Undergraduate Studies

The B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering requires a minimum of one hundred and twenty-six credits, which must include the following:

• Forty-five (45) credits of ECE courses including Computational Modeling for ECE (520.123), Digital System Fundamentals (520.142), Introduction to Electromagnetics (520.219), Mastering Electronics/Lab (520.230 & 231), Signals and Systems (520.214), Introduction to VLSI (520.216), and 12 credits of advanced laboratory, design intensive, or senior design project courses, with no less than six credits coming from ECE.
• 601.220 Intermediate Programming; If a student needs to take Gateway Computing as a pre-requisite to Intermediate Programming, they should take Python (EN.500.113). Up to six (6) credits of Computer Science courses may be used to satisfy the 45-credit requirement. If you take Gateway Computing: Python (500.113), it will count as a CS credit, even though it has a general engineering number (500.xxx). Please be sure to register for the section of Gateway Computing reserved for ECE students. You are also permitted to take Bootcamp classes (EN.500.132-134) and apply them to this section, even though they are S/U courses. A GPA of at least 2.0 must be maintained in ECE courses. Courses in this group may not be taken Pass/Fail.

• Six (6) credits of engineering courses from the School of Engineering departments other than ECE, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, or General Engineering. Students must complete enough of the approved non-ECE advanced design labs so that they have at least twelve (12) credits of combined ECE and non-ECE advanced laboratory, design-intensive, or senior design project courses. Courses in this group must be taken for a grade. In order to count for this requirement, they cannot be taken as Pass/Fail. Entrepreneurship and Management courses in the Center for Leadership Education CANNOT be counted as “other engineering courses”.
• Twenty (20) credits in mathematics courses taken from the Mathematics Department or the Applied Mathematics and Statistics Department. Calculus II (110.109), Calculus III (110.202), Linear Algebra (110.201) or or Linear Algebra for Data Science (EN.553.295), Differential Equations (110.302), Probability and Statistics (553.311) or Introduction to Probability (553.420) must be taken. Elementary or pre-calculus courses, such as 110.105 or 553.111-112, are not acceptable. Courses in this group must be taken for a grade. In order to count for this requirement, they cannot be taken as Pass/Fail. Calculus I may be waived through an examination taken during freshman orientation. If not waived, it must be taken as a prerequisite to Calculus II.
• Sixteen (16) credits of natural sciences (physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, biophysics, earth and planetary sciences) which must include General Physics (171.101-102), General Physics Laboratory (173.111-112) (active learning versions are also acceptable), and Introductory Chemistry (030.101). If Physics labs are waived, no credits are awarded, and students must complete additional coursework to reach 16 credits. Other courses with an “N” designation code will be considered on a case-by-case basis. However, courses coded as “NS” from Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Neuroscience cannot towards this area. Additionally, Intro. to Computing Courses coded as N also cannot count towards this requirement. Courses in this group must be taken for a grade. In order to count for this requirement, they cannot be taken as Pass/Fail.
• At least six (6) three-credit courses in humanities and social sciences, for a total of 18 credits. The humanities and social sciences courses are one of the strengths of the academic programs at Johns Hopkins. They represent opportunities for students to appreciate some of the global and societal impacts of engineering, to understand contemporary issues, and to exchange ideas with scholars in other fields. Some of the courses will help students to communicate more effectively, to understand economic issues, or to analyze problems in an increasingly international world.
• The selection of courses should not consist solely of introductory courses but should have both depth and breadth. This means that students must take at least three (3) courses in a specific area, with at least one of them at an advanced level (300 or 400 level). Courses in this group can be taken as Pass/Fail if they are not being used to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
• One of the following courses to fulfill the departmental Ethics requirement:
  661.315 Culture of the Engineering Profession (S designation), 660.310 Cases in Workplace Ethics (H designation), 660.463 Engineering Management & Leadership, 660.455 Reimagining the City in the Face of Climate Change
• Two (2) writing-intensive (W) courses (at least 3 credits each) are required. The writing-intensive courses cannot be taken Pass/Fail and require a C- or better grade. Students may wish to consider a course in Technical Communications to fulfill one of the writing-intensive requirements. The course 661.315, The Culture of the Engineering Profession, is recommended by the ECE Faculty as a writing-intensive course. It can also be used to fulfill the Ethics requirement.

The BS degree in Computer Engineering requires a minimum of 126 credits, which must include the following:

