Electrical Engineering Program

2021-22 Electrical Engineering Major Program

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

Current requirements for this and all other School of Engineering major programs may also be found 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 28 units)

Course	Title	Units
MATH 19/20/21	Calculus (or 10 units AP/IB Calculus credit)	10
Select one 2-course sequence. The MATH courses are more theoretical, while the CME courses are applied and build on programming and use of tools like MATLAB.
CME 100/ENGR 154 and CME 102/ENGR 155A	Vector Calculus for Engineers and Ordinary Differential Equations for Engineers	5 5
MATH 51 (or 52) and MATH 53	Linear Algebra and Differential Calculus of Several Variables and Ordinary Differential Equations with Linear Algebra	5 5
EE Math: One additional 100-level Math course:
CS 103	Mathematical Foundations of Computing	5
ENGR 108	Introduction to Matrix Methods (Preferred)(Formerly EE 103/CME 103)	3
MATH 113	Linear Algebra and Matrix Theory	3
Statistics/Probability: Select one. Choosing a statistics options depends upon your interest and preferences. The EE option below has a theoretical perspective; the CS option is more application-oriented.
EE 178*	Probabilistic Systems Analysis (may petition to use CS 109 instead)	4

Science (minimum 12 units, 3 courses

Select one sequence:
Course	Title	Units
PHYSICS 41 and EE 65*	Mechanics and Modern Physics for Engineers	4 4
or
PHYSICS 61 and EE 65*	Mechanics and Modern Physics for Engineers	4 4
*Students may petition to have either PHYSICS 65 or the combination of PHYSICS 45 and PHYSICS 70 count as an alternative to EE 65.
Science Elective: One additional 4-5 unit science course from Approved List in UGHB, Figure 4-2

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 21-22); 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). Choose from table on Approved Courses page. (Taking CS 106A or a second ENGR 40-series course not allowed for the Fundamentals elective.)

Core* EE Courses

Course	Title	Units
EE 42**	Introduction to Electromagnetics and Its Applications (ENGR 42)	5
EE 100***	The Electrical Engineering Profession	1
EE 101A	Circuits	4
EE 102A	Signal Processing and Linear Systems I	4
EE 108	Digital Systems Design	4

*Students preparing for advanced graduate study or wanting additional depth in the core are encouraged to take some of the disciplinary area requirements (EE101B, EE102B, CS107E or CS107, EE180) beyond those required for their chosen disciplinary area. These may be counted toward Electives.

**Students may petition to use either PHYSICS43 or PHYSICS63 in place of EE42. Students not taking EE42 and specializing in Physical Technology and Science (or other areas) may consider taking EE142 to learn key EE topics, including transmission lines, waveguides, and antennas.

***For upper-division students, a 200-level seminar in their disciplinary area will be accepted, on petition

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

Course	Title	Units
EE 109	Digital Systems Design Lab	4
EE 133	Analog Communications Design Laboratory	4
EE 134	Introduction to Photonics	4
EE 153	Power Electronics	4
EE 155	Green Electronics	4
EE 168	Introduction to Digital Image Processing	4
EE 191W	Special Studies and Reports in Electrical Engineering (WIM; Departmental approval required) May satisfy WIM only if taken as a follow-up to an REU or independent study project or as part of an Honors thesis project where a faculty member agrees to provide supervision of writing a technical paper and with suitable support from the Writing Center.	3-4
EE 264W	Digital Signal Processing	5
EE 267W	Virtual Reality	5
CS 194W	Software Project	3

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

Design Course*: One Course, 3-5 units

EE 109	Digital Systems Design Lab	4
EE 133	Analog Communications Design Laboratory	4
EE 134	Introduction to Photonics	4
EE 153	Power Electronics	4
EE 155	Green Electronics	4
EE 168	Introduction to Digital Image Processing	3-4
EE 185C	Engineering a Smart Object - Adding connectivity and Putting it ALL together	3
EE 262	Three-Dimensional Imaging (GEOPHYS 264)	3
EE 264**	Digital Signal Processing	3-4
EE 264W	Digital Signal Processing	5
EE 267**	Virtual Reality	3-4
EE 267W	Virtual Reality	5
CS 194	Software Project	3
CS 194W	Software Project	3

