Electrical and Computer Engineering Majors

General Information

Electrical and computer engineers are at the forefront of today’s technological revolution, and they continue to be in demand in all types of public and private enterprises. The value added in today’s products is primarily in digital and analog electronics and software. The internet has filled our lives with their influences. Electrical and computer engineering touch every aspect of today’s modern world, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make our lives better by making homes, automobiles, phones, speakers, and miscellaneous everyday devices smarter and exploiting the Internet of Things (IoT) to make the world more connected. Our graduates are uniquely qualified to become engineers, capable of designing hardware and software. Electrical and computer engineers work in the communications, controls, signal and image processing, biomedical, aerospace, electronics, computer hardware, optics, integrated photonics, embedded systems, materials, energy, defense, data gathering/analysis, and other diverse commercial sectors.

The Electrical and Computer Engineering programs provide the student with a thorough background in electronic/hardware and systems design. Individual students can tailor their program to his or her specific interests by selecting appropriate technical or design electives. Elective areas include electronics, digital systems, IoT, VLSI, digital signal processing (DSP), controls, robotics, image optics, integrated photonics, and embedded systems. In all of our courses, we stress the balance of theory and practice. The theory, presented in class, is coupled with extensive, practical, hands-on laboratory projects and experiments.

Our laboratories are well equipped and all facilities are available for undergraduate use. Our laboratory equipment is updated on a rotating basis, allowing for a continued renewal and state-of-the-art technology in a rapidly changing world.

Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratories:

Embedded Systems Laboratory
Controls and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
Internet of Things (IoT) Laboratory
Circuits Laboratory
Electronics Laboratory
RF/Wireless Laboratory
LEAP@WNE Optics/Photonics Laboratory
Computer Architecture & Security Laboratory

 Access is also provided to the following laboratories in other engineering departments as needed:

Bioinstrumentation Laboratory
Biomedical Engineering Physiology Laboratory
Industrial Engineering Laboratory
Mechanical Engineering Laboratory

 Additionally, a fully equipped Machine Shop is available to students as well as a Rapid Prototyping STL machine.

The BSE in Electrical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Design Experience

Students in the Electrical Engineering program and Computer Engineering program are introduced to engineering design in the freshman year in the Introduction to Engineering courses. Sophomore and junior courses and labs provide progressively more sophisticated design experiences within the electrical engineering program and computer engineering program respectively. Both programs culminate in a year-long capstone Senior Design Project course in which each student works on an independent project under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Most of the projects are sponsored by industry. Students involved in these projects have the opportunity to work with the industrial sponsor in an actual engineering environment.

Electives

Electives, in both programs, supplement the engineering student’s technical program. These electives must be selected in such a way that all General Education “perspective of understanding” requirements are covered. In addition, technical, design, and general electives provide the opportunity for specialization within a chosen field. An assigned departmental faculty advisor must approve selection of electives from engineering, mathematics, science, or business.

Electrical and Computer Engineering Vision and Mission

Vision

The Electrical and Computer Engineering programs at Western New England University will become nationally and internationally recognized for graduating students who have experienced putting theory into practice and are also capable of succeeding in advanced studies.

  Mission

The mission of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering programs is to provide students with a supportive environment that facilitates learning to solve problems in electrical and computer engineering.

The Electrical and Computer Engineering programs are committed to excellence in student learning. Graduates of the programs will be problem solvers, able to apply engineering principles to electrical and computer systems. The faculty and staff of the programs use their background in teaching, research, and industry to prepare students to be successful as they move into the workforce or graduate school.

Program Educational Objectives

Within a few years after graduation, Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Computer Engineering (BSCPE) program graduates will:

Have successfully designed, built, tested complex systems.
Have a proven track record of being productive team members / leaders.
Have assumed leadership roles in their career.
Have contributed in professional and civic service.
Have pursued advanced learning through professional education, training, advanced degrees and used their knowledge to solve problems with global impact.

Student Outcomes

Accordingly, the program has documented student outcomes that support the program educational objectives. Attainment of these outcomes prepares graduates to enter the professional practice of engineering. 

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics

2. 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

3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences

4. 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

5. 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

6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions

7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Career Opportunities
The application areas for electrical and computer engineering are fairly ubiquitous and our Electrical and Computer Engineering programs provide a broad based education that leads to employment in a diverse spectrum of industries in both private and public sectors, for example, aerospace, defense, telecommunications, automotive, medical electronics, multimedia and consumer electronic industries, energy, and power. In particular we offer courses in electronic communications, robotics, artificial intelligence, controls, digital signal/image processing, digital design, computer architecture, software and hardware design, embedded systems, optics, and integrated photonics. 

To provide additional depth in some of these areas the department offers Program Sequence Options as listed below.

Robotics/Mechatronics Sequence
RF/Microwave Engineering Sequence
Controls/Artificial Intelligence Sequence
Optics and Integrated Photonics Sequence

These Sequence Options have been described in detail following the Electrical Engineering program and Computer Engineering program degree requirements.

Graduates of the Electrical Engineering program have the ability to apply their knowledge and skills in a variety of professional electrical engineering positions dealing with research, design, manufacturing, and operation of equipment and services including power, control, communication, computer, optical and electro-optical systems, consumer electronics, household appliances, and electrical and electronic devices and materials. They can also apply for advanced graduate studies.

Degree Requirements

First Year- Fall

ENGL 132	English Composition I	3 cr.
ENGR 102/HONE 102	First Year Engineering Seminar	1 cr.
ENGR 103	Introduction to Engineering	4 cr.
MATH 127 or MATH 133	Calculus I With Pre-Calculus Calculus I	5 cr. 4 cr.
PHYS 133	Mechanics	4 cr.

Subtotal: 16

Freshman Year - Spring

ENGL 133	English Composition II	3 cr.
ENGR 105/HONE 105	Computer Programming for Engineers	2 cr.
ENGR 110/HONE 110	Data Acquisition and Processing	3 cr.
MATH 134	Calculus II	4 cr.
PHYS 134	Electricity and Magnetism	4 cr.

Subtotal: 16

Sophomore Year - Fall

CHEM 105	General Chemistry I	4 cr.
EE 205/HONE 205	Electrical Engineering I	4 cr.
ME 202/HONE 202	Statics	3 cr.
MATH 236	Differential Equations	3 cr.
SBP XXX	Social/Behavioral Perspective	3 cr.

Subtotal: 17

Sophomore Year - Spring

CPE 271	Digital System Design	4 cr.
EE 206	Electrical Engineering II	4 cr.
EE 212	Fundamentals of Electro-Optics	3 cr.
EE 285	Computational Techniques in C	3 cr.
MATH 235	Calculus III	3 cr.

Subtotal: 17

Junior Year - Fall

IE 212	Probability and Statistics	3 cr.
EE 301	Signals and Systems	3 cr.
EE 303	Electronic Circuits	3 cr.
EE 314	Electromagnetic Fields and Waves	3 cr.
EE 319	Electrical Engineering Laboratory I	2 cr.
CUL XXX	Cultural/Aesthetic Perspective/"CA"	3 cr.

Subtotal: 17

Junior Year - Spring

EE 302	Introduction to Digital Signal Processing	3 cr.
xxx	Design Elective	3 cr.
PH XXX	Ethical Perspective	3 cr.
EE 322	Electrical Engineering Laboratory II	2 cr.
xxx	Design Elective	3 cr.
HIST XXX	Historical Perspective	3 cr.

Subtotal: 17

Senior Year - Fall

EE 422	Control Systems	3 cr.
EE 427	Electrical Engineering Laboratory III	2 cr.
EE 436	Project Research, Innovation and Development	2 cr.
EE 439	Professional Awareness	1 cr.
xxx	Design Elective	3 cr.
xxx	Technical Elective	3 cr.

Subtotal: 14

Senior Year - Spring

EE 440	Senior Design Projects	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.
xxx	Technical Elective	3 cr.
xxx	Design Elective	3 cr.
xxx	Technical Elective	3 cr.

Subtotal: 15

Total Credit Hours: 129

1. Technical electives are engineering, math, science, or computer courses normally numbered 300 or above and approved by the advisor.

2. General Education courses must be selected in such a way to insure that all “perspective of understanding” requirements have been satisfied.

3. Design electives are EE or CPE courses numbered 300 or above and approved by the advisor.

4. General elective: Selected on approval of the academic advisor.

EE.BSE - BSE in Electrical Engineering

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General

Program Short Description

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