College of Engineering

Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering
For Students Graduating in Calendar Year 2022 and for student date of entry under UG Catalog 2020-2021
Credits Required for graduation: 132

FALL SEMESTER FIRST YEAR Credits SPRING SEMESTER FIRST YEAR Credits
CHEM 1035 General Chemistry Co: MATH 1025 or 1225 3 ENGL 1106 First-Year Writing Pre: ENGL 1105 3
CHEM 1045 General Chemistry Lab Co: CHEM 1035 1 MATH 1226 Calculus of a Single Variable Pre: MATH 4
1225
ENGL 1105 First-Year Writing 3 PHYS 2305 Foundations of Physics I Co: PHYS 2325 or 4
MATH 1206 or MATH 1206H or MATH 1226 Pre: MATH 1205 or
MATH 1205H or MATH 1225 or MATH 1206 or MATH 1206H or
MATH 1226)
MATH 1225 Calculus of a Single Variable (C-) Pre: Math 4 ENGE 1216 Foundations of Engineering (C-) Pre: ENGE 2
Ready 1215
ENGE 1215 Foundations of Engineering (C-) 2 ECE 1004(1) Introduction to ECE Concepts (C) Pre: ENGE 3[F,S]
1215 or ENGE 1414
3 MATH 2114 Introduction to Linear Algebra (C-) Pre: 3
MATH 1226 or a grade of at least B in MATH 1225
TOTAL 16 TOTAL 19

FALL SEMESTER SECOND YEAR Credits SPRING SEMESTER SECOND YEAR Credits
MATH 2214 Introduction to Differential Equations (C-) Pre: 3 MATH 2204 Introduction to Multivariable Calculus 3
(1114 or 1114H or 2114 or 2114H), (1206 or 1226) (C-) Pre: MATH 1226
PHYS 2306 Foundations of Physics I (C-) Pre: (MATH 1206 or 4 ECE 2214(1) Physical Electronics (C) Pre: 2024 3[F,S]
MATH 1206H or MATH 1226), PHYS 2305
ECE 2024(1) Circuits and Devices (C) Pre: 1004, (MATH 2114 or 3[F,S] ECE 2564(2) Embedded Systems (C) Pre: 2514, 2544 3[F,S]
MATH 2114H or MATH 2405H) ; Co: 2514, 2544, MATH 2214, PHYS 2306
ECE 2514(2) Computational Engineering (C) 3[F,S] ECE 2714(1) Signals and Systems(C) Pre: 2024, 2514, 2544, 3[F,S]
Pre: 1004; Co: 2024, 2544 MATH 2214; Co: 2564
ECE 2544(1) Fundamentals of Digital Systems (C) Pre: 1004, 3[F,S] ECE 2804(1) Integrated Design Project (C) Pre: 2024, 2[F,S]
ENGL 1106 or ENGL 1204H; Co: 2024, 2514 2514, 2544; Co: 2214, 2564, 2714
3
TOTAL 16 TOTAL 17

FALL SEMESTER THIRD YEAR Credits SPRING SEMESTER THIRD YEAR Credits
(1)
ECE 3004 AC Circuit Analysis (C-) Pre: 2704 or( 2714, 2804) 3[F,S] (2)
ECE 3106 Electromagnetic Fields Pre: 3105 3[F,S]
ECE 3074(1) AC Circuit Analysis Laboratory (C-) Pre: 2074 or 1[F,S] ECE 3204 Analog Electronics Pre: (2204, 2704) or (2214, 3F,S]
(2)

2804; Co: 3004 2714, 2804)

ECE 3105(1) Electromagnetic Fields Pre: (2004 or (2214, 2804)), 3[F,S] ECE 3274(2) Electronic Circuits Laboratory II Pre: (2274 1[F,S]
PHYS 2306, (MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H or MATH 2406H) or 2804), 3074; Co: 3204
ECE 3704(2) Continuous & Discrete System Theory Pre: 2704 3[F,S] ECE 3304(2) Introduction to Power Systems Pre: 3004 3[F,S]
or (2714, 2804)
STAT 4714 Probability & Statistics for Electrical Engineers 3 ECE 3354(2) Electric Power Engineering Laboratory Co:
3304
1[F,S]
(C-) Pre: (MATH 2204 or MATH 2224)
3 ECE 3614(2) Introduction to Communication Systems 3[F,S]
Pre: (2704 or (2714, 2804)), STAT 4714
3
TOTAL 16 TOTAL 17