*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

Required Courses
EE 180	Digital Systems Architecture	4
CS 107 or CS 107	Computer Systems from the Ground Up (preferred prerequisite for EE 180) Computer Organization and Systems (prerequisite for EE 180)	5
Design Course
EE 109	Digital Systems Design Lab (WIM/Design)	4
EE 155	Green Electronics (Design)	4
EE 185C	Engineering a Smart Object - Adding Connectivity and Putting it ALL Together (Design)	3
EE 264	Digital Signal Processing (Design)	3-4
EE 264W	Digital Signal Processing (WIM/Design)	5
EE 267W	Virtual Reality (WIM/Design)	5
CS 194W	Software Project (WIM/Design)	3
Electives (choose two):
EE 104	Introduction to Machine Learning	5
EE 107	Embedded Networked Systems	3
EE 118	Introduction to Mechatronics	4
EE 192T	Project Lab: Video and Audio Technology for Live Theater in the Age of COVID (Same as CS 349T)	3
EE 271	Introduction to VLSI Systems	3
EE 272A	Design Projects in VLSI Systems I	4
EE 272B	Design Projects in VLSI Systems II	4
EE 273	Digital Systems Engineering	3
EE 282	Computer Systems Architecture	3
EE 285	Embedded Systems Workshop	2
CS 108	Object-Oriented Systems Design	3-4
CS 110	Principles of Computer Systems	3-5
CS 131	Computer Vision: Foundations and Applications	3-4
CS 140	Operating Systems and Systems Programming	3-4
CS 143	Compilers	3-4
CS 144	Introduction to Computer Networking	3-4
CS 145	Introduction to Databases	3-4
CS 148	Introduction to Computer Graphics and Imaging	3-4
CS 149	Parallel Computing	3-4
CS 155	Computer and Network Security	3
CS 221	Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Techniques	3-4
CS 223A	Introduction to Robotics	3
CS 224N	Natural Language Processing with Deep Learning	3-4
CS 225A	Experimental Robotics	3
CS 229	Machine Learning	3-4
CS 231A	Computer Vision: From 3D Reconstruction to Recognition	3-4
CS 231N	Convolutional Neural Networks for Visual Recognition	3-4
CS 241	Embedded Systems Workshop	3
CS 244	Advanced Topics in Networking	3-4

Information Systems and Science

Required Course:
EE 102B	Signal Processing and Linear Systems II	4
Design Course:
EE 133	Analog Communications Design Laboratory (WIM/Design)	3-4
EE 155	Green Electronics (WIM/Design)	4
EE 168	Introduction to Digital Image Processing (WIM/Design)	3-4
EE 262	Three-Dimensional Imaging (Design)(GEOPHYS 264)	3
EE 264	Digital Signal Processing (Design)	3-4
EE 264W	Digital Signal Processing	5
EE 267	Virtual Reality (Design)	3-4
EE 267W	Virtual Reality (WIM/Design)	5
Electives (choose three):
EE 104	Introduction to Machine Learning	5
EE 107	Embedded Networked Systems	3
EE 118	Introduction to Mechatronics	4
EE 124	Introduction to Neuroelectrical Engineering	3
EE 169	Introduction to Bioimaging	3
EE 179	Analog and Digital Communication Systems	3
EE 192T	Project Lab: Video and Audio Technology for Live Theater in the Age of COVID (Same as CS 349T)	3
EE 260A	Principles of Robot Autonomy I	3-5
EE 260B	Principles of Robot Autonomy II	3-4
EE 261	The Fourier Transform and Its Applications	3
EE 263	Introduction to Linear Dynamical Systems	3
EE 266	Introduction to Stochastic Control with Applications	3
EE 269	Signal Processing for Machine Learning	3
EE 276	Information Theory	3
EE 278	Introduction to Statistical Signal Processing	3
EE 279	Introduction to Digital Communication	3
CS 107	Computer Organization and Systems	3-5
CS 229	Machine Learning	3-4
ENGR 105	Feedback Control Design	3
ENGR 205	Introduction to Control Design Techniques	3

Physical Technology and Science

Required Course:
EE 101B	Circuits II	4
Design Course:
EE 133	Analog Communications Design Laboratory (WIM/Design)	3-4
EE 134	Introduction to Photonics (WIM/Design)	4
EE 153	Power Electronics (WIM/Design)	3-4
EE 155	Green Electronics (WIM/Design)	4
EE 267	Virtual Reality (Design)	3-4
EE 267W	Virtual Reality (WIM/Design)	5
Electives (choose three):
EE 107	Embedded Networked Systems	3
EE 114	Fundamentals of Analog Integrated Circuit Design	3-4
EE 116	Semiconductor Devices for Energy and Electronics	3
EE 118	Introduction to Mechatronics	4
EE 124	Introduction to Neuroelectrical Engineering	3
EE 142	Engineering Electromagnetics	3
EE 157	Electric Motors for Renewable Energy, Robotics, and Electric Vehicles	3
EE 212	Integrated Circuit Fabrication Processes	3
EE 213	Digital MOS Integrated Circuits	3
EE 214B	Advanced Analog Integrated Circuit Design	3
EE 216	Principles and Models of Semiconductor Devices	3
EE 222	Applied Quantum Mechanics I	3
EE 223	Applied Quantum Mechanics II	3
EE 228*	Basic Physics for Solid State Electronics	3
EE 236A	Modern Optics	3
EE 236B	Guided Waves	3
EE 242	Electromagnetic Waves	3
EE 247	Introduction to Optical Fiber Communications	3
EE 271	Introduction to VLSI Systems	3
EE 272A	Design Projects in VLSI Systems I	3-4
EE 272B	Design Projects in VLSI Systems II	3-4
EE 273	Digital Systems Engineering	3
EE 282	Computer Systems Architecture	3
ENGR 105	Feedback Control Design	3
ENGR 205	Introduction to Control Design Techniques	3
CS 107	Computer Organization and Systems	3-5

