Electrical Engineering

innovation in energy, systems, and global connectivity

Electrical Engineering involves the use of electricity to solve problems related to energy, the environment, transportation, communications, health care, and a host of other areas that have an important impact upon society.

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UMaine’s Pereira Da Cunha Named IEEE Fellow

Mauricio Pereira Da Cunha, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Maine, has been named an IEEE Fellow.

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Electrical Engineering Overview

Electrical Engineering involves the use of electricity to solve problems related to energy, the environment, transportation, communications, health care, and a host of other areas that have an important impact upon society. Equipped with a broad background of theoretical and practical knowledge, the Electrical Engineering graduate has a wide range of careers from which to choose: research and design, teaching, sales, and management. Few professions offer the opportunity for diversity that is provided in Electrical Engineering.

The Electrical Engineering curriculum also provides an excellent “feeder” degree for those students uncertain about choosing a specific career. The knowledge gained through a study of the physical sciences, mathematics, engineering, written and oral communications, humanities, and social sciences provides an excellent background for many career choices (e.g., medicine, business and law).

Electrical Engineering students benefit from practicing in internships, as well. Past sponsors of internships include: Bangor Hydro Electric Company, Lemforder Corporation, Great Northern Paper Company, General Electric Company, Amoco Laser Corporation, International Paper Company, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, Mitre Corporation, Boise Cascade Paper Company, Ark-Less Company, Becon Construction, ON Semiconductor and Texas Instruments.

Career possibilities for electrical engineers include power-generation, transmission, and distribution; communications; semiconductor devices design and manufacture; control processes and measurement; and electronics.

Programs Offered

Undergraduate Level

Minors

Graduate Degrees

CertificateS

Program Information

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 124

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: To repeat any ECE course for which a grade of F, L, or WF has been recorded, a grade of C- or better in the prerequisites for the course is required. Dismissal from the program will be recommended if any required course in the program is taken twice without achieving a passing grade. This includes courses where AU, L, or WF grades are received.

Other GPA requirements to graduate: Minimum of a cumulative 2.0 GPA for all courses taken. Minimum of a cumulative 2.0 GPA for all ECE courses taken.

Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience: ECE 403 

Contact Information:  Yifeng Zhu, Professor and Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering, 101 Barrows Hall, (207) 581-2499, yifeng.zhu@maine.edu

The Electrical Engineering curriculum provides students with the technical skills as well as the mathematical and scientific background required to advance current technology and contribute to future developments in the electrical engineering profession. The curriculum strives to instill critical written and oral communication skills while also providing a diverse background in the humanities and social sciences.

Furthermore, the curriculum adopts a practical hands-on approach that combines classroom theory and laboratory experience.  This approach ensures that graduates are equipped to take a technical project from inception through to the successful implementation of a solution. The process begins in the first year of the program, where students learn to prototype digital circuits and program microcontrollers. It continues through the senior year when they complete their capstone design projects. In this latter case, students typically collaborate in two-person teams over three semesters. Together they propose, specify, create, present, and demonstrate a solution to a technical problem of their choosing.

To earn a BS degree in Electrical Engineering, students must: (1) fulfill all University academic requirements; (2) meet all Electrical Engineering curriculum requirements; and (3) maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher in all ECE courses. Retaking any ECE course for which a grade of F, L, or WF has been recorded requires a grade of C- or better in the course’s prerequisites. Dismissal from the program will be recommended if any required course in the program is taken twice without receiving a passing grade. This includes courses where a grade of AU, L, or WF is received. Students do have the option to petition the ECE faculty for exceptions to any program requirements. Lastley, it is important to note that the program in Electrical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, which can be found at http://www.abet.org.

The Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering requires at least 21 credits of technical electives, of which 15 or more credits must meet the requirements of an “ECE Technical Elective”.  Of the ECE Technical Electives, 9 or more credits must satisfy the requirements of an “Electrical Engineering Focus Technical Elective”.