FALL SEMESTER FOURTH YEAR Credits SPRING SEMESTER FOURTH YEAR Credits
ECE 4805 Senior Design Project (C-) See timetable for prereqs 3[F,S] ECE 4806 Senior Design Project Pre: 4805 3[F,S]
Secondary Focus Area course (see list) 3 Secondary Focus Area course (see list) 3
Secondary Focus Area course (see list) 3 3
MATH Elective from list 3 7 or Free Elective (if Pathways 7 double counted) 3
Free Elective 3 Free Elective 4
TOTAL 15 TOTAL 16
General Information about Checksheet: Superscripted annotation after the course number (1) indicates core course of the degree while
(2) indicates courses associated with the major. Additionally, (F, S, SI, SII) in credits column indication terms when a course is expected
to be offered. Course offerings are subject to change and the availability of sufficient resources. Students should confirm course offerings
in advance with their department.

Pathways to General Education

Consult the athways courses table: https://www.pathways.prov.vt.edu/about/table.html. Pathways courses need to be completed prior to
graduation
Pathway 1: Foundational: ENGL 1105 (3) Foundational: ENGL 1106 (3)
Discourse (6 hrs foundational, 3 hrs advanced) Advanced: ECE 4805 + ECE 4806 (6)
Pathway 2: (3) (3)
Critical Thinking in the Humanities (6 hrs)
Pathway 3: (3) (3)
Reasoning in the Social Sciences (6 hrs)
Pathway 4: CHEM 1035 + CHEM 1045 (4) PHYS 2305 (4)
Reasoning in the Natural Sciences (8 hrs)
Pathway 5: Foundational: MATH 1225 (4) Foundational: MATH 1226 (4)
Quantitative and Computational Thinking (11 hrs) Advanced: MATH 2214 (3)
Pathway 6: Arts (6a): (3)
Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts (7 hrs) Design: ENGE 1215 + ENGE 1216 (4)
Pathway 7: *Pathways 7 should be double counted with either Pathways 2, 3 or 6a to (3)
Critical Analysis of Identity & Equity in the US (3 hrs) avoid taking any additional credit hours.

Electives
The Electrical Engineering major requires 3 hours of math electives from list and 7 hours of free electives. Only free electives may be
taken under the P/F grading option. Students are encouraged to use free electives to provide depth in their major or secondary focus.
Secondary Focus
The Electrical Engineering major requires 9 credits from a secondary focus area. All 9 credits must be from one ECE focus area from the
attached list or from an approved individualized secondary focus plan. At least 3 credits must be at the 4xxx level.

Change of Major Requirements: For Change of Major requirement, please see:

http://www.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate-changing-majors.html
Foreign Language Requirements: Students must have had 2 years of a foreign language in high school or one year at the college level
(6 credit hours) of the same language. College-level credits used to meet this requirement do not count towards the degree.
Satisfactory Progress Towards Degree: University Policy 91 outlines university-wide minimum criteria to determine if students are
making satisfactory progress towards the completion of their degrees. The ECE Department fully supports this policy. Specific
expectations for satisfactory progress for BSCPE and BSEE majors are as follows:
Each student must meet the minimum University-wide criteria as described in Policy 91 and summarized in the Undergraduate
Catalog (under Academic Policies)
Upon completing 2 semesters in ECE, students must have satisfactorily completed ECE 2024, ECE 2514, ECE 2544, MATH 2214,
and PHYS 2306
Upon completing 3 semesters in ECE, students must have satisfactorily completed ECE 2804.
Upon attempting 90 credits, BSCPE and BSEE students must have successfully completed 33 credits of in-major courses and
have 2.0 overall and in-major GPAs. (In determining the BSCPE and BSEE in-major GPA, all ECE courses, including repeats, are
used).
Grade Requirement: Students must earn a C or higher in the following ECE courses: ECE 1004, ECE 2024, ECE 2214, ECE 2514, ECE 2544,
ECE 2564, ECE 2714, ECE 2804.
Statement of Prerequisites: Pre-requisites for each course are listed after the course title. In general, all ECE courses require a C- or
better in prerequisite courses. Students must earn a C or higher in the ECE courses listed above. There are no hidden prerequisites in
this program of study. Prerequisites may change from what is indicated. Be sure to consult the Timetable of Classes or check with your
advisor for the most current requirements.
Graduation Requirements: Each student must complete at least 132 semester credit hours with a minimum overall GPA of 2.00 and a
minimum in-major GPA of 2.00. In determining the Electrical Engineering in-major GPA, all ECE courses, including repeats, are used.
 SECONDARY FOCUS REQUIREMENT
Electrical Engineering Major
For Students Graduating in Calendar Year 2022 and for student date of entry under UG Catalog 2020-2021

