Electrical and Computer Engineering

Bachelor of Science Degree

Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), one of the broadest engineering disciplines, is the branch of engineering that focuses on applying the laws of physics governing electricity, magnetism and light to develop products and services for the benefit of human kind. In addition to the traditional roles of designing, analyzing and working with components, circuits, and systems that utilize electrons and photons, electrical and computer engineers are also often engaged in systems integration, information technology, software development and frequently serve on multidisciplinary teams.

Our program provides breadth across the discipline and a balance between theory and application. In addition, a large number of laboratory courses provide students opportunities for hands-on learning. The program provides graduates the skills and knowledge necessary for a dynamic career in either electrical or computer engineering.

Electrical and Computer Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org

Mission
The mission of the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) program at SUNY Poly is to provide quality undergraduate studies in ECE. The goals of the program are to prepare students to enter professional careers and graduate study, and to find employment in their field after graduation. The program values and encourages academic and intellectual achievement of the highest quality and the technical competencies inherent to the field of electrical and computer engineering. The faculty are committed to the integration of these elements into a coherent program of higher education.

Program Educational Objectives
Within 5 years after graduation, graduates will demonstrate progress in the following areas:

  1. Engagement – Graduates will be engaged in a career that utilizes the skills and knowledge gained in their undergraduate engineering program.
  2. Expertise – Graduates will pursue further professional credentials, such as advanced degrees and professional registration, and will assume increased responsibility in their organization.
  3. Learning – Graduates will gain further knowledge relevant to their career through independent learning and continuing education

Student Outcomes
The following documented student outcomes will prepare graduates to attain our program educational objectives:

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  2. 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.
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Enrollment Data

Degrees Granted
  Engineering Program July 2019 –
June 2020
July 2018 –
June 2019
July 2017 – June 2018 July 2016 –
June 2017
  Electrical/Computer Engineering 14 13 12 10
Full Time and Part Time
  Engineering Program Fall 2020 Fall 2019 Fall 2018 Fall 2017
  Electrical/Computer Engineering 82 84 79 81
Full Time Equivalent
  Engineering Program Fall 2020 Fall 2019 Fall 2018 Fall 2017
  Electrical/Computer Engineering 82.5 91.7 83.9 84.6

SUNY Poly’s engineering facilities include multiple highly specialized laboratories with a multitude of electrical and electronic equipment, including function generators, power supplies, multi-meters, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, micro-controller demonstration boards, field programmable gate array (FPGA) demonstration boards, logic analyzers, electrical and electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, 74xx integrated circuit chips), digital probes, simulations software (Matlab, Electronics Workbench, Labview, Multisim, Pspice, PCAD), and general purpose computers. Through a comprehensive approach towards experimentation, simulation and analysis, engineering skills and aptitudes are challenged from theory to practice, enabling and preparing SUNY Poly ECE graduates to thrive and capitalize on future research and development opportunities.

The ECE program offers two areas of concentration: electrical engineering (EE) and computer engineering (CoE). The EE track focuses on traditional EE disciplines including signal processing, semiconductor devices, communications, electromagnetics and control theory. The CoE track emphasizes digital systems design, computer architecture, computer networks, and operating systems.

Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering Degree Requirements Overview
The requirements for the BSECE program at SUNY Poly are governed not only by the State Education requirements, but also those of EAC/ABET. In order to earn the BSECE degree, the student’s coursework must include:

  • One year of a combination of college-level mathematics and basic sciences (some with experimental experience) appropriate to electrical and computer engineering;
  • Nearly two years of engineering topics, consisting of engineering sciences, engineering design, and engineering topics appropriate to electrical and computer engineering;
  • A general education component that complements the technical content of the electrical and computer engineering curriculum and is consistent with the program and institution objectives;
  • A professional component that covers career issues and provides flexibility to choose electives that support the student’s professional engineering interests (e.g., math, science, engineering, technology or faculty-approved special choices such as finance, accounting, public speaking, etc.))
  • To receive the BSECE degree, students must complete a minimum of 125 credit hours in the courses outlined below with a grade-point average of 2.0 and a minimum average gpa of 2.0 for all math, science and technical courses required for the program. All students must meet the General Education requirements for the program.

