Electrical Engineering

About This Degree

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department is listed in the top 100 college departments according to U.S. News & World Report, and it brings in approximately $2 million in research funding annually. Students graduate with nearly 100% job placement and have among the highest starting salaries of all degree programs.

Electrical engineering students have the opportunity to study in many different areas and graduates will be prepared for careers as electrical engineers in almost any kind of industry. Students have regular access to faculty for mentoring in both research pursuits and career advisement.

Students may take courses in several different areas within electrical engineering, including control systems, electromagnetic and microwaves, space systems, and signals and communication.

Concurrent Bachelor’s/Master’s Program:

The department also offers a concurrent bachelor’s/master’s program, which allows USU engineering students to begin taking graduate classes during their senior year as an undergraduate and to complete requirements for both the bachelor's degree and the master’s degree concurrently over two years.

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At a Glance

College: College of Engineering

Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering Department

USU Locations:

Logan campus

Program Requirements

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Career And Outcomes

Career Opportunities

Since nearly everyone uses electricity and electrical devices, graduates in electrical engineering can work in almost any kind of industry. Electrical engineers develop anything from rockets, cell phones, computers, antennas, signal towers, robotics, and more. The following are examples of areas in which electrical engineers can work:

Scientific research and development firms
Electrical component manufacturing companies
Power generation, distribution, and transmission
Manufacturers of navigation controls, medical equipment, and measurement devices
Architectural firms

Job Outlook

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND ADVISING

Advising

Tricia Brandenburg

Advisor
Email: tricia.brandenburg@usu.edu
Office: ENLAB 149 A
Phone: (435) 797-2840

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USU Locations

LOGAN CAMPUS

Admission

Admission Requirements

Non-electrical and computer engineering undergraduate majors may be accepted provisionally into the ECE graduate program if they meet the required qualifications set by the ECE graduate committee and complete the following pre-requisites with a B or better grade:

ECE 3410 – Microelectronics I
ECE 3640 – Signals and Systems
ECE 3710 – Microcomputing Hardware and Software
ECE 3870 – Electromagnetics I
CS 3100 – Operating Systems and Currency Computer Engineering Majors

Depending on the emphasis of the undergraduate degree, certain courses may be waived if the course or the equivalent was taken. Courses may also be waived by passing an exam at the discretion of the course instructor.

Students may take these prerequisites concurrently with graduate coursework depending on the amount of prerequisites they need. These situations are handled on a case-to-case basis.

Application Requirements

Complete the online application
Pay the $55 application fee
The GRE requirement is being temporarily suspended until further notice
Have a 3.0 or higher GPA on your last 60 semester or 90 quarter credits
Provide transcripts of all college/university credits
Provide three contacts for letters of recommendation

International students have additional admissions requirements.

Deadlines

The department has the following application deadlines:

Fall semester – January 1
Spring semester – July 1

Program Requirements

PhD Qualifying Exams:

As a requirement for the PhD, a student must pass a comprehensive examination after they have completed a minimum of 18 credits post Masters and 42 credits post Bachelors in the program. This consists of a written exam created by the student’s supervisory committee based on the student’s plan of study or research area, as well as an oral examination, which is based on the plan of study with a particular emphasis on the subject of the student’s research and dissertation proposal.

During the same semester as the comprehensive examination, students must pass a dissertation research proposal defense. Due at the time of the defense, the research proposal should be 15-20 pages long and include a thorough bibliography.

Plan Options

Students can receive the MS by pursuing one of two options:

In the Plan A option, students complete graduate-level coursework and must write a thesis.
The Plan B option requires the production of an engineering project report and is expected to reflect equivalent scholarship standards as a thesis.

Financial Aid

Several different types of financial assistance are available, including fellowships and teaching and research assistantships. All funding decisions are made based on the academic credentials of the applicant. Most graduate students in the department are on some type of financial assistance. Since all students are considered for available financial assistance, no separate application is necessary.

A variety of funding opportunities are available on the graduate school website.