FOCUS AREAS WITHIN ECE

The courses listed below have been approved for the ECE focus areas. Students must choose 3 courses from a single focus area which
DO NOT DUPLICATE major requirements. At least one course must be at the 4xxx level. Actual course offerings will be based on
sufficient resources, including faculty availability and student demand. Refer to the University’s on-line timetable of classes for
specific course availability information and prerequisite. Note: All ECE courses require a C- or better in prerequisite courses.

CHIP-SCALE INTEGRATION
ECE2500 (3) COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURE, Pre: 2504 or (2544, 2804)
ECE2574 (3) DATA STRUCTURES AND ALGORITHMS, Pre: 1574 or (2514, 2804)
ECE3574 (3) APPLIED SOFTWARE DESIGN, Pre: 2574 or 3514
ECE3544 (4) DIGITAL DESIGN, Pre: 2504 or (2544, 2804)
ECE4514 (4) DIGITAL DESIGN II, Pre: 3544
ECE4520 (3) DIGITAL AND MIXED SIGNAL SYSTEM TESTING AND TESTABLE DESIGN, Pre: (2574 or 3514), 3544
ECE4530 (3) HARDWARE-SOFTWARE CO-DESIGN, Pre: (2534 or 2564), 3544
ECE4540 (3) VLSI CIRCUIT DESIGN, Pre: (2504, 2204) or (2544, 2214, 2804)

CONTROLS, ROBOTICS, AND AUTONOMY

ECE2500 (3) COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURE, Pre: 2504 or (2544, 2804)
ECE2574 (3) DATA STRUCTURES AND ALGORITHMS, Pre: 1574 or (2514, 2804)
ECE3574 (3) APPLIED SOFTWARE DESIGN, Pre: 2574 or 3514
ECE3714 (3) INTRODUCTION TO CONTROL SYSTEMS, Pre: 2704 or (2714, 2804)
ECE4524 (4) ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS, Pre: (2574 or 3514), STAT 4714
ECE4580 (3) DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING
ECE4704 (3) PRINCIPLES OF ROBOTICS SYSTEMS, Pre: (2704 or (2714, 2804)) or (ME 3514, STAT 3704)

MACHINE LEARNING
ECE2500 (3) COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURE, Pre: 2504 or (2544, 2804)
ECE2574 (3) DATA STRUCTURES AND ALGORITHMS, Pre: 1574 or (2514, 2804)
ECE3574 (3) APPLIED SOFTWARE DESIGN, Pre: 2574 or 3514
ECE4424 (3) MACHING LEARNING (CS 4824), Pre: (2574 or 3514), (STAT 4604 or STAT 4705 or STAT 4714)
ECE4524 (4) ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS, Pre: (2574 or 3514), STAT 4714
ECE4525 (3) VIDEO GAME DESIGN AND ENG, Pre: 3574
ECE4526 (3) VIDEO GAME DESIGN AND ENG, Pre: 4525
ECE4554 (3) INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER VISION, Pre: 3574, (STAT 4705 or STAT 4714)
ECE4580 (3) DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING
NETWORKING AND CYBERSECURITY
ECE2500 (3) COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURE, Pre: 2504 or (2544, 2804)
ECE2574 (3) DATA STRUCTURES AND ALGORITHMS, Pre: 1574 or (2514, 2804)
ECE3574 (3) APPLIED SOFTWARE DESIGN, Pre: 2574 or 3514
ECE4560 (3) COMPUTER AND NETWORK SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS, Pre: 2504 or (2544, 2804) or CS 3214
ECE4564 (3) NETWORK APPLICATION DESIGN, Pre: (2504 or (2544, 2804)), (2574 or 3514)
ECE4614 (3) TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS, Pre: ((2504, 2704) or (2544, 2714, 2804)), STAT 4714
CS4264 (3) PRINCIPLES OF COMPUTER SECURITY, Pre: CS 3214 or ((ECE 2500 or 3504), ECE 3574)

