Editor’s Note: This is the sixth in our continuing series of highlighting CSU’s new integrated degrees program

Cleveland State University recently became the first institution of higher education in Northeast Ohio to offer 11 new interdisciplinary degrees designed to empower undergraduate students with the skills, versatility and adaptability they need to work at the intersection of multiple disciplines or fields. They are each a purposefully designed blend of curriculum for students whose paths require expertise in several disciplines. 

The university’s combined majors developed not only from faculty members’ proposals, but also from collaboration with local employers, who weighed in on which of the proposed programs might meet the area’s workforce needs.

“As a regional public, as an institution that seeks to serve this community, we said, what do our employers need?” said CSU Provost Nigamanth Sridhar, who is spearheading the initiative.

Today, we are highlighting the Electrical Engineering + Computer Science, Bachelor of Science.

The Electrical Engineering + Computer Science B.S. provides a solid foundation in the principles of mathematics, science and engineering in a variety of contexts. Students can really focus on their ability to analyze and interpret data, understand electronics, digital systems, controls as well as coding, programming and operating systems. Additionally, understanding the design and development of computer systems and software and the design and development of electrical systems, students will be able to bridge the gap between software and hardware.

Chair and Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Murad Hizlan says not only does a degree in electrical engineering start with a strong foundation of math and physics, but it builds on that with core courses in circuit and electronics, and supplement these with more specialized courses in areas such as control systems, communication systems, computer systems, power systems/electronics, amongst others.

“Other more advance courses (technical electives) in various areas of electrical engineering, a strong presence of hands-on laboratory experience, a capstone design sequence, some programming courses and core curriculum courses round up the degree program,” he said. “A degree in computer science would also have a strong foundation in math, significantly more emphasis on programming concepts, languages and operating systems, and advanced courses in computer science and related CS technical electives, in addition to core curriculum and capstone design.”

Hizlan also stressed the importance of what makes this combination work relatively easily is the significant commonality of the math, and to some extent physics, foundation between the two disciplines. 

“To make this work, some specialization areas from electrical engineering (such as communications and power) are dropped from the usual curriculum, and some advanced computer science and courses electives are dropped from the typical CS curriculum,” he said.

CAREER OUTLOOK

Students graduating with this degree can pursue career paths as software developers, embedded system engineers, robotics engineers, systems analysts, electrical design engineers, control systems engineers and computer science. The interdisciplinary nature of the degree allows for a wide range of career opportunities. 

“This degree prepares the student to have the broad knowledgebase to work in EE + CS related industries and provides the necessary foundation to easily branch into various specializations within these industries,” said Hizlan. “It is the ideal degree for the student who cannot decide between electrical engineering and computer science, both of which are highly sought-after majors.”

Hizlan added that this integrated degree is especially important since it is a rather natural combination of highly related disciplines.  

“It is likely for electrical engineering graduates to work in settings where they would be expected to have or attain significant computer science knowledge to do their work. Similarly, computer science graduates may work in environments where they may be expected to attain some understanding of electrical or computer engineering,” he said. “While no single degree can claim to completely prepare a graduate for its intended work environment with no need for additional workplace training, EE+CS comes very close to this ideal.”

This integrated degree is expected to be ABET-accredited, like all other programs within the College of Engineering.

For more information on CSU’s new integrated degree programs, click here. 

For more information on the Electrical Engineering + Computer Science B.S, click here.