Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering


Before Taking Electrical Engineering Courses

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Our friendly advisors will meet with you to help you understand departmental requirements and plan your degree path.

Even if you cannot qualify for our major yet, you should still meet with one of our advisors to declare a “Pre-Electrical Engineering” designation and get help planning your schedule.  The advisors can also help update your major status once you have completed the pre-major requirements.

Find an Advisor

If you were not directly admitted to the Electrical Engineering program upon application to the University of Utah, you can officially join the major when you successfully pass calculus I and have a GPA of at least 2.8.

Requirements for EE Major Status:

Completed Calculus I (MATH 1210 or 1310)

GPA 2.8 or higher

While working to complete the requirements for major status, you can take the following departmental courses:

Classes you can take pre-major:

ECE 1900  Intro to ECE (freshman seminar)

ECE 1240/1245/1050  Circuit & Systems I + Labs

Classes you can take before calculus:

ECE 1900  Intro to ECE (freshman seminar)

Core EE Classes

ECE 1900 Intro to ECE (freshman seminar)

ECE 1240/1245/1050 Circuits & Systems: Introduction + Labs

ECE 2240/2245 Circuits & Systems: Linear + Lab

ECE 2280/2285 Circuits & Systems: Active + Lab

CS Requirements

CS 1400 + CS 1410 Intro to Computer Programming  (or CS 1420)

Gen Eds, Ethics, & Writing

LEAP 1500 LEAP Seminar in Humanities for Engineers (DV + HF)

LEAP 1501 Social and Ethical Implications of Engineering (BF) (*transfer students have more options for this ethics requirement)

ECE 3030 Technical Communication & Writing for Engineers (recommended, but several more options available)

Additional Gen Eds required: WR2, AI, 2 FF, HF, BF, IR

Math Requirements

MATH 1310 Engineering Calculus I (or MATH 1210)

MATH 1320 Engineering Calculus II (or MATH 1220 + MATH 2210)

MATH 2250 Differential Equations & Linear Algebra (or MATH 2270 + MATH 2280)

MATH 3140 Vector Calculus & Partial Differential Equations (or MATH 3150 if took 1220)

ECE 3530 Probability and Statistics

Science Requirements

PHYS 2210 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (or Phys 3210)

PHYS 2220 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (or Phys 3220)

Additional Math/Science Elective  MATH, CHEM, BIOL, or PHYS >1210 level or CS 2100

Upper-Level Technical Electives

Electrical engineering is a diverse field with many specializations.  We give you the freedom to pursue your own interests at the upper levels.  Explore our various tracks for suggestions of a cohesive upper-level course plan:

Requirements for Electives

Breadth Electives (choose 3)

ECE 3110 Analog Circuit Design

ECE 3200 Semiconductor Devices

ECE 3300/3305 Electromagnetics*

ECE 3500 Signals and Systems*

ECE 3600 Intro Electric Power Engineering

ECE 3610 Fundamental of Robotics & Cyberphysical Systems

ECE 3700 Digital System Design*

ECE 3810 Computer Architecture*

(must take one * class to fulfill QI)

Technical Electives (33 credit hours)

  • Any ECE 3000+ level course
  • Must take at least 3 credit hours of ECE 5000+ level
  • Count includes breadth electives
  • Can take up to 9 units of approved non-ECE Technical Electives (see course catalog for full list)
  • Can take up to 8 units of approved special topics (research and internships)

Senior Capstone

Put your learning to practice.  All students are required to participate in junior seminar in preparation for their senior project.  Students complete their senior project in groups over both terms of their senior year.

Senior Capstone

ECE 3900 Junior Seminar

ECE 4900 Senior Thesis I

ECE 4910 Senior Thesis II