Skip to main content
Electrical and Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Degrees

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Boise State University offers two bachelor of science degrees: Computer Systems Engineering and Electrical Engineering.

BS in Electrical Engineering

person using a smartphone with headphones, and the words the smart people behind your smart phone

Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. They also design electrical devices and systems using components such as conductors, coils, magnets, batteries, switches, resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, and transistors. Some electrical engineers conduct or write the specifications for testing device performance, reliability, and long-term durability.   Nearly all electrical and electronic devices, from the generators at an electric power plant to the microprocessors in your phone, depend on the expertise of electrical engineers.

Designed to help students find new solutions to complex technical problems, our curriculum provides students with a rigorous foundation in physics, mathematics, and computing. Core courses in electronics and digital systems orient students to the major and begin to build each student’s skills in problem analysis and the design of experiments. The program concludes with a year-long design experience in which students carry out a team project with industry sponsors.

In addition to the carefully design core, our curriculum includes 12 flexible credits of technical and ece electives. Electives pair well with certificate options, allowing students to demonstrate more than just the core competencies to employers.

Tiffany Berntsen working with lab equipment

Emphasis Areas

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Integrated Circuit Design
  • Semiconductor Devices and Processing
  • Signals, Systems, and Controls
  • Power Systems Engineering

BS in Computer Systems Engineering

Computer Systems Engineering is a subdiscipline of electrical engineering focused on the design, testing, implementation, and maintenance of the software and hardware components found in modern computing systems, computer-controlled equipment, and networks of intelligent devices.

Student and faculty work together with equipment

Computer systems engineers research, create, and design the multitude of secure systems we use every day. Making the world safer, smaller, and smarter than ever before, computer systems engineers design the technology needed to navigate today’s complex interconnected environment.  Integrating principles of computing, cryptography, mathematics, science, and engineering, computer systems engineers are designing better, more secure computing hardware, software, networks, and algorithms.

This degree is a pathway for students to learn and apply engineering and computer science principles beyond the constraints of a traditional, single-discipline-focused degree program. For instance, a graduate from this program will be able to work efficiently in an automation environment where the proposed Computer Systems Engineering degree has provided the electrical engineering background/principles for overall systems design, with the ability to use programming to automate systems and to understand how cyber hacking can impact the daily function of the systems. The quantitative, problem-solving skill set that comes with a systems engineering background will also provide a unique perspective and competitive edge for students seeking advanced degrees or industry certifications within their professional field of interest.

Back To Top