Power Systems
Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)

College of Engineering and Architecture

Power systems is the study of generating, transmitting and distributing electrical energy. The demand for efficient energy utilization has created expanded opportunities for students willing to accept responsible positions in a challenging field with power companies and consulting firms located all over the world. While graduates live and work in all areas of the United States, there are opportunities for power engineers in the upper Midwest.

Background Information

Power engineers may design large generating stations like those in North Dakota or they may design the transmission lines and substations that deliver this power to load centers many miles away. Power engineers also design the distribution systems that tap power off transmission lines and deliver it reliably to the user at the farm, home and industrial firm. To design those systems, the power engineer receives training in power, circuits, electronics, control systems, communications and computers.

Economics, environment, efficiency and reliability are the constraints within which one must work in designing power systems. Well-rounded engineers who have an understanding of industrial and mechanical engineering in addition to electrical and computer engineering are in demand. The program in power systems at North Dakota State University is designed to provide the student with the basic knowledge necessary to solve today's and tomorrow's energy problems.

The Program

The NDSU Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers an area of specialization in power engineering that is specifically tailored to the individual student. The student can follow the regular four-year degree program with electives recommended for power systems. There are a limited number of summer jobs in the power industry that the student can obtain to supplement his or her income while gaining practical experience in the industry.

Cooperative Education Program

The NDSU Cooperative Education program also offers jobs throughout the United States in the power industry. The Co-op program has job opportunities for terms of three to six months throughout the calendar year. In some cases the Co-op program may extend the student's academic program to more than four years, but the valuable experience and income obtained are well worth the time.

An important advantage to the students in the Co-op program is increased exposure to career opportunities. Working in industry allows the students to observe all types of positions within the power company which will help secure the positions that are particularly suited to their capabilities. Industry also prefers to hire graduating students that have had some industrial experience. Therefore, this program provides students with intelligent career selection tools based on experience and expanded employment opportunities upon graduation. An added benefit of the program is the money students earned during the industrial work experience.

The Facilities

The Electrical Engineering Building is part of an eight-building engineering and architecture complex. The building contains specialized laboratories and equipment. Numerous grants and donations from the National Science Foundation and private industry have provided valuable equipment. Laboratories along with department and University computer capabilities support education and research.

The power laboratory contains rotating machinery, drives, transformers, computers, digital instrumentation, microprocessor-based relays and other modern equipment needed to study and understand power systems. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering continually updates the equipment and software used in the power engineering laboratory.

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 NDSU to better prepare them academically for a specific engineering curriculum.

Career Opportunities

NDSU's electrical engineering graduates are working all over the world in a variety of exciting jobs at excellent salaries. They work in research, design, sales, manufacturing, 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 faculty members and graduate students are currently active in power systems 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.

Financial Aid

The NDSU Office of Student Financial Services will make every effort to provide adequate financial assistance to all students demonstrating financial need.

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
124 Ceres Hall
Fargo, ND 58105

Tel: (701) 231-8643
Fax: (701) 231-8802
Email: NDSU.Admission@ndsu.edu
Web: http://www.ndsu.edu/prospective/students/

(6/07)