Technical Electives are courses that are not used to satisfy other degree requirements that fall into the following three categories:

1. “Electrical Engineering Focus Technical Electives” include

Specific ECE Courses that have been approved as “Electrical Engineering Focus” by ECE faculty.  A list of approved courses is available in the ECE department.  Examples of approved Electrical Engineering Focus Technical Electives are:

2. “ECE Technical Electives include:

a.  All Electrical Engineering Focus Technical Electives

b.  all other ECE courses at the 300, 400, or 500 level, excluding ECE 394.

3. “Generic Technical Electives” include:

a.  All “ECE Technical Electives” and “Electrical Engineering Focus” Technical Electives

b.  An 300, 400 or 500 level course with one of the following designations: ECE, COS, CHY, PHY, BIO, BMB, BEN, CHE, CIE, GEE, MAT, STS, or any Business course.

c.  A list of additional courses that have been approved by ECE faculty which do meet the above description is available in the ECE department.

The Power Concentration for Electrical Engineering majors is designed to enhance students’ understanding of  the generation and delivery of electric energy. Students complete a collection of core and elective courses with emphasis in the design, control, and application of power and energy systems. This concentration prepares students for various career paths, including the power utility industry, construction industry, submarine and aircraft manufacturing.  It also provides a foundation for students considering graduate school in areas such as smart grid, renewable energy, and other electric energy-related technologies.

To earn a Concentration in Power Engineering, students receiving the B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering must complete the required power concentration core courses, and at least six credits of approved power elective courses. Of the courses used to complete the concentration, at least seven credits must be beyond the base requirements for the Electrical Engineering degree.

Power Concentration Required Core Courses

Power Concentration Approved Elective Courses

6 credits required from the Approved Elective Course list.

Double Majors

A double major in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering is a popular choice for students. To obtain a double major, students must satisfy the requirements for both the Electrical Engineering and the Computer Engineering degrees. By a judicious choice of electives and early planning, this option can be achieved in four years or require only an extra semester of classes. The first year curriculum is similar for both electrical and computer engineering majors so a decision on the double major does not need to be made until later in the program. Students interested in the possibility of a double major should consult with their advisors early in their programs.

Students should obtain both the Electrical Engineering Graduation Check-off Sheet and the Computer Engineering Graduation Check-off Sheet and verify all requirements are being met.

Students seeking a “double major” must declare a “primary major” and a “secondary major”.    For example, if a student’s primary major is Computer Engineering, her diploma and transcript might specify “Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, with a second major in Electrical Engineering”.

Double majors in Electrical and Computer Engineering are only required to complete the capstone course sequence (senior project) associated with their primary major.  So the above example student would enroll in ECE-405, ECE-406, and ECE-403.  She would not be required to take the Electrical Engineering senior project sequence (ECE-401, ECE-402).

Double Degrees

A double degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering requires satisfying the requirements for both the Electrical Engineering and the Computer Engineering degrees and completing at least 30 credits beyond the number required by the primary degree.  Students completing a double degree will receive two separate diplomas.

Similar to double majors, students seeking a double degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering need only complete the capstone sequence associated with their primary degree.

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Honors Program

Students in the UMaine Honors College can complete an Electrical or Computer Engineering degree with honors in four years, with only a few additional credits and a slight course rearrangement. Honors courses typically satisfy most Human Values and Social Context (HV&SC) general education requirements.

Completing the Civilizations Sequence (HON 111, 112, 211, 212) plus CMJ 103 fulfills all HV&SC requirements. Students who also complete HON 170 and 180 may waive CMJ 103. Partial completion may still satisfy some HV&SC credits—see honors.umaine.edu for details.

An Honors thesis (HON 498 and 499) replaces ECE 402 & 403 (Electrical) or ECE 406 & 403 (Computer). Honors students must still take ECE 401 (Electrical) or ECE 405 (Computer). The thesis proposal must be signed by the ECE department chair.

Honors Program Website

Five-Year MBA

Electrical and Computer Engineering students can complete an MBA in one year after graduation through UMaine’s five-year MBA program. By taking business prerequisites during undergrad, students from non-business majors can streamline their path to the MBA.

ECO 120 and 121 may be required and can count toward HV&SC electives. The ECE statistics requirement also fulfills the MBA statistics prerequisite. Some upper-level business courses may count as Generic Technical Electives.

Students must plan early and apply for admission.

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Current Student Resources

Electrical & Computer Engineering Curriculum 2025/2026

Class of 2029

Program Educational Objects & Student Outcomes

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Computer Engineering Curriculum Sheets

Class 2028 & Below

Electrical Engineering Curriculum Sheets

Class 2028 & Below

Engineering and Engineering Technology – Similarities and Differences

Many engineering graduates find roles as “engineers”, but the differences between various engineering degree programs and the nature of the jobs they lead to are often unclear. A look at the history of these programs helps to better understand their evolution.

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Graduate Programs

Electrical & COMPUTER Engineering

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate programs offer advanced degrees in engineering and technology fields, including options for accelerated pathways, master’s, and doctoral studies.

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Leading the way

The ECE Department provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students for research in a wide variety of areas. Explore each area and associated faculty members.

Supercomputing

Research Areas: High-performance computing, supercomputing

Yifeng Zhu

Norman Stetson Professor & Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Microelectronics

Research Areas: Propagation and device applications in piezoelectric materials, sensor technology (gas, fluid, biological), bulk & surface acoustic wave design

Microwave Acoustics

Research Areas: Propagation and device applications in piezoelectric materials, sensor technology (gas, fluid, biological), bulk & surface acoustic wave design

Cybersecurity

Research Areas: Embedded security, joint hardware-software security, AI security

Special Project: SPICE Scalable and Portable Infrastructure for Cybersecurity Education

Data Science & Engineering

Laboratories

Computational and Mathematical Modeling Lab – Focus on medicine, engineering, and technology applications

Data Engineering and AI Lab (DEAL) – Data engineering and artificial intelligence

Yifeng Zhu

Norman Stetson Professor & Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Microfabricated Sensors

Research Areas: Chemical sensors, physical sensors, biosensors, microfluidics, microphotonics, MEMS

Energy & Sensing Nanosystems

Research Areas: Nanosystem energy harvesting and sensing

Artificial Intelligence

Research Areas: Neural networks, computer vision, deep learning, edge intelligence, robotics

Neural Networks, Computer Vision, Deep Learning:

Yifeng Zhu

Norman Stetson Professor & Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Edge Intelligence:

Robotics:

Communications

Research Areas: Coding & information theory, wireless communications, high-speed signal processing, wireless sensor networks

Faculty:

Coding, Wireless & Signal Processing:

Smart Grid, Power Electronics

Research Areas: Smart grid, power electronics, electric drive

Faculty:

Smart Grid:

Power Electronics & Electric Drives:

Our Faculty & Staff

At MCEC, our faculty is the heartbeat of our academic community. Dedicated, inspiring, and deeply knowledgeable, our professors go beyond the traditional classroom experience to foster real-world skills and a passion for learning. Whether mentoring, leading innovative research, or providing personalized support, our faculty members are committed to empowering students to achieve their highest potential

Yifeng Zhu

Norman Stetson Professor & Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Hepeng Li

Robert N. Haskell Assistant Professor

Department Contact Information

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Yifeng Zhu
yifeng.zhu@maine.edu

Department Chair

Heather Pierce
heather.j.pierce@maine.edu

Administrative Specialist

5708 Barrows Hall, Room 101
Orono, Maine 04469
Tel: 207.581.2224

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Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the Commission’s General Criteria and the Computer Engineering Program Criteria.

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