Consistent with the university’s mission, the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) program at Sonoma State University strives to prepare students to be learned individuals capable of pursuing fulfilling careers in a changing world. Additionally, the program aims to meet the undergraduate technical education needs of the community, business, and industry of the North Bay region. A broader mission is to enable graduating engineers to acquire the knowledge and experience necessary to prepare them for lifelong learning, advanced study, and leadership roles in business and the community.
The BSEE program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). It is an innovative program in which the curriculum has been designed to provide students with education in electrical engineering, electronics, and communications.
The BSEE curriculum consists of 90 units of major courses in electrical engineering, programming, mathematics, physics, and life sciences, and 30 units of general education courses. A 58-unit electrical engineering core includes courses in electrical, computer, electronics, and communications engineering such as circuits, analog/digital electronics, electromagnetic fields, microprocessors, analog and digital communications, and networking, as well as electives in emerging fields such as radio frequency (RF) communication, robotics and computer vision, internet-of-things, field programmable gate array (FPGA), artificial intelligence, semiconductors, antennas, and a capstone project. Upper-level electives empower students to delve more deeply into their areas of interest. Each course incorporates theoretical and practical learning experiences. The senior-year capstone project provides students with the opportunity to consolidate their educational experiences. The curriculum fosters students’ ability to formulate problems, analyze alternatives, make decisions, and solve problems. Internships and research are encouraged to give students real-world experience and enhance their communication and interpersonal skills. A 31-unit basic science core consists of courses in mathematics, physics, and life sciences and has a 3-unit overlap with the electrical engineering core. A 48-unit general education curriculum, of which18 units are satisfied in the major, encompasses courses in communication, critical thinking, scientific inquiry, quantitative reasoning, arts, humanities, social sciences, life-long learning, self-development, and ethnic studies.
BSEE Program Educational Objectives
The program produces BSEE graduates who
1. Design creative solutions to electrical engineering problems.
2. Demonstrate professional ethics.
3. Connect to their community and contribute to society.
4. Value lifelong learning and self-improvement as demonstrated by taking part in professional development opportunities.
5. Lead and build teams.
Career Paths and Opportunities
The BSEE program prepares students for exciting careers in the industry and for graduate school. Graduates will find opportunities in industries such as:
- Technology;
- Hardware and Software;
- Communication;
- Computer;
- Robotics and Automation;
- Aerospace and Defense;
- Automotive; and
- Integrated Circuits.
An electrical engineer’s job duties can include research and development, designing, testing, sales, marketing, and management. Examples of job titles include electrical engineer, hardware engineer, software engineer, computer engineer, design engineer, test engineer, validation engineer, application engineer, field engineer, system engineer, network engineer, project engineer, system analyst, network analyst, project analyst, and project manager.
