BSEE Degree Program Undergraduate Degrees BS/MS Program Detailed Requirements

Undergraduate Degrees

The undergraduate program of the Klipsch School is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET and stresses the development of analytical tools and physical concepts required to prepare students for immediate employment or graduate study. The program is flexible, allowing students to choose course work in the interest areas of communications, computers, control systems, digital design, electric energy systems, electromagnetics and microwave engineering, micro-electronics, photonics, signal processing, telemetry, and space systems engineering.

EE Course descriptions

Requirements (total credits 128)

Electrical Engineering (54 credits)

E E 111, Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering (1,2)
E E 161, Computer-Aided Problem Solving (1, 2, 3)
E E 211, AC Circuits (1, 2)
E E 221, Electronics I (1, 2)
E E 261, Digital Design I (1, 2)
E E 311, Signals and Systems (1, 2)
E E 315, Electromagnetics I (1, 2)
E E 332, Introduction to Electric Power Engineering (1, 2)
E E 341, Systems I (1, 2)
EE Electives* 12 cr.
Capstone Elective* 6 cr.

Mathematics (21 credits)

MATH 191, Calculus I (2)
MATH 192, Calculus II (2)
MATH 291, Calculus III (2)
E E 301, Vector Principles (2)
E E 302, Random Variable and Signal Analysis
MATH 392, Differential Equations (2)
Math Elective* 3 cr.

Natural Science (12 credits)

CHEM 111, General Chemistry I (1, 2)
PHYS 215, General Physics I (1, 2)
PHYS 216 or 217, General Physics II (1, 2)

Engineering (13 credits)

E E 461, Program Management
Engineering elective* 3 cr.
Technical elective* 6 cr.

General Education (28 credits)

ENGL 111G, Rhetoric and Composition (2, 3)
ENGL 218G, Technical and Scientific Communication (2)
COMM 265G, Principles of Human Communication (2)
Historical Perspective Elective*
Human Thought Elective*
Literature/Fine Arts Elective*
ECON 251G, Macroeconomics, or ECON 252G, Microeconomics
PHIL 323 Engineering Ethics
Viewing a Wider World Electives*
Free elective 1

Notes: (1) Including laboratory; (2) A grade of C or better is required; (3) Must be completed with a grade of C or better prior to enrolling in any E E course numbered 300, or above

* Lists of approved electives are available from the Klipsch School office

THE FRESHMAN YEAR

Students must be eligible to take MATH 191 before beginning their electrical engineering studies. A typical first year of study for E E students includes the following 30 credits:

CHEM 111, General Chemistry I
E E 111, Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
E E 161, Computer-Aided Problem Solving
PHYS 215, Engineering Physics I
ENGL 111G, Rhetoric and Composition
MATH 191, Calculus I*
MATH 192, Calculus II
General Education Elective 3
Free Elective (1 credit)

*Eligibility for MATH 191 must be established by taking the Math Placement Exam, administered by the Math Learning Center

INTEREST AREAS

Through the proper choice of math, science, and engineering electives in the junior and senior years, it is possible for the student to specialize in an area of interest. These areas include:

COMMUNICATIONS, TELEMETRY, AND SIGNAL PROCESSING Students study space communication systems, wireless systems, data transmission, and audio & video signal compression, decompression, and transformation. Students working in this area could possibly work on cell phone design, satellites, sensor design and monitoring, imaging and pattern recognition (from security to medical applications), music (filtering signals, processing signals), any type of transmission (communication) from one place to another, noise reduction, analysis of signals.
COMPUTERS The Klipsch School offers a special program for students interested in computer engineering. Students wishing to become involved in this rapidly growing field will find courses in digital logic and system design, computer architecture, data networking, integrated circuits and applications, high performance computer design, digital control and instrumentation systems, digital signal processing, operating systems, and software engineering. These courses offer the student an opportunity to obtain an in-depth knowledge of digital systems and practical experience in the design, operation, programming, and applications of digital computers. Students could expect to continue on in these areas to develop better and faster computers and interfaces.
CONTROL SYSTEMS Work in the systems area provides the student with a background in modeling, analysis, design, simulation, and control of complex systems. These systems may be associated with engineering, ecology, transportation, natural resources, environment, or other areas. Students in this area could expect to model physical systems, and work on controlling various processes.
ELECTRIC ENERGY Elective courses in power systems acquaint the student with the design, analysis, and operation of power systems. Courses are offered in high voltage transmission lines, distribution systems, rotating machines, and digital computer analysis of the steady state operation and short circuit conditions of a power system. Students in this area could expect to work in the generation, distribution and monitoring of systems which deliver power to consumers.
ELECTROMAGNETICS and Microwave Engineering Students study electromagnetic fields, wave propagation, antennas, waveguides, transmission lines, lasers, and optics. Practical experience is available in the high-frequency and antenna laboratories and anechoic chamber. Students in this area could expect to work in the design and use of antennas, and microwaves and the sending and receiving of signals.
Micro-ELECTRONICS Students study discrete analog as well as digital and analog VLSI electronics, preparing them for design, analysis, and testing of complex circuits. During the senior year, VLSI students will design a chip to be fabricated. Students in this area could expect to design chips to be used in various devices (cars, homes, computers, almost any electrical device).
PHOTONICS Students may concentrate in the fields of fiber optics, lasers, optical communications, imaging, and optical signal processing. Students could expect to work with lasers and laser applications including communications, imaging systems, and optical sensors. This could include medical and astronomical applications.
SPACE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING Elective courses prepare the student for employment opportunities in the aerospace industry. Students are introduced to the complexities of a space systems life cycle and the disciplines required to design, integrate, and operate large systems.

RELATED AREAS OF STUDY

Electrical and computer engineering students wishing to broaden their educational experience may elect to earn additional bachelors degrees in

Klipsch School students may also choose to earn a minor in one or more of the following fields:

Students must consult with an academic adviser in the offering department for specific requirements related to additional degrees and minors.

BS/MS Program

The combined BS/MS program is designed to prove a means for top ECE undergraduates to obtain a BSEE and MSEE with 152 credit hours of coursework (normally: B.S. = 128 hours, M.S. = 30 hours; total = 158 hours). Students electing to utilize this option will follow the existing undergraduate curriculum for the first seven semesters. In the final undergraduate semester, two graduate courses (> 450 level) will be taken in lieu of two ECE electives listed in the undergraduate curriculum. The student receives a BSEE degree at this point. A thesis-based MSEE program that can be completed in three semesters is shown on page 2. Technical report and coursework-only programs are also possible with appropriate adjustments to this sample program. Permission to utilize this option involves two steps: First, during the final semester of the junior year (e.g., when taking EE 315, 341, or EE 302), students will petition the ECE department for permission to take the BSEE/MSEE option using the application form. Permission to utilize the option will be based on the cumulative grade point average (>3.5) and personal recommendations by faculty listed on the departmental application. Once the ECE department has notified the applicant of permission, the student must then complete the second step of formally applying to the NMSU graduate school for admission to graduate school in E&CE; this application to the graduate school is made during the semester of BSEE graduation. A packet with more information and a sample degree program is available.

Detailed Requirements

Students usually follow the catalog which was in effect when they first attended NMSU. However, students may choose to switch to another catalog as long as that catalog is no more than six years old at the time of graduation.

Note that each list of electives included in the summaries represent the approved classes for that academic year. A class must be on the approved list in the semester it was taken in order to fulfill an elective requirement. Always refer to the most current list of approved classes when choosing electives.