Electrical Engineering Degree Plan
Concentration Advisors:
Prof. R. Beresford, B&H 226, x3-1407, Rod_Beresford@brown.edu
Prof. H.F. Silverman, B&H 324, x3-1431,
hfs@lems.brown.edu
Educational Objectives:
The educational objectives of the Electrical Engineering Program at Brown University are based on the mission of the institution to prepare students for careers of useful service to society, and on the mission of the Division of Engineering to merge engineering teaching, scholarship, and practice in the pursuit of solutions to human needs.
The objectives of the Electrical Engineering Program are to produce engineers who:
- Pursue distinctive multidisciplinary scientific and technical careers beginning with either entry-level electrical engineering positions in industry or graduate study in electrical engineering and related fields.
- Participate on multidisciplinary teams that cooperate in applying problem-solving skills and critical and independent thinking to a broad range of projects that can produce the technical innovations aimed at satisfying the future needs of society.
- Adopt the scientific method as a cornerstone of their lifelong liberal education and use their broad understanding of human institutions, achievements, and values to achieve leadership in their chosen fields of endeavor.
The objectives address the expected accomplishments of our graduates, primarily in the time period of several years following graduation. Objective 1 aims at gainful employment and further education, both of which are of service to society and consistent with the Division’s mission of pursuing engineering in order to solve human needs. Objective 2 broadens this scope to reflect the range of activities that successful working engineers should encounter as their careers progress and emphasizes the team-oriented nature of the engineering profession. Objective 3 emphasizes the adaptability and continuing intellectual growth of an engineer working at the highest levels of achievement over a longer term.
Concentration Requirements:
Electrical Engineers must complete the common core program for the Sc.B. in Engineering, including either Engineering 0310 or 0810, plus Physics 0790 or any other 1000-level Physics course. Students should confer with the Electrical Engineering Concentration Advisor on their choice of an advanced physics course.
In addition to the above, seven more courses must be included in the concentration. Four of these seven courses must be Engineering 1570, 1620, 1630, and a major design project taken either as Engineering 1000 or as an Independent Study Course (Engineering 1970) relevant to the Electrical Engineering specialty selected by the student. To ensure depth of engineering training, the student shall choose the other three courses to satisfy requirements of a selected specialty as detailed below:
Bioelectrical Engineering:
Engineering 1230; one of Engineering 1220, 1580, 1610, or 2910X; and either Cognitive Science 1020 or Biology and Medicine 1720. The sequence (ENGN 1610, BIOL 1720, and 2910X) concentrates on medical imaging.
Communications Systems:
Engineering 1560,1580, and at least one of Engineering 1640, 1650, 1690, 1610, 2530. Applied Math 1650 or Math 1610 is also useful.
Computer Engineering:
Computer Science 0310, or, when the student knows CSCI 0310 material, another computer science course subject to approval; Engineering 1640; and at least one of Engineering 1580, 1600, 1610, 1650, 2530, 2910A, P, W; 2911C, G, X, Y or an additional approved Computer Science course.
Multimedia Signal Processing:
Engineering 2530 or 1610, and two of 1510,1580,1640, 1650, 1930A, 2500, 2520, 2540, 2560, 2570 or Computer Science 1230.
Microelectronic Systems:
Engineering 1600,1640; and at least one of Engineering 1590, 1680, 1930O or 2530. (Note: Engineering 1680 is offered in alternate years.)
Solid State Electronics and Optoelectronics:
Engineering 1590, and at least one of Engineering 1680, 1690,and one more course from Engineering 1410, 1420, 1440, 1450, 1560, 1600, 1680, 1690, Physics 1410,1420. (Note: Engineering 1680 is offered in alternate years.
Other Electrical Engineering specialties based on a coherent selection of at least three 1000-level courses and a major design project with an appropriate faculty advisor may be considered. Such other specialty programs must be approved in advance by the Engineering Concentration Committee. Students who would like to complement computer engineering, multimedia signal processing, or other concentrations with a software engineering background, are encouraged to complete CSCI 0150 or 0170 in the first semester. Successful completion of CSCI 0150 or 0170 fulfills the computing proficiency requirement and CSCI 0040 is then not required.
See the Undergraduate Guide for more information.
