B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering broadly encompasses disciplines such as solid-state devices, optics, signal processing, control, and communications that underlie much of the technology used in modern society. With this background, electrical engineers are well positioned to contribute to solving a variety of key engineering challenges facing society. The ABET-accredited bachelor of science degree program in electrical engineering at Northwestern University distinguishes itself from others by emphasizing small class sizes and close interactions between, and among, students and faculty—a learning environment that is rare in undergraduate electrical engineering programs. The curriculum includes courses in electronic circuits, solid-state electronics, electromagnetics, optics, lasers, controls, digital signal processing, communications, and networks. Our goal is to educate students in the fundamentals and applications of electrical engineering through a curriculum that allows sufficient flexibility for students to pursue their individual interests. AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION Students are required to take technical electives, which they can use to tailor the program to a particular area of specialization by selecting courses from the following tracks: Biomedical systems Circuits and electronics Communications systems Control systems Digital signal processing Electromagnetics and photonics Solid-state engineering CAREER PATHS Our undergraduate program gives students skills that are broadly applicable to many career paths, including jobs in system design and specification, university teaching and research, management, cost analysis, sales, consulting, production, and quality control. Recent graduates are working for AT&T, SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, Goldman Sachs, and Boeing, among others. Graduates of the program are also accepted into graduate programs at some of the most prestigious universities in the world, including CURRICULUM and REQUIREMENTS The electrical engineering curriculum includes courses in electronic circuits, solid-state electronics, electromagnetics, optics, lasers, controls, digital signal processing, communication, and networks. The curriculum challenges students to: Apply their electrical engineering skills to a variety of challenges in industry, academia, or in the pursuit of other fields. Attain careers in which they become leaders in their chosen fields, work in multidisciplinary teams, make decisions that are socially responsible, and communicate effectively. Continuously learn new concepts, identify new directions, and adapt in response to the needs of a rapidly changing world.