Undergraduate Handbook

Electrical Engineers (EE’s) apply creative applications of electrical phenomena to solve real world problems and thereby serve the needs of industry, government and society. The type of work you do is influenced by the concentration you take here in our department. Electrical Engineering is an extremely large and diverse field. Areas of mixed signal systems, communications, electromagnetic fields, information visualization, robotics and intelligent systems, power generation/transmission, electronics, control systems, and embedded system design. Our graduates pursue opportunities in research, development, and manufacturing in the electrical and electronics industries, as advanced study in graduate school or graduate professional study (i.e. law, business, medicine, etc.).

Computer Engineering (CpE) students have the same chance to concentrate on fields that Electrical Engineering (EE) students do: computer design, computer vision, plasma, VLSI microchip design, mixed systems, communications, electromagnetic fields, information visualization, robotics and intelligent systems, power generation/transmission, electronics, control systems, and embedded system design. However, unlike the EE, the CpE views the computer as a system in and of itself, it focuses on using the computer as the solution to problems in the above mentioned areas. For example, a CpE might design a controller for an automobile fuel injection system. The fields that are pursued by many CpE’s are computer vision, computer networks, VLSI microchip design, information visualization, robotics and intelligent systems, embedded system design, and computer architecture.

A common dilemma for many prospective engineering students is choosing between electrical engineering, computer engineering or computer science. In order to help you in your decisions, consider the following: If you think you want to focus on understanding the software side of things, then you probably want to be a computer scientist. Typically, you’d be interested in algorithms, data structures, their implementation and their interaction with hardware, as well as their use in real world applications. If you think you will be comfortable with programming, but also want to get more involved with the computer hardware, or design something that uses computer hardware, or design the computer hardware itself, then you probably want to be a computer engineer. If you think you want to use a computer to do an engineering task, but you are more interested in the task that is being done than how the computer controls it, then you probably want to be an electrical engineer. Typically, you will be interested in knowing more about other areas of electrical engineering.

The goals of the B.S. degree programs in electrical and computer engineering are to: (a) prepare students for entry into the profession; (b) instill in students the capabilities required by the discipline, the recognition of the need to enhance the discipline, and the desire for life-long learning; and © equip students with a general knowledge of technical and non-technical disciplines so that they are prepared for further study in other fields including professional and graduate education.

Thirteen distinct program outcomes were adopted by the faculty of the ECE Department in response to recommendations from ABET, graduates, and employers of graduates of the program. They are as follows:

• Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
• Ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
• Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs
• Ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
• Ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
• Understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global/societal context
• Recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning
• Knowledge of contemporary issues
• Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
• Knowledge of probability and statistics including applications and discrete math (program criteria)
• An understanding of advanced mathematics in the areas of differential equations, numerical analysis, linear algebra, and advanced calculus

At appropriate times, you will be asked to assist the Department in its assessment of the program outcomes listed above.

This handbook contains information on how the ECE Department works, the range and selection of courses available to you, and what to do should difficult situations arise. Please note that this handbook is purely advisory and that the material it contains is not intended to be a comprehensive statement of University policy.

We hope that it will become apparent to you that the staff, the faculty, and you the student are all here for the same purpose - your graduation with a BSEE or BSCpE degree leading to a successful career in electrical or computer engineering.

The Administrative Offices of the Department are located in Ferris Hall, Room 414, and serve as the focal point for undergraduate activities. Frequent reference will be found throughout this handbook to the services available there. The personnel in this office have detailed knowledge of the day-to-day operations of the Department and should be the first people you consult when difficulties arise. They also provide the office support required by the faculty in running the graduate and undergraduate programs.

The faculty (who teach the classes) and the staff (who provide the supporting services) are whom you might consider to be the permanent residents of Ferris Hall. A semi-permanent population of graduate students, many of whom you will encounter in labs and occasionally in classes, also have places of work in Ferris Hall.

The faculty of the Department are the people from whom you will receive most of your electrical and computer engineering instruction. They are reasonable people, very interested in helping you get through the BSEE or BSCpE degree program, especially if they sense that you are a serious student and doing all you can to help yourself. In addition to undergraduate teaching responsibilities, the faculty are involved in research and the oversight of graduate student research programs. The specific interests of the faculty, listed below, can help you determine where to go for further information on a particular aspect of electrical and computer engineering.

