Electrical and Computer Engineering, Communications, Signal Processing, Networks, and Systems (BSECE)
Communications, Signal Processing, Networks, and Systems
Communications, signal processing, networks, and systems broadly encompasses the principles underlying the design and implementation of systems for information transmission. The field considers how information is represented, compressed, and transmitted on wired and wireless links and how communication networks can be, and are, designed and operated. A student who chooses this technical concentration should recognize that communications and networking is a broad application domain where many engineering tools come into play: from circuit design for wireless phones to embedded network processors to system and application software for networked systems.
Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering
The curriculum in electrical engineering and computer engineering is designed to educate students in the fundamentals of engineering, which are built upon a foundation of mathematics, science, communication, and the liberal arts. Graduates should be equipped to advance their knowledge while contributing professionally to a rapidly changing technology. Areas in which electrical and computer engineers contribute significantly are: communications, signal processing, networks and systems, electronics and integrated circuits, energy systems and renewable energy, fields, waves and electromagnetic systems, nanoelectronics and nanotechnology, computer architecture and embedded systems, and software engineering and design. Typical career paths of graduates include design, development, management, consulting, teaching, and research. Many graduates seek further education in law, medicine, business, or engineering.
The core requirements of the Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering provide a foundation of engineering fundamentals. Students then build on the core requirements by choosing an advanced technical component and a set of free electives from within or outside of the department. Once the technical core area is chosen, the student is assigned a faculty advisor with expertise in that area to help the student select technical core courses that are appropriate to his or her career and educational goals. The curriculum thus ensures breadth through the core courses and the choice of a technical elective; technical core area coursework provides additional depth.
Program Educational Objectives
Electrical and computer engineering graduates should:
- Be highly skilled, trained, and educated for the ethical practice of electrical and computer engineering in industry and public service
- Exhibit leadership in technical or business activity through engineering ability, communication skills, and knowledge of contemporary and global issues
- Continuously educate themselves through professional study and personal research to expand and apply knowledge within and outside the discipline
- Use their engineering ability and creative potential to create technology solutions that consider environmental and social impacts to improve the quality of life in society
- Be able to develop and design systems, artifacts, and methods either individually or in teams
- Be prepared for admission to, and to excel in, the best graduate programs in the world
Portable Computing Devices
Students enrolled in a degree program in electrical and computer engineering will be expected to own a portable computing device capable of compiling and running a program suitable for use in the classroom and on the University wireless network. Use of these devices in the classroom and as a general part of the learning experience within our programs is at the discretion of faculty and not all classes or courses of instruction will require the use of these devices. Once admitted, students will be informed by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (ECE) office about specific device requirements.
Student Outcomes
Electrical and computer engineering graduates should demonstrate:
- 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
Total Hours Required: 125
Plan of Study
The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| ECE 302 | Introduction to Electrical Engineering | 3 |
| ECE 306 | Introduction to Computing | 3 |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ECE 319K | Introduction to Embedded Systems | 3 |
| M 408D | Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| PHY 303K | Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 105M | Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | 1 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| ECE 411 | Circuit Theory | 4 |
| M 427J | Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
| PHY 303L | Engineering Physics II | 3 |
| PHY 105N | Laboratory For Physics 302L, 303L, and 317L | 1 |
| Visual and Performing Arts (050) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ECE 312 | Software Design and Implementation I | 3 |
| ECE 313 | Linear Systems and Signals | 3 |
| M 340L | Matrices and Matrix Calculations | 3 |
| Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| ECE 333T | Engineering Communication | 3 |
| ECE 351K | Probability and Random Processes | 3 |
| Advanced technical component | 4 | |
| Advanced technical component laboratory | 4 | |
| Advanced technical component requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Advanced technical elective | 3 | |
| Free elective (mathematics or basic science) | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Advanced technical component requirement | 3 | |
| Advanced technical component elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| ECE 364D or ECE 364E |
Introduction to Engineering Design or Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship |
3 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Advanced technical component electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 4 | |
| Corporate Senior Design Project | ||
| Multidisciplinary Senior Design Project | ||
| Honors Senior Design Project | ||
| Senior Design Project | ||
| Research Senior Design Project | ||
| Start-Up Senior Design Project | ||
| Advanced technical component elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 125 | |
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration | ||
| ECE 325 | Electromagnetic Engineering | 3 |
| or ECE 351M | Digital Signal Processing | |
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Automatic Control | ||
| Digital Image Processing | ||
| Introduction to Digital Communications | ||
| ECE 445S | Real-Time Digital Signal Processing Laboratory | 4 |
| or ECE 471C | Wireless Communications Laboratory | |
| M 427L | Advanced Calculus for Applications II | 4 |
| Hours chosen from: | 12 | |
| Electromagnetic Engineering | ||
| Antennas and Wireless Propagation | ||
| Real-Time Digital Signal Processing Laboratory | ||
| Digital Signal Processing | ||
| Algorithms | ||
| Data Science Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Digital Communications | ||
| Data Science Principles | ||
| Introduction to Automatic Control | ||
| Microwave and Radio Frequency Engineering | ||
| Wireless Communications Laboratory | ||
| Digital Image Processing | ||
| Discrete Mathematics | ||
| Introduction to Stochastic Processes | ||
| Real Analysis I | ||
| Subtotal | 26 | |
| Degree (see details below) | 61 | |
| Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | 14 | |
| Subtotal | 75 | |
| General Education | ||
| Remaining Core Curriculum (42 hours total) | 24 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | ||
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| College Requirements - Engineering | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 125 | |
Degree-Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Computer Engineering Courses | ||
| ECE 302 | Introduction to Electrical Engineering (part II science and technology) | 3 |
| or ECE 302H | Introduction to Electrical Engineering: Honors | |
| ECE 306 | Introduction to Computing | 3 |
| ECE 411 | Circuit Theory | 4 |
| ECE 312 | Software Design and Implementation I | 3 |
| or ECE 312H | Software Design and Implementation I: Honors | |
| ECE 313 | Linear Systems and Signals | 3 |
| ECE 319K | Introduction to Embedded Systems | 3 |
| or ECE 319H | Introduction to Embedded Systems: Honors | |
| ECE 333T | Engineering Communication | 3 |
| ECE 351K | Probability and Random Processes | 3 |
| ECE 364D | Introduction to Engineering Design | 3 |
| or ECE 364E | Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship | |
| Hours chosen from: senior design project | 4 | |
| Multidisciplinary Senior Design Project | ||
| Honors Senior Design Project | ||
| Senior Design Project | ||
| Research Senior Design Project | ||
| Start-Up Senior Design Project | ||
| Advanced Technical Elective: Within Any Core of Electrical Engineering | ||
| Within any core of Electrical Engineering, Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
One upper-division electrical engineering course | ||
| Digital Logic Design | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | 8 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Differential and Integral Calculus | ||
| Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Differential Calculus | ||
| Integral Calculus | ||
| Multivariable Calculus | ||
| M 427J | Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
| M 340L | Matrices and Matrix Calculations | 3 |
| Physics | ||
| PHY 303K | Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 105M | Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | 1 |
| PHY 303L | Engineering Physics II | 3 |
| PHY 105N | Laboratory For Physics 302L, 303L, and 317L | 1 |
| Rhetoric and Writing | ||
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| Total Hours | 61 | |
Additional Requirements and Policies
Enrollment in ECE 333T, ECE 160, ECE 260, ECE 360, ECE 460, and ECE 379K requires completion of ECE 312 or ECE 313 with a grade of at least C-.
Pre-approved courses are used to fulfill technical core, advanced math and/or science and core technical electives; other elective courses must be approved by the electrical and computer engineering faculty before the student enrolls in them.
Transfer Coursework: No more than 25 semester credit hours of transfer electrical and computer engineering coursework may be counted for credit toward the electrical and computer engineering degree.
Free Electives Policy
Must include at least one advanced mathematics or basic science course (three hours); no more than three hours of lower-division coursework; all coursework must count for a major in the offering department; all coursework must be taken in residence, except that up to three credit hours can be transferred with approval; no course can duplicate a course the student has taken or is required to take as part of the other Electrical and Computer Engineering coursework requirements.
Upper-Division Technical Component Areas
Electrical and computer engineering students must choose an advanced technical component area from the electrical engineering or computer engineering concentrations. Concentrations give students the flexibility to tailor their upper- division academic program to meet a variety of career goals, while ensuring that they graduate with a robust grounding in one or more selected technical or specialty areas.
For all concentrations, the student must complete all courses in the area on the letter-grade basis. Detailed guidelines for choosing areas and elective courses within each area are published on the electrical and computer engineering department website. Approved electives for each area may be subject to periodic change as needs arise.
Electrical Engineering Option
Advanced Technical Component (mathematics) is four hours and one Advanced Technical Component Requirement is three hours.
Computer Engineering Option
Advanced Technical Component (mathematics) is three hours and one Advanced Technical Component Elective is four hours.
Alternate Mathematics Courses
For students who choose an advanced technical component area in computer engineering:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| M 427L | Advanced Calculus for Applications II | 4 |
| M 328K | Introduction to Number Theory | 3 |
| M 343K | Introduction to Algebraic Structures | 3 |
| M 344K | Intermediate Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| M 348 | Scientific Computation in Numerical Analysis | 3 |
| M 358K | Applied Statistics | 3 |
| M 374M | Mathematical Modeling in Science and Engineering | 3 |
| C S 341 | Automata Theory | 3 |
| C S 346 | Cryptography | 3 |
For students who choose an advanced technical component area in electrical engineering:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| M 325K | Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| M 328K | Introduction to Number Theory | 3 |
| M 346 | Applied Linear Algebra | 3 |
| M 348 | Scientific Computation in Numerical Analysis | 3 |
| M 358K | Applied Statistics | 3 |
| M 361 | Theory of Functions of a Complex Variable | 3 |
| M 362M | Introduction to Stochastic Processes | 3 |
| M 372K | Partial Differential Equations and Applications | 3 |
| M 374 | Fourier and Laplace Transforms | 3 |
| M 374M | Mathematical Modeling in Science and Engineering | 3 |