Students shall satisfy the requirements listed below.

I. SUNY General Education Requirements (30 credits)

All SUNY students must satisfy the following requirements.

No fewer than 30 credits must be attained from the SUNY approved General Education Course List with the following provisions:

  • Communication (written and oral)
  • Mathematics (and quantitative reasoning)
  • Natural Sciences (and scientific reasoning)
  • Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice

At least three (3) out of the following six (6) SUNY General Education categories:

  • The Arts
  • Humanities
  • Social Sciences
  • U.S. History and Civic Engagement
  • Other World Civilization
  • World History and Global Awareness
  • World Languages

NOTE: You may take more than one course in a given category to complete this 30-credit hour requirement, but you must also satisfy the appropriate number of categories.

The ECE Program recommends the completion of a four course sequence as follows:

  • HIS 306 or HIS 370 plus three courses from General Education categories other than Western Civilization and Other World Civilization

II. Liberal Arts/Sciences Requirements (30 credits) 

The New York State Education Department (SED) requires a student earning a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree to attain no fewer than 60 credits of combined SUNY General Education and Liberal Arts/Sciences courses. There may be overlap between courses meeting both the SUNY General Education Requirements and Liberal Arts/Sciences Requirements, but a student may receive course credits only once even if multiple requirements are satisfied by a single course. The total number of combined credit hours must be no fewer than 60 credits.

SUNY Poly degree requirements:

  • Natural Sciences: one course which may be a General Education Natural Science course. For Electrical and Computer Engineering students, the requirement is satisfied by PHY 201T & PHY 201L with a lab. 
  • Upper-Division Writing Course (such as COM 306 or COM 307)

Specific requirements for Electrical and Computer Engineering majors:

  • MAT 151 Calculus I
  • MAT 152 Calculus II
  • MAT 230 Differential Equations or MAT 260 Ordinary Differential Equations and Series Solutions
  • MAT 370 Applied Probability
  • MAT 413 Discrete Mathematics
  • CHE 110T & CHE 110L Essentials of Chemistry w/lab or CHE 130T & CHE 130L Introductory Chemistry I with lab
  • PHY 201T & PHY 201L Physics I (calc-based)
  • PHY 202T & PHY 202L Physics II (calc-based)
  • CS 108 Computer Fundamentals
  • CS 240 Data Structures

Liberals Arts/Sciences Electives (remainder of credits)

III. Technical Core Coursework (43 credits)

  • ECE 101 Introduction to Engineering I
  • ECE 251 Digital Logic Design
  • ECE 252 Computer Organization and Microprocessors
  • ECE 260 Electric Circuits
  • ECE 281 ECE Seminar I
  • ECE 301 Signals and Systems
  • ECE 315 Electronics
  • ECE 382 ECE Seminar II
  • ECE 387 Junior Design Laboratory
  • ECE 487 Senior Project I
  • ECE 488 Senior Project II
  • ECE Technical Elective I
  • ECE Technical Elective II
  • Professional Elective: One 200-level or above course, chosen in consultation with an advisor. This course cannot be counted towards any other degree requirement for the major, but could be counted towards a different major or any minor.

IV. Concentration (Select ONE)

Computer Engineering (14 credits)

  • ECE 351 Digital Systems Design
  • ECE 352 Computer Architecture
  • ECE 359 Computer Networks
  • CS 330 Operating Systems and Networking

Electrical Engineering (17 credits)

  • ECE 323 Electromagnetics
  • ECE 332 Semiconductor Devices
  • ECE 361 Control Systems
  • ECE 377 Communications Systems
  • MAT 253 Calculus III

V. Professional Elective and Wellness (5-6 credits)

  • Professional Elective: (one course 3-4 credits) Any 200-level or above course, chosen in consultation with an advisor.
  • Physical Education/Wellness (2 credits)

This program requires first-year students to purchase a laptop for use in classes and labs. The faculty feel that laptops are an important tool for a student’s education. Details regarding laptop specifications will be sent to new admitted students prior to enrollment.