2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Electrical and Computer Engineering, General Concentration, B.S.


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STEM Designation: This program is STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)-designated by the Department of Homeland Security. For more information, please see https://www.newhaven.edu/admissions/stem-designated-programs.php

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of New Haven are provided with a broad and flexible educational program that enables our graduates to learn all aspects of hardware embodying the traditional electrical engineering and computer engineering fields. The joint focus allows our graduates to enter a rapidly changing work force that requires knowledge of analog circuits, digital systems, embedded systems, signal processing, and computer programming. The ECE program provides a number of technical electives to allow pathways to focus in various areas of interest to students. Through sound foundations in basic sciences along with an experiential curriculum, the ECE program prepares students to combine the knowledge base from mathematics and computer science and electrical/computer engineering to engage in a meaningful educational experience and to prepare them for the demanding job market. The ECE program also offers a concentration in Cybersecurity. This concentration is designed to challenge and train students interested in applying their ECE knowledge in the rapidly growing fields of cybersecurity and networks.

To influence our society's evolution, the ECE engineer must acquire an understanding of our society, our cultural heritage, and the human condition. The engineer must communicate ideas to other engineers and to the public. The ECE program enables this via liberal and humanistic studies. The University Core Curriculum requirements allow students to expand their cultural and intellectual horizons by exposing them to the humanities and social sciences. Students learn written and oral communication skills in the core courses as well as in multidisciplinary engineering-science courses in the freshman and sophomore years. Students apply these skills in the humanities and social science courses as well as in laboratory/design courses in their major.

An important feature of the ECE engineering curriculum is the design experience. In our laboratory course sequence, students develop the ability to analyze appropriate models, conduct empirical tests, gather relevant information, interpret empirical tests, develop appropriate models, develop alternative solutions, formulate problems, and synthesize. This sequence of courses takes the student in gradual steps from a well-structured laboratory experiment in the sophomore year to an open-ended design project in the senior year, allowing students to gain practical experience in engineering design.

Internship Requirement

The internship program is intended to enrich the academic experience of our undergraduate students, providing exposure to and participation in a working engineering environment. Each internship must involve a partnership consisting of the student, faculty, and employers/organizations to provide each student intern with an optimal experience. A minimum of 200 hours in relevant engineering duties is required prior to graduation. Students must complete 60 credits toward the bachelor's degree in ECE engineering before an internship is attempted.

The internship carries 1 credit for the degree and may be satisfied utilizing a co-op position, summer employment, and part-time or full-time positions that are approved by the student's employer and by the department/internship coordinator as relevant to the goals of the internship experience. A waiver (or substitution) of the internship requirement may be granted for students who are employed in the field, subject to a formal review by the department/internship coordinator. The student's request for such a waiver must be initiated one year prior to the anticipated graduation date.

IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN)

The honor society of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering), IEEE-HKN promotes excellence in the profession and in education with ideals of Scholarship, Character and Attitude. It was founded on 28 October 1904. IEEE-HKN promotes professional accomplishment, service, and development for students and professionals in electrical engineering, computer engineering, and other IEEE fields of interest.

Engineers without Borders

Engineers without Borders supports community-driven development programs through the design and implementation of sustainable engineering projects and fostering responsible leaderships. It promotes the professional development of members by its programs and relations with other EWB student chapters. To learn more, visit our website at engineerswithoutborders@newhaven.edu.

Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes

The Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) are as follows:
The objectives of the BS Electrical and Computer Engineering program at the University of New Haven are to prepare graduates for professional practice and life-long learning. We expect our graduates to attain the long term goals a few years after graduation:

1. Succeed in the professional practice of engineering or related field evidenced by:

a. Employment in the field of study
b. Advancement in the chosen career
c. Contribution to and leadership of engineering teams

2. Pursue life-long learning evidenced by:

a. Attending graduate school
b. Continuous professional development
c. Membership in a professional organization

Program Outcomes

  • Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  • 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.
  • Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  • 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 context.
  • Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
  • Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  • Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Required Courses


Students must complete a total of 126 credits to earn the Bachelor of Science degree in ECE (Electrical and Computer Engineering). Technical elective courses in the program must be selected from upper-level offerings (third or fourth year) or under the guidance and approval of the student's academic adviser. University Core Curriculum requirements are indicated in parentheses below.

Senior Year


Notes About Electives


Student should work with their academic advisor in selecting their technical electives. Not all electives are offered each semester or each year; your advisor can help you in planning out your favorite electives that fits your schedule.