• Forty-two (42) credits in Computer Engineering, which must include:
• At least fifteen (15) credits of Electrical and Computer Engineering courses, which must include Computational Models for ECE (520.123) Digital System Fundamentals (520.142), Signals & Systems (520.214), and Mastering Electronics and Lab (520.230, 520.231).
• At least fifteen (15) credits of Computer Science courses, which must include Intermediate Programming (601.220), Data Structures (601.226), and Computer System Fundamentals *(601.229). (*You can count either 601.229 Computer Systems Fundamentals, or 520.225 Advanced Digital Systems as a CE required course.)
• The program must also contain a substantial advanced laboratory and design experience component, appropriate for the student’s interests. This requirement can be met by taking twelve (12) credits of advanced laboratory, design-intensive, or senior design project courses from those given in the attached advising checklist in Section I.C. At least six (6) of these twelve credits must be from ECE or CS courses. A GPA of at least 2.0 must be maintained in Computer Engineering courses. Courses in this category may not be taken Pass/Fail.
• Six (6) credits of engineering courses from the School of Engineering departments other than Computer Science, ECE, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, or General Engineering. Students must complete enough of the approved non-CS/ECE advanced design labs so that they have at least twelve (12) credits of advanced laboratory, design-intensive, or senior design project courses. Courses in this group may not be taken Pass/Fail. Entrepreneurship and Management courses in the Center for Leadership Education CANNOT be counted as “other engineering courses”.
• Twenty-four (24) credits in mathematics courses taken from the Mathematics Department or the Applied Mathematics and Statistics Department. Calculus II (110.109), Calculus III (110.202), Linear Algebra (110.201) or Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (550.291), Discrete Mathematics (550.171), Probability and Statistics (550.311) or Introduction to Probability (550.420) must be taken. Elementary or precalculus courses, such as 110.105 or 550.111-112, are not acceptable. Courses in this category may not be taken Pass/Fail. Calculus I may be waived through an examination taken during freshman orientation. If not waived, it must be taken as a prerequisite to Calculus II.
• Sixteen (16) credits of basic sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, earth and planetary sciences), which must include General Physics (171.101-102), General Physics Laboratory (173.111-112), and Introductory Chemistry (030.101). Courses in this group may not be taken Pass/Fail. Courses coded NS cannot count under basic sciences. They can only be counted as a social science (S).
• At least six (6), three-credit courses in humanities and social sciences, for a total of 18 credits. The humanities and social sciences courses are one of the strengths of the academic programs at Johns Hopkins. They represent opportunities for students to appreciate some of the global and societal impacts of engineering, to understand contemporary issues, and to exchange ideas with scholars in other fields. Some of the courses will help students to communicate more effectively, to understand economic issues, or to analyze problems in an increasingly international world.
• The selection of courses should not consist solely of introductory courses but should have both depth and breadth. This means that students must take at least three (3) courses in a specific area with at least one of them at an advanced level (300 or 400 level). Courses in this group can be taken as Pass/Fail if they are not being used to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
• One of the following courses to fulfill the departmental Ethics requirement:
  661.315 Culture of the Engineering Profession (S designation), 660.310 Cases in Workplace Ethics (H designation), 660.463 Engineering Management & Leadership, 660.455 Reimagining the City in the Face of Climate Change
• Two (2) writing-intensive (W) courses (at least 3 credits each) are required. The writing-intensive courses cannot be taken Pass/Fail and require a C- or better grade. Students may wish to consider a course in Technical Communications to fulfill one of the writing-intensive requirements. The course 661.315, The Culture of the Engineering Profession, is recommended by the ECE Faculty as a writing-intensive course. It can also be used to fulfill the Ethics requirement.

A combined bachelor’s/master’s degree provides students with a number of distinct advantages:

1. Students graduate with a competitive edge in the job market.
2. Master’s degrees can usually be completed in one year instead of two as undergraduate courses may be counted toward the master’s degree.
3. After a Johns Hopkins student completes eight semesters and earns a bachelor’s degree, the Whiting School of Engineering will pay 50% of the student’s tuition every semester while he or she is a graduate student.

Eligibility and Application Process

• This program is available to any WSE undergraduate.
• Students are encouraged to discuss interest in the combined program with their advisor during the junior year to make sure they are well positioned to gain maximum benefit from the program.
• The application can be submitted at any time, beginning with the first semester of your junior year and ending with the first semester of your senior year. If the first semester of your senior year is the fall semester, you must submit your application by December 20th, 11:59 PM. If the first semester of your senior year is in the spring, the deadline to apply is October 13th at 11:59PM. If you missed the deadline, please speak with the academic program coordinator about alternative entry into the program.
• Admission decisions are made on academic performance that includes undergraduate GPA. Students are required to submit a statement of purpose and two letters of recommendation.
• ECE Graduate Policy on Double-Counting Courses: WSE policy allows Bachelors-Masters students to double-count two courses (400 level or higher), but also states that “If an individual program adopts double-counting policies stricter than these, the program’s policies override the school-wide policies.” ECE does not allow double-counting undergrad courses towards a Master’s Degree. Credits can only be used to fulfill requirements under one degree, not both.
• Undergraduate students can use 400 level courses to fulfill master’s level requirements while they are still registered as undergraduates, but once their undergraduate degree has been conferred, they must register for 600+ level courses.
• Please note that the four-year degree program and the combined BS/MSE program have identical requirements for the BS portion of the degree.

The Program Planning Chart is a tool that you can use to map out your courses each semester. All required courses are listed by name and are bolded.

Electrical Engineering

Computer Engineering

The Course Dependency Map shows you the different paths that you can follow in ECE, and the courses that you can take that fall under each category. It also shows how the courses progress, building on the information learned in the previous class.

Electrical Engineering Course Dependency Map

Computer Engineering Course Dependency Map

Head to the registrar’s website for a complete list of departmental courses with descriptions. See below for other benefits of the registrar’s website, and please note that not all courses are offered every year.

1. Online Registration
2. Current course offerings for all departments
3. Academic Calendars

You can get additional academic support by using the following resources:

• Tutoring is available through PILOT (Peer-led Team Learning) in Calculus II, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations & Applications, and Physics I & II, among several other classes.
• Learning Den Tutoring Services can assist with classes in all areas, from Engineering to Humanities. Click on the link for a list of supported courses.
• Help Rooms & Study Space in Chemistry, Math, and Physics
• Study Consulting Do you need help with studying? A study consultant can help you in a number of areas, including study skills, time management, test preparation, and more!
• The Writing Center offers undergraduate and graduate students free, individual conferences with experienced tutors, all of whom are trained to consult on written work. All students are welcome to use this resource.