Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 General Catalog 
    
2023-2024 General Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


Electrical Engineering, BS



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Consistent with the mission of the university, the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) program at Sonoma State strives 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 experience to prepare them to pursue 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 an 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 allow students to delve more deeply into their areas of interest. Theoretical and practical learning experiences are essential components of any course. The senior-year capstone project gives students the opportunity to consolidate their educational experiences. The curriculum develops students’ ability to formulate problems, analyze alternatives, make decisions, and solve problems. Internships and research are encouraged to provide students with 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 which 18 units are satisfied in the major, includes 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 industry and for graduate school. The graduates will find opportunities in industries such as:

  1. Technology;
  2. Hardware and Software;
  3. Communication;
  4. Computer;
  5. Robotics and Automation;
  6. Aerospace and Defense;
  7. Automotive; and
  8. Integrated Circuits.

An electrical engineer’s job duties can include research and development, designing, testing, sales, marketing, and management. Some examples of job titles are: 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.

Degree Requirements


See the “Degree Requirements ” in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.

General Education Requirements (48 units)

See the “General Education Program ” requirements in the University Catalog for information on General Education requirements. Some major requirements may double count for GE requirements.

Basic Sciences (Course Requirement)


In addition to required Mathematics and Physics courses, the EE program requires 3 additional units in chemistry, physics, or other natural sciences including life, earth, and space sciences. To meet this requirement EE majors can take BIOL 110, BIOL 115, BIOL 130, or BIOL 131, and concurrently satisfy the General Education B2 requirement. Other acceptable courses include the following:

  • GE Area B1: ASTR 100, ASTR 150, ASTR 231, CHEM 105, CHEM 110, CHEM 115AB, GEOL 102, GEOL 105, GEOL 110, GEOL 120, PHYS 209AB, PHYS 216
  • GE Area B4: MATH 160, MATH 165
  • GE Area UDB: ASTR 303, ASTR 305, GEOL 301, GEOL 303

Transfer students should contact an EE advisor to ensure they meet the requirement. This course does not count towards the major.

Units (120 units)


Total Units for Graduation: 120

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