Electrical Engineering at Princeton University

Why study electrical engineering?  

Have you ever wondered what goes on inside a portable digital media players or a digital camera?  How do devices such as transistors, solar cells, and lasers work?  What technologies are involved in a computer disk drive or a fiber optic communication network?   Is it safe to use a cell phone if you have a cochlear implant?  How will complex computer and telecommunication systems of the future be made more reliable, more energy efficient, and more user-friendly?  Do you want to learn about environmental and biotechnology applications based on electrical engineering fundamentals? 

Electrical engineering is a challenging but exciting and rewarding area in which to study. It is a rapidly advancing field that is having a significant impact on shaping modern society. By studying electrical engineering you will be able to understand the significant developments in modern technology and be prepared to play a role in shaping its future.

What careers can I pursue after obtaining a degree in electrical engineering?

Recent graduates who have studied in the Department of Electrical Engineering have gone on to work in a wide range of fields.  These include engineering areas such the design and fabrication of microprocessors and computers, the research and design of optoelectronics and integrated circuits, the design and management of communication systems, and advanced signal, image and video processing for environmental monitoring, medical imaging and data transmission across the Internet.

A significant percentage of our graduates go on to study at the top graduate schools and professional schools in the country.  Other graduates have found that an electrical engineering background is the basis of a career in business, finance, government, law, and medicine.

What kind of background is required to study electrical engineering?

The normal prerequisite for entering the Department in the sophomore year is a first year program that meets the requirements for all students in the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS).  This includes first-year physics, mathematics and chemistry; a writing course; and an introductory computer science course. To be adequately prepared to take these courses in your first year at Princeton, you should take high school mathematics through calculus (if possible), as well as high school physics and chemistry.  Many students enter Princeton with advanced placement in one or more of these subjects, but this is not a requirement for admission or for success in the program.

What areas of study in electrical engineering are available at Princeton?

The Department of Electrical Engineering offers an academic program spanning a wide range of disciplines.  The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).  All students begin with a unifying foundation, and then specialize in areas ranging from information theory, computers and microprocessors, to solid state devices, optoelectronics, and electronics.  Students may select a  pre-defined concentration or tailor their own to suit special interests. Here are some example areas of concentration:

            Telecommunications and Networks

            Information and Systems

            Robotics and Control

            Signal and Image Processing

            Digital Video and Graphics

            Microelectronics and Integrated Circuits

            Electronic and Optoelectronic Materials

            Solid-State Devices

            Solid-State Physics

            Optical Communication and Fiber Optics

            Optical and Optoelectronic Engineering

            Computer Systems and Software

            Computer Design

            Computer Architecture

            Electronic Computer-Aided-Design (CAD)

            Real-time Computing

Special certificate-granting programs can be pursued in parallel with a degree in electrical engineering.  These programs include: Applications of Computing, Applied and Computational Mathematics, Engineering and Management Systems, Engineering Biology, Engineering Physics, Environmental Studies, Finance, Materials Science and Engineering, Neuroscience, Robotics and intelligent Systems, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and international Affairs, and many other programs.  Programs of preparation for professional study in medicine and law may also be arranged.

What is distinctive about electrical engineering at Princeton?

Students enter our department with a variety of career objectives in mind. Some intend to enter industry directly after graduation or to continue their technical studies in graduate school.  Others wish to take an electrical engineering program as a background for careers in non-engineering fields such as business, law, and medicine.  Many are not sure of their long range plans.  Consequently, our program exposes students to a wide cross-section of electrical engineering before requiring specialization in an area of concentration.  Our program also provides the flexibility for a student to take advantage of the excellent liberal arts program at Princeton.

A minimum of seven courses in the humanities or social sciences must be included in a student's academic program.  However, even with no advanced placement, as many as 12 such courses may be elected in a normal program.

In addition, a Princeton student may combine electrical engineering with studies in biology, computer science, physics, materials science and engineering, engineering and management systems, energy and environmental studies, economics and public policy, and several other fields.

Engineering is a creative process involving the design of systems, components, or processes to meet desired needs.  Throughout our curriculum, students gain experience with both the fundamentals of design as well as realistic engineering problems.  Creativity and design experience are introduced by means of open-ended problems, the study and use of modern computer-aided design (CAD) tools, and laboratory work.  In the junior year, a laboratory design course takes each student through all phases of a design project, emphasizing hands-on experience while providing classroom guidance. Currently, the students work in pairs to build a small microcomputer-controlled autonomous vehicle.

Students in the department can pursue their studies well beyond the boundaries of classrooms and laboratories.  Arrangements have been made for students to spend time on off-campus research activities, and summer jobs have provided many students with opportunities for first-hand experience with engineering design and analysis projects.

Each electrical engineering student is assigned a faculty program advisor. The program advisor consults in detail with the student to design an academic program that best meets the student's needs and goals.  A minimum of 36 courses are required for the BSE degree in a 4-year program (or 28 for a 3-year program for a student granted advanced standing). This corresponds to four terms with five courses and four terms with four courses.   There is a design requirement which most students satisfy by taking at least one semester of design-oriented independent work.  A research experience outside of a structured lecture or laboratory course is a valuable educational experience, both challenging and rewarding. It enables a student to work closely with a faculty member. Independent work is required of all electrical engineering students, normally during the senior year; and, a year-long senior thesis option is offered. 

For an admissions application and additional information about Princeton, contact: