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About the Department

Electrical and computer engineering are among the broadest areas in engineering. They includes topics such as robotics and control, telecommunications and wireless communications, electro-optics, signal and image processing, and computer and VLSI design, with use in defense, homeland security, aerospace and automobiles, medical electronics and image processing, speech and music, and even finance and banking.

UD's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering provides you with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in these challenging fields.

We offer two separate but related majors: electrical engineering — which focuses on the development of electrical devices, integrated circuits, microelectronic devices, electronics, electromagnetics, electro-optics, signal processing, computer systems, networks, communication and control systems — and computer engineering — which focuses on digital electronics and digital system design and the design development analysis and application of hardware and software for computing systems.

Our state-of-the-art laboratories and computing facilities give you access to hands-on learning. In combination with the concepts you cover in your courses, you have hands-on practice in the Microfabrication Lab, Optical Information Processing Lab, Photonics Lab, Signal Processing Lab, Systems and Control Research Lab, Communications Networks Lab, Advanced Digital Design Laboratories, Opto-Electronics Devices Lab, HAM-Radio Lab, Ultraviolet Laser Lithography Lab, and Computational Electromagnetic Lab.

Cooperative Education and Service-Learning

Through internships, co-ops, study abroad and service opportunties, you can expand your hands-on learning to the real world and gain invaluable experience in your field. About one-half of our students participate in the co-op program with placements in local and national companies such as AO Smith, Honda, Toyota, Fujitec, Battelle, YSI, LexisNexis and Naval Research Laboratories.

Faculty

With a low 15:1 student-teacher ratio, you have close interaction with the department's 15 full-time and nine part-time faculty. We assist you one-on-one with transitioning, academic advising and growth as an engineering professional.

You may also work with faculty in their areas of interest. Augmented with joint faculty from the electro-optics program, electrical and computer engineering faculty includes world-renowned teachers and researchers who have edited many textbooks, published extensively in national and international journals and conferences, and are fellows in their respective professional organizations. Extensive research opportunities with University of Dayton Research Institute and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base also give you hands-on research experience as undergraduates.

5-year B.S.+M.S.

We are proud to be one of the first in the country to introduce a 5-year B.S.+M.S. program that attracts and retains top-notch students. By taking two approved graduate courses in your senior year in place of non-design technical electives, it is possible to complete the master's degree in as little time as one additional academic year. This program is available to both ELE and CPE undergraduate majors.

Financial Aid

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is uniquely placed to add to the financial aid for our students. Through scholarships funded from a $2 million MUMMA Endowment Fund and other foundations, we support both undergraduate and graduate students and supplement University and School of Engineering awards.

Accreditation

The computer and electrical engineering programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

Educational Objectives

Our Electrical Engineering alumni will:

  1. find rewarding careers as engineering professionals. As electrical engineers, they will design and develop new products, technologies and processes that incorporate one or more of the following elements: analog and digital circuits, signals and systems, propagation and processing of signals, and control systems.
  2. continue their professional education either; formally, in graduate school, professional schools, or through industrial training programs; or informally through activities such as continuing education, attendance in short courses, professional workshops and conferences.
  3. exercise and further develop their skills in professional communication through activities such as project briefings, conference presentations, technical reports and manuals, and journal publications.
  4. participate in activities for the betterment of society, and carry on the traditions of the University of Dayton, by maintaining high ethical standards in their professional activities, and by serving their country and community through service, leadership and mentoring.

Our Computer Engineering alumni will:

  1. find rewarding careers as engineering professionals. As computer engineers they will design and develop new products, technologies and processes that incorporate one or more of the following elements: analog and digital circuits, signals and systems, computer design, software development, and hardware/software integration.
  2. continue their professional education either; formally, in graduate school, professional schools, or through industrial training programs; or informally through activities such as continuing education, attendance in short courses, professional workshops and conferences.
  3. exercise and further develop their skills in professional communication through activities such as project briefings, conference presentations, technical reports and manuals, and journal publications.
  4. participate in activities for the betterment of society, and carry on the traditions of the University of Dayton, by maintaining high ethical standards in their professional activities, and by serving their country and community through service, leadership and mentoring.

Educational Outcomes

  1. Our graduates will have the ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering.
  2. Our graduates will have the ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
  3. Our graduates will have the ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs.
  4. Our graduates will have the ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams.
  5. Our graduates will have the ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
  6. Our graduates will have an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
  7. Our graduates will have an ability to communicate effectively.
  8. Our graduates will have the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context.
  9. Our graduates will have a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
  10. Our graduates will have a knowledge of contemporary issues.
  11. Our graduates will have an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
  12. Our graduates will have an understanding of probability and statistics and the ability to apply probability and statistics to engineering problems.
  13. Our graduates will have knowledge of discrete mathematics including formal proofs, Boolean algebra, and discrete signal representations and transforms.
  14. Our graduates will have participated in a major design activity.
  15. (CPE only) Our graduates will have an understanding of the hardware/software integration process and an ability to conduct hardware/software integration.