Electrical Engineering, BSEE

About the Program

Essentially everything with anything electrical in it was designed and developed by electrical engineers. Through the application of physics, math, and programming, electrical engineers are the creative problem solvers that research, design, and develop electrical and electronic systems and components that control, monitor, energize, and communicate with everything around us. Examples range from space exploration, cell phones, and advanced medical diagnostic equipment, to hybrid and electric vehicles, manufacturing processes, robotics, and wind turbines. Areas of electrical engineering include: computers, microprocessors and embedded systems, control systems, communication systems, signal and image processing, microelectronics, biomedical devices, and power and energy systems. A career in electrical engineering opens up opportunities to solve problems in every area.

As an ABET-accredited engineering program, PNW’s program for the Bachelor of Electrical Engineering at the School of Engineering fulfills the educational requirements for PE licensure in Indiana and all states of the US

Students may choose to substitute for the elective courses in this program to add a concentration in one of the following areas:

• Mechatronics  
• Power and Energy Systems  

Degree Requirements

• 120 Credit Hours
• Minimum grade of C- required for MA 16300 , MA 16300 , MA 26100 , and PHYS 15200  
• Minimum GPA of 2.0 required for all ECE courses
• Minimum GPA of 2.0 required for graduation

Civics Literacy Proficiency

The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue Northwest students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

• Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
• Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
• Earning a passing grade for one of the approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course)

For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

Total 120 Credits Required

Degree Map

Additional Information and Guidelines

Note 1: Senior Engineering Design I: Prerequisite Courses - ENGL 30700  and ECE 31200 . Departmental permission required

Note 2: Electrical and Computer Engineering Electives - Any three ECE courses selected by the student with prior approval of advisor

Note 3: Technical Elective -

1. Any Engineering (CE, ECE, ENGR, ME, or MSE) or Computer Science course 20000 or above that is required in another engineering curricula, or is an elective in any engineering curricula (and that has not been used to meet another requirement). The Industrial Practice courses are not allowed
2. Any Engineering (CE, ECE, ENGR, ME, or MSE) or Computer Science course 49500 and above with prior approval of advisor. 
3. A list of Math, Science, and Statistics courses approved by the ECE faculty

Note 4: PHIL 32400 Ethics For The Professions  - Please use section reserved for engineering students if available. PHIL 32100  is also allowed

Note 5: Choose one from ME 27100 , ME 30500 , or MSE 20000  

Note 6: The free elective, subject to approval by the advisor, can be almost any three-or-more-credit course.  Not allowed are Math, Science, or Technology courses that are lower-level than the required courses; such as MA 15900  or MA 16019 , PHYS 22000 , ECET 20900 , ECET 21000 , and FM and MSL courses.

Note 7:  Mathematics/Statistics/Science Elective - Select from Mathematics, Statistics, or Science course, with the approval of their advisor.

• The Math course must be above the level of MA 26500.
• The Physics course must be above the level of PHYS 26100.
• The Chemistry course must be CHM 11500 or higher.
• Biology or Statistics course with the approval of the advisor.

Continuing students cannot transfer in credit for a required ECE course without prior approval of the ECE Faculty.

Students who do not receive a grade in a required ECE course that meets the minimum or better required for their plan of study in three attempts, including grades of W, will not be allowed to continue in Electrical or Computer Engineering programs.

Pass/No Pass Option is not available to students for engineering, math, and science courses.

Students may elect to add a concentration in Mechatronics  or Power and Energy Systems . These requirements can be accommodated using the Electrical and Computer Engineering, Engineering, Technical, and Free Electives. Contact your academic advisor for more information or review the catalog information for the concentrations.

Resources

The 8 semester plan of study is a recommended sequence of classes designed to show how this program can be completed within four years.

Visit the 15 to Finish website for information and resources.

For career information, click here to visit the Careers and Employment Trends page.

For Financial Aid eligibility, click here. Annual FAFSA filing deadline is March 10. Financial Aid recipients are required to complete 30 credits per calendar year to stay eligible for the standard financial aid award.

Financial Guarantee: If you follow the degree map and find a course unavailable, you may be able to take the course for free in a future semester.  Certain exclusions apply. 

College Scorecard

The U.S. Department of Education has created a scorecard for each university and its programs.  The scorecard shows data for the university such as graduation rate, average annual cost, and median earnings.  Then, when certain minimum standards have been met, data are available for a specific program.  That data could include median earnings, median total debt, and number of graduates. The link below will help you learn more:

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?490805-Purdue-University-Northwest&fos_code=1410&fos_credential=3