2024-2025 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Core Requirements | ||
| ECE 1004 | Introduction to ECE Concepts (C) | 3 |
| ECE 2024 | Circuits and Devices (C) | 3 |
| ECE 2514 | Computational Engineering (C) | 3 |
| ECE 2544 | Fundamentals of Digital Systems (C) | 3 |
| ECE 2564 | Embedded Systems (C) | 3 |
| ECE 2804 | Integrated Design Project (C) | 2 |
| ECE 3514 | Data Structures & Algorithms | 3 |
| ECE 3574 | Applied Software Design | 3 |
| Subtotal | 23 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| ECE 2214 | Physical Electronics (C) | 3 |
| ECE 2714 | Signals and Systems (C) | 3 |
| ECE 3504 | Principles of Computer Architecture | 3 |
| ECE 3704 | Continuous and Discrete System Theory | 3 |
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Control Systems | ||
| Artificial Intelligence and Engineering Applications | ||
| Digital Image Processing | ||
| Principles of Robotics Systems | ||
| Subtotal | 21 | |
| Additional Course Requirements | ||
| MATH 2114 | Introduction to Linear Algebra (C-) | 3 |
| MATH 2204 | Introduction to Multivariable Calculus | 3 |
| MATH 2534 | Introduction to Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| or MATH 3034 | Introduction to Proofs | |
| STAT 4714 | Probability and Statistics for Electrical Engineers (C-) | 3 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Secondary Focus Area Electives | 9 | |
| Free Elective | 10 | |
| Subtotal | 31 | |
| Pathways to General Education | ||
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| ECE 4805 & ECE 4806 | Senior Design Project and Senior Design Project (1A) | 6 |
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | ||
| Select six hours in Pathway 2 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | ||
| Select six hours in Pathway 3 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | ||
| PHYS 2305 | Foundations of Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 2306 | Foundations of Physics | 4 |
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | ||
| MATH 1225 | Calculus of a Single Variable (5F) | 4 |
| MATH 1226 | Calculus of a Single Variable (5F) | 4 |
| MATH 2214 | Introduction to Differential Equations (5A) | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
| Select three credits in Arts Pathway 6a | 3 | |
| ENGE 1215 & ENGE 1216 | Foundations of Engineering and Foundations of Engineering (6D) | 4 |
| or ENGE 1414 | Foundations of Engineering Practice | |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | ||
| Pathways 7 should be double counted with either Pathways 2, 3 or 6a to avoid taking any additional credit hours. | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 53 | |
| Total Credits | 128 | |
The Controls, Robotics & Autonomy (CPE) Major requires 9 credits for a secondary focus area. Students have the flexibility to choose any 3 ECE courses (9 credits) at the 3xxx level or 4xxx level to meet the secondary focus requirements as long as at least one course (3 credits) is at the 4xxx level and the courses do not duplicate major courses. Alternatively, students may seek an approved individualized secondary focus. See the requirements below for more information.
The ECE secondary focus requirement consists of 3 ECE courses (9 credits) at the 3xxx level, 4xxx level, or 5xxx level where at least one course (3 credits) is at the 4xxx or 5xxx level. None of the 3 courses can duplicate a course from the student’s major. All courses used for secondary focus must be taken on an A-F basis. For purposes of satisfying the secondary focus requirements, the sum of the number of hours taken from ECE 4974 Independent Study and ECE 4994 Undergraduate Research cannot exceed 6 credits.
The following courses are also included in the secondary focus:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AOE 4654/ECE 4154 | Space Weather: The Solar Wind and Magnetosphere | 3 |
| AOE 4674/ECE 4174 | Upper Atmosphere/Ionosphere Space Weather | 3 |
| CS 3214 | Computer Systems | 3 |
| CS 4224/ECE 4414 | Linux Kernel Programming | 3 |
| CS 4264 | Principles of Computer Security | 3 |
| CS/ECE 4504 | Computer Organization | 3 |
| CS 4824/ECE 4424 | Machine Learning | 3 |
The following courses cannot be used toward secondary focus:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECE 3054 | Electrical Theory | 3 |
| ECE 3074 | AC Circuit Analysis Laboratory | 1 |
| ECE 3254 | Industrial Electronics | 3 |
| ECE 3274 | Electronic Circuits Laboratory II | 1 |
| ECE 3354 | Electric Power Engineering Laboratory | 1 |
| ECE 3524 | Introduction to Unix for ECE | 2 |
| ECE 4944 | Cybersecurity Seminar | 1 |
(Must be preapproved by ECE Department)
Electrical and computer engineering has applications across a wide variety of fields, such as medicine, human-computer interaction, finance, and entertainment. People with ECE degrees can be entrepreneurs, patent lawyers, policy makers, and business executives. The individualized secondary focus helps students pursue these interests. This option can be used in place of a pre-defined, in-department secondary focus.
The individualized secondary focus typically is pursued via an already defined university-approved program such as a degree, major, minor, or certificate that the student has declared. Students are encouraged to select courses from these programs, subject to the guidelines below.
University Policy 91 outlines university-wide minimum criteria to determine if students are making satisfactory progress towards the completion of their degrees. The ECE Department fully supports this policy. Specific expectations for satisfactory progress for BSCPE and BSEE majors are as follows:
Each student must complete at least 128 semester credit hours with a minimum overall GPA of 2.00 and a minimum in-major GPA of 2.00. In determining the Controls, Robotics & Autonomy (CPE) in-major GPA, all ECE courses, including repeats, are used.
Students must earn a C or higher in the following ECE courses: ECE 1004 Introduction to ECE Concepts, ECE 2024 Circuits and Devices, ECE 2214 Physical Electronics, ECE 2514 Computational Engineering, ECE 2544 Fundamentals of Digital Systems, ECE 2564 Embedded Systems, ECE 2714 Signals and Systems, ECE 2804 Integrated Design Project.
Pre-requisites for each course are listed . In general, all ECE courses require a C- or better in prerequisite courses. Students must earn a C or higher in the ECE courses listed above. There are no hidden prerequisites in this program of study. Prerequisites may change from what is indicated. Be sure to consult the Timetable of Classes or check with your advisor for the most current requirements.
Students must have had 2 years of a foreign language in high school or one year at the college level (6 credit hours) of the same language. College-level credits used to meet this requirement do not count towards the degree.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| ECE 1004 | Introduction to ECE Concepts (C) | 3 |
| ENGE 1215 | Foundations of Engineering | 2 |
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| MATH 1225 | Calculus of a Single Variable (C-) | 4 |
| Select three credits in Pathways 2 or 3 or 6A | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGE 1216 | Foundations of Engineering | 2 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| MATH 1226 | Calculus of a Single Variable | 4 |
| MATH 2114 | Introduction to Linear Algebra (C-) | 3 |
| PHYS 2305 | Foundations of Physics | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ECE 2024 | Circuits and Devices (C) | 3 |
| ECE 2514 | Computational Engineering (C) | 3 |
| ECE 2544 | Fundamentals of Digital Systems (C) | 3 |
| MATH 2214 | Introduction to Differential Equations (C-) | 3 |
| PHYS 2306 | Foundations of Physics | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECE 2214 | Physical Electronics (C) | 3 |
| ECE 2564 | Embedded Systems (C) | 3 |
| ECE 2714 | Signals and Systems (C) | 3 |
| ECE 2804 | Integrated Design Project (C) | 2 |
| MATH 2204 | Introduction to Multivariable Calculus | 3 |
| Pathways 2 or 3 or 6A | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ECE 3504 | Principles of Computer Architecture (C-) | 3 |
| ECE 3514 | Data Structures & Algorithms (C-) | 3 |
| MATH 2534 or MATH 3034 | Introduction to Discrete Mathematics or Introduction to Proofs | 3 |
| STAT 4714 | Probability and Statistics for Electrical Engineers (C-) | 3 |
| Secondary Focus Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECE 3574 | Applied Software Design | 3 |
| ECE 3704 | Continuous and Discrete System Theory | 3 |
| Secondary Focus Elective | 3 | |
| Secondary Focus Elective | 3 | |
| Pathways 2 or 3 or 6A | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ECE 4805 | Senior Design Project (C-) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Control Systems | ||
| Principles of Robotics Systems | ||
| Artificial Intelligence and Engineering Applications | ||
| Digital Image Processing | ||
| Pathways 2 or 3 or 6A | 3 | |
| Pathways 2 or 3 or 6A | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECE 4806 | Senior Design Project | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Control Systems | ||
| Principles of Robotics Systems | ||
| Artificial Intelligence and Engineering Applications | ||
| Digital Image Processing | ||
| Pathways 7 or Free Elective (if Pathways 7 double counted) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 128 | |
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