TECHNICAL ELECTIVES FOR

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING UNDERGRADUATES

Graduating 2015
The courses listed below are approved for EE in-major and non-major technical elective credit. Actual course offerings
will be based on sufficient resources, including faculty availability and student demand. Refer to the Universitys
on-line timetable of classes for specific course availability information.

In-Major Technical Electives

Courses are grouped according to their inter-relatedness, but students are free to choose from multiple groups. If you are
unsure of an academic focus, you are encouraged to take courses from several groups, giving you a broader background.
Course prerequisites are shown in [ ]. Co-requisites are shown in ( ). (**) indicates Capstone Technical Electives.
ELECTROMAGNETICS
4104 (4)
4114 (3)
4124 (3)
4134 (3)
4144 (3)
4154(3)
4164 (4)

Microwave and RF Engineering [2014, 3106, 3204] (**)

Antennas [2014, 3106] (**)
Radio Wave Propagation [3106]
Fiber Optics and Applications [3106]
Optical Information Processing [3106]
Perils of Space: An Introduction to Space Weather [3106]
Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Theory and Design [3106] (**)

CIRCUITS/ELECTRONICS
4205 (3)
4206 (3)
4214 (3)
4220 (3)
4224 (3)
4234 (3)
4235(3)
4244 (3)
4284 (1)

Electronic Circuit Design [3204]

Electronic Circuit Design [2014, 4205] (**)
Semiconductor Device Fundamentals [2204 or MSE 3204 or PHYS 3455]
Analog Integrated Circuit Design [3204]
Power Electronics [2014, 3204] (**)
Semiconductor Processing [2204 or 3054]
Electronic Packaging [ECE 2204]
Intermediate Semiconductor Wafer Processing Laboratory [2014, 4234 or MSE 4234](**)
Power Electronics Lab [4224]

POWER SYSTEMS
4304 (3)
4334 (3)
4344(3)
4354 (3)
4364 (3)
4374 (1)

Design in Power Engineering [2014, 3304](**)

Power System Analysis and Control [3304]
Electric Power Quality for the Digital Economy [3304]
Power System Protection [4334]
Alternate Energy Systems [STAT 4714]
Power System Protection Lab [4334] (4354)

SYSTEMS/CONTROLS
4405 (3) Control Systems [3704]
4406 (3) Control Systems [4405]
4704 (3) Principles of Robotics Systems [2704, 2534]
ME 4734 (3) Mechatronics [2504, 2704]
ME 4736 (3) Mechatronics II [ME 4734]
(ME courses are typically restricted to ME students and will need to be force-added through the ME Advising office.)

EE Technical Elective List

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COMPUTERS
2500 (3)
2574 (3)
3504 (4)
3544(4)
3574 (3)
4504(3)
4514(4)
4520 (3)
4524 (4)
4530 (3)
4534 (4)
4540 (3)
4550 (3)
4560 (3)
4564 (3)
4570 (3)
4574 (3)
4580(3)

Computer Organization and Architecture [2504]

Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms [1574]
Digital Design I [2504] (if taken prior to Fall 2013)
Digital Design I [2504] (if taken Fall 2013 or later)
Applied Software Engineering [2574]
Computer Organization [CS 3214 if taught by CS faculty; ECE 2500 if taught by ECE faculty]
Digital Design II [3504 if 4514 taken prior to Spring 2014]; [3544 if 4514 taken Spring 2014 or later]
Digital and Mixed-Signal System Testing and Testable Design [2574, 3504]
Artificial Intelligence and Engineering Applications [2574, STAT 4714]
Hardware/Software Codesign [3504, 2534]
Embedded System Design [2014, 2534, 3574] (**)
VLSI Circuit Design [2204, 2504]
Real-Time Systems [4534 or CS 3214]
Computer and Network Security Fundamentals [4564]
Network Application Design [2504, 2574]
Wireless Networks and Mobile Systems [4564 or CS 4254]
Large-Scale Software Development for Engineering Systems [3574]
Digital Image Processing [4624, STAT 4714]

COMMUNICATIONS
4605 (3)
4606 (3)
4614 (3)
4624 (3)
4634 (3)
4644 (3)
4664 (1)
4674 (1)
4675 (1)
4676 (1)

Radio Engineering [2014, 3106, 3204, 3614] (4675) (**)

Radio Engineering [4605]
Telecommunication Networks [2504, 2704, STAT 4714]
Digital Signal Processing and Filter Design [2014, 3704] (**)
Digital Communications [3614, STAT 4714]
Satellite Communications [3614]
Analog and Digital Communications Lab [3614] (4634)
Scattering Parameters Lab [4605, 4675]
Radio Engineering Lab [3106, 3204] (4605)
Radio Engineering Lab [4675] (4606)

ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING DESIGN AND PROJECT

A two-semester design project, emphasizing systems engineering principles in the development of an electrical and/or
computational system. A specific, substantial engineering design problem is taken from problem definition to system
realization and testing to demonstrate meeting of design specifications. This represents a major design experience based
on knowledge and skills acquired in earlier course work throughout the curriculum. Note: both semesters must be
completed to earn credit.
ECE 4805 (3) Engineering Design and Project [2014]
ECE 4806 (3) Engineering Design and Project [4805] (**)
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SENIOR ENGINEERING DESIGN AND PROJECT
ECE students, with the permission of the ME department, can enroll in the ME senior engineering design and project
courses. Note: both semesters must be completed to earn credit.
ME 4015 (3) Engineering Design and Project
ME 4016 (3) Engineering Design and Project (**)

EE Technical Elective List

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INDEPENDENT WORK and SPECIAL STUDIES

The courses listed below can generally be used for technical elective credit or design technical elective credit, based on
the particular content of each course as it is taught in a given semester. Please discuss technical elective credit options for
these courses with your advisor prior to registering for the courses.
4974 (ARR)
4984 (ARR)
4994 (ARR)

Independent Study
Special Study
Undergraduate Research

Notes:
4974 and 4994: Students must complete an the College of Engineering Undergraduate Research/Independent Study
Form, the ECE Undergraduate Research/Independent Study Proposal Form, and the ABET Breakdown prior to
registration. The forms are due in 340 Whittemore by 12:00 noon on the 3rd day of the first week of class for the requested
semester no exceptions. Forms are available in the ECE Student Services office in 340 Whittemore or online at
www.ece.vt.edu/ugrad/policies.php.
For purposes of satisfying the major technical elective requirements, the sum of the number of hours taken from ECE
4974, 4994 cannot exceed 6 in any one project, without prior approval.

Non-Major Technical Electives

ECE students may take up to 3 credit hours of non-major technical electives. Students are reminded that they DO NOT
have to take a non-major technical elective. All technical electives can come from the in-major list.
1)

2)
3)

Any 3000 or 4000 level course, except those listed in Items 2 and 3 below, in Engineering, Biology, Chemistry,
Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics NOT REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION, THAT DOES NOT DUPLICATE
any course in the program of study, and for which you have the appropriate prerequisite, may be used as a non-major
technical elective.
Non-major 4974, 4984, 4994 courses and study abroad courses must be approved for non-major technical elective
credit in advance. See your advisor for guidance.
REMINDER: ESM 4404 Fundamentals of Professional Engineering CANNOT be used as a non-major technical
elective and DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS GRADUATION.

Graduate Courses Used as Technical Electives

ECE students who meet the University requirements to enroll in graduate courses may use graduate level ECE courses as
technical elective credit.
1) Per University policy, undergraduate students must have earned a 3.0 cumulative GPA to be eligible to enroll in
graduate level courses.
2) Note that graduate student courses taken as undergraduate cannot be used toward a graduate degree in ECE at
VT. Exceptions to this policy: a) students enrolled in the Accelerated UG/G program; b) students who are dual
enrolled in the ECE graduate program. Please see your advisor if you have questions regarding this policy.
3) To enroll in graduate level courses, undergraduates will need to complete an Application for Graduate Courses
form (available at www.ece.vt.edu/ugrad/policies.php). If prerequisites are met and space permits, students will
be force-added to the graduate course(s).

EE Technical Elective List

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