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Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (BSECE)

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, 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
    • A maximum of 10 credits of EE 499. (EE 490/499 Approval Form)
      • EE 490 (graded CR/NC) does not count towards 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
    • Up to a maximum of 10 credits combined of ENGR 321 and E E 499 may apply
    • 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):
      1. A&H (10 credits)
      2. SSc (10 credits)
      3. Additional credits in A&H or SSc to bring total to 24 credits
  • Natural Sciences (NSc) (formerly known as Natural World) (45 credits):
    1. Mathematics (15–21 credits), complete one of the following:
      1. MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126, MATH 207 (or AMATH 351), MATH 208 (or AMATH 352) 
      2. MATH 134, MATH 135, MATH 136
    2. Physics (10 credits): PHYS 121, PHYS 122 (or PHYS 141, PHYS 142)
    3. Two courses from BIOL 130, BIOL 220, CHEM 142 (or CHEM 143 or CHEM 145), MATH 224, PHYS 123 (or PHYS 143)
    4. Statistics (3–4 credits): one of IND E 315, or STAT 390
    5. Additional NSc courses from approved list to reach 45 credits: see adviser for list of approved courses.

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:  

*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:

Capstone:

For multi-quarter capstones, students must complete all courses in the capstone sequence to receive credit. One of the following must be completed:

Seminars:

(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