Electrical Engineering Program

2020-21 Electrical Engineering Major Program

Student Services:   Rachel Pham, 177 Packard  rcpham@stanford.edu
Assoc Chair, UG Education: John Pauly pauly@stanford.edu Student Advisor: Chris Vassos 110 Packard, undergradta@ee.stanford.edu, 725-3799

The mission of the Department of Electrical Engineering is to augment the liberal education expected of all Stanford undergraduates, to impart a basic understanding of electrical engineering, and to develop skills in the design and building of systems that directly impact societal needs.

The program includes a balanced foundation in the physical sciences, mathematics and computing; presents core courses in electronics, information systems and digital systems; and develops specific skills in the analysis and design of systems. Students in the major have broad flexibility to select from disciplinary areas beyond the core, including hardware and software, information systems and science, and physical technology and science, as well as electives in multidisciplinary areas, including bio-electronics and bio-imaging, energy and environment, and music.

The program prepares students for a broad range of careers—both industrial and government—as well as for professional and academic graduate education. The educational objectives and student outcomes for the Department of Electrical Engineering are shown below in the Objectives section.

EE Program Sheet (Excel)

EE 4-Year & Flex Quarter Plans

EE Flowchart

Degree Requirements

Temporary: Requirements and courses offered may change with little notice; updates posted as they become available. Find current requirements for this and all other School of Engineering major programs at Explore Degrees

Math and Science Requirements

Minimum 40 units combined; 9 courses

It is a School of Engineering requirement that all courses counting toward the major must be taken for a letter grade if the instructor offers that option. Students with multiple degrees should be aware that math, science, and fundamentals courses can be used to fulfill breadth requirements for more than one degree program, but a depth course can be counted toward only one major or minor program; any course can be double-counted in a secondary major.

Math (minimum 26-27 units, 6-7 courses)

Science (minimum 12 units, 3 courses

Technology in Society (1 course, minimum 3-5 units)
See the Approved Courses page for courses that fulfill the Technology in Society requirement. To fulfill the requirement, the TiS course must be on the SoE-Approved Courses list the year it is taken.

Engineering Topics

Minimum 60 units comprised of:

• Engineering Fundamentals (minimum 10 units),
• Core EE Courses (minimum 16 units)
• Disciplinary Area (minimum 17 units)
• Electives (minimum 17 units, restrictions apply)

Engineering Fundamentals (2 courses required; minimum 10 units)

• CS 106B or X (106X is not offered 20-21); may take CS 106M (1-unit, Aut) with 106B to equal 106X. Programming Abstractions; required, 5 units

• Choose one or more Fundamentals course from the Approved List; Recommended: ENGR 40A/B (not offered 2019-20) or ENGR 40M (recommended before taking EE 101A); taking CS 106A or a second ENGR 40-series course not allowed for the Fundamentals elective. Choose from table on Approved Courses page.

Core EE Courses

*Students may petition to use PHYSICS 43 and PHYSICS 63 in place of EE 42. The EE introductory class ENGR 40A and ENGR 40B or ENGR 40M may be taken concurrently with either EE 42 or PHYSICS 43. There are no prerequisites for ENGR 40A and ENGR 40B or ENGR 40M.
**For upper-division students, a 200-level seminar in their disciplinary area will be accepted via petition.

Writing in the Major (WIM)*: One course, 3-5 units

* A single course can concurrently meet the WIM and Design Requirements.

Design Course*: One Course, 3-5 units

*Students may select their Design course from any Disciplinary Area.

** To satisfy Design, must take EE 264 or EE 267 for 4 units and complete the laboratory project.

Disciplinary Area (minimum 17 units, 5 courses: 1 WIM/Design, 1-2 Required, and 2-3 disciplinary area electives)

Hardware and Software

Information Systems and Science

Physical Technology and Science

*EE 228 is no longer offered starting AY20-21.

Electives (3-4 courses; minimum 17 units)

Students may select electives from the disciplinary areas; from the multidisciplinary elective areas; or any combination of disciplinary and multidisciplinary areas. Electives may include up to two additional Engineering Fundamentals, and any letter graded EE courses. Freshman and Sophomore seminars, EE 191 and CS 106A do not count toward the 60 units. Students may have fewer elective units if they have more units in their disciplinary area.

