New & Popular Undergraduate Courses

The structure of our curriculum provides undergraduate students with great flexibility, allowing for earlier completion of a co-term, earning a double major, or taking courses outside of electrical engineering (EE). Our undergraduate curriculum also introduces application of EE fundamentals earlier in the bachelor of science (BS) program; fosters the maker culture in EE education; and teaches all engineering students about basic electrical engineering tools. Check out our newest and most popular courses below!

Introductory Engineering Electromagnetics, EE42

Professor Olav Solgaard and Professor Jelena Vuckovic cover the topics of electrostatics, magnetostatics, Maxwell's equations, one-dimensional wave equation, electromagnetic waves, transmission lines, and one-dimensional resonators. Understand electricity and magnetism and its essential role in modern electrical engineering devices and systems.

Link to EE42 in Explore Courses. –Winter

Virtual Reality, EE267

With an emphasis on VR technology, Professor Gordon Wetzstein leads students through OpenGL, real-time rendering, 3D display systems, display optics & electronics, IMUs and sensors, tracking, haptics, rendering pipeline, multimodel human perception and depth perception, stereo rendering, presence. 

Link to EE267 in Explore Courses. –Spring

An Intro to Making: What is EE? ENGR40M

One of the most popular EE classes – this is a hands-on class where you learn to make stuff. Through the process of building, Professor Mark Horowitz will introduce the basic areas of EE. Students build a 'useless box' and learn about circuits, feedback, and programming hardware. A light display for your desk or bicycle will teach you about coding, transforms, and LEDs. A solar charger and an EKG machine introduce basic concepts about power, noise, and circuit safety. Best of all, you get to keep the toys you build. 

Link to ENGR40M in Explore Courses. –Autumn; Spring

Modern Physics for Engineers, EE65

Going beyond classical physics to introduce concepts from quantum mechanics and statistical physics – EE65 takes your interest and love of physics to the next level. In imaginative and insightful ways, Professor David Miller will explain how these abstract fields help understand a wide array of devices, applications and even everyday events. For instance, we cannot fully comprehend the color and brightness of the sun, much less the workings of a solar cell, without this knowledge. The class will show how these ideas enable engineers to understand and improve transistors, lasers, photo-detectors, memory devices and other electronic devices.

Link to EE65 in Explore Courses. –Spring

Introduction to Matrix Methods, EE103

Linear Algebra and Dynamic Systems has never been so interesting or powerful. In EE103 we don't just talk about it, we do it. This course will enable students with a wide variety of educational backgrounds to understand the basic concepts and exciting applications of linear algebra. Led by Professor Stephen Boyd, one of the preeminent thinkers in this field, EE103 will empower students to develop and build their own systems using simple open source software tools that we are developing. We will not just talk about linear algebra. We will do it. Link to EE103 in Explore Courses. —Autumn

Embedded Networked Systems, EE107

This class is a hands-on introduction to how networks of different scales are designed, from datacenters to embedded low power networks. Networks form interconnects that stitch together our digital and physical lives. They underpin cloud computing, our mobile connectivity, as well as the means to connect the large number of sensors that will pervade our physical surroundings. Professor Sachin Katti will teach these concepts through a project that involves building a wireless network from the ground up using software radios. Students will also learn how to use these networks to build embedded applications (e.g. wireless controlled network of drones, localization systems using WiFi). The goal is to introduce students to larger concepts in electrical engineering and computer systems: the role of abstraction and layering, building reliable systems out of unreliable components and dynamic sharing of scarce resources. Link to EE107 in Explore Courses. — Autumn

Power Electronics, EE153

Thinking about the energy and environmental challenges of the future? Understand the behavior of diodes, transistors, capacitors, and inductors in application. Taught by Professor Juan Rivas-Davila, this course focuses on the circuits used to efficiently convert AC power to DC power, step DC power from one voltage level to another, and convert DC power to AC power. The components used in these circuits (e.g., diodes, transistors, capacitors, inductors) are also covered in detail to highlight their behavior in a practical implementation. A lab held with the class will give students hands-on experience with power electronic circuits. The class also has a final project that requires a math design, simulation, implementation and experimental verification.   

Link to EE153 in Explore Courses. —Winter

EE/CS Courses:

EE has a significant overlap with CS, not only in hardware and software systems, but also in developing algorithms for signals, data processing, and machine learning. This overlap is captured through many courses and the research of the 15 faculty who have joint appointments between EE and CS. Understanding the relationship between EE and CS through a combination of both fields is the key to moving beyond current technology, hardware, and software constraints.

What Current EE Students Say...

Our students are a close-knit group. They enjoy the popular and innovative curriculum, the diverse and flexible nature of Electrical Engineering, and also being part of an outstanding university. More insights are available from our Spotlight profiles, featuring students, faculty, and alumni.