*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

EE 101B	Circuits II	4
EE 102B	Signal Processing and Linear Systems II	4
EE 107	Embedded Networked Systems	3
EE 124	Introduction to Neuroelectrical Engineering	3
EE 134	Introduction to Photonics (WIM/Design)	4
EE 168	Introduction to Digital Image Processing (WIM/Design)	3-4
EE 169	Introduction to Bioimaging	3
EE 225	Biochips and Medical Imaging	3
EE 235	Analytical Methods in Biotechnology	3
BIOE 131	Ethics in Bioengineering	3
BIOE 248	Neuroengineering Laboratory	3
MED 275B	Biodesign: Medical Technology Innovation	4

Energy and Environment

EE 101B	Circuits II	4
EE 116	Semiconductor Devices for Energy and Electronics	3
EE 134	Introduction to Photonics (WIM/Design)	4
EE 151	Sustainable Energy Systems (no longer offered, starting 20-21)	3
EE 153	Power Electronics (WIM/Design)	3-4
EE 155	Green Electronics (WIM/Design)	4
EE 157	Electric Motors for Renewable Energy, Robotics, and Electric Vehicles	3
EE 168	Introduction to Digital Image Processing (WIM/Design)	3-4
EE 180	Digital Systems Architecture	4
EE 263	Introduction to Linear Dynamical Systems	3
EE 293/ENERGY 293	Solar Cells, Fuel Cells, and Batteries: Materials for the Energy Solution	3

EE 293B	Fundamentals of Energy Processes	3
CEE 107A	Understanding Energy (Formerly CEE 173A)	3-5
CEE 155	Introduction to Sensing Networks for CEE	3-4
CEE 176A	Energy Efficient Buildings	3-4
CEE 176B	Electric Power: Renewables and Efficiency	3-4
ENGR 105	Feedback Control Design	3
ENGR 205	Introduction to Control Design Techniques	3
MATSCI 142	Quantum Mechanics of Nanoscale Materials (Formerly MATSCI 157)	4
MATSCI 152	Electronic Materials Engineering	4
MATSCI 156	Solar Cells, Fuel Cells, and Batteries: Materials for the Energy Solution	3-4
ME 227	Vehicle Dynamics and Control	3
ME 271E	Aerial Robot Design	3

Music

EE 102B	Signal Processing and Linear Systems II	4
EE 109	Digital Systems Design Lab (WIM/Design)	4
EE 264	Digital Signal Processing (Design)	4
EE 264W	Digital Signal Processing (WIM/Design)	5
MUSIC 250A	Physical Interaction Design for Music	3-4
MUSIC 250B	Interactive Sound Art	1-4
MUSIC 256A	Music, Computing, Design I: Art of Design for Computer Music	3-4
MUSIC 256B	Music, Computing, Design II: Virtual & Augmented Reality for Music (no longer offered)	3-4
MUSIC 257	Neuroplasticity and Musical Gaming	3-5
MUSIC 320	Introduction to Audio Signal Processing (no longer offered starting 20-21)	2-4
MUSIC 320A	Introduction to Audio Signal Processing Part I: Spectrum Analysis	3
MUSIC 320B	Introduction to Audio Signal Processing Part II: Digital Filters	3-4
MUSIC 420A*	Signal Processing Models in Musical Acoustics	3-4
MUSIC 421A*	Audio Applications of the Fast Fourier Transform	3-4
MUSIC 422*	Perceptual Audio Coding	3
MUSIC 424*	Signal Processing Techniques for Digital Audio Effects	3-4

* 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

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:

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.
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.
Communications Skills: Develop the ability to organize and present information, and to write and speak effective English.
Preparation for Further Study: Provide sufficient breadth and depth for successful subsequent graduate study, post-graduate study, or lifelong learning programs.
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.