The staff is responsible for the smooth, orderly, day-to-day operation of the Department. The staff in FH 414 maintains advising files on all undergraduate students. These files contain semester grade reports, an academic history, other academic records, and comments from advisors where appropriate. The staff also keeps an up-to-date list of advisees for each faculty member, so this is the place to go to find out the name of your academic advisor. All substitution forms, student information sheets, and applications for admission to ECE 300 are processed through FH 414 in an orderly and timely fashion. Personnel in FH 414 are in frequent contact with faculty members and can therefore act as a good communications link between you and the faculty, arranging contacts convenient to both. They are also the principal source of information of a general nature concerning the Department and usually find themselves taking care of personal items that have been found, misplaced, or lost in or near Ferris Hall.

Another important component of the staff can be found in Technical Services. Located in FH 417, they make sure that all the laboratory and computer equipment is in working order, oversee use of the small machine shop in which students are able to build up the hardware needed for class projects, and operate a parts store, from which you can purchase most of the electronic components needed for project assignments.

The graduate students who are employed by the Department work in one of two capacities. Some are Graduate Research Assistants (GRA) and others are Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA). As an undergraduate you will not see much of the GRAs, but you will encounter many if not all of the GTAs, as they are given responsibilities for running the undergraduate laboratories and the grading or checking off of most laboratory work you will be doing.

Areas of Faculty Interest and Research
ECE Facilities

You will be a first-time freshman if you have attempted less than 12 hours of college-level work when you enter UT. You can be admitted directly to the BSEE or BSCpE program or make that decision any time during your freshman year. You will be advised during your freshman year in Perkins Hall 101. If you choose to enter the BSEE or BSCPE program, your file will be sent to the ECE Department at the end of your freshman year. The staff in FH 414 will assign you to an academic advisor and establish a permanent file, which will be maintained as long as you are a student in ECE. If you transfer to another department from ECE, this file will be sent to that department.

You will be a re-admitted student if you were previously an undergraduate student and withdrew from UT. The Re-admissions Office processes all applications for re-admission. The general guidelines are contained in the Undergraduate Catalog, under the section concerning Academic Policies and Regulations. You will be re-admitted to the college and department with which you were affiliated before withdrawing. If you were in the ECE Department before withdrawal, you will be automatically assigned to a regular academic advisor or, if necessary, to an academic review advisor. If you were in another department, and have been readmitted to that department, then the guidelines for students transferring from another department within UT will apply to you.

If you are enrolled in another department or college at UT and wish to transfer into Electrical and Computer Engineering you will be referred to the Associate Department Head, who will consider your request. Approval will be based on your past performance regarding grades as well as evidence in your academic history that you are likely to succeed in the Electrical or Computer Engineering Programs. If admission to Electrical or Computer Engineering is granted, you will be assigned to an academic advisor in the Department.

If you have attempted 12 or more hours of college credit course work at another accredited institution you will have to apply for admission to UT as a transfer student. Full details of this process are contained in the Academic Policies and Regulations section of the Undergraduate Catalog. The Associate Department Head will examine your application and base his recommendation on your past performance regarding grades and evidence of your potential to succeed in the Electrical or Computer Engineering Program. All transfer students are advised initially advised by the Associate Department Head, but they will be assigned to a regular departmental advisor as soon as all issues associated with the transfer are resolved.

If you already hold a Bachelor’s Degree you may earn a second degree by meeting the requirements specified in the Undergraduate Catalog under Academic Policies and Regulations. More specifically, for those who hold a bachelor.s degree in Electrical may obtain a second bachelor.s degree in Computer Engineering or vice versa by satisfying the following:

• Meet the requirements for both degrees.
• Complete at least 30 semester hours beyond the first B.S. degree.
• Declare the intention to work for a second bachelor.s degree with the Office of the University Registrar.

As part of the process Professor Paul Crilly, ECE Associate Head, will evaluate your status and specify the courses you will have to take to satisfy the course requirements for the second degree. Then a “second degree” letter is then generated and sent to the University Registrar. Additionally, this letter must be approved by the College of Engineering for Undergraduate Affairs.

Below is a suggested set of courses for the second degree.

Suggested courses for those who have earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and want a second degree in Computer Engineering.* CS-140, CS-302, CS-360, CS-370, Math 300, ECE-451, ECE-453, ECE-455, Computer engineering senior electives^, Total=34 hours

Suggested courses for those who have earned a B.S. in Computer Engineering and want a second degree in Electrical Engineering.* ECE-325, ECE-336, ECE-341, Technical electives#,
ECE 415-416, or 421-422, or 431-432, or 443-446, or 451-453, or 451-455, or 471-472, or 481-482, ECE senior electives, Total=34

* Select different courses if these were used for the first B.S. degree
∧ Acceptable Computer Engineering electives are: ECE 421, 422, 431, 441, 443, 446, 471, 472, 481, 482, Computer Science 370, 420, 430, 460, 470.
# Acceptable technical electives include MSE-201, MSE-410, IE-405, ME-231, ME-321, ME-344, NU-342

Every student must see their academic advisor once a year for advice in the selection of elective courses, for help in determining career goals and objectives, and to obtain your advisor’s signature on an advising form. Students whose id end in an even digit are required to meet with their advisor during the fall semester, similarly those whose id numbers end in an odd digit are required to meet with their advisor during the spring semester. This form is required and must be turned in at 414 Ferris Hall before registering for the next semester. If you have any problems, please talk with the Administrative staff in FH 414. If your advising needs change, for example, due to a shift in emphasis in your field of study, you may want to change advisors. This can be done by going to FH 414 and asking to be transferred to another advisor. Students wishing to co-op should see Professor Crilly to have your co-op plan approved. Students should schedule their advising appointments during the fall and spring semesters since few faculty are available during the summer. See http://www.ece.utk.edu for more information.

If you are on academic review, you must see the departmental academic review advisor. The academic review advisor is Dr. Crilly. You will receive a letter notifying you if you are in this status and you will not be able to register with the normal advising form. Only Dr. Crilly can issue the necessary (white) academic review advising card. To be assigned for academic review advising, go first to FH 414. Do not delay in setting up an appointment to see your academic review advisor; he will try to help you with the difficulties that have led to your academic review status. If you are unable to remedy the situation which led to your academic review status you will be put into Pending Academic Dismissal Status (PADS), which will result in review by the College of Engineering’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (Dr. Masood Parang) and possible dismissal from the College.

DARS is an automated record of a student’s academic progress and is now available to all ECE students. This audit is a two-column report that contains all requirements and sub-requirements for the degree program and points out any deficiencies in the student’s record. At any time, a student can request a DARS from Mrs. Judy Evans in FH-414 to determine if they are missing any electives, required courses, or are in any way deficient toward meeting their graduation requirements.

ECE class schedules, which appear each semester in the Timetable of Classes available from Student Services, are generated within the Department. Never the less, registration for ECE classes, however, is carried out on a campus wide basis. The only way in which ECE faculty can influence the registration process is through “Drop and Add” forms for classes, which are filled to the published capacity. This capacity has been carefully thought out and cannot often be raised easily, since it is based on space available in a classroom or, more likely, space available in a laboratory. Students are encouraged to register as early in the preceding semester as possible to increase the likelihood of getting a place in those classes expected to be full. A timetable of ECE classes, including times, locations, and instructors can be found on the World Wide Web through the ECE Department’s home page. The URL is: http://www.ece.utk.edu/.

If you find that a class for which you wish to register is full, you should continue to attempt to add the class using the phone-registration process (see the Fast-Forward page for information). If that fails you can go to the first class meeting to see if there have been any last-minute drops. It is possible in some classes that the instructor may be willing to make minor adjustments to the class enrollment, but this should in no way be relied upon since it is not always possible. Whatever is written here does not obligate a professor to accept overflow registration.

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Showcase Curriculum is arranged to allow a student taking between 15 and 18 hours each semester, to graduate in eight semesters. In exceptional circumstances a student may wish to enroll in more than 19 hours a semester (12 hours in the Summer term). This is considered an overload. It is generally discouraged in ECE, but is permitted by University regulations. Approval must be obtained from Dr. Masood Parang, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, located in 101 Perkins Hall. This approval cannot be obtained through the ECE Department.

You will occasionally find that you need to change your course selection once the semester gets under way. The ECE Department follows general campus procedures for adding and dropping classes. The Timetable of Classes for the current semester carries a full calendar of deadlines, which you should carefully note and observe. The ECE Department will not be able to violate these deadlines on your behalf. You should note that most ECE classes get down to business the first day, so signing up late and missing even one class will put you at a distinct disadvantage. Should you find that you have to drop a course you should try to make that determination before the drop deadline. Dropping a course before the drop deadline is easy and carries no penalty, but after the deadline it becomes much more difficult. Drop and add slips are available in FH 414. If you must drop a course after the deadline you should submit a WP (Withdrawn Passing) or a WF (Withdrawn Failing) form with instructors signature to the Office of the University Registrar.

The ECE Department follows the University policy regarding first day class attendance: “Students who fail to attend the first class (or laboratory) meeting without prior arrangements with the Department concerned may lose their space in class to other students. Students should not assume that they would be officially dropped from the class; it is always the responsibility of the student to drop courses not attended. Otherwise, the student is liable for a grade of “F” in the course and for payment of appropriate fees.” Generally, laboratory work in ECE courses does not begin immediately when the class meets. You should check with your course instructor to determine the date of the first laboratory meeting.

All teachers are expected to discuss with each class how the class is to be run throughout the semester. This will normally include a statement of the course objectives, and some indication of the requirements of the course, including when, and how many, exams will be held and the basis for the final grade. It is an opportunity for teachers to discuss and make known to the class their concepts of academic integrity, and to make a clear statement on the extent to which collaboration among students is appropriate in that particular course. Teachers are expected as much as possible to keep to office hours they post or publish. Many teachers include all this information, along with a detailed listing of the material to be taught in each class meeting, in a “course syllabus”. This syllabus can be a valuable planning tool, enabling you to schedule your study time to the greatest advantage.

Insofar as the practice of engineering profoundly influences the safety and well-being of the general public, it is vital that during your school years you be made fully aware of the need for high ethical standards among engineers. For this reason we encourage all students to take the first step towards professional registration by taking the Engineering Fundamentals Examination (See Section VI.6 on page 14) some time during their senior year. We also adhere strictly to UT policies regarding academic integrity. These policies are fully explained in Hilltopics under the section entitled “Student Academic Conduct”. It should be noted that the policies give the instructor “full authority to suspend a student from his/her class, to assign an “F” in an exercise or examination, or to assign an “F” in the course.” Such authority is not given lightly and careful precautions are set in place to avoid its frivolous use. Nevertheless, the ECE Department takes very seriously its obligation to the University and to the electrical and computer engineering professions to produce graduates that are trustworthy, ethical, and competent in their field.

When unusual or emergency situations arise, the ECE Department will follow the lead of the campus in deciding whether to remain open or not. If the University remains open, but conditions are perilous enough to make it dangerous for you to attempt to get to class you should call the teacher’s telephone number or the departmental main number. The Departmental Office maintains information on classes and professors, and the staff will make every effort to keep you informed as to whether your class will be held. A simple call could save you a lot of trouble. As stated in Hilltopics: “Students will be responsible for any academic work which they miss due to absences caused by severe weather conditions.”

Curriculum

The ECE Department is fortunate to have a number of scholarships to award each year to qualified undergraduate students. Unless otherwise dictated by the terms of the scholarship, selection of students to receive scholarships is made by the Scholarship Committee. This committee meets as necessary to carry out this duty and relies heavily on the student information sheet (see Section V) in making its decisions. The Scholarship Committee for 2005-06 is being chaired by Professor M. J. Roberts.

The scholarships currently available in the ECE Department are:

• CAROL and MALCOLM BAYLESS
• GRACE O. DAVIS
• S. T. HARRIS
• URBAN and SUSAN HILGER
• BILLY J. and SYLVIA F. MOORE
• LEONARD B. MURRAY
• ROBERT and ALLIENE LAY
• W. O. LEFFELL
• EDGAR WYMAN McCALL
• LEONARD and BETTY SHEALY
• CHARLES and MARTHA SPRANKLE
• FRED SMITH VREELAND
• VAUGHN BLALOCK MEMORIAL FUND
• DEPARTMENTAL SCHOLARSHIPS

The ECE Department has between three and five million dollars worth of research contracts annually. Occasionally, faculty members find opportunities to engage undergraduate students in these research projects. While you may not be equipped to do any of the really exciting work, first hand observation of high level research and involvement in the development of new ideas will significantly contribute to your technical education. In recent years, undergraduate students have been able to work on research in dielectrics, image processing, robotics, electronics, and plasma engineering. Seek out such opportunities, and take advantage of them if possible. Sometimes these opportunities are announced on the bulletin boards, but more often openings are filled by students, known by the faculty member involved to be good academically and suited for the particular task. This is one place where good grades and a positive attitude will pay off.

Recent undergraduates also have been involved in projects for regional and national competitions. Most notable have been the successes in the nationwide Hybrid Electric Vehicle Design Project and IEEE Regional Hardware Design Contest. These are organized on a year-to-year basis and may not always be available. You can keep up to date on what is going on by reading notices posted in Ferris Hall, and maintaining an effective “network” of student contacts.

The Cooperative Engineering Program at UT provides students an opportunity to get experience in a technical job by alternating periods of full-time work with periods of full-time study. In the current employment climate, such experience is a definite advantage in the search for full-time employment following graduation. There are many excellent co-op opportunities with well-known companies across the Southeastern United States, and occasionally even further afield. The companies available for co-op are as diverse as the subjects within the field of electrical engineering itself. They include electronic design, development and manufacturing, power companies, software and hardware design, production facilities (in both the electrical and non-electrical product fields), consulting firms, communications, consumer products, and government organizations.

Participation in the Co-op Program usually begins with an application in the freshman year. If you are interested you should contact the Co-op Office in Room 310, Perkins Hall. Mr. Walter Odom is the Director of the Engineering Co-op Program, and he and his staff are always more than happy to talk to ECE students.

Within the large number of student organizations that might be of general interest to engineering students there are only two which are of particular and specific interest to the field of electrical engineering. The honor society Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) recognizes superior academic performance by inviting to its membership only those students who stand in the top one-fourth of their class as juniors, or in the top one-third of their class as seniors. Inductions are normally held twice a year, and the activities of the UTK Chapter center around service projects (such as tutoring sophomores), and participation, frequently in conjunction with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) student branch, in college-wide activities (such as Engineers Day). The IEEE student branch, on the other hand, is open to all students with an interest in electrical or computer engineering. The IEEE holds technical meetings, participates in college-wide activities such as the College of Engineering Homecoming Picnic and Engineers Day (in partnership with the HKN Chapter), and competes aggressively in the annual IEEE Region 3 Student Conference and Competition.

Both EKN and IEEE afford members the opportunity to gain valuable experience in such professionally important areas as time management, public speaking, and working with other people. Such opportunities, occurring as they do outside the normal curriculum, are essentially risk-free yet significantly contribute to your professional development. This is one activity where you get out in direct proportion to what you put in, so consider being a part of the action in this arena and give yourself and your career a boost.

Professor Tolbert is the Faculty Advisor for the HKN Chapter, for the current officers’ names you can visit their website at http://www.engr.utk.edu/~etaknu/. Professor M. Abidi is the Branch Counselor for the IEEE, for the current officers’ names you can visit their website at http://ieee.ece.utk.edu/.
Internships

For those students not able to participate in the co-op program, another opportunity to get practical experience exists through a summer intern appointment. Reporting on the availability of internships is an informal activity, and you will have to search carefully on the Ferris Hall notice boards, or check the ECE website at http://www.ece.utk.edu to find out what is available. Sometimes internships are offered through the Career Placement Office; sometimes they come through personal contact between a company and a member of the faculty. These are often excellent opportunities, but it takes some effort on your part to seek them out.

Many working electrical and computer engineers find it necessary, as a condition of employment, or desirable, as a matter of personal preference, to be registered to practice engineering. In Tennessee registration is required of all persons representing themselves to the public as engineers. Registration of engineers serves to enhance their public esteem, ensure minimum standards of competence, and provide a forum through which engineers can influence public policy.

To become eligible for registration you must pass two examinations. The first is the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, which entitles you to the classification of Intern Engineer (formerly Engineer-in-Training). The second, to be taken after at least four years of responsible engineering experience, is the Principles and Practice Examination (PE). Both examinations are day-long ordeals and clearly some level of preparation is required.

Whether or not you eventually become a registered engineer will depend a great deal on the company for which you work and the nature of work you do. This is almost certainly unknown to you at this time, but we encourage you to take the first step toward registration by taking the FE examination before you graduate. You will be better equipped to take this exam while still in school than at any other time in your career. The examination is given twice a year in Knoxville and application forms are available in FH 414. The Associate Dean coordinates a reviewing session each semester prior to the exam, which has proved to be very informative and helpful. Students are encouraged to attend these sessions. Application requires the signature of a representative of the Department and this is obtained from the Department Head.

