This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2026-2027 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
The profession of electrical engineering touches all aspects of our lives in that electrical engineers design and fabricate devices and systems critical in applications such as computing, communications, health care, manufacturing and automation, power generation and utilization, transportation, and entertainment. An element very important to these and many other applications is the microelectronic device or system.
In the sub-area of microelectronics, electrical engineers design and fabricate electronic materials such as semiconductors, conductors and superconductors used in the manufacture of electronic devices. As a natural progression, electrical engineers design and fabricate electronic devices such as transistors, which control or modulate the flow of energy; sensors of light, mechanical force, chemicals, etc.; electromagnetic radiation sources such as lasers, light emitting diodes and microwave power sources. Following this progression, we find electrical engineers designing and fabricating integrated circuits such as microprocessors and memory elements; flat-panel displays, etc., which are found in applications ranging from supercomputers to watches, clocks and toys. Further in this progression we find electrical engineers designing and fabricating today’s and tomorrow’s computers.
Computer systems and application-specific integrated circuits are the elements that enable the existence of today’s communication systems, such as the Internet, satellite systems, telemedicine, wired and wireless (cellular) telephones, along with standard and high definition television. Additionally, along with sensors, microwave power sources and actuators, they permit our present and future automated manufacturing lines, air and traffic control systems, and automotive safety and traffic control through collision avoidance radar systems, antilocking brake systems, air bag actuators, automatic traffic routing and the “smart highway” of the future.
Electrical engineers play an ever increasing role in the design and building of major facets of today’s and tomorrow’s health care systems and medical research through the application of microelectronic instrumentation and diagnostic tools such as MRI and CAT scan systems. The field of electrical engineering truly permeates every facet of our lives and thus provides excellent employment opportunities to the general practitioner or specialist in more than 35 different subspecialties.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:
Electrical engineering core outcomes
- Identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics
- Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors
- Communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts
- Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives
- Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
Power and energy systems concentration-specific outcome
- Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of the design and analysis of power and energy systems
Special requirements
Program D grade policy: Students must receive a minimum grade of C in all engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics and all technical electives to graduate.
Degree requirements for Electrical Engineering, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| EGRE 101 | Introduction to Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 201 | Fundamentals of Electrical and Computer Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 206 | Electric Circuits | 4 |
| EGRE 207 | Electric Circuits II | 4 |
| EGRE 245 | Engineering Programming | 4 |
| EGRE 246 | Advanced Engineering Programming | 3 |
| EGRE 254 | Digital Logic Design | 4 |
| EGRE 335 | Signals and Systems | 4 |
| EGRE 337 | Statistical Information Processing | 3 |
| EGRE 399 | Fundamentals of Design and Analysis | 3 |
| ENGR 395 | Professional Development | 1 |
| • Additional major requirements | ||
| Select one of the following sequences: | 4 | |
| Senior Design Studio I (Laboratory/Project Time) and Senior Design Studio II (Laboratory/Project Time) | ||
| Senior Design Studio I - VIP (Laboratory/Project Time) and Senior Design Studio II - VIP (Laboratory/Project Time) | ||
| Math/science elective (see list below) | 3 | |
| Technical and professional electives (see list and requirements below) | 16 | |
| Concentration requirements | ||
| EGRE 309 | Introduction to Electromagnetic Fields | 3 |
| EGRE 354 | Introduction to Feedback Control Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 371 | Introduction to Power Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 471 | Power System Analysis | 3 |
| EGRE 573 | Sustainable and Efficient Power Systems | 3 |
| • Concentration electives | ||
| Select concentration electives as described below | 6-8 | |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I (satisfies BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| ECON 205 | The Economics of Product Development and Markets (satisfies BOK for social/behavioral sciences and/or AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 310 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| PHIL 201 | Introduction to Ethics (satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
| PHYS 207 & PHYZ 207 | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 5 |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 127 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 127.
