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The Bachelor of Science in Electrical/Electronic Engineering

Electrical/electronic engineering graduates are qualified for professional practice or graduate work in several areas of specialization, including system, electronics, and digital design.  In addition to fundamentals of science and mathematics, the program provides a solid background in circuits, analog and digital electronics, microprocessors, and electromagnetics.  The senior-level classes offered for electrical/electronic engineers include control systems, communication systems, digital signal processing, electro-optics, and digital system design.

The Electrical/Electronic Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone (410) 347-7700.

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Program Mission

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department educates each student to be a responsible and productive electrical/electronic engineer who can effectively respond to future challenges.

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Program Objective

The objective of the Electrical/Electronic Engineering program is to produce graduates able to:

  • apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to identify, formulate, and solve electrical engineering problems,
  • use industry standard tools to analyze, design, develop, and test electrical/electronic systems,
  • achieve success in graduate programs in electrical engineering or a related field,
  • continue to develop their knowledge and skills after graduation in order to succeed personally and professionally,
  • communicate their thoughts, in both written and oral forms, so that others can comprehend and build on their work,
  • work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary development team and undertake leadership roles when appropriate,
  • appreciate the importance of ethics in the profession and the need to act in society's best interest, and
  • become active participants in professional societies and a contributor to the community.

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Student Outcomes:

Electrical/Electronic Engineering program graduates should have:

  1. an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
  2. an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
  3. an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
  4. an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
  5. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
  6. an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
  7. an ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written forms.
  8. the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
  9. a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
  10. a knowledge of contemporary issues.
  11. an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Design Experience

Design is a fundamental aspect of the electrical/electronic engineering curriculum, and it is integrated into the curriculum in the freshman year where students are introduced to both hardware and software design. As students expand their knowledge and analysis skills through the sophomore and junior years, the design problems they are assigned increase in complexity. Design problems are assigned in analog electronics, digital systems, control systems, and digital signal processing.

The design experience culminates in the senior year when all students are required to identify a design project, create testable requirements to the project, design the project, and construct the project to prove the design works. Descriptions of the recent student capstone projects can be found on the department's web site: http://www.csuchico.edu/eece/index.shtml.

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 127 units

See Bachelor's Degree Requirements in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. You can view MAPs on the Degree MAPs page in the University Catalog or you can request a plan from your major advisor.

General Education Pathway Requirements: 48 units

See General Education in the University Catalog and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Pathway Requirements and course offerings.

This major has approved GE modification(s). See below for information on how to apply these modification(s).

  • Critical Thinking (A3) is waived.
  • MATH 120 is an approved advanced course substitution for Quantitative Reasoning (A4)
  • CHEM 111 & PHYS 204A are approved advanced course substitutions for Physical Sciences (B1).
  • Take only one course in either Arts (C1) or Humanities (C2).  Selecting a Writing Intensive (WI) course is strongly encouraged.
  • EECE 490B is an approved major course substitution for either Individual and Society (D1) or Societal Institutions (D2).
  • EECE 490A is an approved major course substitution for Learning for Life (E).
  • EECE 311 is an approved major course substitution for Upper-Division Natural Sciences.
  • EECE 490A is also an approved GE Capstone substitution.

Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See Diversity Requirements in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education .

Literacy Requirement:

See Mathematics and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or higher to receive WP credit. See the Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 130I or JOUR 130I (or equivalent) with a C- or higher before you may register for a WP course.

Course Requirements for the Major: 100 units

Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree.

Enrollment in any mathematics course requires a grade of C- or higher in all prerequisite courses or their transfer equivalents.

