Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

• A quick roadmap to more efficient, productive and
  personalized sessions with your advisor.

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TOPICS

• Motivation
• Department Overview
• Curriculum
• Student Resources
• Degree Plan
• Curriculum Changes Other Substitutions
• Memos Student File
• FAQs

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MOTIVATION for this session

• Senior Exit Interviews indicate that students
  would like time during advising sessions to

• discuss curriculum options
• ask about potential employers
• discuss career information
• get personalized advice

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MOTIVATION to continue studies

• The Department offers a Bachelor of Science in
  Electrical Engineering (BSEE), which prepares you
  for jobs in

• consumer electronics design
• computer design manufacturing
• communications (wireless state-of-the-art)
• aircraft industry
• biomedical devices
• public utilities, defense contractors, etc.
• virtually any job that requires electricity

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MOTIVATION hiring companies

• Lockheed Martin
• BWXT Pantex
• Boeing
• BNSF
• Cemex, Inc.
• Eaton
• El Paso Electric
• Exxon Mobil
• Hewlett Packard
• Merrill Lynch
• Rockwell Collins
• Smith Cooper
• United Space
• Alliance
• US Air Force

• Intel
• Lear
• Raytheon Missile
• Systems
• General Dynamics
• Schlumberger
• KBR Energy
• CSC (Biggs AAF)
• Research Analysis and Maintenance, Inc.
• Yuma Proving Ground
• Nuclear Weapons Effects Group (SVAD)
• Clark Construction
• US Patent Trademark Office (Engineering Patent
  Examiner)
• Miratek Corp.

• White Sands Missile Range
• (multiple directorates)
• Rockwell Collins
• Lopez-Garcia Group
• Electronic Data Systems (EDS)
• Ft. Bliss
• Classic Industries
• Housing Authority of The City
• of El Paso (Project Engineer)
• Miratek Corp.
• Campus Crusade for Christ
• (Systems Engineer)

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MOTIVATION to complete degree ASAP

• BSEE from UTEP offers competitive starting
  salaries

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TOPICS

• Motivation
• Department Overview
• Curriculum
• Student Resources
• Degree Plan
• Curriculum Changes Other Substitutions
• Memos Student File
• FAQs

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ECE Faculty

• 7 Professors
• Flores, Liu, Pierluissi, Riter, Schroder, Starks,
  Williams
• 8 Associate Professors
• Cabrera, Lush, Nava, Nazeran, Moya, Pineda,
  Sarkodie-Gyan, Usevitch
• 7 Assistant Professors
• Gonzalez, MacDonald, Quinones, Rosiles, von
  Borries, Yao, Zubia
• 6 Lecturers
• Cruz-Cano, Llambes, Myers, Rodriguez, Rubio, Woo

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ECE Staff

• Office
• Ms. Socorro Quezada (Head Admin. Secretary)
• Student Office Assistants Roger, David
• Lab Tech
• Mr. Ralph Loya
• Student Lab Assistant Eric
• Network Manager
• Mr. Jerry West
• Student Operators Damian, Vince, Carlos

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STUDENT FACTS

• 488 undergraduate students
• B.S.E.E.
• 120 MS students
• in 2 degree programs
• M.S.E.E. and
• M.S.Cp.E
• 27 Ph.D. students

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ECE Programs

• BS Electrical Engineering B.S.E.E. (128
  credits)
• Concentrations
• Computer Engineering
• Fields and Devices
• Systems and Communications
• General
• MS Computer Engineering M.S.Cp.E. (30-36 credits)
• MS Electrical Engineering M.S.E.E. (30-36
  credits)
• Ph.D. Computer Engineering (60 credits)

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TOPICS

• Motivation
• Department Overview
• Curriculum
• Student Resources
• Degree Plan
• Curriculum Changes Other Substitutions
• Memos Student File
• FAQs

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BSEE Program

• ABET Accredited
• 60 Non-major credits (including core)
• University Studies
• Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
• English Comp. and Prof. Communications
• Math (Calculus, Diff. Eq., Matrix Algebra)
• History and Political Science
• Art, Economics, Humanities
• 68 EE credits

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Curricular Area Committees

• Circuits Systems
• Communications Signal Processing
• Computer Engineering
• Electronics, Fields, Devices