Capstone project (four credits)
The program culminates in the capstone project. In order to prepare for the appropriate focus area of the capstone project, students, with the help of their academic adviser, should plan a course of study beginning in the fall semester of their junior year.
Concentration electives
Electrical engineering students completing the power and energy systems concentration will choose two elective courses from the following list. A special topic, independent study or other course may be used as a concentration elective with prior written approval of the department chair.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EGRE 306 | Introduction to Microelectronics | 4 |
| EGRE 310 | Electromagnetic Fields and Waves | 3 |
| EGRE 336 | Introduction to Communication Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 347 | Applied Embedded Programming | 3 |
| EGRE 364 | Microcomputer Systems | 4 |
| EGRE 365 | Digital Systems | 4 |
| EGRE 429 | Advanced Digital Systems Design and Analysis | 3 |
| EGRE 455 | Control Systems Design | 3 |
| EGRE 510 | Introduction to Internet of Things | 3 |
| EGRE 513 | Fundamentals of Modern Systems Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 526 | Computer Networks and Communications | 3 |
| EGRE 536 | Introduction to Cyber-Physical Systems | 3 |
Math/science electives
Students must complete 3 credits using one course or a combination of courses from the list below.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 151 | Introduction to Biological Sciences I | 3 |
| BIOZ 151 | Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I | 1 |
| BIOL 152 | Introduction to Biological Sciences II | 3 |
| BIOZ 152 | Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory II | 1 |
| CHEZ 101 | General Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEZ 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| MATH 300 | Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning | 3 |
| MATH 305 | Elementary Number Theory | 3 |
| MATH 324 | Mathematical Problem Solving | 3 |
| MATH 350 | Introductory Combinatorics | 3 |
| MATH 356 | Graphs and Algorithms | 3 |
| MATH 370 | Mathematical Foundations for Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| PHYS 208 | University Physics II | 4 |
| PHYZ 208 | University Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 301 | Classical Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 302 | Classical Mechanics II | 3 |
| PHYS 320 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYZ 320 | Modern Physics Laboratory | 1 |
Technical and professional electives
Students must complete a combined total of 16 credits of technical and professional electives. No more than eight credits of professional electives may apply toward this total.
Technical Electives
Technical electives in the junior and senior year must be chosen from the approved lists. The following criteria must be met:
- At least six credit hours must be from approved electrical engineering electives.
- Courses not from the approved lists must be approved by the adviser and department chair.
- Courses must be technical courses at the 300 level or above.
- No more than three credit hours may come from independent study courses.
- If a student wants to apply ENGR 497 toward the technical electives, a minimum of four credit hours must be earned.
- A maximum of eight credits of ENGR 494, ENGR 497 and independent study courses may be used toward technical electives.
NOTE: Some of the listed courses may have prerequisites that do not count as technical electives.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Approved electrical engineering electives | ||
| EGMN 315 | Process and Systems Dynamics | 3 |
| EGMN 427 | Robotics | 3 |
| EGRE 307 | Integrated Circuits | 4 |
| EGRE 334 | Introduction to Microfabrication | 4 |
| EGRE 347 | Applied Embedded Programming | 3 |
| EGRE 365 | Digital Systems | 4 |
| EGRE 371 | Introduction to Power Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 426 | Computer Organization and Design | 3 |
| EGRE 428 | Introduction to Integrated Systems Design | 2 |
| EGRE 429 | Advanced Digital Systems Design and Analysis | 3 |
| EGRE 435 | Microscale and Nanoscale Fabrication | 4 |
| EGRE 436 | Advanced Microscale and Nanoscale Fabrication | 3 |
| EGRE 444 | Communication Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 454 | Automatic Controls | 4 |
| EGRE 455 | Control Systems Design | 3 |
| EGRE 471 | Power System Analysis | 3 |
| EGRE 510 | Introduction to Internet of Things | 3 |
| EGRE 512 | Intelligent Autonomous Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 513 | Fundamentals of Modern Systems Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 521 | Advanced Semiconductor Devices | 3 |
| EGRE 525 | Fundamentals of Photonics Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 526/CMSC 506 | Computer Networks and Communications | 3 |
| EGRE 531 | Multicore and Multithreaded Programming | 3 |
| EGRE 532 | GPU Computing | 3 |
| EGRE 535 | Digital Signal Processing | 3 |
| EGRE 536 | Introduction to Cyber-Physical Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 540 | Microwave System Design | 3 |
| EGRE 541 | Medical Devices | 3 |
| EGRE 553 | Industrial Automation | 3 |
| EGRE 554 | Advanced Industrial Automation | 3 |
| EGRE 573 | Sustainable and Efficient Power Systems | 3 |
| Approved electives outside electrical engineering | ||
| CMSC 355 | Fundamentals of Software Engineering | 3 |
| CMSC 405 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CMSC 420 | Software Project Management | 3 |
| EGMN 309 | Material Science for Engineers | 3 |
| EGMN 321 | Numerical Methods | 3 |
| EGRB 407 | Physical Principles of Medical Imaging | 3 |
| EGRB 408 | Advanced Biomedical Signal Processing | 3 |
| EGRB 507 | Biomedical Electronics and Instrumentation | 3 |
| ENGR 494 | Intern or Co-op for Credit | 3 |
| ENGR 497 | Vertically Integrated Projects | 1,2 |
| PHYS 307 | The Physics of Sound and Music | 3 |
| PHYS 320 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYZ 320 | Modern Physics Laboratory | 1 |
Professional electives
Professional electives are satisfied by completing courses that meet all four of the following criteria:
- One of the following course rubrics: ACCT, ANAT, BIOC, BIOL, BIOS, BNFO, BUSN, CHEM, ECON, ENVS, FIRE, HSEP, INFO, INNO, INSC, LFSC, MATH, MGMT, MILS, MKTG, NANO, OPER, PHIS, PHYS, STAT, SCMA, VNTR
- Not otherwise required for the major by the effective bulletin
- 300 level or higher
- Three or more credit hours
In addition, EGMN 110 and EGMN 204 may be used as professional electives.
Other courses may be used to satisfy technical or professional elective requirements with prior written approval from the department chair.
All courses used to satisfy technical or professional elective requirements must be completed with a minimum grade of C.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I (satisfies BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| EGRE 101 | Introduction to Engineering | 3 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication | Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course (select AOI for creativity, innovation and aesthetic inquiry) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGRE 201 | Fundamentals of Electrical and Computer Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 254 | Digital Logic Design | 4 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGRE 206 | Electric Circuits | 4 |
| EGRE 245 | Engineering Programming | 4 |
| ENGR 395 | Professional Development | 1 |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 207 & PHYZ 207 | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory (satisfies general education BOK for natural science and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 5 |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGRE 207 | Electric Circuits II | 4 |
| EGRE 246 | Advanced Engineering Programming | 3 |
| EGRE 335 | Signals and Systems | 4 |
| EGRE 337 | Statistical Information Processing | 3 |
| MATH 310 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| EGRE 354 | Introduction to Feedback Control Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 371 | Introduction to Power Systems | 3 |
| Concentration elective | 3-4 | |
| Technical and professional elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGRE 399 | Fundamentals of Design and Analysis | 3 |
| EGRE 309 | Introduction to Electromagnetic Fields | 3 |
| EGRE 471 | Power System Analysis | 3 |
| PHIL 201 | Introduction to Ethics (satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
| Concentration elective | 3-4 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ECON 205 | The Economics of Product Development and Markets (satisfies BOK for social/behavioral sciences and/or AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| EGRE 404 or EGRE 406 | Senior Design Studio I (Laboratory/Project Time) or Senior Design Studio I - VIP (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| EGRE 573 | Sustainable and Efficient Power Systems | 3 |
| Technical and professional electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGRE 405 or EGRE 407 | Senior Design Studio II (Laboratory/Project Time) or Senior Design Studio II - VIP (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| Math/science elective | 3 | |
| Technical and professional electives | 7 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Total Hours: | 127 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 127.