EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Students at Eastern Michigan University will be able to earn a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering beginning next year under a new academic program approved today by the University’s Board of Regents.

The new B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), to be housed in the EMU College of Technology, will prepare students for positions in diverse fields of electrical and computer engineering, such as the areas of automotive, autonomous systems, robotics, energy, communication and consumer electronics. The program will seek to prepare graduates to be at the forefront of designing the next generation of electrical devices.

The new program will help fulfill a continuing need for ECE engineers in Michigan and nationally, and will train graduates for high-level, high-paying engineering positions. The ECE program is in addition to the well-established Mechanical Engineering Technology major at Eastern and the Mechanical Engineering major, which was added this year after approval last winter.

In the new program, students will study the electrical and computer engineering areas of controls, communications, electronics, power electronics, computer architecture, digital hardware design and computer networks, with a key goal of being able to develop new products derived from innovative ideas.

Importantly, the program will prepare graduates for today’s professional engineering environment by developing desired soft skills such as collaboration and internal and external communication, constructive criticism, flexibility and working under pressure.

“This program continues our efforts as a college to respond to employers and state needs, as well as student and parent requests,” said Mohamad Qatu, dean of the College of Technology. “This program will attract high-caliber students, and will generate employment opportunities for our graduates and research opportunities on campus.”

After completing general math and science requirements, students will take courses that involve core areas such as circuit analysis, microcontrollers or digital logic design, along with 12 hours of courses in their chosen specialty. The new program will culminate with a capstone design project requiring students to solve problems supplied by real-world customers.

The median national income for computer engineers was $108,430 while the median salary for electrical engineers was $91,410, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of engineering jobs is expected to increase 7 percent by 2020. Nationwide, more than 250,000 jobs were available in those two fields combined in 2014, according to the bureau.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 22,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.