It is both a responsibility and a privilege of the faculty to recommend students enrolled in the ECE Department for honors, awards, scholarships, recognition, and appointments within and outside the University. You are invited to fill out a student information sheet, giving details of what you think are your marketable strengths, to assist the faculty in making these important recommendations. Participation in this activity is purely voluntary, and submission of a sheet does not guarantee that you will receive any of the benefits that are available. It does, however, ensure that we will know all we need to know when and if we have an opportunity to promote you for one of many selections that occur throughout the year. A condensed copy of the student information sheet appears on page 12. Blank sheets are available in FH 414 or at our website, and when completed should be returned there. Members of the faculty will file them for confidential reference.

You can revise or remove your sheet at any time; you should consider updating your sheet at least once a year. Your sheet will be considered out of date if it is left unrevised for more than two years, and will be discarded.

In some courses you may be specifically directed to use one of the many computer systems available for undergraduate students use on campus. Students can obtain their own personal account, known as a UNIX E-mail (formerly CAFE) account, which will remain in effect as long as the student is registered at UT. To register for an account you need to contact OIT.

http://oit.utk.edu/
OIT Support Lines 8:00AM - 5:00PM Monday-Friday
Students: (865) 974-9900
Walk-in Consulting at 104 Aconda Court - helpdesk@utk.edu

Many ECE computing resources are restricted to ECE faculty, staff, and students. This restriction depends on ECE department computer accounts, which should not be confused with University computer accounts.

Accounts for most students are created from class enrollment data. Accordingly, account information may be distributed during class at the beginning of each semester. Otherwise, students should see ECE IT Support in 417 Ferris Hall to obtain an account.

Students can create their resume on the web and register with Career Services at the same time. Simply access Career Services home page at: http://career.utk.edu. Select “Create Web Resume” and follow the instructions on the screen. Students are encouraged to use Career Services and the many features they offer.

UT allows a student to graduate under the curriculum of any catalog in force during the student’s attendance, provided the chosen curriculum has been in effect within six years of graduation. However, the University does not obligate itself to offer the courses that may be required. In the ECE Department the course offering and content are under almost continual review and you would be well advised to graduate under one of the more recent curricula.

tudents entering the BSEE and BSCpE Program are expected to strive for excellence in all courses as they work toward their degree. They must have an average GPA of 2.0 for all their courses taken at UTK, and must have earned at least a “C” grade in all their required ECE, mathematics and computer science courses. These are minimum requirements. Students are encouraged to strive for a higher GPA than this in order to enhance their career opportunities and individual satisfaction following graduation.

Furthermore, the ECE department has instituted a progression requirement such that progression of ECE undergraduate majors to the upper division program of the department is competitive and is based on space available in the department. Factors considered in this decision include overall GPA, grades earned in ECE and COE courses, and seriousness of purpose and interest in department programs as exemplified by regular and orderly progress through the prescribed curriculum without abuse of withdrawal and course repeat privileges.
Planning Ahead

By the time you begin your junior year you should have a plan of all the courses you intend to take before graduating and the semesters in which you plan to take them. This will probably be fairly vague to begin with, but a little planning at this point in your school career may save a great deal of frustration later. The plan will necessarily be tentative until you know what courses are offered in any particular semester. Ms. Becky Powell or the principal secretary gives you a good clue as to what might happen when she puts the anticipated course offering for the next semester in the Timetable of Classes for the current semester. In addition, the department will, as far as possible, offer in the summer term many courses required in the sophomore and junior years, subject to an enrollment sufficient to justify the offering. In general, senior level courses will not be offered in the summer. If you are a Co-op student, you should pay special attention to the scheduling and sequence of course offerings. There may be scheduling problems due to limited summer offerings. You should plan to begin senior classes in the Fall Semester.

s you complete your junior year, it may be a good idea to make sure that you agree with the official University records regarding the courses you have taken to satisfy the requirements of the BSEE or BSCpE degree. Students should apply to graduate one year in advance of the term they plan to graduate (80-90 hours completed) by the deadline published each semester in the timetable classes. Application for Graduation can be obtained from room 209, Student Services Building. This application constitutes a declaration that you wish to graduate at that point. The records office will finally check your records to see that you have completed all requirements. You may also wish to run a DARS to verify you have met all the graduation requirements.

ECE juniors and seniors are strongly encouraged to request a DARS to determine if they are on track to graduate. DARS are available from Mrs. Judy Evans in FH-414. If the DARS does show a deficiency, you are encouraged to meet with your advisor to correct these problems.

