Electrical Engineering (B.S.)

Electrical Engineering (B.S.)

ECE Laboratory

What is a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering?

This program is tailored to students who want to understand and participate in the ever-growing world of electronics technology. Students learn the fundamental concepts related to the design, development, testing and modeling of a wide range of electrical systems. By gaining skills and technological expertise, students leave this program prepared to succeed in graduate studies or a variety of career fields.

Why study electrical engineering at UNH?

You’ll work in a hands-on laboratory environment that reinforces traditional classroom learning while providing the real-world skills valued by employers. Seniors choose from a suite of professional technical electives and carry out a capstone design project tailored to their career objectives. You can complete an accelerated master’s program, participate on competitive teams at national competitions and gain real-world experience at the UNH InterOperability Lab, working alongside top tech companies to test their technologies before they hit the marketplace. This ABET-accredited program has a high placement rate because of its great reputation among industry employers.

Potential Careers

  • Advanced manufacturing

  • Aerospace and defense

  • Automotive and Manufacturing industries

  • Biomedical engineering

  • Embedded computer systems

  • Integrated circuits and systems design industries

  • Internet of Things (IoT)

  • Medical IoT

  • Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

  • Telecommunications Industries

Contact

Electrical and Computer Engineering
33 Academic Way
Kingsbury Hall Room W201
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH  03824

Phone (603) 862-1357
Email: ece.dept@unh.edu

  • Electrical engineer participates in first internship/scholarship cohort at Eversource
    Matt Hamilton '24 was part of the first cohort of students participating in the Eversource internship/scholarship program, which offers a paid internship and $2,500 annual scholarship for two years from Eversource.
    Electrical engineer participates in first internship/scholarship cohort at Eversource
    Matt Hamilton '24 was part of the first cohort of students participating in the Eversource internship/scholarship program, which offers a paid internship and $2,500 annual scholarship for two years from Eversource.
  • Matt DiBiase '22
    Electrical engineering's Matt DiBiase discusses how took his passion for playing guitar and turned into into his senior design capstone project by designing and building a digital guitar effect pedal
    Matt DiBiase '22
    Electrical engineering's Matt DiBiase discusses how took his passion for playing guitar and turned into into his senior design capstone project by designing and building a digital guitar effect pedal
  • Meet a Wildcat in Electrical Engineering
    Watch Hunter Kilson discuss his favorite things about attending the University of New Hampshire and advice for those considering UNH.
    Meet a Wildcat in Electrical Engineering
    Watch Hunter Kilson discuss his favorite things about attending the University of New Hampshire and advice for those considering UNH.

Curriculum & Requirements

In addition to the university's mandatory Discovery Program requirements, degree candidates must complete our core program (freshman through junior years).  In the senior year, students select professional technical electives in the areas of their interest.   They also carry out a student-designed project to acquire both breadth and depth of study and to integrate knowledge across course boundaries.

For a detailed semester by semester list of requirements for the four years of study, please refer to the Degree Plan tab.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
ECE 401 Perspectives in Electrical and Computer Engineering 4
MATH 425 Calculus I 4
CS 410C Introduction to Scientific Programming/C 4
ECON 402
or EREC 411
Principles of Economics (Micro) 1
or Environmental and Resource Economics Perspectives
4
 Credits16
Spring
PHYS 407 General Physics I 4
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 4
MATH 426 Calculus II 4
Discovery Program Category 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
ECE 541 Electric Circuits 4
ECE 543 Introduction to Digital Systems 4
PHYS 408 General Physics II 4
MATH 527 Differential Equations with Linear Algebra 4
 Credits16
Spring
ECE 548 Electronic Design I 4
ECE 562 Computer Organization 4
MATH 645 Linear Algebra for Applications 4
Discovery Program Category 4
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall
ECE 602 Engineering Analysis 3
ECE 633 Signals and Systems I 3
ECE 652 Electronic Design II 6
Math/Science Elective 4 4
 Credits16
Spring
ECE 603 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves I 3
ECE 634 Signals and Systems II 3
ECE 647 Random Processes and Signals in Engineering 3
ECE 653 Electronic Design III 6
Discovery Program Category 4
 Credits19
Fourth Year
Fall
Two Professional Electives 2 8
Discovery Program Category 4
ECE 791 Senior Project I 3 3
 Credits15
Spring
Two Professional Electives 2 8
Discovery Program Category 4
ECE 792 Senior Project II 3 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits129
1

Students are required to take either ECON 402 Principles of Economics (Micro) or EREC 411 Environmental and Resource Economics Perspectives to fulfill the Social Science Category of the Discovery Program.