Technical Electives must be any ELEC/CSCI 3000 or above, any ELEC/CSCI 4000 or above, CSCI 2226, CSCI 2246, or CSCI 2254

Suggested Electives for more focus in Electrical Engineering

ELEC3361 Electromagnetics, ELEC 3355 Control Systems, ELEC 3348 Electronics II, ELEC 4445 Communication Systems, CSCI 4478 Artificial Intelligence

Suggested Electives for more focus in Computer Engineering

ELEC 3330 Digital Systems: Computer Organization, ELEC 4475 Embedded Systems: System on Chip, ELEC 4410 Networking I, CSCI 2226 Data Structures, CSCI 4478 Artificial Intelligence

Suggested Electives for more focus in Energy

ELEC 4437 Power Systems, ELEC 4440 Power Electronics, ELEC 4447 Electric Drives and associated lab courses for each.

Suggested Electives for focus in Game Development

CSCI 2254 Introduction to Game Development, CSCI 3354 Intermediate Game Development, CSCI 4444 Applied Artificial Intelligence for Games, CSCI 4466 3D Modeling and Rendering

Direct Entry B.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering/M.S. Electrical Engineering


The direct entry, combined B.S. ECE degree (Electrical and Computer Engineering) /M.S. Electrical Engineering degree program is available to qualified upper-level ECE students. Two graduate-level electrical engineering courses are taken during the senior year that count toward the M.S. in Electrical Engineering. Students graduate with a B.S. in ECE following their fourth year and complete the M.S. Electrical Engineering degree by taking the remainder of the graduate-level courses (eight courses) in their fifth year.  

To qualify, students must apply for admission no later than two semesters prior to the anticipated fulfillment of the B.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering degree requirements, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of application to the direct entry program, and submit one letter of recommendation from an electrical engineering faculty member.  A minimum grade of B- is required in the overlapping graduate courses for them to apply to both programs.

Direct Entry B.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering/M.S. Biomedical Engineering


The direct entry, combined B.S. ECE degree (Electrical and Computer Engineering) /M.S. Biomedical Engineering degree program is available to qualified upper-level electrical engineering students. Three undergraduate biology courses are taken as a part of the B.S. in ECE degree and two graduate-level  biomedical engineering program courses are taken during the senior year that count toward the M.S. in Biomedical Engineering. Students graduate with a B.S. in ECE degree following their fourth year and complete the M.S. Biomedical Engineering degree by taking the remainder of the graduate-level courses (eight courses) in their fifth year.

To qualify, students must apply for admission no later than two semesters prior to the anticipated fulfillment of the B.S. in ECE degree requirements, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of application to the direct entry program, and submit one letter of recommendation from an ECE engineering faculty member.  A minimum grade of B- is required in the overlapping graduate courses for them to apply to both programs. It is highly recommended that students discuss this direct entry option prior as early as possible in order to plan for an appropriate schedule in years 3 and 4. 

Direct Entry B.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering/M.S. Computer Science


The direct entry, combined B.S.in ECE/M.S. Computer Science degree program is available to qualified upper-level electrical engineering students. Five undergraduate computer science courses are taken as a part of the B.S. in ECE degree and two graduate-level computer science courses are taken during the senior year that count toward the M.S. in Computer Science. Students graduate with a B.S. in ECE degree following their fourth year and complete the M.S. Computer Science degree by taking the remainder of the graduate-level courses (eight courses) in their fifth year.  

To qualify, students must apply for admission no later than two semesters prior to the anticipated fulfillment of the B.S. in ECE degree requirements, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of application to the direct entry program, and submit one letter of recommendation from an ECE engineering faculty member. A minimum grade of B- is required in the overlapping graduate courses for them to apply to both programs. It is highly recommended that students discuss this direct entry option prior as early as possible in order to plan for an appropriate schedule in years 3 and 4.

Direct Entry B.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering/M.S. Data Science


The direct entry, combined B.S. in ECE /M.S. Data Science degree program is available to qualified upper-level ECE engineering students. Three graduate-level data science courses are taken during the senior year that count toward the MS in Data Science. Students graduate with a B.S. in ECE degree following their fourth year and complete the MS Data Science degree by taking the remainder of the graduate-level courses (8) in their fifth year.

To qualify, students must apply for admission no later than two semesters prior to the anticipated fulfillment of the B.S. in ECE degree requirements, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of application to the direct entry program, and submit one letter of recommendation from an ECE engineering faculty member.  A minimum grade of B- is required in the overlapping graduate courses for them to apply to both programs.

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