Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering

Power Our World Through Innovation

In today's digital age, electricity keeps the world running. Electrical engineers design everything from the nation’s power grid to the microchips inside our cellphones. Graduates of Clarkson University's Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering program can find work in virtually every industry. You'll find competitive salaries, the chance to work in a variety of sectors and the opportunity to be at the forefront of today's innovations.

We Want to Invest in You

Become a Solinsky Engineer.

The Solinsky Engineers Program is designed to give future engineers a community, a $20,000 scholarship to attend Clarkson for four years, and a variety of incredible benefits to enhance their educational and co-curricular college experience.

We are transforming and elevating our industry-driven engineering education. How? Through scholarship offerings, game-changing facility upgrades and unmatched hands-on learning opportunities. Clarkson will give you the skills, confidence and experience to lead the future of engineering and manufacturing.

Being a Solinsky Engineer opens doors to real experience, camaraderie, and accelerated career growth. We'll choose up to 100 first-year engineering majors annually to be a part of this exciting initiative. Find out how to apply.

Why Major in Electrical Engineering at Clarkson?

Clarkson's low student-to-faculty ratio allows our professors to get to know you as an individual while you engage together in research. This unique relationship between faculty and students is the hallmark of the Clarkson educational experience.

The electrical engineering program's team-based, collaborative approach encourages you to apply your knowledge and skills to solve practical, real-world problems. These skills, combined with Clarkson's in-depth curriculum, provide you with a strong foundation for a successful career.

Beyond the classroom, you can choose to get involved in research, study abroad, take on extracurricular projects or participate in professional development activities.

And, our Electrical Engineering Class of 2024 had a 100 percent placement rate.

What You'll Learn

From the start, you'll be immersed in real-world problems, learning from expert faculty in both classroom and lab experiences using sophisticated equipment that meets or exceeds industry standards.

You'll take such courses as:

Advanced Digital Circuit Design
Alternate Energy Systems
Computer and Network Security
Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
Embedded Systems
Fundamentals of Software Engineering
High-Voltage Techniques and Measurements
Intro to Biometrics
Intro to Digital Design
Intro to Programming and Software Design
Microelectronics
Object-Oriented Languages
Power Systems Engineering
Software Design for Visual Environments
Software System Architecture
Systems and Signal Processing

Curriculum

The electrical engineering program consists of 36 credit hours in electrical engineering and 27 credit hours of first year engineering curriculum. 6 credit hours are in free electives.

All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

Clarkson Common Experience

The following courses are required for all students, irrespective of their program of study. These courses are offered during the fall semester, with FY100 First-Year Seminar being required of only first-year students. Both FY100 and UNIV190 are typically taken during the fall semester of the first year at Clarkson.
FY100 First-Year Seminar (1 credit)
UNIV190 The Clarkson Seminar (3 credits)

Electrical Engineering Core Requirements

Students are required to complete the following courses:

Electrical Engineering

EE211 ECE Laboratory I
EE221 Linear Circuits
EE260 Embedded Systems
EE262 Intro to Object-Oriented Programming and Software Design
EE264 Introduction to Digital Design
EE311 Electrical Engineering Laboratory II
EE321 Systems & Signal Processing
EE324 Dynamical Systems
EE331 Energy Conversion
EE341 Microelectronics
EE381 Electromagnetic Fields & Waves
EE412 Senior Design

Professional Experience

Students are required to complete the following Professional Experience:
ES499 Professional Experience (0 credits)

Engineering Common First Year

Students must complete the following courses in their first year:

CM131 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
CS141 Introduction to Computer Science (4 credits)
ES100 Introduction to Engineering Use of the Computer (2 credits)
ES110 Engineering & Society
MA131 Calculus I
MA132 Calculus II
PH131 Physics I (4 credits)
PH132 Physics II (4 credits)

Electrical Engineering Core Electives

Students must complete the following courses:

Mathematics/Electrical Science

ES250 Electrical Science
MA231 Calculus III
MA232 Elementary Differential Equations
STAT383 Probability & Statistics

Area Electives

Students must take 5 EE courses 300-level or above. BR400 can substitute an EE course.

Additional Electives

Students are also required to take one Math Elective outside of the Core Requirements, as well as one Electrical Science Elective and one Electrical Science or Science Elective.

Knowledge Area/University Course Electives

Students will have at least 15 credit hours available to use toward Knowledge Area and/or University Course electives to satisfy the Clarkson Common Experience requirements.

Free Electives

Students will have approximately 6 credit hours available to use toward courses of their choice.

Research

Our engineering professors are also active researchers. As a result, enriching opportunities are available to all engineering undergraduate majors, including projects sponsored by agencies like the National Science Foundation and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, as well as by private companies. In addition, students engage in research to complete their senior capstone design projects and to gain professional, hands-on experience.

Learn more about research at Clarkson.

Co-ops and Internships

As an electrical engineering major, you'll have access to internships and co-op opportunities, including with companies, government offices and other organizations. Twice a year, nearly 200 employers come to campus to recruit undergraduate Clarkson students for these experiences, including many looking for electrical engineers. Stop by Clarkson's Career Fairs to make connections; apply for internships, co-ops and full-time positions; attend informational sessions and interview for open positions.

Learn more about co-ops and internships.

Student Clubs

Electrical engineering students can get involved outside the classroom through over 200 clubs and organizations on campus, including several related to electrical engineering. These include:

American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
Autonomous Robotics Club
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
Order of Omega
Power and Energy Society
Robotics Living-Learning Community
Sigma Xi - The Scientific Research Society
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE)
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Tau Beta Pi - National Engineering Honor Society

Learn more about student clubs and activities at Clarkson.

Electrical Engineering Minor

A minor in electrical engineering is available to students in any degree program. An electrical engineering program minor provides you with a foundation in learning energy systems, basic electrical science and digital design. Why choose to minor in electrical engineering? It is and will continue to be key to a future that balances energy resources and production with human quality of life. Many engineering students can complete the minor in four years.

All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

Electrical Engineering Minor Core Requirements

Students are required to complete the following courses:

ES250 Electrical Science
EE264 Introduction to Digital Design
EE331 Energy Conversion
EE381 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves

Electrical Engineering Minor Core Electives

Students must complete two of the following courses:

EE221 Linear Circuits
EE321 Systems and Signal Processing
EE324 (ME324) Dynamical Systems
EE333 Power System Engineering
EE341 Microelectronic Circuits

Career Possibilities

Growth for electrical engineers is predicted to be steady over the next decade. Opportunities exist in all sectors of the economy, such as:

Automotive industries
Aviation
Defense
Embedded systems
Energy and power
Entertainment
Social media
Telecommunication

Class of 2023 graduates in Electrical Engineering started their careers with an average salary of more than $81K. For those entering the workforce, common job titles include: