Spring 2024 Trine Course Catalog

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (129 Hours)

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers the following degrees:

  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering

Both the electrical engineering program and the computer engineering program are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

To prepare students for the innovative work required in these areas, students are provided an undergraduate preparation with a foundation in mathematics and science, proper development in communication skills, an understanding of the relevance and impact of engineering and technology on society, and a combination of classroom study and “hands on” laboratory experience.

In addition to academic activities, engineering experience has become a major factor in acquiring a desired position upon graduation. A Cooperative Educational Program (Co-op) is available to enhance the educational experience and provide necessary industrial experience; students are encouraged to participate in this optional program, and the department and Career Services offer help to any student seeking Co-op or summer employment in the majors.

Mission

The Mission in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is to provide students with the nurturing environment of a small school accompanied by academically rigorous programs that prepare graduates for either immediate employment or entry to graduate school.

Objectives

The computer, electrical and software engineering programs meet the needs of students, alumni, employers and the faculty by assuring that a few years after graduation:

  1. Graduates embrace problem solving and learning as a natural aspect of their work.
  2. Graduates value and are valued by their professional teammates.
  3. Graduate have broad and deep knowledge of the technical issues that they face.

Outcomes

As specified by the accrediting body, our engineering programs assure that graduates will be able to:

  1. Identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and math
  2. 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. Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgements which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts.
  5. Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives.
  6. Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data and use engineering judgement to draw conclusions.
  7. Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Purposes

The Trine University Electrical and Computer Engineering Departments fulfills its Mission by providing a dedicated and enhanced learning environment featuring the following components:

  • curriculum: rigorous, but carefully shaped to provide a path to success;
  • faculty: committed to an excellent undergraduate learning experience;
  • classrooms: sized and equipped to promote personal attention;
  • laboratories: equipped to provide an excellent laboratory experience through many hands-on experiments with direct guidance from full-time faculty;
  • mentoring: promoted at all levels – faculty to student and upperclassman to underclassman;
  • peer interaction: fostered by team assignments in classes and membership in student organization.

Degree Requirements

The electrical engineering degree program requires 129 semester hours of study comprising 41 hours of University general education, 9 additional hours of mathematics beyond the general education requirement and 79 hours of program-specific requirements. The program-specific requirements include 1 hour of general engineering courses, 33 hours of required electrical and computer engineering core courses, 10 hours of electrical engineering concentration required courses, 15 hours of ECE-, CS-, or CO-prefixed elective courses, 6 hours of completely free electives at the college level, 5 hours of engineering science elective courses, and 9 hours of restricted electives chosen for depth or breadth; courses can be approved by the department, but some courses are pre-approved: technical drawing EGR 143, any courses based directly or indirectly on calculus, and all 300, 400, and 500 level courses.

This division of courses is planned to assure that electrical students complete lecture and laboratory courses in: circuits, analog electronics, digital electronics, signals, integrated systems, an advanced electrical engineering elective area, and a capstone design project. The format of laboratories and design projects is such that students will experience working as an individual, working with a same-discipline partner or small team, and finally working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

The degree requirements may be fulfilled with the Trine courses listed below or others at the department’s discretion. For curriculum-related details, see the Department Chair.

International Transfer Credit: 

The electrical engineering program will not accept international transfer credit toward required courses unless the institution granting the credit is either accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (e.g. Higher Learning Commission) or from a program that is ABET accredited. In all cases, the transcripts must be translated into English to the satisfaction of both the Director of Transfer Pathways and Evaluations and the electrical engineering Program Chair. In addition, the transcript must be accompanied by supporting documentation in English that clearly indicates course content and prerequisites. Transfer credit evaluation will then be made based on the policy in the Trine University course catalog.

A student may appeal the denial of transfer credit by contacting the electrical engineering Program Chair. The Program Chair will then direct the student to the Registrar’s office, so that the student may arrange to demonstrate course knowledge using the ‘University Credit by Exam’ as spelled out in the University catalog.

General Education Requirements - 41 hours

Communication – 9 hrs.

ENG 133Technical Communication

3

HUM 203Humanities Seminar

3

SP 203Effective Speaking

3

Humanities and Social Science – 9 hrs.

Social Science Elective (3)

3

Humanities Elective (3)

3

Humanities or Social Science Elective

3

Mathematics and Science – 23 hrs.

MA 134Calculus I

4

MA 164Calculus II

4

MA 213Calculus III

3

CH 104General Chemistry I

4

PH 224University Physics I

4

PH 234University Physics II

4

Additional Requirements - 9 hours

Required

MA 233Differential Equations

3

MA 393Probability & Statistics

3

MA 300-400 Level Elective

3

Core Requirements - 79 hours

Electrical and Computer Engineering Concentration Requirements – 33 hrs.

CS 1113Introduction to Object-Oriented Program

3

ECE 211Circuits Laboratory

1

ECE 213Circuit Analysis

3

ECE 231Discrete Electronics Laboratory

1

ECE 233Discrete Electronics

3

ECE 243Analog Signals

3

ECE 261Digital Systems Laboratory

1

ECE 263Digital Systems

3

ECE 271Microcontrollers Laboratory

1

ECE 273Microcontrollers

3

ECE 453Random Processes in Electrical & Computer Engineering

3

ECE 3051Junior-Year Laboratory

1

ECE 4001Contemporary Issues for Engineers

1

ECE 4403Senior Design I

3

ECE 4503Senior Design II

3

ECE 4503: Or cross-disciplinary project with an in-major oral examination

Electrical Engineering Concentration – 10 hrs.

ECE 313Electrical Power

3

ECE 323Dynamic Electromagnetic Fields

3

ECE 481Instrument Systems Laboratory

1

ECE 483Instrument Systems

3

Major Electives – 15 hrs.

ECE 112Prototyping and Projects

2

ECE 112: required only for first-time freshmen

Choose from - 13 hrs.
CO, CS, ECE, or SE prefixed courses;

Or

MAE 4023System Dynamics & Controls

3

Engineering Science – 5 hrs.

ES ES Elective (2)

2

ES ES Elective (2)

2

General Engineering – 1 hr.

GE 101Introduction To Engineering

1

Restricted Electives – 9 hrs.

Choose from approved courses: EGR 143; Calculus-based; 300-level or higher

Electives – 6 hrs.

Choose from approved courses to bring the total to 129 hours

Total Credit Hours: 129