Electrical & Computer Engineering

This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 Catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.norwich.edu/.

Professors Jacques Beneat and Ronald Lessard; Associate Professor Michael Prairie (Chair); Assistant Professor Michael Cross; Visiting Associate Professor Yongpeng Zhang

Mission:

To prepare students for the profession of Electrical and Computer Engineering; to enable them to solve problems of substance through the application of fundamental principles, disciplined practices and modern methods; to instill the humility of contribution to ventures larger than themselves, and the courage to lead others in the pursuit of such ventures; to inspire an ethic of service to all mankind in the context of a global community; and finally, to instill a lifelong thirst for the knowledge of their craft.

Goals:

The Program Educational Objectives of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Program are to produce graduates who, within two to four years after graduation are able to:

  • Attain respect for competence in the skills of engineering practice by solving problems and leading others in the pursuit of solutions.
  •  Effectively communicate the results of their work.
  •  Work professionally in team environments to design electrical and computer systems.
  •  Pursue professional development through life-long learning to better serve in an evolving global society.
  •  Demonstrate initiative and perform leadership roles in an ethical manner.
  •  Perceive the impact of their professional decisions on society.
     
Outcomes:

At the time of graduation, students in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Program are expected to have developed and demonstrated an ability to:

  • Identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics
  • 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
  • Communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  • 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
  • Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives
  • Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  • Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed using appropriate learning strategies

During the first two years, students receive intensive instruction in mathematics and basic physical sciences as well as fundamental principles and techniques of engineering. Students are introduced to the basic tools and problem solving techniques they will use throughout their careers. The final two years are spent in a laboratory intensive environment. In the third year, students begin to apply their knowledge solving discipline-specific engineering problems. Project-based courses begin to develop the ability to apply knowledge in open-ended problems. In the fourth year, more focused courses cover a broad spectrum of electrical and computer engineering topics. A completely open-ended design experience, where students can exercise creativity solving current engineering problems, spans the senior year. Designing, building, testing, and evaluating projects in such application areas as instrumentation and data acquisition, computer network control, SCADA systems security, robotics, wireless communication, and machinery controls is typical of this experience. Constraints such as economics, safety, reliability, aesthetics, ethics, and social impact are considered. This experience builds upon the fundamental concepts of mathematics, basic sciences, the humanities and social sciences, engineering topics, and communication skills developed earlier in the undergraduate experience. The design team experience allows close coordination with an individual faculty member. The scope of the project is designed to match the requirements of practice within the electrical and computer engineering discipline.

Careers for this Major:

Graduates have the option of beginning a career in either the military or civilian life, or attending graduate school. Career choices for ECE graduates are extremely diverse; below is an abbreviated list from “Your Career in the Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering Fields,” a website published by the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).  

  • Signal Processing
  • Aerospace and Electronic Systems
  • Circuits and Systems
  • Communications
  • Computers
  • Consumer Electronics
  • Control Systems
  • Industrial Electronics
  • Industry Applications
  • Instrumentation and Measurement
  • Power Electronics
  • Power Engineering
  • Robotics
  • Systems, Man and Cybernetics
  • Frequency Control
  • Vehicular Technology

The IEEE is the largest professional organization that serves Electrical and Computer Engineers, as well as many other types of engineers in related fields.  To see the IEEE website that discusses a broader range of ECE career opportunities, please sample a few videos at this IEEE.tv website, or visit this website maintained by TryEngineering.org.

Accreditation:

The Electrical and Computer Engineering curriculum is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET, http://www.abet.org.