Electrical Engineering

College of Engineering

Electrical Engineering students study the design, production, and operating devices of systems that use electric and electromagnetic energy for sensing, processing, visualizing and use of information. Subjects of study include circuits, systems and controls (robotics); signal and image processing; electronics, electronic devices, and photonics; computers; energy systems; electromagnetics and optics.

Major category: Capacity-constrained

Curricular options: Nanoscience & Molecular Engineering

Topic: Engineering

website   Degree requirements

Applicant type

Freshman

Freshmen can apply to the UW to begin autumn quarter or winter quarter (U.S. applicants only)

Read more about applying to the UW as a freshman, including details for programs that provide high school students with college credit (like Running Start).


Transfer

Quarters of general admission to UW: autumn / winter (U.S. applicants only) / spring

Preparation for the major is a factor in transfer admission.

  • Use the information below to help you prepare for this degree
  • Visit MyPlan to run a degree audit.
  • Use the UW Equivalency Guide to find out how courses taken at a Washington state community or technical college will transfer to the UW.
  • UW college and school graduation requirements

Department admission information

  • Departmental application deadline: April 5
  • Please contact the department for details about the application process.
This major is capacity-constrained. Completion of prerequisites does not guarantee admission. Transfer students must submit two separate applications: one to the Office of Admissions and one to Electrical Engineering.

Transfer students applying through the admission process can request admission to either Electrical Engineering or Electrical & Computer Engineering through the autumn 2023 admission cycle. As of autumn 2024, the Electrical & Computer Engineering degree will be the only undergraduate option for students seeking admission to the ECE department.

Major Profile: In the admission decision for this and every major, a wide range of factors are taken into consideration. The profile should not be used to overstate the importance of grades in the admission decision for academic majors but it may offer some guidance as you plan for transfer.

To be eligible to apply, you must have a 2.0 (“C” grade) minimum GPA in each prerequisite course and a 2.5 cumulative GPA in all the prerequisites. These are minimums; the actual GPA of those admitted is much higher.

To plan your transfer, be sure to utilize the engineering transfer admission website and contact the department if you have additional questions. A separate departmental application is required in addition to the UW application for admission. For more information, please visit the department’s website.

Read more about applying to the UW as a transfer student.

Courses required for the major:

  • CHEM 142 NSc RSN – General Chemistry 1
  • MATH 124 NSc RSN – Calculus Analytic Geometry I 1
  • MATH 125 NSc – Calculus Analytic Geometry II 1
  • MATH 126 NSc – Calculus Analytic Geometry III 1
  • MATH 207 NSc – Introduction to Differential Equations2
  • PHYS 121 NSc RSN – Mechanics 1
  • PHYS 122 NSc – Electromagnetism 1
  • PHYS 123 NSc – Waves, Light, and Heat 2
  • 5 Credits English composition C 1

Notes:

1 Application requirements (completed by application deadline)
2 Enrollment requirements (completed by the start of your first quarter in the major)

A minimum of 60 credits completed by the April 5th application deadline.

 

Entering transfer information:

Total undergraduates: 419
Total from Washington community colleges: 93

Entering transfer GPA (from WA community colleges):

3.75 – 4.00: 34
3.50 – 3.74: 22
3.25 – 3.49: 17
3.00 – 3.24: 12
2.75 – 2.99: 5
2.50 – 2.74: 2
2.49 and below: 1


Career outcomes