2025-2026 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
The Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) offers bachelor of science degrees in electrical engineering (EE) and computer engineering (CPE). A key competitive advantage offered to undergraduate students in the department is the ability of students to pursue one of twelve different majors. This is possible since the department is one of the largest ECE departments in the U.S. with faculty expertise across the spectrum of electrical and computer engineering.
Traditional electrical and computer engineering programs consist of five basic areas: electricity (e.g. power systems), electronics, electromagnetics, hardware, and software. Graduates today apply their degree in more varied careers from investment banks to NGOs to medical firms. Instead of pushing student onto a single path, the department model allows students to choose the course of study that reflects their personal goals. Students have the flexibility to make conscious choices about what to do next at every stage of their journey.
All students in the department go through a seven-course base curriculum during their second year and then branch into their choice of major. This approach reflects today's reality that the electrical and computer engineers create technology that is transforming modern life – from transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing, to healthcare, education, entertainment, and social interactions. Students pursuing an electrical engineering degree can select a major from Controls, Robotics & Autonomy, Wireless Communications & Signal Processing, Energy & Power Electronic Systems, Micro/Nanosystems, and Applied Electromagnetics. Students pursuing a computer engineering degree can select a major from Chip-Scale Integration, Machine Learning, Networking & Cybersecurity, Software Systems, or Controls, Robotics & Autonomy. If a student prefers a less focused approach they can still pursue a general electrical engineering major or a general computer engineering major.
In addition to undergraduate degrees, the department also offers M.S., M.Eng., and Ph.D. programs in both EE and CPE. An accelerated undergraduate/graduate (UG/G) program is available for qualified undergraduates.
Electrical engineers (EEs) and computer engineers (CPEs) create important and exciting technologies, systems and applications that make the world a better place for all of us. EEs and CPEs are inventing new ways to generate, distribute and use electric power that are more efficient, more sustainable and friendlier to the environment. For example, wider use of solar energy relies on improved photovoltaic devices, power electronics for energy conversion, and power grids. Some of our most critical global infrastructures, including the Internet, mobile voice and data networks, and the electric power grid are designed by EEs and CPEs. And, EEs and CPEs design sensors and embedded systems to monitor intelligent buildings and transportation systems. Applying innovative technologies to biology and the healthcare industry, EEs and CPEs create techniques for medical imaging, micro-electromechanical systems for medical diagnostics, implantable devices for health monitoring and drug delivery, and information systems to improve healthcare delivery. To meet the challenge of cybersecurity, EEs and CPEs design hardware and software for cryptographic algorithms and develop methods to ensure private communications through the Internet and wireless devices. They design new devices and systems for high-performance computing and networking. They build satellites and instruments to improve communications and enhance our knowledge of space and the Earth. And, EEs and CPEs enhance our leisure time by creating new ways to listen to music, watch movies, play games, communicate with friends, and build social networks.
Students in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering learn from faculty who work at the cutting-edge of engineering research and bring the excitement of their discoveries to the classroom. Engineers want to make things that work. EE and CPE students get hands-on opportunities to build components and systems from the beginning of their studies. In the freshman year, students explore applications of electrical and computer engineering, such as medical imaging and cryptography. In the sophomore year, EE and CPE students use personal, portable equipment and components to build and explore simple digital and analog electronic systems, which become more complex each semester. Laboratories and team projects throughout the curriculum contribute to an enriching hands-on, minds-on learning experience. During their senior year, students participate in a team-based, industry-sponsored design project that spans two semesters in which they solve real-world engineering problems while learning project management and team-building skills.
Electrical engineering and computer engineering are dynamic and fast changing fields that drive innovation and solutions to global challenges. The ECE faculty has created a program of study that provides each graduate with a firm foundation in mathematics, physics, and engineering principles, and with broad experience in different areas of EE and CPE. The program enables our graduates to excel in their EE and CPE majors, while gaining the tools to adapt to the technical changes and career opportunities they will experience in the future. EE and CPE students develop effective communication and teamwork skills and gain knowledge of ethics, all of which are essential to professional success. EE and CPE graduates are prepared to pursue careers in industry and government, advanced graduate work in EE and CPE, and other advanced professional degrees.
ECE seeks to develop tomorrow's engineering and technical leaders and innovators. Students can enhance their undergraduate experience by participating in multidisciplinary team projects, cooperative education and internships, research experiences for undergraduates, study abroad programs, dual degree and minor programs in other fields, and mentoring programs. The Cooperative Education (co-op) and Internship Program is highly recommended, as is participation in professional societies, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Eta Kappa Nu (HKN), and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). ECE works with the Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology to develop future leaders for the US government. ECE offers many scholarships for academic excellence, leadership and service, as well as for participation in various special academic programs.
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BSCPE) degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
The Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
The electrical and computer engineering programs integrate a strong and broad technical education with experiential learning and engineering professionalism training to provide our graduates the necessary knowledge and skills to solve complex 21st century problems. Within a few years of graduation, graduates from either of these programs will be:
Upon completion of the undergraduate program curriculum in Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering, students will attain the following outcomes:
Head: Rose Hu
University Distinguished Professor Emeritus: D. Boroyevich, A. G. Phadke, and F. C. Lee
Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus: C. W. Bostian
Bradley Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Electromagnetics: G. S. Brown
Roanoke Electric Steel Professor in Engineering Emeritus: L. F. Lester
Thomas Phillips Professor Emeritus: W. L. Stutzman
American Electric Power Professor Emeritus: Chen-Ching Liu
Clayton Ayre Professor: A. Wang
Hugh P. and Ethel C. Kelly Professor: R. Zhang
Joseph R. Loring Professor in ECE: S. Rahman
Willis G. Worcester Professor in ECE: J. H. Reed
Virginia Microelectronics Consortium Professor: M. Agah
James S. Tucker Professor in ECE: J. S. Lai
Grant A. Dove Professor: Yue (Joseph) Wang
J. Byron Maupin Professor: W. A. Scales
W Martin Johnson Professorship: H. Dhillon
Rolls Royce Commonwealth Professorship: W. Saad
Elizabeth and James E. Turner Jr. ’56 Faculty Fellowship: Q. Li
Bradley Distinguished Professor of ECE: Y. T. Hou
Bradley Professor of Cybersecurity: L. DaSilva
Bradley Senior Faculty Fellow: S. M. Bailey, L. Liu, and B. Ravindran
Professor Emeritus: J. R. Armstrong, P. M. Athanas, A. A. Beex, I. M. Besieris, R. P. Broadwater, C. R. Clauer, W. A. Davis, D. A. deWolf, G.D. Earle, F. G. Gray, L. J. Guido, M. T. Jones, C. D. Patterson, T. Pratt, K. Ramu, S. M. Riad, F. W. Stephenson, J. Tront, and H. F. VanLandingham
Associate Professor Emeritus: R. W. Conners, C. E. Nunnally, and C. Patterson
Professors: A. L. Abbott, P. Ampadu, J. B. H. Baker, R. M. Buehrer, R. Burgos, V. A. Centeno, D. S. Ha, M. S. Hsiao, X. Jia, T. L. Martin, A. Mehrizi-Sani, A. J. Michaels, S. F. Midkiff, L. M. Mili, L. Nazhandali, K. Ngo, M. Orlowski, P. Plassmann, T.-C. Poon, J. M. Ruohoniemi, A. Safaai-Jazi, T. D. Sands, L. Smith, A. Stavrou, D. J. Stilwell, H. Wang, Y. Xu, J. Xuan, Y. Yang, Y. (Cindy) Yi., and G. Yu
Associate Professors: W. T. Baumann, T. Chantem, C. C. DiMarino, D. Dong, S. W. Ellingson, R. Gerdes, M. Hudait, M. Limes, M. Manteghi, J. Paul, J. Walling, R. Williams, C. L. Wyatt, H. Zeng, Y. Zhang, W Zhou, and Y. Zhu
Assistant Professors: J Budhu, C. Chamon Garcia, T. Doan, R. Jia, M. Jin, Z Lin, L. Shao, W. Xiong, and L. Zhu
Collegiate Professors: S. Dunning, C. Jones, and T. Talty,
Collegiate Associate Professors: W J Adams, N. Aneja, D P Connors, K. L. Cooper, S. Ransbottom, A Soysal, and N. Tryfona
Collegiate Assistant Professors: A. H. Ball, A. M. Boker, K. Giles, S. Shin, M. Lanzerotti, and R. Raghunathan
Adjunct Professors of Practice: D. M. Sable, E. Meadows, and K. R. Schulz
Advanced Instructors: J. Thweatt
Instructors: T. Milburn, A. Sarker, and S. Yu
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