Lower-Division Requirements: 43 units

12 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
CHEM 111 General Chemistry   4.0 FS  GE
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)
Principles of chemistry for students in science, medical, and related professions. Atomic structure, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, periodic table, gases, solids, liquids, solutions, and equilibrium. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (001816)
CSCI 111 Programming and Algorithms I   4.0 FS  
Prerequisites: At least one year of high school algebra and strong computer skills or CSCI 101.
A first-semester programming course, providing an overview of computer systems and an introduction to problem solving and software design using procedural object-oriented programming languages. Coverage includes the software life cycle, as well as algorithms and their role in software design. Students are expected to design, implement, and test a number of programs. 3 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (002281)
EECE 144 Logic Design Fundamentals   4.0 FS  
Recommended: MECH 100.
Definition and properties of switching algebra. Minimization of algebraic function. Use of Karnaugh maps for simplification. Design of combinational logic networks. Design of sequential logic devices including flip-flops, registers, and counters. Analysis and applications of digital devices. Analysis and design of synchronous and asynchronous sequential state machines, state table derivation and reduction. Use of such CAD tools for schematic capture and logic device simulations. 3 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (002614)
EECE 211 Linear Circuits I   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: MATH 121, PHYS 204B.
DC and sinusoidal circuit analysis, including resistive, capacitive, and inductive circuit elements and independent sources. Ideal transformer. Thevenin and Norton circuit theorems and superposition. Phasors, impedance, resonance, and AC power. Three-phase AC Circuit analysis. 3 hours discussion. (002519)
EECE 211L Linear Circuits I Activity   1.0 FS  
Corequisites: EECE 211.
Experiments to reinforce the principles taught in EECE 211. 2 hours activity. (002520)
EECE 237 Embedded Systems Development   3.0 FA  
Prerequisite: CSCI 111.
This course presents the concepts and techniques associated with developing low level Embedded Systems Applications, using both Assembly Language and C. Topics include microprocessor architecture concepts, instruction set architectures, Assembly Language programming, data representations, interrupt handling and execution modes, low level C programming, and the use of on-chip and external peripherals. 3 hours lecture. (021437)
MATH 120 Analytic Geometry and Calculus   4.0 FS  GE
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; both MATH 118 and MATH 119 (or high school equivalent); a score that meets department guidelines on a department administered calculus readiness exam.
Limits and continuity. The derivative and applications to related rates, maxma and minima, and curve sketching. Transcendental functions. An introduction to the definite integral and area. A grade of C- or higher is required for GE credit. 4 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (005506)
MATH 121 Analytic Geometry and Calculus   4.0 FS  
Prerequisites: MATH 120.
The definite integral and applications to area, volume, work, differential equations, etc. Sequences and series, vectors and analytic geometry in 2 and 3-space, polar coordinates, and parametric equations. 4 hours discussion. (005507)
MATH 220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus   4.0 FS  
Prerequisites: MATH 121.
Vector functions and space curves. Functions of several variables, partial derivatives, and multiple integrals. Vector calculus line integrals, surface integrals, divergence/curl, Green's Theorem, Divergence Theorem, and Stokes' Theorem. 4 hours discussion. (005508)
MATH 260 Elementary Differential Equations   4.0 FS  
Prerequisites: MATH 121.
First order separable, linear, and exact equations; second order linear equations, Laplace transforms, series solutions at an ordinary point, systems of first order linear equations, and applications. 4 hours discussion. (005509)
PHYS 204A Physics for Students of Science and Engineering: Mechanics   4.0 FS  GE
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of MATH 121 (second semester of calculus) or equivalent.
Vectors, kinematics, particle dynamics, friction, work, energy, power, momentum, dynamics and statics of rigid bodies, oscillations, gravitation, fluids. Calculus used. A grade of C- or higher is required before progressing to either PHYS 204B or PHYS 204C. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (007401)
PHYS 204B Physics for Students of Science and Engineering: Electricity and Magnetism   4.0 FS  
Prerequisites: MATH 121, PHYS 204A with a grade of C- or higher.
Charge and matter, electric field, Gauss' law, electric potential, capacitors and dielectrics, current and resistance, magnetic field, Ampere's law, Faraday's law of induction, magnetic properties of matter, electromagnetic oscillations and waves. Calculus used. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (007402)