Bio-Electronics and Bio-Imaging

Energy and Environment

Music

* Best taken as a coterm student.

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

The Electrical Engineering Department at Stanford University invites undergraduates majoring in EE to participate in its REU Summer Program from June through August. The program is designed to give undergraduates an opportunity to work with members of the EE Faculty and their research groups on advanced research topics.

Program Structure: The program is designed to give both an in-depth research experience on a particular topic, as well as a broad hands-on exposure to various areas within EE. Bi-weekly seminars are offered to cover a wide range of topics. The seminar series lecturers are comprised of EE faculty and industry guests. Discussions will include topics such as graduate education, internships and career opportunities. Each student receives a summer stipend. Students must secure their own housing for the summer and they have the option to live on or off campus.
Presentations: The last week of the summer program will be devoted to preparing a final presentation and creating a poster on the research project. The students will have an oral presentation and a poster session, to which the EE community will be invited.

Application Procedure: For information about our application process, please go to the REU website.

REU Requirements: Available to enrolled Stanford undergraduate students only. Students must be declared EE majors by the start of the program. With the exception of coterm students, students may not be seniors when they apply. In the event the number of applicants exceeds the number of spaces available, preference is given to first time participants. All REU program inquiries can be directed to reu@ee.stanford.edu.

Study Abroad Program (suspended 20-21)

Stanford’s Overseas Studies Program is a great opportunity for students to build their language and cultural skills abroad. Some of the most popular programs with Electrical Engineering students are in China, Japan and Germany. In many cases there are summer job opportunities as well. Each program has different and specific language requirement that may require early and careful planning. For example, the core classes may be offered during quarters that conflict with the study abroad. For more information, see the the  BOSP Overseas website.

Objectives and Outcomes For Electrical Engineering

Objectives:

1. Technical Knowledge: Provide a basic knowledge of electrical engineering principles along with the required supporting knowledge of mathematics, science, computing, and engineering fundamentals. The program must include depth in at least one specialty area, currently including Bio-electronics and Bio-imaging; Circuits and Devices; Computer Hardware; Computer Software; Energy and Environment; Music; Photonics, Solid State, and Electromagnetics; and Signal Processing, Communications and Control.

2. Laboratory and Design Skills: Develop the basic skills needed to perform and design experimental projects. Develop the ability to formulate problems and projects and to plan a process for solutions taking advantage of diverse technical knowledge and skills.

3. Communications Skills: Develop the ability to organize and present information, and to write and speak effective English.

4. Preparation for Further Study: Provide sufficient breadth and depth for successful subsequent graduate study, post-graduate study, or lifelong learning programs.

5. Preparation for the Profession: Provide an appreciation for the broad spectrum of issues arising in professional practice, including teamwork, leadership, safety, ethics, service, economics, and professional organizations.

Outcomes:

(a) An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
(b) An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
(c) An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
(d) An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
(e) An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
(f) An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
(g) An ability to communicate effectively
(h) The broad education necessary to understand he impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
(i) A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, life-long learning
(j) A knowledge of contemporary issues
(k) An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
(l) Background for admission to engineering or other professional graduate programs

Coterm Deadlines and Contact

Go to the EE Admission page for deadlines and information

How to Declare a Major in Electrical Engineering

1. Log into Axess and choose the EE major to declare. Do not choose the Honors option in Axess unless you have already submitted an Honors application and Honors thesis proposal to the department.
2. Fill out a copy of the Undergraduate Declaring a Major in EE form, which can on the EE Academics page. The "Area(s) of Interest" is particularly important to assist in the choice of a faculty advisor. It can always be changed.
3. Meet with the Associate Chair of Undergraduate Education: Please send an email to Professor John Pauly, pauly@stanford.edu, to make an appointment. Make sure to scan your Undergraduate Sign-up Sheet, unofficial transcript, and academic file (if available from your previous advisor) to him prior to the meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to go over the basics of getting a BS in EE, and to assign an EE faculty member to be your major advisor.
4. After the meeting, scan your Declaring a Major in EE form to the EE Degree Progress Officer, who will approve your major declaration and enter your advisor’s name in Axess. The Degree Progress Officer will also add your email to the EE undergraduate email list (also part of the department-wide student email list. These lists are used for announcements about academic requirements, seminars, research opportunities and other events.