Mar 29, 2024  
2012-2013 SDSM&T Academic Catalog 
    
2012-2013 SDSM&T Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Electrical Engineering, B.S.


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Undergraduate Studies

Contact Information

Dr. Kazem Sohraby
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering/Physics 311
(605) 394-1219
E-mail: Kazem.Sohraby@sdsmt.edu

Faculty

Steven P. Miller Endowed Chair and Professor Whites; Professor Sohraby; Associate Professors Montoya and Tolle; Assistant Professors Anagnostou and Hoover; Instructors Linde and Grahek; Professors Emeritus Batchelder, Cox, McNeil, Meiners, Opp, Simonson and Oliver.

Electrical Engineering

The electrical engineering curriculum prepares students for life-long careers by providing them with the engineering and technical education appropriate to meet modern technological challenges. The basic curriculum includes required coursework in mathematics, basic sciences, humanities, social sciences, and fundamental engineering topics in circuit analysis, electronics, electrical systems, electromagnetics, energy systems, and properties of materials. Electrical engineering students are required to select 3 senior elective courses from a wide variety of subject areas to fit their particular interests. Elective subject areas include communication systems, power systems, control systems, microwave engineering, antenna engineering, and computer systems.

The bachelor of science program in electrical engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Mission

The mission of the electrical engineering program, in support of the mission of School of Mines, is to provide electrical engineering students with education that is broadly based in the fundamentals of the profession so that graduates will be able to maintain a high degree of adaptability throughout their professional careers. It is also intended that the students will develop a dedication to the profession and an ability to maintain professional competency through a program of lifelong learning.

Objectives

  1. Graduates will be able to successfully practice electrical engineering and related fields regionally, nationally, and globally.
  2. Graduates will be well-educated in the fundamental concepts of electrical engineering and be able to continue their professional development throughout their careers.
  3. Graduates will be skilled in clear communications and teamwork and capable of functioning responsibly and ethically in diverse environments.
  4. Graduates will be prepared to demonstrate leadership in outreach, innovation and invention.

Program Strengths

A two-semester capstone design experience requires electrical engineering students to conduct their own design project in a simulated industrial environment. They are encouraged to work on team projects and often the team projects are multidisciplinary. This foundation provides students with a broad base of understanding that allows them to apply their knowledge of scientific and engineering principles to the practical and innovative solutions of existing and future problems.

Students are required to develop a high level of written and oral communication skills and to work well as members of a team. They must develop a social and ethical awareness so they understand their responsibility to protect both occupational and public health and safety and to implement these factors in their professional activities. Students are encouraged to participate in the activities of professional societies, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Eta Kappa Nu, to enhance their educational and social life while on campus and to gain professional contacts for their careers. Students have opportunities to participate in cooperative education and summer intern programs whereby they elect to seek employment to experience engineering work before they complete their degree requirements. Students gain insight into future opportunities and are often hired by their intern companies after graduation.

Integration of Design Concepts

One of the key elements of the undergraduate electrical engineering education experience is to integrate design throughout the curriculum. Students experience various design concepts in a variety of settings:

  • Laboratory projects (including team projects);
  • Effective integration of computer applications;  
  • Senior elective courses;
  • Senior capstone experience; and
  • Participation in competitive team projects such as the Robotics Team, the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Team, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Team, Lunar Regolith Mining, and the Formula SAE Mini-Indy Team.

Graduate School Opportunities

The undergraduate curriculum is broadly based to give graduates flexibility in their career paths. Qualified students may study areas of interest in more depth and specialize further by pursuing a graduate program at the School of Mines.

Electrical Engineering Curriculum/Checklist


Students are responsible for checking with their advisors for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog.

Freshman Year


First Semester


Total: 15

Second Semester


Total: 16

Sophomore Year


First Semester


Total: 17

Total: 18

Junior Year


Total: 16.5

Second Semester


Total: 17.5

Senior Year


First Semester


Total: 18

Second Semester


  • Credits: (0-2) 2
  • 2EE Electrical Engineering Elective  Credits: 3
  • 4Technical Elective  Credits: 3
  • Humanities or Social Sciences Elective(s)  Credits: 3
  • 5Free Elective  Credits: 1
Total: 12

130 credits required for graduation


Curriculum Notes


1MATH 381  and MATH 442  are approved electives.

2 Eleven electrical engineering elective credits required.

3 A free elective is any college level course 100 level or above that is acceptable toward an engineering or science degree. Military science courses, 100 level and above, apply as free electives only; substitution for departmental, technical, humanities, or social science electives is not permitted.

4A technical elective is any science or engineering course 200 level or above that does not duplicate the content of any other course required for graduation. Co-op credits may be used for technical elective credit. A maximum of 6 co-op credits may be used for the EE degree.

The Electrical Engineering program utilizes the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam taken by students prior to graduation for program assessment.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Undergraduate Studies