Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering draws on many disciplines. All of them, however, are linked by a common thread: the use and control of electromagnetic energy. Almost all information is captured using electromagnetic, electro-optical, bio-electrical, electro-chemical, or electro-mechanical transducers. The first step of developing a cell phone, car’s parking assistance system, or space probe is designing transducers, related electronics, and algorithms to process the captured information. With a degree in electrical engineering, you’ll learn these skills and be prepared to begin a career in a wide range of fields, from robotics to medical imaging.

Diverse Disciplines

You will also enroll in technical electives to help you gain a broader understanding of the subfields of electrical engineering, such as communications, signal processing, control systems, solid-state devices, materials, photonics, circuit design, computer systems, and software. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to explore areas of data science and machine learning through a sequence of available courses.

The Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) Department offers specialized concentrations to allow students to complement their undergraduate degrees. Students interested in the impact of energy innovations or green technology can focus on Energy Technologies and Environmental Engineering. Students can also concentrate on Nanotechnology, one of engineering’s most rapidly advancing fields. These optional concentrations add another dimension to the bachelor’s degree at a time when the demand for interdisciplinary engineers is growing.

Senior Design

Bringing an invention to life is one of the most engaging and integral aspects of engineering—that’s why we designed our undergraduate program to culminate with a full-scale, hands-on design project. During your senior year, you will work in a small team with other computer and electrical engineering students in a two-semester capstone design project. Your team will design and prototype a product, electronic device, or software system from scratch for real-life customers drawn from industry, business, the community, faculty, and staff. You will learn design methods, project management, team dynamics, communication skills, and legal and ethical standards for design. 

Program Planning Sheets

Please see the Electrical Engineering Program Planning Sheets for a detailed matrix of the four-year undergraduate curriculum.

How to Apply

Visit the BU Undergraduate Admissions site for more information.

Undergraduate Program Educational Objectives

A few years after graduation, we expect that graduates of our Electrical Engineering program will:

• Build a career path with informed choices about its ECE aspects.
• Be competitive in the ECE job market.
• Make a positive impact in the ECE professional community and the world at large.

In addition, graduates will pursue one or more of the following:

• Graduate education in engineering or allied fields.
• Breadth of responsibilities in a small company environment.
• Specialized expertise within a large company environment.
• Sales/Marketing positions in technology companies.
• Basic and applied research.
• Applications in other professions, such as medicine and law.
• Undertake leadership roles in a company or other settings.

(Ratified by the ECE Faculty December 2020)

Graduates of the Electrical Engineering Undergraduate degree program will have:

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. 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.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

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