Faculty
Professor Emeritus
Kim L. Boyer, Ph.D., Purdue University
Professors
James “Randy” Moulic, Ph.D., Polytechnic Institute of New York University
Won Namgoong, Ph.D., Stanford University
Gary J. Saulnier, Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Chair)
Associate Professors
Mohammed S. Agamy, Ph.D., Queen's University, Canada
Mustafa Aksoy, Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Aveek Dutta, Ph.D., University of Colorado
Hany Elgala, Ph.D., Jacobs University
Dola Saha, Ph.D., University of Colorado
Daphney Zois, Ph.D., University of Southern California
Assistant Professors
Nathan Dahlin, Ph.D., University of Southern California
Seetal Potluri, Ph.D., Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras
Saurabh Sihag, Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Bariscan Yonel, Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Professors of Practice
David Ardrey. Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Jeffrey Braunstein, Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Jonathan Muckell, Ph.D., University at Albany
Lecturer Emeritus
Guy Cortesi, Ph.D., University at Albany
Teaching Assistants (estimated): 10
Electrical & Computer Engineering is the creative application of engineering principles and methods to the design and development of hardware and software systems. The Electrical & Computer Engineering curriculum covers an extremely broad range of topics, encompassing the design, development, testing, and evaluation of hardware and software components, as well as integrated systems and networks. The Electrical & Computer Engineering faculty and students are actively engaged in research in areas ranging from wireless networks to next generation internet architectures, sensor networks, signal and information processing, control systems, communication systems, microelectronic circuits, devices and materials, computer graphics and vision, robotics, computer engineering and cyber physical systems, etc.
Bachelor of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering
Students in Electrical & Computer Engineering study a broad range of topics that span both electrical engineering and computer engineering. Graduates of the program can work in traditional electrical engineering fields such as integrated circuits, power systems, RF and microwave systems, wireless communications, automatic control, and video and image processing as well as traditional computer engineering fields such as software engineering, computer hardware, robotics, embedded systems, digital systems, and computer networking. The breadth of graduates from the Electrical & Computer Engineering program makes them uniquely prepared to adapt and meet the ever-changing needs of industry in a rapidly evolving technical landscape.
The Electrical & Computer Engineering program provides students with a strong foundation in both Electrical Engineering & Computer Engineering and the latitude to customize their degree through upper-division electives to meet their educational and career aspirations and goals. Studies can be adjusted along a continuum between the two endpoints of (mostly) computer engineering and (mostly) electrical engineering through the selection of electives in the junior and senior years, providing both depth and breadth that will be valuable post-graduation. The program has a strong design focus, giving students the analytical and hands-on tools needed to design systems for real-world applications. By integrating fundamentals from engineering, mathematics, computation, and physics, undergraduates learn how to design, build, and embed sophisticated hardware and software systems. Non major students can diversify their academic background by pursuing a minor in Electrical & Computer Engineering.
The Bachelor of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Course Progression Restrictions
Students must complete IECE/ICSI 201 or IECE 141 with a C or better to register for IECE/ICSI 213 or IECE 231. Students must complete IECE 202 with a C or better to register for IECE 300, IECE 310, or IECE 371. Students must complete IECE/ICSI 213 with a C or better to register for IECE 233.