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ECE Critical Path of Courses -- 2008
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EE Upper Division

• Senior Year
• 12 concentration credits
• Senior Professional Orientation
• Senior Project I and II

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Senior Proj. I and II Capstone Design Course
http//www.ece.utep.edu/research/websp/

• Team based (4 members)
• Proposal
• Faculty reviewed
• Hardware and software requirements
• Reports
• Monthly
• End of semester
• Written report
• PowerPoint presentation

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TOPICS

• Motivation
• Department Overview
• Curriculum
• Student Resources
• Degree Plan
• Curriculum Changes Other Substitutions
• Memos Student File
• FAQs

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Student Organizationswithin ECE Department

• Institute of Electrical and Electronics
  Engineers
• (IEEE) International EE Society that
• sets technical standards
• sponsors technical conferences
• sponsors workshops
• publishes reference texts
• provides for HR-type needs
• Office for UTEP Student branch within IEEE
• Student Lounge
• Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) EE Honor Society
• Office within IEEE Student Lounge

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The Academic Criteria for Eta Kappa Nu Membership

• Junior(60 hours including Networks) ...
  3.25
• Senior(90 hours) 3.00
• Graduate(9 hours) 3.50
• Note GPA to be calculated with classes that
  apply toward degree
• Must not be a graduating senior

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IEEE HKN Offer

• Tutoring (of EE specific courses)
• Special speakers
• Field trips to industry
• social events
• Senior Banquet
• Opportunity to develop professional/leadership
  skills
• Contacts, connections, experience

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Student OrganizationsCollege-Wide

• Tau Beta Pi (TB?) Engineering Honor Society
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
  (SHPE)
• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
• Mexican-American Engineering Society
• (MAES)

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ECE Research
Laboratory for Industrial Metrology and
Automation (LIMA)
http//www.ece.utep.edu/research
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Research Experiences for Undergraduates

• On-Campus Opportunities
• exposure to research
• operations
• source of support while
• attending UTEP

• External Opportunities
• travel costs
• housing or allowance
• stipend
• participation in NSF-
• sponsored research
• visit another university

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TOPICS

• Motivation
• Department Overview
• Curriculum
• Student Resources
• Degree Plan
• Curriculum Changes Other Substitutions
• Memos Student File
• FAQs

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Degree Plan

• All degree plans have a check-list form that
  allows degree progress to be checked at a
  glance.
• The top of the this degree plan has course
  requirements and 4 lines for your concentration
  courses.

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Degree Plan

• Filling the degree plan
• There are three columns because you have three
  opportunities to complete a course with a
  satisfactory grade. (Ws count as an attempt.)
• The next slide shows some classes transferred in
  from EPCC (highlighted yellow), taking of UNIV
  2350, and some initial courses at UTEP.

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Degree Plan

• The bottom of the this degree plan has two slots
  for University Core electives (in Visual
  Performing Arts, and in Humanities).
• It also has room for the one technical elective
  (any Junior- or Senior-level course in science or
  engineering).
• Lastly, the degree plan has room to list
  substitutions, if appropriate.

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Degree Plan

• The back of the degree lists the approved courses
  for University Core electives (in Visual
  Performing Arts, and in Humanities).
• It also lists concentrations available, and
  courses that fall into those concentrations.

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TOPICS

• Motivation
• Department Overview
• Curriculum
• Student Resources
• Degree Plan
• Curriculum Changes and Other Substitutions
• Memos Student File
• FAQs

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Changes to Degree Plan

• Curriculum Changes
• Degree requirements change
• Courses discontinued
• Transfer Credits
• Core Curriculum Changes
• Extenuating Circumstances

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Course Substitution Form
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Graduation Procedure

• Last semester pick up a Graduation Packet at the
  Deans office
• Fill out all paperwork, turn in to advisor
• Advisor will provide verification, sign, and turn
  in to ECE Office by Deadline
• Attend Exit Interview, pick up Grad. Packet
• Turn in Grad. Packet to Deans Office by Deadline
• Pay graduation fees at cashier at Academic Serv.

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TOPICS

• Motivation
• Department Overview
• Curriculum
• Student Resources
• Degree Plan
• Curriculum Changes and Other Substitutions
• Memos Student File
• FAQs

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STUDENT FILES

• ECE Office
• Degree Plan
• Substitution Memos
• Correspondence
• Deans Office
• Substitution Memos
• Correspondence

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TOPICS

• Motivation
• Department Overview
• Curriculum
• Student Resources
• Degree Plan
• Curriculum Changes and Other Substitutions
• Memos Student File
• Graduation Procedure
• FAQs

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FAQs

• What do I need to take to my advising session
  with my advisor?
• - advising slip (Please remember to take this
  slip to the office so the advising hold can be
  removed!!)
• - a general idea of what courses you want to take
• - other as required by advisor (check advisors
• door, a list of requirements will be provided)

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FAQs

• How are courses scheduled?
• All courses assigned to a Curriculum Comm.
• Curr.Comm. Chair sends 3-year plan to Head
• Chair transcribes to a single, departmental
  3-Year Plan
• 3-Year Plan posted on the web
• Chair schedules courses with as little conflict
  as possible

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FAQs

• If I have to take a course more than once is the
  grade substituted?
• - If the course is a Freshman course
• Yes, automatically!
• - Otherwise
• No. Each attempt contributes to your overall
• GPA. (There is a form for Petition for Grade
• Substitution.)

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FAQs

• Ive heard that Freshman courses taken beyond the
  90-credit-hour point dont count. Is that true?
• - While they do appear on your transcript, and
  are used to calculate your GPA, they do not
  contribute toward meeting the minimum credit hour
  requirements of your degree plan.
• - If you wait to take any core curriculum class,
  you might have to take a higher-level course, or
  take another 3-credit-hour course.

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FAQs

• Ive heard that its better to get an F than a
  W. Is that true?
• - NO! While Ws should not be abused, consider
  that a
• W will not affect your GPA.
• Does the W count as one of my three attempts
  for any course?
• - Yes. Please register for classes judiciously.
  Try not to
• bite off more than you can chew.

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FAQs

• Why is GPA so important?
• - It is used as an indicator of how serious you
  are about your education.
• - It can be used as a first hurdle for
  scholarship awards.
• - It is often used as a litmus test for jobs
  i.e. some companies wont even allow you to have
  an interview unless you have a specific GPA.

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FAQs

• Ive heard that after 5 years, employers look to
  your experience more than your GPA and University
  record. Is that true?
• - While it is true that your work experience and
  resumé will carry more weight after 5 years, you
  need to consider that unless you have a
  reasonable GPA, you arent going to get a job
  that will allow you to obtain the 5 years
  experience!

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FAQs

• Ive heard that there is a limit on the number of
  credit hours I can transfer from EPCC. Is that
  true?
• - Yes. Since it is a 2-Year institution, you
  can transfer up to 66 credit hours.
• Is there a limit on transfers from a 4-Year
  institution?
• - No. Note, however, that credit for engineering
  courses will only be given if they come from ABET
  accredited institutions. There is a procedure for
  transfer of EE courses . (see details on the web)

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FAQs

• Ive heard about internships and Co-ops What
  are they, and why should I be interested ?
• - Internships and Cooperative Education are two
  different programs where you can work in industry
  while you take a break from school.
• - Internships are typically over the summer.
  Cooperative Education is typically 6 months, and
  can receive credit as EE 4181, 4182 and 4183.
• - 3 Co-ops can be used as your technical
  elective.

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FAQs

• Ive heard about internships why should I be
  interested ? Continued
• - Internships and Cooperative Education are
  training within your field.
• - They allow you to sample a company (and
  vice-versa).
• - They allow you to earn more money than a
  non-skilled labor job.

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College Administrative Structure
Dean Dr. Schoephoerster
Assoc. Dean Dr. Ferregut
Asst. Dean M. Pacillas
Assoc. Dean Dr. Flores
Asst. Dean Dr. Golding
Chief Acc. Off. L. Abbud
ECE Chair Dr. Nava
MME Chair Dr. Murr
CS Chair Dr. Gates
ME Chair Dr. Everett
IE Chair Dr. Gutierrez
CE Chair Dr. Li
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• Questions?

Contact Dr. Patricia A. Nava (Engr. Annex
325) or Ms. Socorro Quezada, Admin.
Assistant [phone] On the
web www.utep.edu/academics/ee