Electrical Engineering (BS): Renewable Electric Energy Systems Concentration
The undergraduate concentration in (REES) is within the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree program. With a keen eye on the future, students in the REES concentration prepare to tackle the urgent demand for innovative technologies to harness abundant yet dispersed renewable energy sources like solar and wind. This cutting-edge program is all about engineering smart electric power systems that seamlessly integrate these diverse energy generators.
Students in the REES concentration aren't just learning theory鈥攖hey're diving deep into renewable energy, power systems, power electronics, and the design of electromechanical systems, preparing to lead the charge in powering a greener, more sustainable future.
Core Courses
The electrical and computer engineering curricula share core courses comprising a substantial portion of the first three years of study. Many of the core courses are offered three times a year in fall, spring, and summer. A strong emphasis is placed on fundamental concepts in core courses so that graduates are prepared for rapid technological changes common in the electrical and computer engineering professions. A comprehensive foundation in mathematics and the physical sciences in the freshman year is followed in subsequent years by additional core courses in mathematics, physics, electric circuit theory, digital logic, computer systems, electronics, electromagnetics, and linear systems. Laboratory work is designed to demonstrate fundamental principles and to provide experience in designing and testing electronic hardware and computer software. Both curricula have a required two semester senior design project which gives students comprehensive experience in designing, building, and testing physical systems.
Curricula
In addition to the core courses described above, students in the electrical engineering curriculum take two foundational electives and four specialization electives in areas of their choice within the discipline and two technical electives that can be in either electrical engineering or selected engineering courses offered by other departments. The concentration enriches the electrical engineering curriculum with coursework in electromechanical energy conversion, renewable electric power systems, power electronics, and power transmission and distribution systems. Additionally, a variety of elective courses are offered in communications, computational intelligence, controls, digital signal processing, digital systems, nanotechnology, mechatronics, microelectronics, networking, robotics, and VLSI design. There are typically a dozen or more of these courses offered each fall and spring semester and two or three available each summer.
Plan Requirements
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| 颁贬听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| 颁贬听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| 贰听101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 | 1 |
| 贰听115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1 |
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 |
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECE听109 | Introduction to Computer Systems 2 | 3 |
| MA听241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| PY听205 &听PY听206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| Select one of the following Economics courses: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Fundamentals of Economics | ||
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ECE听200 | Introduction to Signals, Circuits and Systems 2 | 4 |
| ECE听209 | Computer Systems Programming 2 | 3 |
| MA听242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PY听208 &听PY听209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COM听110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| ECE听211 | Electric Circuits 2 | 4 |
| ECE听212 | Fundamentals of Logic Design 2 | 3 |
| ECE听220 | Analytical Foundations of Electrical and Computer Engineering 2 | 3 |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ECE听301 | Linear Systems | 3 |
| ECE听302 | Microelectronics | 4 |
