Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering Links
- Program Description
- Career Outlook
- Notable Facts
- Admission Requirements
- Scholarships
- Contact Information
Program Description
Electrical Engineering is the discipline that employs the largest number of engineers. It is a broad discipline which involves the use of mathematics, physics, and other sciences in the design of electrical devices and systems. Electrical Engineering is one of the driving forces that power the high-tech industry. Electrical engineers are involved in the design of computers, microelectronics, communication systems, audio and video entertainment systems, medical systems, space satellite systems, robots, electrical power systems, and many other forms of technology that have an impact on the quality of our lives. The manufacturing process for almost all products involves the use of Electrical Engineering principles, at least in part.
The Department of Labor predicts good employment opportunities for Electrical Engineers through 2014. A great number of job openings are resulting from economic growth in the USA and from the need to replace electrical engineers who are retiring form the work force (baby boomers). Also a strong demand for electrical devices such as large-scale electric power generators and wireless phone transmitters should boost growth. Prospects should be particularly good for electrical engineers working in engineering services firms providing technical expertise to other companies on specific projects.1
How much money do Electrical Engineers make?
From the National Association of Colleges and Employers survey in 2005, the average starting salary offers for Electrical/electronics and communications are: Bachelor's-$51,888, Master's- $64,416, and Ph.D.-$80,2061
1U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed September 24, 2007. http://www.bls.gov/OCO
Notable People
Lester Wire: Invented the first electrical traffic signal.
Thomas Stockham: father of the digital clock and ECE professor.
John Warnock: Co-founder of Adobe Systems Inc.
Alan Ashton: Co-founder of WordPerfect Corp.
Ed Catmull: Co-founder and president of Pixar Animation Studios.
Companies that have hired our graduates
ATK Thiokol Utah Transit Authority
Boeing Williams
Fairchild Semiconductor Rocky Mountain Power
Hill Air Force Base
L-3 Communications
IM Flash
Northrop Grumman IT
You may apply for major status during any semester in which you will complete the pre-major classes listed below. Applications are evaluated as soon as grades are available at the end of each semester. Complete the "Application for Major Status" available in the ECE office or on our website at: http://www.ece.utah.edu/general/forms.html The current GPA for admission to major status is 2.8 on the classes listed below, except for ECE 1020 and CS 1010 in which CR is required. You must also have a minimum grade of C- in CS 2000 or 1410, and in ECE 1270.
ECE 1020 Electrical Engineering Problem Solving with Matlab
ECE 1270 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
CS 2000 or 1410 Program Design In C or Intro to Computer Science I
CS 1010 Introduction to Unix
Math 1210 or 1270 Calculus I
Math 1220 or 1280 Calculus II
Physics 2210 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I
Scholarships are available for freshmen, transfer students, and U of U continuing students who are majoring or intend to major in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering. Scholarships awarded by the ECE Department require that students are in fulltime status. Recipients must register for and pass 12 credit hours or more in classes applicable to the EE or CE degree in both fall and spring semesters of the scholarship year. Applications for U of U students and transfer students are available in the ECE office or on the ECE web site: www.ece.utah.edu/upgrm/cont_studentapp.pdf. Entering freshmen should use the application form and recommendation form for departmental scholarships on the U of U web site: www.saff.utah.edu/finance. Only one application is needed to be considered for all available departmental scholarships.
If you would like more information on program requirements or need to speak to someone regarding career questions, please contact:
Mardi Emard-Colburn
Academic Advisor
emard-colburn@ece.utah.edu
(801) 581-3455
3417 MEB
Dr. Neil Cotter
Faculty Advisor
necotter@ece.utah.edu
(801) 581-8566
3104 MEB