Electrical Engineering

B.S. Degree

The mission of the UAF Electrical and Computer Engineering Department is to offer the highest-quality contemporary education at the undergraduate and graduate levels and to perform research appropriate to the technical needs of the state of Alaska, the nation and the world.

Electrical and computing engineering encompasses telecommunications, electrical power generation, transmission and distribution, control systems, and computer applications and design. Electrical engineers can typically expect gainful employment in one or more of these areas after graduation.

Communication engineers design, build and operate communication devices and systems, including satellites, antennas, wireless devices and computer networks. Electric power engineers design and oversee the construction, installation and maintenance of electrical systems that provide light, heat and power. Power engineers are also instrumental in the development of systems using modern power electronic devices to control power generation and distribution and build electric drives. People trained in computer engineering automate businesses, factories, pipelines and refineries. They design control systems and computers that guide trains, planes and space vehicles. Electrical engineers design the integrated circuits and automatic control systems used in many areas of science and engineering. Process controls in the mining and petroleum industries are also largely the responsibility of the electrical and computer engineer.

Undergraduate research and design project opportunities are available at UAF in the areas of communications, radar, sonar and lidar remote sensing, instrumentation and microwave circuit design, electric power and energy systems, digital and computer engineering and nanotechnology. The Student Rocket Project brings electrical and computer engineering and mechanical engineering students together to build and launch rockets at the Poker Flat Research Range, the only university-affiliated rocket range in the country. This program offers real engineering experience as well as fellowships, paid internships and scholarships.

The curriculum is designed to ensure that fundamentals and specialized skills are acquired by the student. The program prepares engineers to enter practice upon graduation and provides the theoretical background for students entering graduate studies. Candidates for the B.S. degree are required to take the State of Alaska Fundamentals of Engineering Examination in their general field.

The faculty of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department provide a positive learning environment that enables students to pursue their goals in an innovative program that is rigorous and challenging, open and supportive. The BSEE program develops practical skills by emphasizing hands-on experience in the design, implementation, and validation of electrical systems in an environment that fosters and encourages innovation and creativity. This approach builds the foundation for the following program educational objectives.

  1. Breadth: Graduates will utilize their broad education emphasizing electrical engineering to serve as the foundation for productive careers in the public or private sectors, graduate education, and lifelong learning.
  2. Depth: Graduates will apply their understanding of the fundamental knowledge prerequisite for the practice of and/or advanced study in electrical engineering, including its scientific principles, rigorous analysis, and creative design. The BSEE program offers depth concentration areas in communications, computer engineering, and power and control.
  3. Professional skills: Graduates will apply skills for clear communication, responsible teamwork, professional attitudes and ethics needed to succeed in the complex modern work environment.

These objectives serve the department, college and university missions by ensuring that all graduates of the BSEE program have received a high-quality, contemporary education that prepares them for rewarding careers in electrical engineering.

Minimum Requirements for Electrical Engineering Bachelor's Degree: 125 credits

Learn more about the bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, including an overview of the program, career opportunities and more.

College of Engineering and Mines
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
907-474-7137