Electrical Engineering
Room 101
Electrical Engineering
is located on the corner of Albrecht Boulevard and Centennial Boulevard
(Campus Map)
Control Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
College of Engineering and Architecture
Control engineering is used to optimize the performance of engineered products with respect to measures such as energy and material usage, speed, reliability and accuracy of direction, or velocity of mechanical motion.
The Program
Control engineering is an area of specialization within the Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at North Dakota State University.
Control systems have ranged from the centrifugal governor controlling
the speed of James Watt's 18th century steam engine to computer-based
autopilots controlling the flight paths of 20th century jumbo jets.
Control engineering is necessary in the design of many other products
such as robots, automobiles, computers and peripherals, medical equipment,
household appliances and space stations. In addition to being useful
in many engineering systems, control engineering methods also are highly
applicable to diverse areas such as economics, biological systems, climatology
and sociology.
Control engineering course work follows the Department of Electrical
and Computer Engineering program that is accredited by the Engineering
Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering
and Technology (ABET). The curriculum contains major components in basic
mathematics and science, humanities and social sciences, communication,
engineering science, engineering design and ethics, breadth in electrical
engineering and depth in control engineering. Electives in the ECE program
are recommended for students interested in specializing in control engineering.
These are taken in the last two years of the program.
Cooperative Education Program
The Cooperative Education Program allows students to alternate classroom study with a series of paid professional work experiences related to control engineering. These experiences increase in complexity as the student's background in control engineering increases. The program provides opportunities for pre-graduation experience in the profession, exploration of several career opportunities, money for education, an enriched degree and enhanced opportunities for employment following graduation.
High School Preparation
High school students should attempt to complete one unit of physics, four units of mathematics and one unit of chemistry. Students without these courses may take them in special programs at North Dakota State University to better prepare academically for a specific engineering curriculum.
The Facilities
The Electrical Engineering Building is part of an eight-building engineering and architecture complex. The building contains specialized laboratories along with equipment. Numerous grants and donations from the National Science Foundation and private industry have provided valuable equipment. A control laboratory and department and University computer capabilities support education and research in control engineering.
Career Opportunities
NDSU electrical engineering graduates are hired by engineering firms throughout the United States and abroad. They work in research, design, sales, testing, installation, development and teaching. Many graduates find that an engineering education provides excellent training for fields other than engineering such as business, medicine or law. Since engineers are problem-solvers, there is a constant demand for engineers to solve problems outside typical engineering fields.
Research and Graduate Study
Departmental graduate students and faculty members are active in control engineering research. Graduate studies leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are offered in the department. Further details are available in the Graduate Bulletin
- Chem. 121, 121L - General Chemistry I and Lab 4 -
- ECE 111 - Introduction to Electrical Engineering 3 -
- ECE 173 - Introduction to Computing - 3
- ECE 275 - Digital Systems I - 3
- Engl. 110, 120 - College Composition I, II 3 3
- Math. 129 - Basic Linear Algebra - 2
- Math. 165, 166 - Calculus I, II 4 4
- Phys. 251 - University Physics I - 4
- Univ. 189 - Skills for Academic Success 1 -
- Totals18 16
- Comm. 110 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking - 3
- EE 206 - Circuit Analysis I 4 -
- ECE 311 - Circuits II and Lab - 4
- Math. 265 - Calculus III 4 -
- Math. 266 - Introduction to Differential Equations - 3
- Phys. 252 - University Physics II 4 -
- Engineering Science Electives 3 3
- Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective - 3
- Totals15 16
- ECE 321 - Electronics I and Laboratory 5 -
- ECE 341 - Random Processes - 3
- ECE 343 - Signals and Systems 4 -
- ECE 351 - Applied Electromagnetics and Lab 4 -
- ECE 401 - Design I - 1
- EE Core Elective - 4
- Humanities and Fine Arts Electives 3 -
- Math/Science Elective - 3
- Wellness - 2
- Totals16 16
- ECE 403 - Design II 2 -
- ECE 405 - Design III - 3
- Engr. 402 - Engineering Ethics 1 -
- ECE or Engineering Sciences Electives 6 3
- EE Core Electives and Lab 4 4
- Humanities and Fine Arts Elective - 3
- Social and Behavioral Science Elective 3 -
- Totals16 13
- Curriculum Totals 126
This sample curriculum is not intended to serve as a curriculum guide for current students, but rather an example of course offerings for prospective students. For the curriculum requirements in effect at the time of entrance into a program, consult with an academic adviser or with the Office of Registration and Records.
Electives: The sample curriculum contains student choices (electives) of the following type:
- humanities/social sciences
- math/science
- engineering science
- EE core electives
- ECE electronics electives
- ECE electives
The following are recommended electives for students interested in the control engineering technical specialty of electrical engineering:
- Math. 429 - Linear Algebra 3
- Any from the EE approved list
- ME 221 - Engineering Mechanics I 3
- ME 222 - Engineering Mechanics II 3
- Any from the EE approved list
- ECE 331 - Energy Conversion 4
- ECE 376 - Embedded Systems 4
- ECE Communications I 4
- ECE Control Systems 4
- ECE 421 - Communication Circuits 4
- ECE 423 - Digital Electronics 3
- ECE 425 - Introduction to Semiconductor Devices 3
- ECE 437 - Power Electronics 3
- ECE 425 - Semiconductor Devices 3
- ECE 463 - Digital Control 3
- ECE 483 - Instrumentation for Engineers 3
- ECE 761 - Advanced Control Theory I 3
- ECE 763 - Advanced Control Theory II 3
There also are fact sheets covering other available areas of specialty in electrical and computer engineering.
Contact Information
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
North Dakota State University
Electrical Engineering 101
Fargo, ND 58105
Tel: (701) 231-7019
Fax: (701) 231-8677
Email:info@ndsu.edu
Web: www.ece.ndsu.nodak.edu
Office of Admission
North Dakota State University
Ceres 114
Dept 5230, PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
Tel: (701) 231-8643
Fax: (701) 231-8802
Email: NDSU.Admission@ndsu.edu
Web: http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/prospective_students/
(02/10)