Our Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (BSECE) degree prepares undergraduates for careers in industry or further study at the graduate level. Degree requirements include UW general graduation requirements as well as BSECE prerequisites and curriculum.
BSECE Degree Requirements
- A minimum of 180 credit hours of coursework
- A minimum of 45 credits earned in residence at the UW
BSECE Coursework Requirements
Students must complete coursework in the following areas:
BSECE Major Requirements and Electives (65-68 credits)
The BSECE major requirements are comprised of the following areas of study (Grade requirements: minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in all courses applied to the major, with no grade below 1.0 in these courses):
Computer Programming (4-5 credits):
- Either CSE 123: Intro to Computer Programming III or CSE 143: Computer Programming II
- Minimum 2.0 grade in course required
Electrical and Computer Engineering Core (21 – 23 credits):
- EE 201, EE 215, EE 241 or CSE 163, EE 242, EE 271, EE 280
- Minimum 2.0 grade in each course
Advanced Technical Communication (4 credits):
- EE 393, ENGR 333 (ENGR 333 will no longer be offered after the Spring 2024 quarter), or Department-approved alternative.
Advanced Electrical and Computer Engineering Electives (36 credits):
- Only EE course credits may apply except where specifically noted
- Professional Issues (1–4 credits): see adviser for list of approved courses
- Capstone (4–8 credits): see adviser for list of approved courses
- Additional 300 and 400 level EE courses to reach 36 credits. These credits are subject to the following:
- A maximum of 2 credits of seminar courses (see adviser for list of approved seminar courses)
- The following course at the 200 level may count: EE 233
- For students who started the BSECE major prior to Autumn 2024: A maximum of 10 credits of EE 499 may apply toward Advanced ECE Electives. (EE 490/499 Approval Form)
- For students starting the BSECE major in Autumn 2024 or later: A maximum of 6 credits of EE 499 may apply toward Advanced ECE Electives. (EE 490/499 Approval Form)
- EE 490 (graded CR/NC) may not apply toward Advanced ECE Electives and may only apply to free electives.
- The following non-EE courses may count: CSE 373, CSE 374 and ENGR 321
- Maximum of 4 credits of ENGR 321 may apply toward Advanced ECE Electives (regardless of when student entered program).
- For students who started the BSECE major prior to Autumn 2024: Up to a maximum of 10 credits combined of ENGR 321 and EE 499 may apply toward Advanced ECE Electives.
- For students starting the BSECE major in Autumn 2024 or later: Up to a maximum of 6 credits combined of ENGR 321 and EE 499 may apply toward Advanced ECE Electives.
- Students may pursue optional pathways in order to complete their 36 credits of ECE courses
- A minimum of 20 EE course credits at the 400 level
Graduate Courses Applied to Advanced ECE Electives
Under special circumstances you may petition, as an undergraduate, to apply up to 4 credits earned in EE graduate courses toward your 400 level Advanced ECE Electives. Before such a request can be approved, you must demonstrate that you have the required background for the graduate courses. Consult the UW ECE Advising Office for additional information about the petition process.
General Education Courses
General Education Courses are comprised of the following:
Written and Oral Communication (12 credits)
This requirement includes two components described below: English Composition and Additional Writing Requirements.
- English Composition: 5 credits from the University-approved list
- Writing: ENGR 231 or at least 3 credits of “W” coursework
- Writing: Remaining 4 credits met by coursework in the major
Note: if you have transfer credit that is similar to the courses above, but which did not transfer as one of the courses listed above, please check with the ECE Advising Office.
Areas of Inquiry (formerly known as Areas of Knowledge) (69 credits)
A&H/SSc (formerly known as VLPA/I&S) courses are designated in the quarterly time schedule and the UW course catalog. A minimum of 5 credits of diversity (DIV) coursework is required. The DIV credits may overlap with A&H or SSc. Special Note: For students admitted to the University prior to autumn quarter 2023, the DIV requirement is 3 credits.
- Arts and Humanities (A&H), Social Sciences (SSc) (24 credits):
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- A&H (10 credits)
- SSc (10 credits)
- Additional credits in A&H or SSc to bring total to 24 credits
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- Natural Sciences (NSc) (formerly known as Natural World) (45 credits):
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- Mathematics (15–21 credits), complete one of the following:
- MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126, MATH 207 (or AMATH 351), MATH 208 (or AMATH 352)
- MATH 134, MATH 135, MATH 136
- Physics (10 credits): PHYS 121, PHYS 122 (or PHYS 141, PHYS 142)
- Two courses from BIOL 130, BIOL 220, CHEM 142 (or CHEM 143 or CHEM 145), MATH 224, PHYS 123 (or PHYS 143)
- Statistics (3–4 credits): one of IND E 315, or STAT 390
- Additional NSc courses from approved list to reach 45 credits: see adviser for list of approved courses.
- Mathematics (15–21 credits), complete one of the following:
Free Electives
Students must take additional electives in order to reach the 180 total credits required to graduate with the BSECE. Free elective credits may be fulfilled by any course for which the University of Washington gives credit, except courses that duplicate or parallel courses for which you have already received credit.
Other Degree Information
Department-Approved Lists
Professional Issues:
- EE 397: Sex and Gender in Engineering
- EE 398: Introduction to Professional Issues*
- EE 406: Teaching Engineering
- EE 418: Network Security and Cryptography
*Recommended. Please note that EE 398 is not considered a seminar and thus does not apply to the 2-credit seminar limit.
Approved Additional NSc (formerly known as NW) Courses:
- Any MATH class at 200 level or above
- Any AMATH class
- Any STAT class with STAT 394: Probability I as a prerequisite
- Any PHYS class at 200 level or above
- CHEM 152: General Chemistry, CHEM 153: Accelerated General Chemistry, CHEM 155: Honors General Chemistry, CHEM 220: Principles of Chemistry II
- Any BIOL class except for BIOL 100: Introductory Biology, BIOL 161: Advanced Placement (AP) in General Biology 1, BIOL 162: Advanced Placement (AP) in General Biology 2
- Any NEUSCI class
- Department-approved alternative
Capstone:
For multi-quarter capstones, students must complete all courses in the capstone sequence to receive credit. One of the following must be completed:
- EE 437: Integrated Systems Capstone
- EE 461: Neural Engineering Tech Studio
- EE 475: Embedded Systems Capstone
- EE 478: Capstone Integrated Digital Design Projects
- EE 497: Engineering Entrepreneurial Capstone and EE 498: Engineering Entrepreneurial Capstone
Seminars:
- EE 200: Undergraduate Research Exploration Seminar**
- EE 491: Undergraduate Seminar
- EE 492: Electrical Engineering Leadership Seminar
(Please note that EE 398 is not considered a seminar and thus does not apply to the 2-credit seminar limit.)
**Please note that EE 200 cannot count toward your Advanced Electrical and Computer Engineering Electives.
Passing Grades
Students must achieve passing grades in their classes to fulfill degree requirements. Passing grades are defined as the following:
- 2.0 or higher in the ECE Core and Computer Programming (CSE 123 or 143) requirements
- 1.0 or higher in the Advanced Technical Communication and Advanced ECE Electives requirements
- 0.7 or higher for all other requirements
Courses used to satisfy requirements must be taken on a graded basis, except if the course is only offered CR/NC. Courses taken as S/NS cannot be used towards degree requirements.
Contact Advising
- undergradece@uw.edu
- Current UW ECE students can schedule an appointment with an adviser online.
- Prospective student drop-in hours