Design experience from the first year to the senior capstone, with input from the companies that hire our graduates
The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department's mission for undergraduate education is to provide a thorough grounding in electrical science, electrical engineering and computer engineering combined with intensive training in mathematics. Experimental science and technology are emphasized through investigative laboratory work and classroom lectures and demonstrations.
The curriculum includes engineering science and design courses that give a balanced view of hardware, software, application trade-offs, basic modeling techniques and the use of computer-aided design tools. These principles run through the whole curriculum, which encourages students to take on major and meaningful design experiences.
Part of the curriculum is devoted to the humanities and social sciences, with a wide choice of subjects. These general education courses broaden students' outlook and show how much non-technical knowledge shapes an engineer's responsibilities in professional life.
An important part of the curriculum is the senior-year technical elective program. Technical electives let students broaden or deepen their technical knowledge according to their interests. Tracks focused on computing skills and double majors in computer science and physics are also offered.
The project-based capstone brings together knowledge from several courses to solve a real engineering problem, often for a client with a disability. Many electronic and microprocessor-based systems delivered this way have made a major difference to the freedom and quality of life of their users. See current and past capstone projects. The department also works with many local companies, large and small, to offer co-ops that can earn course credit.
The department has responded to industry needs with focused programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, to develop technically literate engineers of value to the community. Graduates are knowledgeable, practical problem solvers, and most of them stay in New England as working engineers. The co-op program, formalized with the college and the university, adds relevance to courses and exposure to working professionals.
The Industrial Advisory Board helps the department review program objectives against current industry needs, and its input is used to keep checking how relevant the curriculum is. Those needs are balanced against the fundamentals that serve students well over the long term. Technical areas sometimes take second place to a can-do attitude, strong communication skills and the initiative to keep learning.
The board meets once per semester. Close ties with industry through co-ops, research, consulting and alumni give the department steady feedback on the skills graduates need at work.
The graduate program builds on the strengths of the faculty. Faculty work closely with local and regional industry through consulting and research, advise graduate students from regional companies, and take part in local and national professional societies.
Most ECE students go into industry, and a significant share find positions with companies within 100 miles of Lowell. Some go straight to graduate school, and many continue their graduate study later with support from their employers.