The Electrical Engineering (EE) Curriculum (effective starting with the class of 2006) has three main components:

1. A core component. This consists of specific basic courses, which
   • provide the student with fundamental skills,
   • expose him/her to the breadth of EE, and
   • serve as a springboard for more advanced work, or for work in areas not covered in the core.
2. A depth component. This consists of a set of courses in one area (chosen by the student among several available alternatives). This component
   • provides an opportunity to the student to pursue his/her interests, and
   • exposes the student to the process of digging into a discipline in depth -- an essential process which the student can later carry over to other disciplines, if he or she chooses.
   The depth requirement is as follows:
   • At least two technical electives in one area, in addition to those in the core;
   • At least one of those electives must have as a prerequisite another course in the same area, or a related course in the core.
   The depth areas are as follows:
   • Photonics, Solid-State Devices, and Electromagnetics
   • Circuits and Electronics
   • Signals and Systems
   • Communications and Networking
   Suitable electives that satisfy the depth requirement of a given area are listed on the Depth Courses page.
3. A 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, and
   • such exposure reduces the chance of obsolescence as technology changes.
   The breadth requirement is as follows:
   • 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 EE curriculum is designed to allow students to start their study of EE in their first year. This

• motivates students early,
• allows them to spread non-technical requirements more evenly,
• makes evident the need for advanced math and physics concepts, and motivates the study of such concepts, and
• 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.

Students can start with an Introduction to EE course in the second semester of their first year, and can continue with other core courses one semester after that. See the example schedules.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

Transfer students coming to Columbia as juniors can complete all requirements for the EE degree. Such students fall in one of two categories:

1. Students coming to Columbia without having taken the equivalent of ELEN E1201 (Introduction to Electrical Engineering) must take this course in the spring semester of the junior year. This requires postponing the core courses in circuits and electronics until the senior year, and thus does not allow taking electives in that area; thus, such students cannot choose circuits and electronics as a depth area. See the transfer students plan 1 example schedule.
2. The alternate plan is for students who have taken a course equivalent to ELEN E1201 at their school of origin, including a laboratory component. See the bulletin for a description of this course. Many pre-engineering programs and physics departments at four-year colleges offer such courses. Such students can start taking circuits at Columbia immediately, and thus can choose circuits and electronics as a depth area. See the transfer students plan 2 example schedule.

It is stressed that ELEN E1201 or its equivalent is a required part of the EE curriculum. The preparation provided by this course is essential for a number of other core courses.