The moment you graduate, you become a member of that select group who are the graduates of the ECE Department. You will be one of some 5,000 alumni who are distributed widely in 48 states including Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.

You will find that your education has only just begun when you leave UT, and you will discover it is necessary to continue your education throughout your career in engineering. What you carry away from UT will be a good foundation for further study, whether it is back here on familiar ground or at another institution. Your company may choose to send you to short courses and technical seminars, or you may decide to pursue a graduate degree. This can be done on a part-time or a full-time basis. Whatever you decide, you will more than likely need academic references. Therefore, be sure to take with you the names, addresses, and the approvals of professors here who know your work well enough to write a strong recommendation for you.

If you have been a student member of IEEE, you will be elevated automatically to the grade of full member upon graduation. Fortunately, you will be able to enjoy a sliding fee scale over the next four years as the membership dues rise in increments from the student grade rate to the full member grade rate. This will be a welcome relief to your financial state. Like the alumni you will meet after leaving UT, the IEEE can provide a vital network of professional contacts on which to draw as your career unfolds.

We encourage you to let us know where you are by periodically updating your address records. The easiest way to do this is to write to the Alumni Office, Tyson Alumni House, 1609 Melrose, Knoxville, TN 37996. In this manner, we will be able to keep you informed of important news in the Department.

Once you have graduated and are practicing as an electrical engineer or computer engineer, your success will be determined by how you use your education and communication skills. You will be expected to demonstrate an entry-level understanding of engineering and computer engineering fundamentals. Therefore, your goal as an undergraduate should be more than achieving a high GPA, although this is a worthwhile goal. Your goal should be to develop a fundamental understanding of the physical laws and their practical application to solving real problems. Any course or project in which you have the opportunity to participate while at UT can help you in this regard. You should take advantage of opportunities that come your way. Rather than barely satisfying the minimum requirements in a course and being satisfied with a minimum understanding of a subject, you should strive for excellence. Do not feel that once a course is passed you have overcome a hurdle and can forget the course material. Courses represent divisions of material according to how a particular department and the University as a whole have divided the knowledge of a subject area into blocks, which fit conveniently into a semester calendar. All the knowledge you acquire will likely be useful as your career expands. A suggestion: you will find that your engineering and computer engineering textbooks can be useful tools for reference after graduation.

Your primary job as an electrical engineer or computer engineer will be to deal successfully with the application of physical laws. You will also need to communicate your work to other people if it is to be of any significant use. You should therefore seek to build good communication skills along with your technical skills. Furthermore, as the volume of electrical and computer engineering knowledge continues to increase, so must you continue to learn in order to stay abreast in your field. Staying current requires self-motivation and the ability to learn on your own. Perhaps enrolling in occasional short courses will be appropriate. Thus, another skill you should seek to build in school is effective self-study.

In the current job market there are many opportunities. You must learn about them and choose according to your preferences. To be in a good position to do this you must keep yourself well informed. Good ways to do so are to read professional publications, to become involved in professional societies, and to talk to faculty and other engineers about the profession. Seasoned electrical engineers and computer engineers can attest to the joy that can be derived from being paid reasonably well for doing interesting and creative work. The opportunities for personal growth and for making lasting contributions to society will hopefully enrich you as an individual. There are further pleasures to be found in developing friendships with professional people who, like you, will be striving for excellence through lifelong learning. It is the Department’s wish that you will find joy and satisfaction in your electrical and computer engineering career.

The ECE Department also has excellent graduate programs leading to a Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Entrance requirements for prospective MS students include a BSEE or BSCpE with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 and a 3.0 for the senior year. Graduation requirements for the MSEE include: ECE 503, 504; six semester hours of mathematics at the 400 level or above (these are approved by the ECE Graduate Committee); twelve semester hours of ECE courses at the 500 level or above; a Master’s thesis totaling six semester hours; a final oral examination covering the thesis and related course work.

The Department has a limited number of graduate teaching assistantships (GTAs) and a greater number of graduate research assistantships (GRAs). The GTAs are awarded by the Associate Department Head, while individual faculty members holding research grants and contracts award the GRAs. Typical students require 1 to 2 calendar years to complete the MS program. If you have a interest in graduate studies at UT, or another school, don’t hesitate to seek advice from your favorite professor, Professor Crilly (Associate Department Head) or Professor Jack Lawler (Associate Head and Chair of the ECE Graduate Committee). Copies of the ECE Graduate Handbook are available in FH 414.