2

Four professional electives must be selected as follows:

  • Choose any of four ECE 7XX courses
  • Students are allowed to take only one ECE 795 Electrical and Computer Engineering Projects or ECE 796 Special Topics 
  • Honors students who complete ECE 791H Senior Honors Project I and ECE 792H Senior Honors Project II will satisfy one professional elective requirement as well as the requirements for ECE 791 Senior Project I and ECE 792 Senior Project II.
3

ECE 791 Senior Project I and ECE 792 Senior Project II fulfill Discovery Program Capstone Experience.

 
 
4

Math/Science Elective approved courses:  MATH 644 Statistics for Engineers and Scientists, MATH 647 Complex Analysis for Applications, CHEM 405 Chemical Principles for Engineers, PHYS 605 Experimental Physics I PHYS 615 Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Physics IMS 762 Electronic Materials Science

 
 
Fulfilling the EE Program curriculum taking ECE 401, ECE 791, and ECE 792 will automatically meet Discovery Category, "Environment, Technology and Society."

In addition to Discovery Program requirements, the department has a number of grade-point average and course requirements.

  1. Any electrical engineering major whose cumulative grade-point average in ECE courses is less than 2.0 during any three semesters will not be allowed to continue as an electrical engineering major.
  2. Electrical engineering majors must achieve a 2.0 grade-point average in all ECE courses as a requirement for graduation.

To make an exception to any of these departmental requirements based on extenuating circumstances, students must petition the department's undergraduate committee. Mindful of these rules, students, with their adviser's assistance, should plan their programs based on the distribution of courses found in the Degree Plan tab.

Required Courses 

CS 410CIntroduction to Scientific Programming/C4
ECE 401Perspectives in Electrical and Computer Engineering4
ECE 541Electric Circuits4
ECE 543Introduction to Digital Systems4
ECE 548Electronic Design I4
ECE 562Computer Organization4
ECE 602Engineering Analysis3
ECE 603Electromagnetic Fields and Waves I3
ECE 633Signals and Systems I3
ECE 634Signals and Systems II3
ECE 647Random Processes and Signals in Engineering3
ECE 652Electronic Design II6
ECE 653Electronic Design III6
ECON 402Principles of Economics (Micro)4
or EREC 411 Environmental and Resource Economics Perspectives
MATH 425Calculus I4
MATH 426Calculus II4
MATH 527Differential Equations with Linear Algebra4
MATH 645Linear Algebra for Applications4
PHYS 407General Physics I4
PHYS 408General Physics II4
Capstone
ECE 791Senior Project I3
ECE 792Senior Project II3
Mathematics or Science Elective
Select one from the following:4
CHEM 405
Chemical Principles for Engineers
MATH 644
Statistics for Engineers and Scientists
MATH 647
Complex Analysis for Applications
MS 762
Electronic Materials Science
PHYS 605
Experimental Physics I
PHYS 615
Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Physics I
Professional Electives
Choose four ECE 700-level courses 116
Other Courses
Discovery requirements not already covered by required courses 224
Total Credits129
1

Four professional electives must be selected as follows:

  • Choose any of four ECE 700-level courses
  • Students are allowed to take only one ECE 795 Electrical and Computer Engineering Projects or ECE 796 Special Topics 
  • Honors students who complete ECE 791H Senior Honors Project I and ECE 792H Senior Honors Project II will satisfy one professional elective requirement as well as the requirements for ECE 791 Senior Project I and ECE 792 Senior Project II.
2

Fulfilling the EE Program curriculum taking ECE 401 Perspectives in Electrical and Computer Engineering, ECE 791 Senior Project I, and ECE 792 Senior Project II curriculum will automatically meet Discovery Category, "Environment, Technology and Society."

The Program Educational Objectives for the Electrical Engineering Program are as follows:

  •  An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  • An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors.
  • An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  • An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
  • An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
  • An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  • An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Explore Program Details

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