May 08, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Electrical Engineering, B.S.


The objective of the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Program are to produce engineers who can innovate and advance in their chosen careers in industry, academia, and public institutions while making creative contributions to the field of electrical engineering.


Our graduates:

  1. Are successfully employed due to their solid engineering foundation and ability to learn and apply new technology.
  2. Lead others by using their effective problem solving and communication skills.
  3. Are responsible engineers with an awareness of ethical and social-cultural issues.
  4. Are effective contributors to multidisciplinary teams.

The bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering is designed to prepare graduates for responsible engineering positions in design, development, research, applications, and operation in the fields of communications, control systems, robotics, digital signal processing systems, electromagnetics, digital and analog electronic circuits, physical electronics, computer-aided design and power systems. The curriculum is built around a strong basic core of mathematics, physics and engineering science. This is followed by intermediate courses in electrical engineering topics and finally a senior elective sequence including a senior design seminar and terminating in a capstone design course.

By the choice of senior elective sequence, comprehensive coverage is provided in any one of the above fields.

Laboratory facilities are available in the engineering buildings allowing for basic as well as more advanced laboratory instruction in electronics, digital signal processing, control systems, microelectronics, communications, power, and digital systems.

Student Learning Outcomes


The EE program uses the Student Learning Outcomes (ABET 1-7) listed below to meet the Program Educational Objectives:  

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.  

2. An ability to 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.  

3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.  

4. An ability to 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.  

5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.  

6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.  

7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies. 

Major Declaration


First-time, first year admission to engineering majors is to a ‘premajor’ status (i.e., Pre-Electrical Engineering). Continuation in the major will be subject to meeting specific lower division course and GPA requirements at CSULB that indicate the student’s ability to succeed and complete the major. Transfer applicants and CSULB students seeking admission into Electrical Engineering at the Long Beach campus must also meet similar major specific requirements. To become fully admitted into the Electrical Engineering major at the Long Beach campus, all prospective students (i.e., pre-majors, undeclared, major changes) must have a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA and complete the following lower-division courses: 

First-time, first year Engineering freshmen pre-major and transfer students must complete the Engineering Degree Progress Requirements within their first academic year.  At the end of the second full semester, typically Spring, students who have not met the requirements must either declare another major or meet with an Academic Advisor from the Engineering Student Success Center (ESSC) to determine if the student’s performance in the courses merits an additional semester to complete.  Such students must submit a Degree Progress Extension Petition with the College of Engineering Dean’s Office.   

Progress Requirements


1. First-Time Freshmen: A grade of “C” or better must be achieved in MATH 122 within one academic year. 

2. Transfer Students: A grade of “C” or better must be achieved in MATH 123 and PHYS 151 within one academic year. 

General Education Foundations Courses:


Written and Oral Communication

Extension Program


The undergraduate program in electrical engineering is also offered as an extension program at Lancaster University Center, Lancaster, CA as part of the Antelope Valley Engineering Programs. This special program offered through the College of Professional and International Education (CPaCE) only accepts upper division transfer students with specific admission requirements. The extension program is a cohort-based model, allowing students to proceed as a group through the program in a prescribed lock-step sequence.

Antelope Valley Program Admission Requirements


To be admitted to the Electrical Engineering Extension Program offered at Lancaster University Center, all prospective students must have a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA on all transferable course work attempted, and complete course work equivalent to the following: 

General Education Courses - 27 units:


  • Category A - 6 units (Written and Oral Communication
  • Category C - 9 units (Humanities, Arts)
  • Category D - 9 units (US history, Constitution & American Ideals, Social Science)
  • Category E - 3 units (Self-Integration)

Degree Progress


Each BSEE student must complete coursework consisting of 60 units of lower division courses (including 33 units of lower division core courses for the major, and 27 units of general education courses) and 60 units of upper division technical courses in the major (including a capstone design course). The capstone design course must be supported by at least two courses which form an area of in-depth study as approved by the EE Undergraduate Advisor. Possible areas of in-depth study include, but are not limited to, communications, controls, digital signal processing, electronics, and power engineering.  A list showing the required supporting courses and capstone design courses for each area of in-depth study is available from the EE Undergraduate Advisor. Combinations of the above areas of study, or another area of study, may be proposed to the EE Undergraduate Advisor. Additional elective courses must be chosen from EE 4-level courses to total at least 12 units. The entire program must total at least 120 units. 

All Engineering majors are expected to make satisfactory degree progress by completing attempted units, limiting repeats/withdrawals, satisfying critical benchmark courses in a timely manner, and maintaining minimum 2.0 Overall and Major GPAs.  Degree Progress is monitored for all undergraduate students each semester. Petitions to attempt a course for the third time are only considered in extenuating circumstances. Students who are not making satisfactory degree progress as described above will have a hold on their registration and are required to meet with their advisor to develop an academic plan.  Failure to satisfy the academic progress requirements will result in the student being disqualified from the major.  

BSEE Degree Requirements


A grade of “C” or better must be achieved in all of the courses required for the major. A minimum of 120 units is required for the Bachelor’s Degree.  

A. Lower Division Core for the Major:

Take one of the following choices:


Each of the foregoing courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better as well as ENGL 100B or equivalent. Other required courses are:


C. Course for Areas of In-Depth Study


Select a 12-unit elective sequence from one of the following areas of in-depth study:


i. Communications


Take the following Capstone Design Course (3 units):

ii. Control


Take the following Capstone Design Course (3 units):

iii. Digital Signal Processing


Take the following capstone (3 units):

iv. Electronics


Take the following Capstone Design Course (3 units):

v. Power


Take the following Capstone Design Course (3 units):

Take two of the following supporting elective courses (6 units):

Customized Elective Sequence


Possible areas of elective sequences are not limited to Communications, Control, Digital Signal Processing, Electronics, and Power. Combinations of the above elective sequences or customized elective sequences may be proposed to the EE undergraduate advisor for approval.

Take one capstone (3 units)

A grade of “C” or better is required for the capstone senior design course in the area of specialization.


Concurrent and/or Summer Enrollment in Another College


Students who wish to take coursework in a community college or another college to meet curricular requirements while enrolled as an undergraduate in the Department of Electrical Engineering must petition the EE Undergraduate Advisor for prior approval to enroll in specific courses. This policy is for either concurrent enrollment or summer enrollment. Prior approval for transfer credit for upper division major courses may generally be approved for no more than six semester units, subject to approval by the EE Undergraduate Advisor and the EE Department Chair who may require sufficient information to determine if each requested course is deemed equivalent to an EE course at CSULB. Exceptions require approval by vote of the EE Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.