Electrical Engineering

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Do you have an analytical mind? Are you a stand-out in math, science and physics? Are you detail-oriented, a good communicator, enjoy problem-solving and excel at it?  Are you an early adopter of technology, always searching for growth opportunities or looking beyond the obvious to get to a better solution? If so, you might enjoy a career in electrical engineering.

Electrical engineering incorporates designing, developing, testing and supervising the manufacturing of electrical equipment such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, or power generation equipment. It involves large-scale production and distribution of electrical power components or systems for commercial, industrial, military or scientific use.

You might work as an electrical design engineer, detailing design phases of product development with 3D CAD models and drawings to support the production of an aircraft.

In the ever-changing field of healthcare, you might work in a tech start-up making sure that medical devices positively impact the lives of millions around the world.

For a large consulting firm, you might design analog and digital circuits to monitor and control systems or generate system schematics and isolation diagrams.

In all, electrical engineers try out many ideas to find optimal solutions while providing a higher standard of living and saving employers money as they increase productivity.

The Vern Electrical Engineering Advantage

Preparing you to be fundamentally sound and application-ready

A common core engineering curriculum allows exposure to all disciplines before selecting a major. For the first three semesters, all engineering majors will take the same core courses in the same sequence. All students will take at least one course in electrical as well as mechanical and industrial engineering. In addition to becoming well-rounded, you will have the option to switch majors if you find an affinity for one over the other.

Four semesters of interdisciplinary design courses

The first-year design course features an industry-based project that gives you real-world hands-on project experience. It will be mentored by industry professionals overseeing a team of three to five students on a project.

The second-year design course focuses on designing a problem-solving solution using advanced and additive manufacturing techniques.

The third-year design course will be a co-op or research experience.

The fourth-year design course will be a senior capstone design course spanning the entire senior year. As with the first year, all engineering program students at the senior level will be integrated into this course and broken into teams consisting of three to five students.

All delivered in a new model for higher education

Alvernia is committed to creating programs, educational experiences and delivering services that meet the 21st century demands of both students and industry partners. The student-centered business incubator provides experiential learning opportunities where you can engage in innovative and creative thinking as well as real-world problem-solving.

With the 2019 launch of Reading CollegeTowne, Alvernia’s new building at 401 Penn Street will house our engineering programs, state-of-the-art labs and research facilities. Our engineering programs will partner heavily with local industry including the entrepreneurial community and other institutions of higher education to deliver a world-class education.

Careers in Electrical Engineering

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8,000 additional electrical engineering jobs will be added by 2028 and last year’s median salary for electrical engineers was $101,250 per year.

• Aerospace engineer
• Automotive engineer
• Computer hardware engineer
• Computer software engineer
• Electronics circuit & instrumental engineer
• Electronics materials engineer
• Medical engineer
• Mobile & communications engineer
• Robotics & systems engineer
• Semiconductor engineer

Electrical Engineering Program Details

Curriculum

To earn the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, students must successfully complete a minimum of 123 semester credits.

Electrical Engineering Major Core (56 credits):

• EGR 107 Engineering Lab Safety  (1 credit) 
• EGR 110 Engineering Design I (1 credit)
• EGR 206 Mechatronics (3 credits)
• EGR 210 Engineering Design II (1 credit)
• EGR 480 Senior Capstone Design I (2 credits)
• EGR 481 Senior Capstone Design II (2 credits)
• EE 200 Circuits I with lab (4 credits)
• EE 201 Circuits II (3 credits)
• EE 210 Digital Design with lab (4 credits)
• EE 300 Electronics I with lab (4 credits)
• EE 301 Electronics II (3 credits)
• EE 311 Electromagnetics I (3 credits)
• EE 312 Electromagnetics II (3 credits)
• EE 331 Energy Storage Devices (3 credits)
• EE 400 Communications (4 credits)
• EE 410 Advanced Materials & Systems for Electronics & Photonics (3 credits)
• EE 421 Control Systems (3 credits)

Major Electives (9 credits):

EGR 311 Engineering Design III, EE 351 Topics in Electrical Engineering (multiple can be taken as long as the course descriptions are different), or any IE or ME courses at the 300-400 level

Required Related Areas (47 credits):

• MAT 230 Calculus I (4 credits)
• MAT 231 Calculus II (4 credits)
• MAT 232 Calculus III (4 credits)
• MAT 322 Differential Equations (3 credits)
• MAT 345 Applied Probability & Linear Models (4 credits)
• PHY 200 Physics I (4 credits)
• PHY 201 Physics II (4 credits)
• PHY 202 Statics (3 credits)
• PHY 304 Modern Physics (4 credits)
• CHE 104 General Chemistry I (3 credits)
• CHE 110 General Chemistry I lab (1 credit)
• CS 155 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (3 credits)
• PHI 208 Ethics & Technology (3 credits)
• THR 244 Computer-Assisted Design (3 credits)

SEARCH Liberal Arts Core

As with all of our programs, the engineering program will develop ethical leaders with moral courage, extensively prepared and qualified to handle the rigors of your chosen discipline.

Engineering will seamlessly integrate SEARCH - an arduous, open inquiry into the enduring questions that shape the human experience - into the curriculum.

Our core discipline training provides the foundation to start a successful career, but it is the general education (SEARCH) curriculum that will enable you to sustain and advance in your career and remain life-long learners.

Experiential Learning 

Through internships and co-ops, engineering students have opportunities to apply theories and knowledge learned in the classroom in a variety of professional settings.

In addition to providing exposure to the activities and expectations of a real-world workplace, internship experiences help students develop a network of professional contacts.

Engineering majors will have the opportunity to participate in advanced industry-applied research complimented by professional mentoring. Students will intern in advanced industry or faculty research labs, be exposed to cutting edge technologies, and work side by side with industry professionals.

Tuition

To determine the cost of this program, please visit our Tuition page.  For a personalized estimate, please contact an admissions counselor at 610-790-8269 or at admissions@alvernia.edu.

Financial Aid

100% of Alvernia students receive some form of scholarship and/or aid. Our admissions counselors can help you identify the aid that is available to you and for your program. For more information, visit our Financial Aid page.

Accreditation

All programs offered by Alvernia University are approved by the Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

Learn More

For more information about Alvernia's Electrical Engineering Program, please contact the Admissions Office at 1-888-ALVERNIA or 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu.