Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

A quick roadmap to more efficient, productive and personalized sessions

with your advisor.

TOPICSTOPICS• Motivation• Department Overview• Curriculum• Student Resources• Degree Plan• Curriculum Changes & Other Substitutions• Memos & Student File• FAQs

MOTIVATION – for this MOTIVATION – for this sessionsession

Senior Exit Interviews indicate that students would like time during advising sessions to:

• discuss curriculum options • ask about potential employers• discuss career information• get personalized advice

MOTIVATION – to continue MOTIVATION – to continue studiesstudies The Department offers a Bachelor of Science in Electrical

Engineering (BSEE), which prepares you for jobs in:

• consumer electronics design• computer design & manufacturing • communications (wireless & state-of-the-art)• aircraft industry• biomedical devices• public utilities, defense contractors, etc.• virtually any job that requires electricity

MOTIVATION –hiring MOTIVATION –hiring companiescompanies•Lockheed Martin

•BWXT Pantex •Boeing•BNSF•Cemex, Inc.•Eaton•El Paso Electric•Exxon Mobil•Hewlett Packard•Merrill Lynch•Rockwell Collins•Smith & Cooper•United Space Alliance•US Air Force

•Intel•Lear•Raytheon Missile Systems•General Dynamics •Schlumberger •KBR Energy •CSC (Biggs AAF)•Research Analysis and Maintenance, Inc.•Yuma Proving Ground•Nuclear Weapons Effects Group (SVAD) •Clark Construction •US Patent & Trademark Office (Engineering Patent Examiner)•Miratek Corp.

•White Sands Missile Range (multiple directorates)•Rockwell Collins •Lopez-Garcia Group •Electronic Data Systems (EDS)•Ft. Bliss•Classic Industries•Housing Authority of The City of El Paso (Project Engineer)•Miratek Corp. •Campus Crusade for Christ (Systems Engineer)

MOTIVATION – to complete MOTIVATION – to complete degree ASAPdegree ASAP

BSEE from UTEP offers competitive starting salaries:


ECE FacultyECE Faculty7 Professors

• Flores, Liu, Pierluissi, Riter, Schroder, Starks, Williams

8 Associate Professors• Cabrera, Lush, Nava,

Nazeran, Moya, Pineda, Sarkodie-Gyan, Usevitch

7 Assistant Professors• Gonzalez, MacDonald,

Quinones, Rosiles, von Borries, Yao, Zubia

6 Lecturers• Cruz-Cano, Llambes,

Myers, Rodriguez, Rubio, Woo

ECE StaffECE Staff• Office

- Ms. Socorro Quezada (Head Admin. Secretary)- Student Office Assistants: Roger, David

• Lab Tech- Mr. Ralph Loya- Student Lab Assistant: Eric

• Network Manager- Mr. Jerry West- Student Operators: Damian, Vince, Carlos

STUDENT FACTSSTUDENT FACTS488 undergraduate students

B.S.E.E.

120 MS studentsin 2 degree

programs: M.S.E.E. and

M.S.Cp.E

27 Ph.D. students

ECE ProgramsECE ProgramsBS Electrical Engineering B.S.E.E. (128 credits) Concentrations:

• Computer Engineering• Fields and Devices• Systems and Communications• General

MS Computer Engineering M.S.Cp.E. (30-36 credits)MS Electrical Engineering M.S.E.E. (30-36 credits)Ph.D. Computer Engineering (60 credits)


BSEE ProgramBSEE Program*ABET Accredited * 60 Non-major credits (including core)

• University Studies• Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)• English Comp. and Prof. Communications• Math (Calculus, Diff. Eq., Matrix Algebra)• History and Political Science• Art, Economics, Humanities

* 68 EE credits

Curricular Area Curricular Area CommitteesCommittees

1. Circuits & Systems2. Communications & Signal

Processing3. Computer Engineering4. Electronics, Fields, &

Devices

ECE Critical Path of Courses -- 2008ECE Critical Path of Courses -- 2008

EE Upper DivisionEE Upper Division•Senior Year

—12 concentration credits

—Senior Professional Orientation

—Senior Project I and II

Senior Proj. I and II: Capstone Design Senior Proj. I and II: Capstone Design CourseCourse