| ST听371 | Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory | 3 |
| ECE听305 | Principles of Electromechanical Energy Conversion | 3 |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECE听303 | Electromagnetic Fields | 3 |
| REES Electives | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Engineering Profession for Electrical Engineers | ||
| Engineering Profession for Computer Engineers | ||
| Introduction to Entrepreneurship and New Product Development | ||
| Select one of the following ECE 3** Foundation courses: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Nano Science and Technology | ||
| Introduction to Embedded Systems | ||
| Elements of Control Systems | ||
| Design of Complex Digital Systems | ||
| ENG听331 | Communication for Engineering and Technology | 3 |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Select one of the following Senior Design Project I courses: | 3 | |
| Engineering Entrepreneurship Senior Design I | ||
| Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Design I | ||
| ECE听452 | Renewable Electric Energy Systems | 3 |
| REES Electives | 3 | |
| Open/Technical Electives | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 12 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Select one of the following Senior Design Project II courses: | 3 | |
| Engineering Entrepreneurship Senior Design II | ||
| Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Design II | ||
| ECE Elective | 3 | |
| Open/Technical Electives | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 9 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 103 |
- 1
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 2
A grade of C- or higher is required.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEP Courses | ||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 5 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Total Hours | 19 | |
REES Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECE听434 | Fundamentals of Power Electronics | 3 |
| ECE听451 | Power System Analysis | 3 |
| ECE听453 | Electric Motor Drives | 3 |
| ECE听533 | Power Electronics Design & Packaging | 3 |
| ECE听534 | Power Electronics | 3 |
| ECE听535 | Design of Electromechanical Systems | 3 |
| ECE听550 | Power System Operation and Control | 3 |
| ECE听551 | Smart Electric Power Distribution Systems | 3 |
| ECE听553 | Semiconductor Power Devices | 3 |
| ECE听581 | Electric Power System Protection | 3 |
| ECE听583 | Electric Power Engineering Practicum I | 3 |
| ECE听585 | The Business of the Electric Utility Industry | 3 |
| ECE听586 | Communication and SCADA Systems for Smart Grid | 3 |
| MAE听535 | Design of Electromechanical Systems | 3 |
ECE Electives听
ECE Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECE听402 | Communications Engineering | 3 |
| ECE听403 | Electronics Engineering | 3 |
| ECE听404 | Introduction to Solid-State Devices | 3 |
| ECE 406/506 | Architecture Of Parallel Computers | 3 |
| ECE听407 | Introduction to Computer Networking | 3 |
| ECE 410/510 | Introduction to Signal Processing | 3 |
| ECE听411 | Introduction to Machine Learning | 3 |
| ECE 418/518 | Wearable Biosensors and Microsystems | 3 |
| ECE听420 | Wireless Communication Systems | 3 |
| ECE听421 | Introduction to Signal Processing | 3 |
| ECE听422 | Transmission Lines and Antennas for Wireless | 3 |
| ECE听423 | Introduction to Photonics and Optical Communications | 3 |
| ECE 424/524 | Radio System Design | 3 |
| ECE听426 | Analog Electronics Laboratory | 3 |
| ECE听434 | Fundamentals of Power Electronics | 3 |
| ECE听436 | Digital Control Systems | 3 |
| ECE听442 | Introduction to Integrated Circuit Technology and Fabrication | 3 |
| ECE听451 | Power System Analysis | 3 |
| ECE 452/552 | Renewable Electric Energy Systems | 3 |
| ECE听453 | Electric Motor Drives | 3 |
| ECE听455 | Industrial Robot Systems | 3 |
| ECE 456/556 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| ECE 460/560 | 3 | |
| ECE 461/561 | Embedded System Analysis and Optimization | 3 |
| ECE 463/563 | Microprocessor Architecture | 3 |
| ECE 464/564 | ASIC and FPGA Design with Verilog | 3 |
| ECE 465/565 | Operating Systems Design | 3 |
| ECE 466/566 | Compiler Optimization and Scheduling | 3 |
| ECE 468/568 | Conventional and Emerging Nanomanufacturing Techniques and Their Applications in Nanosystems | 3 |
| ECE听470 | Internetworking | 3 |
| ECE 488/588 | Systems Biology Modeling of Plant Regulation | 3 |
| ECE 489/589 | Solid State Solar and Thermal Energy Harvesting | 3 |
| ECE听492 | Special Topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering | 1-4 |
| ECE听505 | Neural Interface Engineering | 3 |
| ECE听511 | Analog Electronics | 3 |
| ECE听513 | Advanced Digital Signal Processing | 3 |
| ECE听514 | Random Processes | 3 |
| ECE听515 | Digital Communications | 3 |
| ECE听516 | System Control Engineering | 3 |
| ECE听517 | Object-Oriented Design and Development | 3 |
| ECE听522 | Medical Instrumentation | 3 |
| ECE听523 | Photonics and Optical Communications | 3 |
| ECE听530 | Physics of Semiconductors | 3 |
| ECE听531 | 3 | |
| ECE听532 | 3 | |
| ECE听533 | Power Electronics Design & Packaging | 3 |
| ECE听534 | Power Electronics | 3 |
| ECE听535 | Design of Electromechanical Systems | 3 |
| ECE听536 | Digital Control System Projects | 3 |
| ECE听538 | Integrated Circuits Technology and Fabrication | 3 |
| ECE听540 | Electromagnetic Fields | 3 |
| ECE听541 | Antennas and Arrays | 3 |
| ECE听542 | Neural Networks and Deep Learning | 3 |
| ECE听544 | Design Of Electronic Packaging and Interconnects | 3 |
| ECE听546 | VLSI Systems Design | 3 |
| ECE听547 | Cloud Computing Technology | 3 |
| ECE听549 | RF Design for Wireless | 3 |
| ECE听550 | Power System Operation and Control | 3 |
| ECE听551 | Smart Electric Power Distribution Systems | 3 |
| ECE听553 | Semiconductor Power Devices | 3 |
| ECE听554 | Electric Motor Drives | 3 |
| ECE听555 | Autonomous Robot Systems | 3 |
| ECE听557 | Principles Of MOS Transistors | 3 |
| ECE听558 | Digital Imaging Systems | 3 |
| ECE听570 | Computer Networks | 3 |
| ECE听573 | Internet Protocols | 3 |
| ECE听574 | Computer and Network Security | 3 |
| ECE听575 | Introduction to Wireless Networking | 3 |
| ECE听576 | Networking Services: QoS, Signaling, Processes | 3 |
| ECE听577 | Switched Network Management | 3 |
| ECE听578 | LTE and 5G Communications | 3 |
| ECE听579 | Introduction to Computer Performance Modeling | 3 |
| ECE听581 | Electric Power System Protection | 3 |
| ECE听582 | 3 | |
| ECE听583 | Electric Power Engineering Practicum I | 3 |
| ECE听584 | Electric Power Engineering Practicum II | 3 |
| ECE听585 | The Business of the Electric Utility Industry | 3 |
| ECE听586 | Communication and SCADA Systems for Smart Grid | 3 |
| ECE听587 | Power System Transients Analysis | 3 |
| ECE听591 | Special Topics In Electrical Engineering | 1-6 |
| ECE听592 | Special Topics In Electrical Engineering | 1-6 |
Open/Technical Elective
Open Electives
Choose from the ECE Elective List or the other Open Electives listed below
ECE Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECE听402 | Communications Engineering | 3 |
| ECE听403 | Electronics Engineering | 3 |
| ECE听404 | Introduction to Solid-State Devices | 3 |
| ECE 406/506 | Architecture Of Parallel Computers | 3 |
| ECE听407 | Introduction to Computer Networking | 3 |
| ECE 410/510 | Introduction to Signal Processing | 3 |
| ECE听411 | Introduction to Machine Learning | 3 |
| ECE 418/518 | Wearable Biosensors and Microsystems | 3 |
| ECE听420 | Wireless Communication Systems | 3 |
| ECE听421 | Introduction to Signal Processing | 3 |
| ECE听422 | Transmission Lines and Antennas for Wireless | 3 |
| ECE听423 | Introduction to Photonics and Optical Communications | 3 |
| ECE 424/524 | Radio System Design | 3 |
| ECE听426 | Analog Electronics Laboratory | 3 |
| ECE听434 | Fundamentals of Power Electronics | 3 |
| ECE听436 | Digital Control Systems | 3 |
| ECE听442 | Introduction to Integrated Circuit Technology and Fabrication | 3 |
| ECE听451 | Power System Analysis | 3 |
| ECE 452/552 | Renewable Electric Energy Systems | 3 |
| ECE听453 | Electric Motor Drives | 3 |
| ECE听455 | Industrial Robot Systems | 3 |
| ECE 456/556 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| ECE 460/560 | 3 | |
| ECE 461/561 | Embedded System Analysis and Optimization | 3 |
| ECE 463/563 | Microprocessor Architecture | 3 |
| ECE 464/564 | ASIC and FPGA Design with Verilog | 3 |
| ECE 465/565 | Operating Systems Design | 3 |
| ECE 466/566 | Compiler Optimization and Scheduling | 3 |
| ECE 468/568 | Conventional and Emerging Nanomanufacturing Techniques and Their Applications in Nanosystems | 3 |
| ECE听470 | Internetworking | 3 |
| ECE 488/588 | Systems Biology Modeling of Plant Regulation | 3 |
| ECE 489/589 | Solid State Solar and Thermal Energy Harvesting | 3 |
| ECE听492 | Special Topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering | 1-4 |
| ECE听505 | Neural Interface Engineering | 3 |
| ECE听511 | Analog Electronics | 3 |
| ECE听513 | Advanced Digital Signal Processing | 3 |
| ECE听514 | Random Processes | 3 |
| ECE听515 | Digital Communications | 3 |
| ECE听516 | System Control Engineering | 3 |
| ECE听517 | Object-Oriented Design and Development | 3 |
| ECE听522 | Medical Instrumentation | 3 |
| ECE听523 | Photonics and Optical Communications | 3 |
| ECE听530 | Physics of Semiconductors | 3 |
| ECE听531 | 3 | |
| ECE听532 | 3 | |
| ECE听533 | Power Electronics Design & Packaging | 3 |
| ECE听534 | Power Electronics | 3 |
| ECE听535 | Design of Electromechanical Systems | 3 |
| ECE听536 | Digital Control System Projects | 3 |
| ECE听538 | Integrated Circuits Technology and Fabrication | 3 |
| ECE听540 | Electromagnetic Fields | 3 |
| ECE听541 | Antennas and Arrays | 3 |
| ECE听542 | Neural Networks and Deep Learning | 3 |
| ECE听544 | Design Of Electronic Packaging and Interconnects | 3 |
| ECE听546 | VLSI Systems Design | 3 |
| ECE听547 | Cloud Computing Technology | 3 |
| ECE听549 | RF Design for Wireless | 3 |
| ECE听550 | Power System Operation and Control | 3 |
| ECE听551 | Smart Electric Power Distribution Systems | 3 |
| ECE听553 | Semiconductor Power Devices | 3 |
| ECE听554 | Electric Motor Drives | 3 |
| ECE听555 | Autonomous Robot Systems | 3 |
| ECE听557 | Principles Of MOS Transistors | 3 |
| ECE听558 | Digital Imaging Systems | 3 |
| ECE听570 | Computer Networks | 3 |
| ECE听573 | Internet Protocols | 3 |
| ECE听574 | Computer and Network Security | 3 |
| ECE听575 | Introduction to Wireless Networking | 3 |
| ECE听576 | Networking Services: QoS, Signaling, Processes | 3 |
| ECE听577 | Switched Network Management | 3 |
| ECE听578 | LTE and 5G Communications | 3 |
| ECE听579 | Introduction to Computer Performance Modeling | 3 |
| ECE听581 | Electric Power System Protection | 3 |
| ECE听582 | 3 | |
| ECE听583 | Electric Power Engineering Practicum I | 3 |
| ECE听584 | Electric Power Engineering Practicum II | 3 |
| ECE听585 | The Business of the Electric Utility Industry | 3 |
| ECE听586 | Communication and SCADA Systems for Smart Grid | 3 |
| ECE听587 | Power System Transients Analysis | 3 |
| ECE听591 | Special Topics In Electrical Engineering | 1-6 |
| ECE听592 | Special Topics In Electrical Engineering | 1-6 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECE听303 | Electromagnetic Fields | 3 |
| E听304 | Introduction to Nano Science and Technology | 3 |
| ECE听305 | Principles of Electromechanical Energy Conversion | 3 |
| ECE听306 | Introduction to Embedded Systems | 3 |
| ECE听308 | Elements of Control Systems | 3 |
| ECE听309 | Data Structures and Object-Oriented Programming for Electrical and Computer Engineers | 3 |
| ECE听310 | Design of Complex Digital Systems | 3 |
| ECE听384 | Practical Engineering Prototyping | 3 |
| CE听214 | Engineering Mechanics-Statics | 3 |
| or听MAE听206 | Engineering Statics | |
| MSE听200 | Mechanical Properties of Structural Materials | 3 |
| or听MSE听201 | Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials | |
| ISE听311 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 |
| MAE听208 | Engineering Dynamics | 3 |
| MAE听201 | Thermal-Fluid Sciences | 3 |
| MAE 302/BME听525 | Engineering Thermodynamics II | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| 颁贬听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| 颁贬听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| 贰听101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 | 1 |
| 贰听115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1 |
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 17 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECE听109 | Introduction to Computer Systems 2 | 3 |
| MA听241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| PY听205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 | 3 |
| PY听206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | 1 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| EC听205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ECE听200 | Introduction to Signals, Circuits and Systems 2 | 4 |
| ECE听209 | Computer Systems Programming 2 | 3 |
| MA听242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PY听208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | 3 |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COM听110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| ECE听211 | Electric Circuits 2 | 4 |
| ECE听212 | Fundamentals of Logic Design 2 | 3 |
| ECE听220 | Analytical Foundations of Electrical and Computer Engineering 2 | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ECE听301 | Linear Systems | 3 |
| ECE听302 | Microelectronics | 4 |
| ST听371 | Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory | 3 |
| ECE听305 | Principles of Electromechanical Energy Conversion | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECE听303 | Electromagnetic Fields | 3 |
| ECE听380 | Engineering Profession for Electrical Engineers 3 | 1 |
| REES Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following Foundation Electives: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Nano Science and Technology | ||
| Introduction to Embedded Systems | ||
| Elements of Control Systems | ||
| Design of Complex Digital Systems | ||
| ENG听331 | Communication for Engineering and Technology | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ECE听484 | Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Design I 3 | 3 |
| REES Electives 4 | 3 | |
| ECE听452 | Renewable Electric Energy Systems | 3 |
| Open/Technical Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECE听485 | Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Design II 4 | 3 |
| ECE Elective 5 | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Open/Technical Electives | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 2-3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 14-15 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 121-122 |
- 1
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 2
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 3
Students in the entrepreneurs program should take ECE 383/ECE 482/ECE 483, instead of ECE 380/ECE 484/ECE 485.
- 4
Major GPAs greater than 3.5 are required to take 5xx courses.
- 5
Students with major GPAs greater than 3.5 can take 5xx courses
A degree in electrical engineering with a concentration in renewable electric energy systems opens up a world of exciting career opportunities at the forefront of the green energy revolution. Graduates can pursue roles designing and implementing sustainable power systems that harness solar, wind, and other renewable resources. They may work at optimizing the integration of renewable energy sources into existing electrical grids to enhance efficiency and reliability. Additionally, opportunities abound in research and development, where engineers innovate new technologies to improve the performance and scalability of renewable energy systems.
Whether in traditional engineering firms, renewable energy startups, government agencies, or multinational corporations, expertise in renewable electric energy systems is in high demand, driving positive change and paving the way towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
You can听听for examples of career paths.
Career Titles
- Computer Network Architects
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
- Electrical Drafter
- Electrical Engineer
- Electrical EngineeringTechnician
- Electro-Mechanical Technicians
- Electronic Drafter
- Electronics Engineer
- Electronics Technician
- Engineering Professor
- Instrument Technician
- Mechanical Drafter
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Photonics Engineers
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Sales Engineers
- Solar Energy Systems Engineers
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