New Electrical Engineering Curriculum
A new undergraduate program was phased in for the class of 2006. This program is reflected in the current bulletin, where sample schedules and course requirements can be found, and the ELEN curriculum checklist (PDF), where more details on the technical elective requirement can be found. The new curriculum has three main components:
1. Core Component
This consists of specific basic courses, which:
- Provide the student with fundamental skills
- Expose the student to the breadth of EE
- Serve as a springboard for more advanced work or for work in areas not covered in the core
- A flowchart showing the dependence among the core classes can be found at the undergraduate core course flowchart.
2. Depth Component
There are currently four available depth areas (see below). To complete the depth requirement, students must take at least two courses in one of these areas. To make possible real depth it is desirable, but not required, that these courses form a sequence among themselves, or with a course in the core; whether a set of courses forms a sequence can be determined from their prerequisites. Depth area courses and dependencies among them can be found in our posted course charts, but please note that the course charts are meant to serve both undergraduate and graduate students, so they may include additional areas that are not depth areas. The charts may also include courses that are not in the following lists of approved depth area courses, as well as 6000-level courses that are not generally available to undergraduate students. Project courses (e.g., ELEN E3998/498) cannot normally count as part of the depth requirement.
Depth areas:
- Photonics, Solid-State Devices, and Electromagnetics [Course Chart]: ELEN E4301, ELEN E4401, ELEN E4405, ELEN E4411, ELEN E4420, ELEN E4501, ELEN E4503, ELEN E4944
- Circuits and Electronics [Course Chart] [Additional Course Advice]: ELEN E4215, ELEN E4312, ELEN E4314, ELEN E4321, EECS E4340 (if not used as a capstone lab), and ELEN E4332 (if not used as a capstone lab)
- Signals and Systems [Course Chart]: ELEN E4810, ELEN E4815, ELEN E4830, ELEN E4896, EEME E3601, EEME E4601
- Communications and Networking [Course Chart]: ELEN E3701 (if not used for the core), CSEE W4119 (if not used for the core), ELEN E4702, ELEN E4703, COMS W4180
3. Breadth Component
This ensures that the student does not over-specialize in only one area. Breadth is particularly important today, as:
- Innovation requires more and more an interdisciplinary approach
- Exposure to other fields is known to help one's creativity in his/her own main field
- Such exposure reduces the chance of obsolescence as technology changes
- At least two technical electives outside the depth area, in addition to those in the core
- One or both of these electives can be from other departments
Starting Early
The ELEN curriculum is designed to allow students who are at Columbia University for four years to start their study of Electrical Engineering in their first year.
- This motivates students early.
- It allows them to spread nontechnical requirements more evenly.
- It makes evident the need for advanced math and physics concepts, and motivates the study of such concepts.
- It allows more time for students to take classes in a chosen depth area, or gives them more time to explore before choosing a depth area.
Transfer Students
Please see the Combined Plan section for additional advice specific to EE majors who transfer into our program for their final two years of undergraduate study.