Undergraduate Study

Rajit Manohar
Fengnian Xia
Directors of Undergraduate Studies

Electrical Engineering is the largest technical profession, which permeates today’s high technology society. “EE” encompasses numerous disciplines such as microelectronics, photonics, computer engineering, signal processing, control systems, and communications. The Department has a world renown faculty, involved in cutting-edge research involving graduate students and undergraduate students alike. Electrical Engineering at Yale trains students to have both technical depth, as well as a balanced and well-rounded education, to be better equipped to compete and lead in the global community of the 21st century.

Many of the frontiers of engineering are interdisciplinary, and students will find many of the faculty involved in joint projects with other departments, laboratories, and programs. This provides opportunities for the students in the Department to receive a broad engineering education in more than one technical field, in a liberal arts setting.

The Electrical Engineering curriculum places an emphasis on basic theory to provide a sound framework, as well as emphasizing practical experience and entrepreneurship. As a result, every student in the Department has an opportunity to map out a unique program suited to her/his background, interests, and goals.

Of the many fields that constitute Electrical Engineering, Yale offers three basic tracks of specialty. The track a student will follow typically is chosen in the junior year, with the freshman and sophomore year constituting core curriculum courses.

Electrical Engineering offers three tracks:

Microelectronics and Photonics Track:
Microelectronic and photonic materials, fabrication, and electronic and photonic devices. Students following this track will have skills in the design and fabrication of modern microelectronic devices, optoelectronic devices for telecommunications, ultrafast devices for micro-and millimeter-wave devices, microelectromechanical systems, and novel device physics involving fields such as bioelectronic systems and quantum computing.

Computer Engineering Track:
Design of digital and analog circuits, computer systems & architecture, sensor networks, very large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuit design, implementation, and testing and reliability. Students following this track will have skills in computer-aided design of state-of-the-art integrated circuits, embedded microprocessors, and in computer communications.

Signal Processing, Control, and Communications Track:
Automatic control systems, representation of information in signals, transmission and storage of information, and processing information by computers. Students following this track will have skills in digital signal processing, image processing, neural networks, robotics, sensors, and telecommunication systems.

B.S. in Electrical Engineering* is the most technically comprehensive Electrical Engineering program and is recommended for students focusing on immediate entry into demanding industrial engineering positions. It is also an excellent preparation for graduate study. This program requires 18 technical term courses beyond the prerequisites.

Outcomes and Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) for Electrical Engineering
Upon graduation, Yale's Electrical Engineering students are expected to achieve "Student Outcomes" as defined by ABET and the program. The Electrical Engineering major produces graduates who demonstrate:

• 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
• an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Yale and ABET also look ahead, several years beyond graduation. Program Educational Objectives provide the expectations for graduates early in their career. The Electrical Engineering Objectives are to produce graduates who:

• Academic path – Yale EE graduates will be at a top-tier graduate program conducting research with broad application or significant consequences, with an intention of applying to a quality academic or research institution.
• Industrial path – Yale EE graduates will be in a managerial or policy-making position that provides significant value to the company.
• Entrepreneurial path – Yale EE graduates will bring a broad knowledge to a startup company to deliver a device that meets societal needs.
• Non-traditional engineering path – Yale EE graduates will be completing a professional (Business, Law, Medicine) program and joining a top-level firm in which to apply engineering knowledge gained at Yale.

⁺ Yale College does not require students to declare a major until the end of their second year. Data reflects (BSEE) / (total of (BSEE, BSES(EE), BAES(EE), BSEE/CS).

* Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

B.S. in Engineering Sciences (Electrical) allows the student to choose more courses from areas outside engineering, for example, economics, technology management, politics, or cognitive psychology. This degree prepares students for an engineering career or graduate study in engineering and provides a strong advantage in numerous related careers.

B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is an interdepartmental major designed for students who want to integrate work in these two fields. It covers discrete and continuous mathematics, algorithm analysis and design, digital and analog circuits, signals and systems, systems programming, and computer engineering.

B.A. in Engineering Sciences (Electrical) provides a significant advantage in fields such as medicine, business, law, public service, and many others where a grasp of science and technology provides advantages. Students are encouraged to include EENG 203 among their Electives, because it provides a hands-on experience and a foundation for more advanced courses.

Each student's program must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies. Faster-paced and slower-paced variations are possible, depending on the student’s level of preparation and commitment to the major.

Senior Requirement: All programs require a research/design Senior Project. The student must take EENG 471a and or EENG 472b, or EENG 481b (for ABET students or by permission of instructor), present a written report, and make an oral presentation during the fall term. Students must 1) choose their topic the semester before the term in which they will work on their project, 2) fill out a registration form, and 3) have the form signed by the intended faculty adviser and the DUS. The written report is due by the last day of the Reading Period.

Your EE Faculty Adviser: Students are encouraged to choose as their Adviser an Electrical Engineering faculty member with whom they would feel comfortable discussing academic plans and problems. The Faculty Adviser will also advise them on their Senior Project.

For detailed curriculum information, visit Electrical Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum Information