, professional training, and membership in professional societies.

Program Structure

The B.S. degree in E E begins with a first-year emphasis on math, physics, and chemistry common to all engineering students. In the second and third years, most of the course work consists of required E E lecture and laboratory courses that provide a broad exposure to the many aspects of E E. During the final three semesters, the student can select from over 30 technical electives in such areas as:

communications -- e.g., analog/digital, wireless, and satellite communications;
control systems -- e.g., servo systems, process control, robotics, and navigational systems;
digital signal processing -- e.g., digital filtering, digital audio processing, and neural networks;
digital systems (computer engineering) -- e.g., micro-controllers, digital logic, and VLSI design;
electro-optics -- e.g., lasers, holography, and fiber optic communications;
electromagnetics -- e.g., radar, antenna design, and wave propagation in space;
electronic materials and device fabrication -- e.g., semi-conductors and super conductors;
electronics -- e.g., amplifier design, integrated circuits, and instrumentation;
image processing -- e.g., medical imaging and computer vision;
power -- e.g., motors, power generation, power electronics, and power plant control;
space sciences -- e.g., the study of electrical properties of the atmosphere.

The degree culminates with a capstone design project that encompasses the various phases of creating a new product -- designing, building, testing, and even marketing. Students may also opt to participate in the co-op program , with alternating periods of classes and employment, thus obtaining invaluable on-the-job technical training.

Throughout the E E program, you will broaden your education with courses in communications (writing and speaking), arts, humanities, and the social sciences. A detailed description of degree requirements and a semester-by-semester course plan is available here .

Students who enjoy math, physics, and computer programming are likely to do well in E E because many E E areas of specialization build on these basic skills. Although students need a certain level of competence in each of these basic areas, the diversity of electrical engineering allows students to tailor their course work towards their strengths and interests. For example, mathematical models are often used to design or analyze communication systems, control systems, and electronic circuits. Physics plays a key part in the fabrication of various electronic components such as electro-optical devices and semiconductors. Likewise, computer skills are important because much of EE design is done using sophisticated software packages. Computers are also important because new technology is becoming increasingly digital in nature (such as HDTV).

Facilities

In the E E Department at Penn State, we have numerous laboratory facilities that are used in our undergraduate program. Besides numerous electronics labs, our department houses a control systems lab, a digital signal processing lab, a microwave lab, an electro-optics lab, a machinery and drives lab, and a world-class clean room (used for the fabrication of electronic devices in a sterile environment), to name a few. We are also one of the few educational institutions to have an anechoic chamber which is used for the testing of antenna radiation patterns. Our departmental computational facilities include a PC lab and UNIX workstation lab.

Cooperative Education

The College of Engineering's Co-operative Education (co-op) program is available for interested E E students. Beginning with the junior year, co-op students alternate semesters (and summers) of electrical engineering-related employment and classes, thus obtaining invaluable on-the-job training. Typically, completing the co-op program requires an additional year to earn a BSEE degree. Students who complete the co-op program receive a Certificate in Engineering Cooperative Education along with their diploma.

Student Societies

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the professional society of electrical engineering, has an active student branch at Penn State that sponsors a number of technical presentations, competitions, and social functions. We also have a Computer Society Chapter that specializes in topics related to computers. All electrical engineering students are invited to join IEEE.

Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) Association is the honor society for electrical and computer engineers. Penn State's chapter , founded in 1905, is the fifth oldest in the nation. Its activities include weekly tutoring sessions, a year-end awards banquet, and various seminars on topics such as choosing 400-level electives and planning for graduate school. Membership in HKN is by invitation.

Career Opportunities

Because the electrical engineering profession is characterized by its diversity, graduates in E E hold a wide variety of jobs. Many graduates work in laboratories where their responsibilities include designing and testing new electronic systems or devices. This design work often utilizes computer programs and test equipment that are first used while in school. Other graduates have jobs in manufacturing plants where their major responsibility is the interfacing of the electronic equipment with the rest of the plant. A growing employment opportunity within E E is in technical sales/consulting, in which graduates use their E E background as well as people skills to interface with various industrial customers. E E graduates are also found in areas such as law, marketing, finance, technical writing, and government, where they serve as technical experts. Finally, E E graduates with entrepreneurial skills are often successful by marketing themselves as consultants or starting their own companies. Regardless of which area of specialization within E E a student chooses, the job outlook remains high due to the ever-present and increasing need for electrical power, electronics, communications, and computers in all areas of our society.

Departmental Figures

The Penn State Electrical Engineering Department at University Park is composed of approximately 50 faculty members representing all areas of specialization within electrical engineering. The department offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees. There are approximately 400 Bachelor's Degree students, 125 Master's Degree students, and 125 Ph. D. students.

Last Updated: July 29, 2008

By: David Salvia
dsalvia@psu.edu