SOFTWARE SYSTEMS
ECE2500 (3) COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURE, Pre: 2504 or (2544, 2804)
ECE2574 (3) DATA STRUCTURES AND ALGORITHMS, Pre: 1574 or (2514, 2804)
ECE3574 (3) APPLIED SOFTWARE DESIGN, Pre: 2574 or 3514
ECE4524 (4) ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS, Pre: (2574 or 3514), STAT 4714
ECE4525 (3) VIDEO GAME DESIGN AND ENG, Pre: 3574
ECE4550 (3) REAL-TIME SYSTEMS, Pre: 3574 or CS 3214
ECE4574 (3) LARGE-SCALE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT FOR ENGINEERING SYSTEMS, Pre: 3574
CS3214 (3) COMPUTER SYSTEMS, Pre: (CS 2506, CS 2114) or (ECE 2564, ECE 3574)

COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING

ECE4614 (3) TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS, Pre: ((2504, 2704) or (2544, 2714,2804)), STAT 4714
ECE4624 (3) DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING AND FILTER DESIGN, Pre: 3704
ECE4634 (3) DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS, Pre: 3614, STAT 4714
ECE4664 (1) ANALOG & DIGITAL COMM LAB, Pre: 3614; Co: 4634
ECE4684 (3) NETWORK SCIENCE, Pre: 2704 or (2714, 2804)

ENERGY AND POWER ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

ECE4224 (3) POWER ELECTRONICS, Pre: 3204, 3304
ECE4284 (1) POWER ELECTRONICS LAB, Co: 4224
ECE4334 (3) POWER SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND CONTROL, Pre: 3304
ECE4354 (3) POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION, Pre: 4334
ECE4364 (3) ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS, Pre. STAT 4714
ECE4374 (1) POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION LAB, Pre: 4334; Co: 4354

MICRO/NANOSYSTEMS
ECE3214 (3) SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE FUNDAMENTALS, Pre: 2204 or (2214, 2804) or MSE 3204
ECE4205 (3) ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT DESIGN, Pre: 3204
ECE4220 (3) ANALOG INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DESIGN, Pre: 3204
ECE4234 (3) SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING, Pre: 2204 or (2214, 2804) or 3054
ECE4235 (3) PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRONIC PACKAGING, Pre: 2204 or (2214, 2804) or 3054

PHOTONICS
ECE3134 (3) INTRODUCTION OPTOELCTRONICS, Pre: 2204 or (2214, 2804)
ECE3174 (1) OPTOELECTRONICS LAB, Pre: 2274 or 2804; Co: 3134
ECE4134 (3) PHOTONICS, Pre: 3106
ECE4144 (3) OPTICAL SYSTEMS, Pre: 3105

RADIO FREQUENCY AND MICROWAVE

ECE3604 (3) INTRODUCTION TO RF & MICROWAVE ENGINEERING, Pre: 3105
ECE4104 (3) MICROWAVE AND RF ENGINEERING, Pre: 3106, 3204
ECE4114 (3) ANTENNAS, Pre: 3106
ECE4124 (3) RADIO WAVE PROPOGATION, Pre: 3106
ECE4220 (3) ANALOG INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DESIGN, Pre: 3204
ECE4605 (3) RADIO ENGINEERING, Pre: 3105, 3204, 3614

SPACE SYSTEMS
ECE3104 (3) INTRO SPACE SYSTEMS, Pre: 3105
ECE3154 (2) SPACE SYSTEMS – DESIGN, Pre: 3105; Co: 3104
ECE4154 (3) INTRODUCTION TO SPACE WEATHER, Pre: 3106
ECE4164 (4) INTRODUCTION TO FLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS (GPS) THEORY AND DESIGN, Pre: 3106 or AOE 4134
ECE4194 (3) ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES OF REMOTE SENSING, Pre: 3106
ECE4644 (4) SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS, Pre: 3614

INDEPENDENT STUDIES AND UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

ECE 4974 Independent Study and ECE 4994 Undergraduate Research listed below can generally be used as part of the Secondary Focus
Area if the topic of the course fits with student’s stated career goals and the student has a faculty for supervising the course. Please
discuss Secondary Focus Area options for ECE 4974/ECE 4994 with your advisor prior to completing the required paperwork to add
these courses.

