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 digital logic and embedded systems, EE/CS 10 ab; physics of electrical engineering, EE/APh 40; and the theory and laboratory practice of analog circuits, EE 45. 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, or fundamentals of information and storage, EE/CS/IDS 160; 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 ab, 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 motivated student may choose to pursue a specialization within Electrical Engineering by choosing one of the tracks offered within the Electrical Engineering option. These tracks allow the student to focus on a specific area within EE while still attaining a broad background in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation the diploma will read Electrical Engineering (track name). The available tracks are Computer Engineering, Intelligent Systems, and Medical Engineering.

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 electives requirement in EE. To qualify for an Electrical Engineering degree, the student would need to complete all option requirements.

1. Ma 2, EE 2, SEC10, one of SEC 11-13, EE/CS 10ab, EE/APh 40, EE 44, 45, 55, 90, and 111.
2. Two of Ph 2a, Ph 2b, Ph2c, or APh/EE 23 (Ph 12 can replace Ph 2).
3. Three of ACM 95a, ACM 95b, ACM/IDS 104, or ACM/EE/IDS 116.
4. EE 151 or EE/CS/IDS 160.
5. EE 91ab or this requirement can be waived if a student completes EE 80abc.
6. In addition to the above courses, 72 units selected from any EE course numbered over 100 or any other EE-related engineering or science course numbered over 100 (such as CDS 110 or CNS/Bi/Ph/CS/NB 187) with approval of the Undergraduate Option Representative.
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.
² See EE Option requirement 6 for specific rules regarding EE electives.

This typical program is not specifically required for graduation in the option. Students are expected to work out individual programs suitable to their interests and professional goals in consultation with their advisors.

Computer Engineering lies at the intersection of computer science and electrical engineering and exploits the advances in semiconductor technology and algorithms to create ever more complex digital systems to satisfy the computing needs of society. The Computer Engineering track allows EE students to advance their knowledge in digital and computer systems while still maintaining a broad background in Electrical Engineering.

1. Ma 2, EE 2, SEC 10, one of SEC 11-13, EE/CS 10ab, EE 44, 55, 111, and 188.
2. EE 110abc or EE/CS 119abc; EE 91ab may be substituted for EE 110c or EE/CS 119c.
3. CS 3, CS 24, and CS 124.
4. In addition to the above courses, 117 units selected from any EE course excluding EE 99, or Ph 2abc (Ph 12 may be substituted for Ph 2), or ACM 95ab; 45 of these units must be numbered over 100.
5. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including courses listed above. Courses used to satisfy requirements 1 through 4 must be taken for grades, unless they are only offered pass/fail.

¹ See Institute requirements for specific rules regarding humanities and social sciences.
² See EE Computer Engineering Track requirement 4 for specific rules regarding EE electives.

This typical program is not specifically required for graduation in the option. Students are expected to work out individual programs suitable to their interests and professional goals in consultation with their advisors.

Intelligent systems collect and analyze data to find patterns, make predictions and perform complex mechanical tasks. Their design involves specialized hardware and software components used to process large amounts of data in real time and thus requires a strong foundation in sensing and signal processing technologies, algorithms, statistics, learning, and control.

1. Ma 2, EE 2, SEC 10, one of SEC 11-13, EE/APh 40, EE 44, and 55.
2. Math: ACM/IDS 104, ACM/EE/IDS 116 or CMS/ACM 117, IDS/ACM/CS 157, and ACM 95a.
3. Computing: CS 1.
4. Signals, Learning, Control and Communication: EE 111, CS/CNS/EE 156a, CDS 110, and EE/CS/IDS 160.
5. Depth: EE 80abc or, with approval of the Undergraduate Option Representative, a sequence of 3 courses (27 units) formed from systems-related EE, ACM, CS, or CDS courses over 100. Example sequences include: Information and Coding: EE/Ma/CS 126ab, EE/Ma/CS/IDS 127; Signal Processing: EE 112, EE 164, ACM/EE/IDS 170; Learning: IDS/ACM/CS 158, CMS/CS/CNS/EE/IDS 155, CS/CNS/EE 156b or CS/CNS/EE/IDS 159; Control: CDS 131, CDS 112, ME/CS/EE 129.
6. In addition to the above courses, a total of 90 units selected from any EE course excluding EE 99, or Ph 2abc (Ph 12 may be substituted for Ph 2), Ph 3, ACM 95b, or, with approval of the Undergraduate Option Representative, any systems-related ACM, CS, or CDS course numbered over 100; these courses must include at least one course selected from EE 45, ME/CS/EE 129, CS/EE/IDS 166, CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186, or Ph 3; 45 of these units must be numbered over 100. Any course listed in item 5 that has not been taken for depth can also be taken to fulfill requirement 6.
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.
² See EE Intelligent Systems Track requirement 6 for specific rules regarding EE electives.

This typical program is not specifically required for graduation in the option. Students are expected to work out individual programs suitable to their interests and professional goals in consultation with their advisors.

The development of devices and engineering systems for medicine continues to be an exciting and growing focus in electrical engineering. The Medical Engineering track allows EE students to gain knowledge in the domains of bioelectronics, biophotonics, medical devices, and medical imaging, in addition to the fundamentals of EE.

1. Ma 2, EE 2, SEC 10, one of SEC 11-13, EE/APh 40, EE 44, 55, and 111.
2. EE 45 or a sequence consisting of APh/EE 23 and APh/EE 24.
3. 45 units of EE courses cross-listed with MedE and numbered over 100.
4. EE 80abc or EE/MedE/BE 189ab.
5. In addition to the above courses, 96 units selected from any EE course excluding EE 99, or Ph 2abc (Ph 12 may be substituted for Ph 2), ACM 95ab, or with approval of the Undergraduate Option Representative, any EE-related MedE, BBE or CCE course numbered over 100 (such as CNS/Bi/Ph/CS/NB 187 or MedE 101); 45 of these units must be numbered over 100.
6. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including courses listed above. Courses used to satisfy requirements 1 through 5 must be taken for grades, unless they are only offered pass/fail.

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

² See EE Medical Engineering Track requirement 5 for specific rules regarding EE electives.

³ See EE Medical Engineering Track requirement 3 for specific rules regarding EE/MedE electives.

This typical program is not specifically required for graduation in the option. Students are expected to work out individual programs suitable to their interests and professional goals in consultation with their advisors.

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.

Biomedical Engineering
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, EE 128 ab, EE 164, EE/CS/IDS 160, 167, EE/CS 161, APh/EE 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, 113, 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 110 abc, 153, EE/CS 119 abc, EE/CS/MedE 125, and selections from EE 112, EE/APh 180, EE/CS/IDS 160, EE 128 ab.

Learning
Second Year: CS 2
Third and Fourth Year: EE/CNS/CS 148, CMS/CS/CNS/EE/IDS 155, CS/CNS/EE 156 ab, IDS/ACM/CS 157, ACM/CS/EE/IDS 158, CS/CNS/EE/IDS 159, CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186, CNS/Bi/Ph/CS/NB 187, Ec/ACM/CS 112.

Microwave and Radio Engineering
Second Year: APh/EE 23, APh/EE 24, APh 17 abc.
Third and Fourth Year: EE 152, 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/MS/ME 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, APh/EE 109.
Third and Fourth Year: APh/EE 183, and selections from APh/MS/ME 105 abc, APh 114 ab, EE 153, EE/BE/MedE 185, EE/MedE 187.

Robotics
ME/CS/EE 134 and two or 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.