Electrical Engineering Option (EE)

The objective of the undergraduate program in Electrical Engineering at Caltech is to produce graduates who will attain careers and higher education that ultimately lead to leadership roles in academia, industry, and government in areas of rapidly advancing interdisciplinary technology related to telecommunications, solid-state, robotics, information, computer and electrical systems.

The program prepares its students for either graduate study, entrepreneurial careers, or research and development work in government or industrial laboratories. It inspires them to undertake careers and professional practices that provide an opportunity to address the pressing technological needs of society. It accomplishes this by building on the core curriculum to provide a broad and rigorous exposure to the fundamentals (e.g., math, science, and principles of engineering) of electrical engineering. EE’s other program objectives are multiple. The program strives to maintain a balance between classroom lectures and laboratory and design experience, and it emphasizes the problem formulation, system-design, and solving skills that are essential to any engineering discipline. The program is also intended to develop in each student self-reliance, creativity, teamwork ability, professional ethics, communication skills, and an appreciation of the importance of contemporary issues and lifelong intellectual growth. For interested students, there are opportunities to conduct research with a faculty member.

Students electing this option normally choose to take the introductory seminar EE 2 as a first-year elective. The formal study of electrical engineering begins in the sophomore year with courses such as, deterministic analysis of systems and circuits, EE 44; mathematics of electrical engineering, EE 55; introduction to dgital logic and embedded systems EE/CS 10ab; physics of electrical engineering, EE 40; the theory and laboratory practice of analog circuits, EE 45; and then a course on feedback control systems, EE 113 or CDS 110. The junior year features the fundamentals of signals and systems and digital signal processing, EE 111; random variables and stochastic processes, ACM/EE/IDS 116; electromagnetic engineering, EE 151; and analog electronics laboratory, EE 90. In the senior year, the student will be asked to demonstrate their ability to formulate and carry out a design or research project by taking the senior project design laboratory, EE 91, or senior thesis, EE 80 abc. In addition, the student throughout their studies and especially in the senior year, will have a significant opportunity to take elective courses that will allow them to explore earlier topics in depth, or to investigate topics that have not been covered previously. (See “suggested electives”.)

A student whose interests lie in the electrical sciences but who wishes to pursue a broader course of studies than that allowed by the requirements of the electrical engineering option may elect the engineering and applied science option.

Attention is called to the fact that any student who has a grade-point average less than 1.9 at the end of the academic year in the subjects listed under electrical engineering may be refused permission to continue work in this option.

The electrical engineering option allows interested students to declare electrical engineering as one of the majors in a double major pursuit. To enroll in the program, the student should meet and discuss their plans with the option representative. In general, approval is contingent on good academic performance by the student and demonstrated ability for handling the heavier course load. For students simultaneously pursuing a degree in a second option, courses taken as required courses for that option can also be counted as EE electives where appropriate. However, courses that count toward the electives requirement in the other option cannot be simultaneously counted toward satisfying the elective requirement in EE. To qualify for an EE degree, the student would need to complete all option requirements.

1. Ma 2, Ph 2 abc. Ph 12 abc can replace Ph 2 abc.
2. EE 2, SEC 10, one of SEC 11-13, EE/CS 10ab, EE 40, 44, 45, 55, 90, 111 and ACM/EE/IDS 116.
3. ACM 95ab.
4. EE 151 or EE/CS/IDS 160.
5. EE 91 or this requirement can be waived if a student completes EE 80 abc.
6. In addition to the above courses, 72 units selected from any EE course numbered over 100.
7. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including courses listed above. Courses used to satisfy requirements 1 through 6 must be taken for grades, unless they are only offered pass/fail.

¹ See Institute requirements for specific rules regarding humanities and social
sciences.

Suggested elective courses for the second, third, and fourth year for various specializations within electrical engineering are given below. Students interested in other areas of specialization or interdisciplinary areas are encouraged to develop their own elective program in consultation with their faculty adviser.

Bioengineering
Second Year: Bi 9, Bi 10, APh 17 abc.
Third and Fourth Year: Ch/Bi 110, EE/MedE 114, EE/BE/MedE 185, CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186, BE/EE/MedE 189 ab.

Communications and Signal Processing
Second Year: Selected from APh 17 abc, APh/EE 23, APh/EE 24
Third and Fourth Year: EE 112, EE/Ma/CS 126 ab, EE/Ma/CS/IDS 127 ab, EE 128 ab, 164, EE/CS/IDS 160, 167, EE/CS 161, EE/APh 131, APh/EE 130, 132, Ma 112 a.

Control
Second Year: APh 17 abc.
Third and Fourth Year: CDS 110, and selections from EE 112, EE 128 ab, EE 164.

Electronic Circuits
Second Year: EE 113, CDS 110, APh/EE 183.
Third and Fourth Year: EE/MedE 114 ab, 124, EE 110abc, 153, EE/CS 119 ab, EE/CS/MedE 125, and selections from EE 112, EE/APh 180, EE/CS 119, EE/CS/IDS 160, EE 128 ab.

Microwave and Radio Engineering
Second Year: APh/EE 23, APh/EE 24, APh 17 abc.
Third and Fourth Year: EE 153, EE/Ae 157 ab, EE/MedE 114 ab, EE/APh 131, APh/EE 130, 132, APh/EE 183.

Optoelectronics
Second Year: APh/EE 23, APh/EE 24, APh 17 abc.
Third and Fourth Year: APh/EE 130, 132, APh 105 abc, APh 114 abc, APh/EE 183, APh/EE 190 abc, EE/APh 131, EE 153.

Solid-State Electronics and Devices
Second Year: APh 17 abc.
Third and Fourth Year: APh/EE 183, and selections from APh 105 abc, APh 114 ab, EE 153, EE/BE/MedE 185, EE/MedE 187.

Robotics
ME/CS/EE 134 and two more courses from the following list:
ME/CS/EE 133 ab, EE/CNS/CS 148, CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186, CDS 131, CMS/CS/CNS/EE/IDS 155.