4974 (ARR) Independent Study

4994 (ARR) Undergraduate Research

Notes:
Students must complete the College of Engineering Undergraduate Research/Independent Study Form, the ECE Undergraduate
Research/Independent Study Secondary Focus Proposal Form, and the ABET Breakdown prior to registration. To be considered for
inclusion in the Secondary Focus, all forms are due to the ECE Student Services office no later than 2 weeks before classes begin for
the requested semester – no exceptions. Forms are available online at www.ece.vt.edu/undergrad/policies.

For purposes of satisfying the Secondary Focus requirements, the sum of the number of hours taken from ECE 4974 and 4994 cannot
exceed 6 credits.
INDIVIDUALIZED SECONDARY FOCUS (Must be preapproved by ECE Department)

The Electrical Engineering major requires 9 credits from a secondary focus area. All 9 credits must be from one ECE focus area from
the attached list or from an approved individualized secondary focus plan. At least 3 credits must be at the 4xxx level. The
individualized secondary focus helps students pursue their interests. This option can be used in place of a pre-defined, in-
department secondary focus.

The individualized secondary focus is pursued via a university-approved program taken from a single degree, major, minor, or
certificate. Students can select courses from these programs, subject to the guidelines below.

1) To begin this process, students must first meet with their academic advisor.
2) The student must complete a brief proposal form describing the expected added value to their major. This includes a
narrative about how these courses support the student’s career goals and ability to achieve their professional aspirations.
This proposal must be approved by the Director of Undergrad Program or designee.
3) Individualized secondary focus plans must include 3 courses within the following parameters:
a. None of the courses may duplicate the student’s ECE major requirements.
b. None of the courses can be at the 1xxx level (1xxx courses required for university-approved programs, e.g. minors,
can be used for a student’s free electives).
c. A maximum of one course can be at the 2xxx level, and only if it is a requirement of a university approved
program, or if the course is a prerequisite to one or more of the other two courses in the individualized secondary
focus.
d. A minimum of one course must be at the 4xxx level.
4) If the set of courses is part of an already defined university program outside of ECE, the student should attach
documentation from the course catalog to the proposal form.
5) Exception: If the set of three courses are not part of an already defined university-approved program, the student must also
obtain written approval from the single department that houses the courses.
6) It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the set of courses is available to be taken in a timely manner. The ECE
department is not responsible for changes of programs elsewhere in the university.
 MATH ELECTIVE REQUIREMENT
Electrical Engineering Major
For Students Graduating in Calendar Year 2022 and for student date of entry under UG Catalog 2020-2021

Electrical Engineering majors are required to take one math elective course from the following list. Some courses may include
prerequisite courses not required for the BSEE curriculum. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of prerequisites and to ensure
that all prerequisites are completed prior to enrolling in the chosen course. Note that courses may be restricted to specific majors
during certain semesters.

Enrollment into courses will be based on sufficient resources, including faculty availability and student demand.

MATH 2534 (3) INTRO DISCRETE MATH, Pre: CS 1114 or ECE 1574 or ECE 1004
MATH 3034 (3) INTRODUCTION TO PROOFS, Pre: MATH 2114 or MATH 2114H or MATH 2405H.
MATH 3214 (3) CALCULUS OF SEVERAL VARIABLES , Pre: MATH 2224 or MATH 2224H or MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H or MATH 2406H
or CMDA 2005.
MATH 3414 (3) NUMERICAL METHODS (CS 3414), Pre: (CS 1044 or CS 1705 or CS 1114 or CS 1124), MATH 2406H or (CMDA 2005,
CMDA 2006) or (MATH 2214 or MATH 2214H), (MATH 2224 or MATH 2224H or MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H).
MATH 4445 (3) INTRODUCTION TO NUMERICAL ANALYSIS, Pre: MATH 2406H or (CMDA 2005, CMDA 2006) or (MATH 2214 or MATH
2214H), (MATH 2224 or MATH 2224H) or (MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H).
MATH 4446 (3) INTRODUCTION TO NUMERICAL ANALYSIS, Pre: MATH 2406H or (CMDA 2005, CMDA 2006) or (MATH 2214 or MATH
2214H), (MATH 2224 or MATH 2224H or MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H).
MATH 4564 (3) OPERATIONAL METHODS FOR ENGINEERS, Pre: (MATH 2214 or MATH 2214H) or MATH 2406H or CMDA 2006.
MATH 4574 (3) VECTOR AND COMPLEX ANALYSIS FOR ENGINEERS, Pre: MATH 2224 or MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H]