• Team based (4 members)• Proposal

—Faculty reviewed• Hardware and software requirements• Reports

—Monthly• End of semester

—Written report—PowerPoint

presentation

http://www.ece.utep.edu/research/websp/


Student OrganizationsStudent Organizationswithin ECE Departmentwithin ECE Department• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

(IEEE) – International EE Society that – sets technical standards – sponsors technical conferences – sponsors workshops – publishes reference texts – provides for HR-type needsOffice for UTEP Student branch within IEEE Student Lounge

• Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) – EE Honor Society – Office within IEEE Student Lounge

The Academic Criteria for Eta Kappa Nu The Academic Criteria for Eta Kappa Nu Membership:Membership:

Junior(60 hours including Networks) …………..…. 3.25

Senior*(90 hours) ……………………………………………… 3.00

Graduate(9 hours) ……………………………………………… 3.50

Note: GPA to be calculated with classes that apply toward degree

* Must not be a graduating senior

Tutoring (of EE specific courses) Special speakers Field trips to industry social events Senior Banquet Opportunity to develop professional/leadership skills Contacts, connections, & experience

IEEE & HKN Offer:IEEE & HKN Offer:

Student OrganizationsStudent OrganizationsCollege-WideCollege-Wide

•Tau Beta Pi (TBΠ)– Engineering Honor Society • Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)• Society of Women Engineers (SWE)• Mexican-American Engineering Society

(MAES)

ECE ResearchECE Research

http://www.ece.utep.edu/research

Laboratory for

Industrial Metrology

and Automation

(LIMA)

Research Experiences for Research Experiences for UndergraduatesUndergraduates

On-Campus Opportunities•exposure to research operations• source of support while attending UTEP

External Opportunities• travel costs• housing or allowance• stipend• participation in NSF- sponsored research• visit another university


Degree PlanDegree Plan

• All degree plans have a “check-list form” that allows degree progress to be checked “at a glance.”

• The top of the this degree plan has course requirements and 4 lines for your concentration courses.


• Filling the degree plan:• There are three columns because you have

three opportunities to complete a course with a satisfactory grade. (W’s count as an attempt.)

• The next slide shows some classes transferred in from EPCC (highlighted yellow), taking of UNIV 2350, and some initial courses at UTEP.


• The bottom of the this degree plan has two slots for University Core electives (in Visual & Performing Arts, and in Humanities).

• It also has room for the one technical elective (any Junior- or Senior-level course in science or engineering).

• Lastly, the degree plan has room to list substitutions, if appropriate.


• The back of the degree lists the approved courses for University Core electives (in Visual & Performing Arts, and in Humanities).

• It also lists concentrations available, and courses that fall into those concentrations.

TOPICSTOPICS• Motivation• Department Overview• Curriculum• Student Resources• Degree Plan• Curriculum Changes and Other Substitutions• Memos & Student File•FAQs

Changes to Degree Plan:

• Curriculum Changes• Degree requirements change• Courses discontinued

• Transfer Credits• Core Curriculum Changes• Extenuating Circumstances

Course Course Substitution Substitution FormForm

Graduation ProcedureGraduation Procedure1. Last semester: pick up a Graduation Packet at

the Dean’s office2. Fill out all paperwork, turn in to advisor3. Advisor will provide verification, sign, and turn

in to ECE Office by Deadline4. Attend Exit Interview, pick up Grad. Packet5. Turn in Grad. Packet to Dean’s Office by

Deadline6. Pay graduation fees at cashier at Academic

Serv.

