Electrical Engineering Major

Electrical Engineering Major Requirements  2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2015 | FA09-SP13

NOTE: WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SP20, FA20, WI21 AND SP21, ALL COURSES USED TO SATISFY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS MUST BE TAKEN FOR A LETTER GRADE AND RECEIVE A GRADE OF C- OR BETTER.

ECE P/NP EXCEPTION

BS Electrical Engineering Program 

Students must complete 180 units for graduation, including the general-education requirements (GER). Note that 140 units (excluding GER) are required for the major.

Lower-Division Requirements
(total of seventy-six units for computer system design depth, and seventy-two units for all other depths)

Electrical Engineering (twenty-four units for communication systems, electronic circuits and systems, electronic devices and materials, machine learning and controls, photonics, power engineering, and signal and image processing depths)

ECE 5, 25, 30, 35, 45, and 65

Electrical Engineering (twenty-eight units for computer system design depth only)

ECE 5, 16, 25, 30, 35, 45, and 65

Programming course (four units for electronic circuits and systems, electronic devices and materials, photonics, and power engineering depths)

ECE 15

Programming courses (eight units for communication systems, computer system design, machine learning and controls, and signal and image processing depths)

ECE 15,17

Chemistry (four units)

CHEM 6A

Mathematics (twenty-four units)

MATH 18 and 20A-B-C-D-E.

Physics (twelve units for communication systems, computer system design, machine learning and controls, and signal and image processing depths)

PHYS 2A-B-C or PHYS 4A-B-C. (Note: MATH 20A is a prerequisite for PHYS 2A. Students whose performance on the mathematics placement test permits them to start with MATH 20B or higher may take PHYS 2A in the fall quarter of the freshman year.)

Physics (sixteen units for electronic circuits and systems, electronic devices and materials, photonics, and power engineering depths)

PHYS 2A-B-C-D or PHYS 4A-B-C-D-E (Note: MATH 20A is a prerequisite for PHYS 2A. Students whose performance on the mathematics placement test permits them to start with MATH 20B or higher may take PHYS 2A in the fall quarter of the freshman year.)

Upper-Division Requirements

Students must select an engineering depth to provide a focus for their studies. Students may choose one of the approved depth sequences listed below or propose another with the approval of the department. A list of approved technical electives and professional electives can be found in the ECE undergraduate office. Note: In order to fulfill the design requirement, students must complete ECE 111, 115, 140B, 190, or 191 with a grade of C– or better. Graduation will not be approved until a written copy of the design project is submitted to the ECE undergraduate office.

DEPTHS

Communication Systems (sixty-eight units)
  • Breadth Courses: ECE 100, 101, 102, 107, 109
  • Depth Courses: ECE 153, 155, 157A, 158A, 159
  • Technical Electives: four upper-division engineering, math, or physics courses
  • Professional Electives: two upper-division courses
  • Design Course: one of ECE 111, 115, 140B, 190, or 191
Computer System Design (sixty-four units)
  • Breadth Courses: ECE 100, 101, 109
  • Depth Courses: any five of ECE 102, 103, 111*, 140A-B, 141A-B, 143, 158A-B, or 165
  • Technical Electives: five upper-division engineering, math, or physics courses
  • Professional Electives: two upper-division courses
  • Design Course: one of ECE 111*, 115, 140B, 190, or 191
    *ECE 111 MUST be taken as either a depth, technical elective, or design course
Electronic Circuits and Systems (sixty-eight units)
  • Breadth Courses: ECE 100, 101, 102, 103, 107, 109
  • Depth Courses: ECE 164, 165, 166
  • Technical Electives: five upper-division engineering, math, or physics courses
  • Professional Electives: two upper-division courses
  • Design Course: one of ECE 111, 115, 140B, 190, or 191
Electronic Devices and Materials (sixty-eight units)
  • Breadth Courses: ECE 100, 101, 102, 103, 107, 109
  • Depth Courses: ECE 135A-B, 136L, 183
  • Technical Electives: four upper-division engineering, math, or physics courses
  • Professional Electives: two upper-division courses
  • Design Course: one of ECE 111, 115, 140B, 190, or 191
Machine Learning and Controls (sixty-eight units)
  • Breadth Courses: ECE 100, 101, 107, 109
  • Depth Courses: ECE 171A, 174, 175A and one of ECE 171B, 172A, or 175B
  • Technical Electives: six upper-division engineering, math, or physics courses
  • Professional Electives: two upper-division courses
  • Design Course: one of ECE 111, 115, 140B, 190, or 191
Photonics (sixty-eight units)
  • Breadth Courses: ECE 100, 101, 103, 107, 109
  • Depth Courses: ECE 181, 182, 183 and either ECE 184 or 185
  • Technical Electives: five upper-division engineering, math, or physics courses
  • Professional Electives: two upper-division courses
  • Design Course: one of ECE 111, 115, 140B, 190, or 191
Power Engineering (sixty-eight units)
  • Breadth Courses: ECE 100, 101, 102, 103, 107, 109
  • Depth Courses: ECE 121A-B, 125A, 128A, and either 125B or 128B
  • Technical Electives: three upper-division engineering, math, or physics courses
  • Professional Electives: two upper-division courses
  • Design Course: one of ECE 111, 115, 140B, 190, or 191
Signal and Image Processing (sixty-eight units)
  • Breadth Courses: ECE 100, 101, 107, 109
  • Depth Courses: ECE 153, 161A-B-C
  • Technical Electives: six upper-division engineering, math, or physics courses
  • Professional Electives: two upper-division courses
  • Design Course: one of ECE 111, 115, 140B, 190, or 191

For official policies regarding major requirements, please consult the UC San Diego Catalog .