Electrical Engineering, B.S.

Return to: School of Engineering and Applied Science: Degree Programs

Electrical engineering is a rapidly expanding field, and includes areas such as communications, microelectronics, control systems, and applied electrophysics. New and exciting areas are continually being developed, and more traditional areas are finding new applications. Because of the rapidly-changing nature of the field, this program is designed to provide a strong preparation in traditional electrical engineering, while providing maximum flexibility to accommodate student interests and current technological developments.

Program Educational Objectives: Graduates of the electrical engineering program at the University of Virginia will be 1) analyzing, designing, and implementing creative solutions to world challenges typically using electrical and electronic devices and systems and 2) contributing effectively as team members and communicating clearly and interacting responsibly with colleagues, clients, employers, and society.

Student Outcomes: At the time of graduation, students will have

an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics,
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,
an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences,
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,
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,
an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions, and
an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Electrical Engineering Curriculum (128 credits)

Electrical Engineering Course Information

Please use the following link to view all Electrical Engineering course offerings: School of Engineering and Applied Science: Courses

School of Engineering and Applied Science General Requirements (45 credits)

Electrical Engineering students must complete the unified set of general requirements for all engineering majors. More information can be found on the SEAS Curricular Requirements page. These courses are often completed during the first two years in SEAS, with the exception of STS 4500 and 4600, which are taken during the fall and spring of the fourth year, respectively.

APMA 1090 - Single Variable Calculus I Credits: 3
APMA 1110 - Single Variable Calculus II Credits: 4
APMA 2120 - Multivariable Calculus Credits: 4
CHEM 1410 - Introductory College Chemistry I Credits: 3
CHEM 1411 - Introductory College Chemistry I Laboratory Credits: 1
CS 111X - Introduction to Programming (more info below) Credits / Units: 3
ENGR 1010 - Engineering Foundations 1 Credits: 4
ENGR 1020 - Engineering Foundations 2 Credits: 3
PHYS 1425 - Introductory Physics 1 for Engineers Credits: 3
PHYS 1429 - Introductory Physics 1 Workshop Credits: 1
ECE 2200 - Applied Physics Credits: 4
Or, you may replace ECE 2200 with PHYS 2415 and PHYS 2419 - Physics 2 + Lab Credits / Units: 4
STS 2600 - Engineering Ethics Credits: 3
STS 4500 - STS and Engineering Practice Credits: 3
STS 4600 - The Engineer, Ethics, and Professional Responsibility Credits: 3
Math and Science Elective Credits (more info below) Credits / Units: 3

Introduction to Programming

All SEAS students must complete one Introduction to Programming course as a part of their general SEAS requirements. Students may also complete this requirement through Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or dual-enrollment credit. Some students with programming experience may wish to take the place-out test, which satisfies the requirement but does not award degree credit. Please contact the Computer Science department for more information about place-out tests.

Choose one of the following:
CS 1110 - Introduction to Programming Credits: 3
CS 1111 - Introduction to Programming Credits: 3
CS 1112 - Introduction to Programming Credits: 3
CS 1113 - Introduction to Programming Credits: 3

Math and Science Elective

Students must complete a 3 credit Math and Science Elective chosen from: BIOL 2100, BIOL 2200, CE 2001, CHEM 1420, EVSC 2800, EVSC 3200, EVSC 3300, MSE 2090, PHYS 2620, or an approved 2000-level or higher APMA course not already required by a student’s major and does not duplicate material from another APMA course.

Additional Computer Science and Mathematics Courses (14 credits)

EE majors must take three (3) additional required math and CS courses and one additional math elective. Equivalent courses from the Department of Mathematics may be substituted for matching APMA courses.

CS 2130 - Computer Systems and Organization 1 Credits: 4
APMA 2130 - Ordinary Differential Equations Credits: 4
APMA 3100 - Probability Credits: 3
Students must take an additional math elective either from applied math or mathematics at a level of 2000 or higher Credits / Units: 3

Core Electrical and Computer Engineering Courses (19 credits)

These courses are the set of courses students take within the electrical engineering major and comprise many of the prerequisites for upper-level courses. Example schedules can be found on the Electrical and Computer Engineering website.

ECE 2300 - Applied Circuits Credits: 3
ECE 2330 - Digital Logic Design Credits: 3
ECE 2410 - Intro to Machine Learning Credits: 3
ECE 2600 - Electronics Credits: 3
ECE 2700 - Signals and Systems Credits: 3
ECE 3430 - Introduction to Embedded Computer Systems Credits: 4

Electrical and Computer Engineering Electives and Lab (19.5 credits)

EE majors must take eighteen (18) credits of ECE courses at the 3000 level or higher as well as a 1.5 unit ECE lab elective. It is highly encouraged that students choose an elective grouping that group 15 credits of ECE electives and the 1.5 credit lab into a cohesive depth of study. Information about the elective groupings is available on the EE advising aids page

Guidelines for ECE Electives:

Must have a ECE mnemonic.
Must be at the 3000 level or higher.
Must not be a required core course.

Major Design Experience (4.5 credits)

EE majors must take one of the following major design experience (capstone) courses:

ECE 4991 - Electrical Engineering Capstone Credits: 4.5
ECE 4440 - Computer Engineering Capstone Credits: 4.5

Technical Electives (6 credits)

EE Majors must take six (6) credits of technical electives at the 2000 level or higher. A technical elective is defined as a course in engineering (may be ECE), mathematics, or science (intended for science majors) at the 2000 level or above. Any course appearing on the approved list of HSS electives may not be used as a technical elective.

Humanities and Social Science (HSS) Electives (9 credits)

EE majors must complete a total of nine (9) credits of HSS electives. HSS electives are selected from an approved list (available in A122 Thornton Hall or in the UVA Engineering Undergraduate Handbook) of humanities and social science offerings. Communication courses in the student’s native or first language, regardless of their level, may not be used to satisfy this requirement. See the SEAS page regarding electives for more information.

Unrestricted Electives (11 credits)

EE majors must complete eleven (11) credits of unrestricted electives. Unrestricted electives may be chosen from any graded course in the University except mathematics courses below MATH 1310; courses that substantially duplicate any others offered for the degree, including PHYS 2010, PHYS 2020, CS 1010, CS 1020; any introductory programming course; or SCPS courses. See the SEAS page regarding electives for more information.

Public Professional Licensure Disclosure

As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement, the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n)).

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at the UVA School of Engineering, graduates may be eligible for initial professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in that state.

Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))

Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).