Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 General Catalog 
    
2020-2021 General Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Electrical Engineering, B.S.


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Consistent with the mission of the University, the mission of the BSEE Program is to prepare students to be learned men and women who are capable of pursuing fulfilling careers in a changing world, and to fulfill 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 knowledge and experiences to prepare them to pursue lifelong learning, advanced study, and leadership roles in business and community.

The Electrical Engineering (EE) Program at Sonoma State University is an innovative program in which the curriculum has been designed to provide students with education in electrical engineering in electronics and communications.

The curriculum includes 48 units of General Education courses (9 units overlap with the required Physics, and Mathematics courses and 4 units of ES 210, GE A3); a 20-unit core in mathematics, computer science, and basic sciences; a 44-unit core in Electrical Engineering which includes electrical, computer, electronics, and communications engineering subjects such as circuits, analog/digital electronics, electromagnetic fields, microprocessors, analog and digital communications, and networking; and 6 units of Electrical Engineering electives which provides senior-level choices for more depth in students’ areas of interest. Theoretical and practical learning experiences are an important part of all course work. The senior year also gives students the opportunity to consolidate their educational experiences with a capstone design project. The curriculum develops students’ abilities to formulate problems, analyze alternatives, make decisions, and solve problems. Internship and co-op experiences will be encouraged to provide the students a real-world experience and to enhance students’ communication and interpersonal skills.

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 selfimprovement as demonstrated by taking part in professional development opportunities.

5. Lead and build teams.

BSEE Student Outcomes

The students will attain:

An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.

An ability to 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. 

An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences. 

An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts. 

An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives. 

An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions. 

An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Career Paths and Opportunities

The BSEE Program has been designed to prepare students for an exciting career in industries or to pursue graduate degrees. The graduates will find opportunities in industry in areas such as:

  1. Electronic systems;
  2. Communications systems;
  3. Networking;
  4. Computer engineering;
  5. Telecommunications;
  6. Optical fiber communications;
  7. Integrated circuits;
  8. Research and development in the areas above; and/or
  9. Sales, marketing, and management in the areas above.

Some examples of the corresponding job titles are electronics engineer, computer engineer, hardware designer, systems engineer, communications engineer, communications analyst, telecommunications engineer, network engineer, network analyst, sales engineer, applications engineer, and field engineer.

Graduate degrees can be pursued in any one of the many fields such as electronics, communications, networking, computer engineering, and computer science.

Program Requirements

  Degree Requirements Units  
  Major requirements (including technical electives) 54 *  
  Support courses (physics, computer science, and mathematics) 31 **  
  GE courses 37  
  Total units needed for graduation 120 **  

* 4 units double count in GE units.

** 9 units double count in GE units.

Approved Technical Electives


Any 400 level Electrical Engineering (EE) course offered for 3 units that does not meet a core requirement.

Subtotal: 54


Computer Science


Subtotal: 4


Subtotal: 9


Subtotal: 16


General Education


(Excluding math, physics, and CS courses)

* A list of recommended GE courses for BSEE major can be found at the department website or obtained from the department office.

* Refer to the sample four-year program below

Subtotal: 37


Units


Total Units for Graduation: 120

Sample Four-Year Program


The following is a sample study plan. The sequence and specific courses given are suggestive; please see an advisor each semester to plan your personal program.

Electrical Engineering, B.S.


Freshman Year: 31 Units


Fall Semester (15 Units)

Spring Semester (16 Units)

Sophomore Year: 30 Units


Spring Semester (15 Units)

Junior Year: 30 Units


Fall Semester (15 Units)

Spring Semester (15 Units)

Senior Year: 29 Units


Fall Semester (14 Units)

Spring Semester (15 Units)

  • Unit(s): 3
  • EE UD Elective Credits / Units: 3

  • EE UD Elective Credits / Units: 3

  • GE UD Area C: Arts or Humanities Credits / Units: 3
  • GE UD Area D: Social Sciences Credits / Units: 3

Total Units: 120


Upper Division Area B will be met in the major (pending approval).

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