Bachelor of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering Requirements(combined major and minor sequence):
A minimum of 102 credits as follows:
Core Electrical & Computer Engineering Courses (51 credits)
- IECE/IESE/IEGR 110 Introduction to Engineering (2)
- IECE 111 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering (4)
- IECE/ICSI 201 Introduction to Computer Science (4)
- IECE 202 Introduction to Circuits (4)
- IECE/ICSI 210 Discrete Structures (4)
- IECE/ICSI 213 Data Structures (4)
- IECE 231 Digital Systems (4)
- IECE 300 Introduction to Electronics (4)
- IECE 310 Engineering Electromagnetics (4) or IECE 334 Programming Hardware Systems (4)
- IECE 332 Computer Organization and Programming (4)
- IECE 371 Signals and Systems (4)
- IECE 442 System Analysis and Design (3)
- IECE 490 Design Lab I (3)
- IECE 491 Design Lab II (3)
Math and Science (33 credits):
- Choose one of the following options:
- AMAT 112 Calculus I (4)
- AMAT118 Honors Calculus I (4)
- TMAT 118 Honors Calculus I Honors College (4)
- Choose one of the following options:
- AMAT 113 Calculus II (4)
- AMAT 119 Honors Calculus (4)
- TMAT 119 Honors Calculus II Honors College (4)
- Choose one of the following options:
- AMAT 214 Calculus of Several Variables (4)
- AMAT 218 Honors Calculus of Several Variables (4)
- TMAT 218 Honors Calculus of Several Variables Honors College (4)
- AMAT 215 Ordinary Differential Equations (3)
- AMAT 370 Probability and Statistics for Engineering and the Sciences (3)
- Choose one of the following options:
- APHY 140 Physics I: Mechanics (3)
- APHY 142 Physics I: Advanced Mechanics (3)
- Choose one of the following options:
- APHY 145 Physics Lab I (1)
- Choose one of the following options
- APHY 150 Physics II: Electromagnetism (3)
- APHY 152 Physics II: Advanced Electromagnetism (3)
- APHY 155 Physics Lab II (1)
- Choose one of the following options
- ACHM 115 General Chemistry I and Lab (4)
- ACHM 120 General Chemistry I (3) & ACHM 124 General Chemistry Lab I (1
- TCHM 130 Advanced General Chemistry I (3) &General Chemistry Lab I (1)
- TCHM 135 Advanced General Chemistry I and Lab (3-4)
Electrical & Computer Engineering Electives (18 credits):
- Depth: 9 credits (3 courses) from one area
- Breadth: 3 credits (1 course) from each of the remaining areas (2 courses)
- Elective: 3 credits (1 course) from any area or IECE 497 Independent Research in Electrical and Computer Engineering or IECE 310 or IECE 334 if not taken as a core ECE course
Area 1: Control and Computing Systems
- IECE/ICSI 404 Computer Architecture and Organization (4)
- IECE/ICSI 416 Computer Communication Networks (3)
- IECE 441 GPU Architecture and Programming (3)
- IECE 451 Robotics (3)
- IECE 453 Cyber-Physical Systems (3)
- IECE 481 Linear Control Theory (3)
- ICSI 401 Numerical Methods (3)
- ICSI 403 Design and Analysis of Algorithms (3)
- ICSI 412 Operating Systems (3)
- ICSI 426 Cryptography (3)
- ICSI 435 Artificial Intelligence (3)
- ICSI 436 Machine Learning (3)
Area 2: Electronic Circuits and Systems
- IECE 401 Advanced Electronics (3)
- IECE 402 Power Electronics (3)
- IECE 411 Microwave Engineering (3)
- IECE 412 Antenna Engineering (3)
- IECE 413 Electrical Energy Systems (3)
- IECE 414 Electric Machines (3)
- IECE 418 Power Systems Analysis (3)
- IECE 421 Digital ASIC Design (3)
Area 3: Signal Processing and Communications
- IECE 417 Optical Communications (3)
- IECE 462 Digital Signal Processing (3)
- IECE 463 Digital Image Processing (3)
- IECE 465 Introduction to Machine Learning for Engineers (3)
- IECE 471 Communication Systems (3)
- IECE 472 Advanced Digital Communications (3)
- IECE 473 Radiowave Propagation and Remote Sensing (3)
- IECE 474 Modern Wireless Networks (3)
- IECE 475 Probability and Random Processes (3)
Combined B.S./M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering
This combined program provides an opportunity for students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity to fulfill the requirements of both the undergraduate and master’s degree programs in an integrated way starting from their junior year. Students admitted to the combined B.S./M.S. program will be permitted to register for two (6 credits) 500-level graduate ECE courses that will satisfy BOTH the undergraduate ECE Elective requirements and two of the M.S. course requirements. The combined degree program requires a minimum of 150 credit hours, including 30 credit hours of appropriate graduate study.
Students may apply for admission to this combined degree program after completing the fall of their junior year or after the successful completion of 75 credit hours of the B.S. program. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty are required for consideration, but admission of a student who meets the minimum requirements is not automatic. The admissions decision will strongly weigh student performance in their mathematics and ECE courses which are strong predictors of future success in graduate courses.