Electrical Engineering - Bachelor of Science 2025-26 Degree Map

Degree Maps & Advising


Degree maps show just one possible course plan for how to earn a degree in four years. To graduate in four years, you need an average of 45 credits per year to reach 180 total credits, including 62 upper division (300/400 level courses) credits. You may need to take electives (courses that are not used to meet specific requirements) to reach those totals. Most courses at PSU are 4 credits each. Talk with your advisor regularly to develop a personalized plan that works best for you, especially if you have any earned transferrable academic credit.

Bulletin or Catalog Year


This guide outlines the requirements in the 2025-26 Bulletin. Bulletin or Catalog year defines the specific set of requirements you need to complete a degree. Requirements occasionally change, so it may benefit you to follow a different catalog. Typically, your catalog year is the year you began at PSU, but if you are a transfer student you may be able to use an earlier catalog. Review PSU's course catalog policy and talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you. 

 

DARS System  


Students are highly encouraged to run their own Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) report in myPSU to track their progress through their program. You'll need to know which catalog year you'd like to use for your audit request. Students are also encouraged to contact an advisor if they have any questions about their DARS, catalog/bulletin year, or degree requirements in general. DARS audits are advising tools and are not an official record of earning a degree, major, minor, or certificate. You must apply to have a degree or certificate awarded.

View the Requirements for Approval to take Upper Division Courses in the Major

View the BS-EE 4 Year Degree Map

View the BS-EE-MECOP (Multiple Engineering Cooperative Program) Degree Map


Requirements for Approval to take Upper Division Courses in the Major

Students must apply for approval to take 300 and 400 level courses in the major by April 15. The following courses are required to be completed with a C grade or higher before a student is able to be approved for the Upper Division and is able to take junior-level ECE courses:

  • ECE 101/L, ECE 102/L, ECE 103/L, ECE 171 and ECE 221/L
  • MTH 251Z, MTH 252Z, MTH 253Z and MTH 261
  • PH 211 and 214

It is also recommended that students complete or be enrolled in these courses before applying to the Upper Division program:

  • CH 221Z and 227Z
  • ECE 172/L, ECE 222/L and ECE 223/L
  • MTH 256
  • PH 212 and 215 
  • PH 213 and 216;
  • UNST 1xx Freshman Inquiry Sequence (15 credits)

BS-EE 4 Year Degree Map

First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
First Year Inquiry5First Year Inquiry5First Year Inquiry5
CH 221Z4ECE 102/102L4ECE 103/103L4
CH 227Z1ECE 1714MTH 253Z4
ECE 101/101L4MTH 252Z4ECE 172/172L4
MTH 251Z4    
Total Fall Credits18Total Winter Credits17Total Spring Credits17

First Year Note:  Check that you are on track to fulfill the Requirements for Approval to take Upper Division Courses in the Major by April 15th of your second year. 

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4Sophomore Inquiry4Sophomore Inquiry4
ECE 221/221L4ECE 222/222L4ECE 223/223L4
MTH 2614MTH 2564MTH 2544
PH 2114PH 2124PH 2134
PH 2141PH 2151PH 2161
ECE 2111ECE 2122  
Total Fall Credits17-18Total Winter Credits19Total Spring Credits17

Second Year Milestones:  Apply for approval to take upper division classes by April 15th. See ECE department webpage for details. 

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
ECE 3154ECE 3164ECE 3174
ECE 321/321L4ECE 322/322L4ECE 331/331L4
ECE 371 or EE 347/347L4EC 314U4Junior 300 Level Elective or STAT 3514
  EE 347/347L or ECE 3714Upper Division Cluster4
Total Fall Credits12Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits16

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
ECE 4242Junior 300 Level Elective or STAT 3514Upper Division Cluster4
ECE 4112ECE 4124ECE 4132
Jr/Sr 300/400 Level Elective4Jr/Sr 300/400 Level Elective4Senior 400 Level Elective4
ECE 332/332L4    
Total Fall Credits12Total Winter Credits12Total Spring Credits10

BS-EE MECOP Degree Map

First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
First Year Inquiry5First Year Inquiry5First Year Inquiry5
CH 221Z4ECE 102/102L4ECE 103/103L4
CH 227Z1ECE 1714MTH 253Z4
ECE 101/101L4MTH 252Z4ECE 172/172L4
MTH 251Z4    
Total Fall Credits18Total Winter Credits17Total Spring Credits17

First Year Note: Check that you are on track to fulfill the Requirements for Approval to take Upper Division Courses in the Major by April 15th of your second year. 

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4Sophomore Inquiry4Sophomore Inquiry4
ECE 221/221L4ECE 222/222L4ECE 223/223L4
MTH 2614MTH 2564MTH 2544
PH 2114PH 2124PH 2134
PH 2141PH 2151PH 2161
ECE 2111ECE 2122  
Total Fall Credits17-18Total Winter Credits19Total Spring Credits17

Second Year Milestone: Apply for approval to take upper division classes by April 15th. See ECE department webpage for details. 

MECOP Year 1

Summer CoursesFall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring and Summer Terms
MECOP Summer Seminar ECE 3154ECE 322/322L4MECOP Internship 1 - 6 months
 ECE 321/321L4ECE 331/331L4 
 ECE 3714EE 3474 
   STAT 3514 
 Total Fall Credits12Total Winter Credits16 

MECOP Year 2

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
EC 314U4Upper Division Cluster4ECE 3174
ECE 4112ECE 3164ECE 4132
Junior 300 Level Elective4ECE 4124ECE 4242
Jr/Sr 300/400 Level Elective4    
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits12Total Spring Credits8

MECOP Year 3

Summer and Fall TermsWinter CoursesWinter Credits
MECOP Internship 2 - 6 monthsUpper Division Cluster4
 ECE 332/332L4
 Jr/Sr 300/400 Level Elective4
 Senior 400 Level Elective4
 Total Winter Credits16

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement:  Starting in the 2022-2023 catalog year, all PSU students (including transfers) must fulfill the Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement (RESR). These classes can be part of the Sophomore Inquiry classes and taken in any term of the sophomore year. Two courses required, each minimum 3 credits: one course must focus on the U.S. experience; the second course must center the experiences of groups under European and U.S. colonialism and imperialism beyond the United States. One must be within the School of Gender, Race and Nations or be cross-listed with one of the SGRN units: Black Studies (BST), Chicanx/Latinx Studies (CHLA), Indigenous Nations Studies (NAS), or Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WS). 
  • ECE 211: Students have the option of taking both ECE 211 and 212 during the summer after their sophomore year in a condensed 8-week version.
  • PH 211, PH 212, PH 213: Ph 211 - Ph 213 are interchangeable with Ph 221 - Ph 223(not offered 2025-26). 
  • EC 314U and Upper Division Cluster: EC 314U is a major requirement.  To satisfy the PSU's General Education requirement the other upper division cluster courses must both be from one of these clusters: Design/Thinking; Community Studies; or Knowledge, Values, Rationality. The upper division cluster courses can also be used to meet the RESR requirement but requires careful planning.  You are strongly encouraged to discuss with your advisor how best to meet these requirements to avoid needing extra courses.
  • Junior 300 Level Elective: The Junior elective is any ECE or EE course numbered 311 or higher.
  • Jr/Sr 300/400 Level Elective: One of the Junior/Senior electives can be any EE or ECE course numbered 311 or higher. The other can be any EE, ECE, MTH, CS, ME or PH course numbered 311 or higher. The Senior elective is any 400-level ECE or EE course. 
  • Senior 400 Level Elective:  The Senior elective is any 400-level ECE or EE course. 
  • ECE 424: ECE 424 may be taken fall or spring senior year
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Electrical Engineering