Undergraduate Program
The undergraduate program in
Electrical Engineering at Columbia University has five formal educational objectives:
A. Produce graduates with a
strong foundation in the basic sciences and mathematics that will enable them to
identify and solve electrical engineering problems.
B. Provide our students with a
solid foundation in electrical engineering that prepares them for life-long careers and
professional growth in fields of their choice.
C. Provide our students with
the basic skills to communicate effectively and to develop the ability to function as
members of multi-disciplinary teams.
D. Provide our students with a
broad-based education so that they can appreciate diversity of opinion, better
understand ethical issues, and develop a perspective of our profession.
E. Provide our students with a
relevant engineering design experience that is integrated across the four year
curriculum. Through these experiences, our students will develop an understanding of the
relationship between theory and practice.
The B.S. program in electrical
engineering at Columbia University seeks to provide a broad and solid foundation in the
current theory and practice of electrical engineering, including familiarity with basic
tools of math and science, an ability to communicate ideas, and a humanities background
sufficient to understand the social implications of engineering practice. Graduates
should be qualified to enter the profession of engineering, to continue toward a career
in engineering research, or to enter other fields in which engineering knowledge is
essential. Required nontechnical courses cover civilization and culture, philosophy,
economics, and a number of additional electives. English communication skills are an
important aspect of these courses. Required science courses cover basic chemistry and
physics, whereas math requirements cover calculus, differential equations, probability,
and linear algebra. Basic computer knowledge is also included, with an introductory
course on using engineering workstations and two rigorous introductory computer science
courses. Core electrical engineering courses cover the main components of modern
electrical engineering and illustrate basic engineering principles. Topics include a
sequence of two courses on circuit theory and electronic circuits, one course on
semiconductor devices, one on electromagnetics, one on signals and systems, one on
digital systems, and one on communications or networking. Engineering practice is
developed further through a sequence of laboratory courses, starting with a first-year
course to introduce hands-on experience early and to motivate theoretical work. Simple
creative design experiences start immediately in this first-year course.
Following this
is a sequence of lab courses that parallel the core lecture courses. Opportunities for
exploring design can be found both within these lab courses and in the parallel lecture
courses, often coupled with experimentation and computer simulation, respectively. The
culmination of the laboratory sequence and the design experiences introduced throughout
earlier courses is a senior design course (capstone design course), which includes a
significant design project that ties together the core program, encourages creativity,
explores practical aspects of engineering practice, and provides additional experience
with communication skills in an engineering context.
Finally, several technical
electives are required, chosen to provide both breadth and depth in a specific area of
interest. More detailed program objectives and outcomes are posted at
www.ee.columbia.edu/academics/undergrad.
The program in electrical engineering leading to the B.S. degree is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
There is a strong interaction
between the Department of Electrical Engineering and the Departments of Computer
Science, Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Industrial Engineering and Operations
Research, Physics, and Chemistry.
EE Core Curriculum
All Electrical Engineering (EE)
students must take a set of core courses, which collectively provide the student with
fundamental skills, expose him/her to the breadth of EE, and serve as a springboard for
more advanced work, or for work in areas not covered in the core. These courses are
explicitly shown on charts.
Technical Electives
The 18-point technical elective requirement for the electrical engineering program consists of three components: depth, breadth, and other. A general outline is provided here, and more specific course restrictions can be found under “EE Curriculum”. For any course not clearly listed there, adviser approval is necessary.
The depth component must consist of at least 6 points of electrical engineering courses in one of four defined areas: (a) photonics, solid-state devices, and electromagnetics; (b) circuits and electronics; (c) signals and systems; and (d) communications and networking. The depth requirement provides an opportunity to pursue particular interests and exposure to the process of exploring a discipline in depth—an essential process that can be applied later to other disciplines, if desired.
The breadth component must consist
of at least 6 additional points of engineering courses that are outside of the chosen
depth area. These courses can be from other departments within the school. The breadth
requirement precludes overspecialization. Breadth is particularly important today, as
innovation requires more and more of an interdisciplinary approach, and exposure to
other fields is known to help one’s creativity in one’s own main field. Breadth also
reduces the chance of obsolescence as technology changes.
Any remaining technical elective
courses, beyond the minimum 12 points of depth and breadth, do not have to be
engineering courses (except for students without ELEN E1201 or approved transfer credit
for ELEN E1201) but must be technical. Generally, math and science courses that do not
overlap with courses used to fill other requirements are allowed.
Starting Early
The EE curriculum is designed to
allow students to start their study of EE in their first year. This motivates students
early and allows them to spread nontechnical requirements more evenly. It also makes
evident the need for advanced math and physics concepts, and motivates the study of such
concepts. Finally, it allows more time for students to take classes in a chosen depth
area, or gives them more time to explore before choosing a depth area. Students can
start with ELEN E1201: Introduction to electrical
engineering in the second semester of their first year, and can continue with
other core courses one semester after that, as shown in the “early-starting students”
chart. It is emphasized that both the early- and late-starting sample programs shown in
the charts are examples only; programs may vary depending on student preparation and
interests.
Transfer Students
Transfer students coming to Columbia as juniors can complete all requirements for the B.S. degree in electrical engineering. Such students fall into one of two categories:
Plan 1: Students coming to Columbia without having taken the equivalent of ELEN E1201 must take this course in the spring semester of the junior year. This requires postponing the core courses in circuits and electronics until the senior year, and thus does not allow taking electives in that area; thus, such students cannot choose circuits and electronics as a depth area.Plan 2: This plan is for students who have taken a course equivalent to ELEN E1201 at their school of origin, including a laboratory component. See the bulletin for a description of this course. Many pre-engineering programs and physics departments at four-year colleges offer such courses. Such students can start taking circuits at Columbia immediately, and thus can choose circuits and electronics as a depth area.
It is stressed that ELEN E1201 or its equivalent is a required part of the
EE curriculum. The preparation provided by this course is essential for a number of
other core courses.