TOPICSTOPICS• Motivation• Department Overview• Curriculum• Student Resources• Degree Plan• Curriculum Changes and Other Substitutions• Memos & Student File•FAQs

STUDENT FILESSTUDENT FILES• ECE Office

o Degree Plano Substitution Memoso Correspondence

• Dean’s Officeo Substitution Memoso Correspondence

TOPICSTOPICS• Motivation• Department Overview• Curriculum• Student Resources• Degree Plan• Curriculum Changes and Other Substitutions• Memos & Student File• Graduation Procedure• FAQs

FAQsFAQsWhat do I need to take to my advising

session with my advisor?

- advising slip (Please remember to take this slip to the office so the advising hold can be removed!!)

- a general idea of what courses you want to take

- other: as required by advisor (check advisor’s door, a list of requirements will be provided)

FAQsFAQsHow are courses scheduled?

• All courses assigned to a Curriculum Comm. • Curr.Comm. Chair sends 3-year plan to Head• Chair transcribes to a single, departmental 3-

Year Plan• 3-Year Plan posted on the web• Chair schedules courses with as little conflict

as possible

FAQsFAQsIf I have to take a course more than once is the

grade substituted?

- If the course is a Freshman course: Yes, automatically! - Otherwise: No. Each attempt contributes to your overallGPA. (There is a form for “Petition for GradeSubstitution.”)

FAQsFAQsI’ve heard that Freshman courses taken beyond

the 90-credit-hour point don’t count. Is that true?

- While they do appear on your transcript, and are used to calculate your GPA, they do not contribute toward meeting the minimum credit hour requirements of your degree plan.

- If you wait to take any core curriculum class, you might have to take a higher-level course, or take another 3-credit-hour course.

FAQsFAQsI’ve heard that it’s better to get an “F” than a

“W.” Is that true?

- NO! While W’s should not be abused, consider that a W will not affect your GPA.

Does the “W” count as one of my three attempts for any course?

- Yes. Please register for classes judiciously. Try not to“bite off more than you can chew.”

FAQsFAQsWhy is GPA so important?

- It is used as an indicator of how serious you are about your education.

- It can be used as a “first hurdle” for scholarship awards.

- It is often used as a “litmus test” for jobs: i.e. some companies won’t even allow you to have an interview unless you have a specific GPA.

FAQsFAQsI’ve heard that after 5 years, employers look to

your experience more than your GPA and University record. Is that true?

- While it is true that your work experience and resumé will carry more weight after ~5 years, you need to consider that unless you have a reasonable GPA, you aren’t going to get a job that will allow you to obtain the 5 years experience!

FAQsFAQsI’ve heard that there is a limit on the number of

credit hours I can transfer from EPCC. Is that true?

- Yes. Since it is a “2-Year” institution, you can transfer up to 66 credit hours.

Is there a limit on transfers from a 4-Year institution?

- No. Note, however, that credit for engineering courses will only be given if they come from ABET accredited institutions. There is a procedure for transfer of EE courses …. (see details on the web)

FAQsFAQsI’ve heard about “internships” and “Co-ops” What

are they, and why should I be interested ?

- Internships and Cooperative Education are two different programs where you can work in industry while you take a break from school.

- Internships are typically over the summer. Cooperative Education is typically 6 months, and can receive credit as EE 4181, 4182 and 4183.

- 3 Co-ops can be used as your technical elective.

FAQsFAQsI’ve heard about “internships” … why should I

be interested ? Continued …

- Internships and Cooperative Education are training within your field.- They allow you to “sample” a company (and vice-versa).- They allow you to earn more money than a non-skilled labor job.

College Administrative StructureDeanDr. Schoephoerster

Asst. DeanDr. Golding

Assoc. DeanDr. Ferregut

ECEChair

Dr. Nava

MMEChair

Dr. Murr

CSChair

Dr. Gates

MEChair

Dr. Everett

IEChair

Dr. Gutierrez

CEChair

Dr. Li

Assoc. DeanDr. Flores

Asst. DeanM. Pacillas

Chief Acc. Off.L. Abbud

Questions?Contact: Dr. Patricia A. Nava (Engr. Annex 325) or Ms. Socorro Quezada, Admin. Assistant

(915) 747-5994

On the web: www.utep.edu/academics/ee

Documents

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering