Undergraduate Electrical Engineering Degree Requirements
(Effective for Freshmen Matriculating in Fall 2012)
The following degree information pertain to current degree requirements for Electrical Engineering. If you are looking for old curriculum requirements, please click here.
The basic Electrical Engineering curriculum requires 120 credits for graduation. All major courses must be completed with a minimum grade of a "C-". The courses comprising these 120 credits can be categorized into eight areas:
- Mathematics and the Basics Sciences
- Introduction to Engineering Design
- Disciplinary Foundation of Electrical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering Technical Electives
- General Technical Electives
- Engineering Ethics
- Professional Writing
- General Education Requirements
Mathematics and the Basics Sciences - 29 credits
These courses stress the mathematical techniques and scientific principles upon which engineering is based 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)
- 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)
Introduction to Engineering Design - 3 credits
This requirement is fulfilled by completing: ENES100: Introduction to Engineering Design (3 credits)
ENES100 covers basic science and engineering principles. You will be assigned to a team that will prepare reports and presentations that summarize the design process and product performance of a specific technologic device. You will learn how to work successfully in teams, expand your understanding of group dynamics, and improve your communication skills. You will develop various computer skills including familiarity with internet and library databases for research, basic spread sheets, and essential word processor and graphical presentation software. Other objectives include learning about the role engineers play in modern society and an introduction to engineering ethics concepts.
Disciplinary Foundation of Electrical Engineering - 39 credits
The Disciplinary Foundation is the core of the Electrical Engineering degree. These courses cover the fundamental electrical engineering concepts and laboratory skills common to any professional working in the field.
- ENEE150: Intermediate Programming Concepts for Engineering (3 credits)*
- ENEE205: Electric Circuits (4 credits)
- ENEE222: Elements of Discrete Signal Analysis (4 credits)
- ENEE244: Digital Logic Design (3 credits)
- ENEE245: Fundamental Digital Circuits and Systems Lab (2 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)
*Students are required to complete ENEE140 prior to taking ENEE150 unless they have AP credit for CMSC131 (5 on the JAVA A exam, 4 or 5 on the JAVA AB) or have satisfactorily passed the ENEE150 Placement Exam.
Required Electrical Engineering Technical Electives - 13 credits
Students must complete 13 credits of upper-level electrical engineering electives from these three different categories:
- Category A: Advanced Theory and Applications (Minimum 3 credits)
- Category B: Advanced Laboratory (Minimum 2 credits)
- Category C: Capstone Design Course(Minimum 3 credits)
The remaining 5 credits may be taken from any one category or combination of categories.
For list of approved courses for each category, please see the Electrical Engineering Technical Electives page.
In addition, students must satisfy the Specialization Requirement. This entails completing at least two courses from a single area of concentration within electrical engineering's six Specialization Areas.
Freshman matriculating during or after Fall 2008 must complete this Specialty Area Requirement.
Students who matriculated prior to Fall 2008 are not required to satisfy this requirement unless they have chosen to satisfy the General Technical Electives requirement.
General Technical Electives - 12 credits
EE students are required to take 12 credits of courses outside of the major at the 300 or 400 level. As part of these general technical electives, EE students must successfully complete one 400-level mathematics course. Please visit the General Technical Electives page for more details.
Engineering Ethics - 3 credits
Because of the strong symbiotic relationship between engineering and society, as well as the important role ethics plays in engineering practice, ECE requires electrical engineering majors to complete the following course:
ENEE200: Social and Ethical Dimensions of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology (3 credits)
Professional Writing - 3 credits
The required course to satisfy the Professional Writing requirement is:
ENGL 393: Technical Writing
NOTE: Engineering students are not exempt from this requirement even if they earn an 'A' in ENGL101.
General Education Requirements
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 requirements. Students must complete a minimum of 40 credit hours in general education. The equivalent of twenty-two (22) of these credits can be satisfied by simply completing the requirements of the major. Thus, general education typically requires students to complete an additional eighteen (18) credits beyond the major requirements. For details on the general education program please visit the General Education website.