Upper-Division Requirements: 57 units

13 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
EECE 311 Linear Circuits II   4.0 FS  
Prerequisites: EECE 211; MATH 260 (may be taken concurrently).
Circuit analysis techniques for networks with both independent and dependent sources. Network topology. Natural and forced responses for RLC circuits. Complex frequency, poles, and zeros. Magnetically coupled circuits and two-port networks. Introduction to linear algebra, circuit simulation using PSPICE, and mathematical analysis using MATLAB. 4 hours discussion. (002527)
EECE 315 Electronics I   4.0 FS  
Prerequisites: EECE 211, EECE 211L; EECE 311 and MATH 260 (may be taken concurrently).
Ideal diodes. Zener diodes and regulation. Photodiodes and solar cells. Biasing and DC behavior of bipolar transistors. JFETs and MOSFETS. Small-signal AC equivalent circuits. Single-state transistor amplifiers. Low-frequency response. Discrete feedback amplifiers. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (002530)
EECE 316 Electronics II   4.0 SP  
Prerequisites: EECE 315.
Op Amp circuits, waveform generation and shaping, sinusoidal oscillators, high frequency amplifiers, active filters, power supply regulators, power electronics, advanced linear ICs. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (002534)
EECE 343 Computer Interface Circuits   4.0 FS  
Prerequisites: EECE 144, EECE 315.
Circuit design techniques for interfacing computers and digital systems to analog systems. Topics include interfacing to sensors, transduction, pulse generation and shaping, level detection, triggering, A/D and D/A conversions, timers, pulse width modulation, VGA signal generation and mouse design. Interface-development methodologies, implementation tools, testing, and quality assessment, including VHDL and PSPICE. State machine design and analysis. 4 hours discussion. (002105)
EECE 344 Digital Systems Design   4.0 FS  
Prerequisites: EECE 144, EECE 237; either EECE 110 or both EECE 211 and EECE 211L.
Extends the study of digital circuits to LSI and VLSI devices. Use of computer simulation in system analysis and design verification. 8-bit and 16-bit microprocessors, architecture, bus organization and address decoding. Design concepts for microprocessor systems, including system integration with programmable logic devices. Interfacing to A/D and P/A Converters. Design of input and output ports and interface to programmable ports. Serial communications; interrupt processing. Use of codes for storage and transmission of information: parity, ASCII, Hamming and other error detecting and correcting codes. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (002102)
EECE 365 Signals, Systems, and Transforms   4.0 SP  
Prerequisites: EECE 311, MATH 260.
Modeling and analysis of Signals and Systems both continuous and discrete, in the time and frequency domains. Topics include theorey and application of Fourier series, Fourier transforms, Parseval's Theorem and the Convolution, Laplace Transform Sampling Theorem, Z transform, discrete Fourier Transform and FFT. 4 hours discussion. (002528)
EECE 375 Fields and Waves   3.0 SP  
Prerequisites: EECE 211, EECE 211L, MATH 260.
Transmission lines. Frequency-domain techniques. Fields and field operators. Electrostatic fields and capacitance. Magneto-static fields and inductance. Time-varying fields and Maxwell equations. Skin effect. Plane electromagnetic waves. Reflection and refraction. Waveguides and optical fibers. Radiation and antennas. 3 hours lecture. (002529)
EECE 453 Communication Systems Design   4.0 SP  
Prerequisites: EECE 365 or MATH 350.
 Corequisite: CIVL 302
Introduction to the principles of functional communication systems, design and performance analysis. Analog and digital modulation techniques. Information measures. Application of probability theory to the analysis of communication systems performance. Transmission and encoding of information. Spread spectrum systems. 4 hours discussion. (002548)
EECE 465 Digital Signal Processing   4.0 SP  
Prerequisites: EECE 365.
Properties of continuous and discrete signals. Z-transform and Fast-Fourier Transform. Digital filtering techniques. Finite word length effects on digital signal processing elements. 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. (002580)
EECE 481 Electromechanical Conversion   4.0 SP  
Prerequisites: EECE 211.
Principles of electromechanical conversion, traditional and renewable energy sources, magnetic circuits and steady state performance of synchronous, dc and induction motors, state space models and dynamic performance of electric motors, linearized models and common control schemes for various motors. 4 hours lecture. (020256)
EECE 482 Control System Design   4.0 FA  
Prerequisites: EECE 211, EECE 365, MATH 260. Recommended: MECA 380, MECH 320; either CSCI 111 or MECH 306.
Modeling and simulation of dynamic system performance. Control system design for continuous systems using both analog and digital control techniques. 4 hours lecture. (002577)
EECE 490A Engineering Profession and Design   4.0 FA  GW
Prerequisites: ENGL 130I or JOUR 130I (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; EECE 343, EECE 344; either EECE 316 or EECE 444 (may be taken concurrently).
Exploration of engineering as a profession over an entire career, including technical, sociological, physiological, and psychological aspects. Readings and discussions explore the importance of life-long learning to engineering professionals. Students prepare, plan, design, present, and document a senior project. Design requirements address human factors, safety, reliability, maintainability, and customer cost. 3 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. (002569)
EECE 490B Engineering Economics and Project Implementation   4.0 SP  
Prerequisites: EECE 490A; either EECE 316 or EECE 444 (may be taken concurrently).
Continuation of EECE 490A, where students implement, construct, test, and demonstrate their senior design projects. A survey of economic analysis and technology markets, including market organization and regulation, incumbent and startup actors, engineering costs and return on investment, entrepreneurship, patents, and investment and funding avenues. Contemporary issues provide a framework for discussion and analysis based on professional, ethical, and economic concerns. 2 hours discussion, 4 hours activity. (002570)

Note: EECE 453 and EECE 465 may be replaced by EECE 484 and EECE 483 for Power Systems Specialization.

6 units selected from:

Any approved upper-division engineering, science, or math courses not otherwise required for graduation.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

All students must attain a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) in all college courses attempted and for all courses attempted at Chico. Electrical/Electronic Engineering majors must also attain a 2.0 GPA in:

(a) All courses required for the major, and

(b) All Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) courses taken to meet major requirements at CSU, Chico.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate advisor for specific information.

A sample program for students who wish to complete their major in four years is available upon on the department website.

Honors in the Major:

Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.

The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.

Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:

  1. You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. All 6 units are honors classes (marked by a suffix of H), and at least 3 of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.
  2. You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
  3. Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
  4. Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
  5. Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.
  6. Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.

While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.

Catalog Cycle:15