Program Description

This four-year program develops the required knowledge, skills, and dispositions to face the dynamics of technological environment in contemporary society. Throughout the program, theoretical and practical experiences are interwoven with socio-humanistic studies, mathematics, basic science, engineering science, and engineering design experience.

The design experience begins during the first year of studies with an introductory course in engineering design, which aims to develop students’ creativity and problem-solving skills. This focus on design continues throughout the curriculum culminating in a significant design experience within a final Capstone Course. Real-life complex engineering problems are defined and solved by integrating the fundamental elements of modern design theory, methodology and tools.

The Electrical Engineering Program offers two areas of interest: a) Smart Grid Power Systems, and b) Communications, Signals, and Controls Systems. The Smart Grid Power Systems area of interest prepares students for planning, design, and operation of centralized and distributed generation, smart grid transmission and distribution, and end-user electrical systems. The Communications, Signals and Controls Systems area of interest prepares students for the design of analog and digital electronics, industrial process automation and control, and wireless cellular communications networks. Students selecting the Smart Grid Power Systems area of interest are required to take twenty-four (24) credit-hours from the required area courses, and nine (9) credit-hours from a pool of elective area courses, for a total of thirty-three (33) credit-hours. Students selecting the Communications, Signals and Controls Systems area of interest are required to take eleven (11) credit-hours as required area courses, and twenty-two (22) credit-hours from a pool of elective area courses, for a total of thirty-three (33) credit-hours. The students set their educational objectives for Electrical Engineering when they select one of these main areas of interest.

Program Mission

To educate graduates with a broad background in computers, mathematics, science, and electrical engineering capable of performing successfully as electrical engineers and pursuing graduate studies.

Program Educational Objectives

Within a few years of graduation, the PUPR Electrical Engineering program graduates are expected to attain the following:

1. Establish themselves as practicing professionals in PR or USA integrating rapidly to changing job demands and gradually obtaining leadership positions.
2. Hold positions of increasing responsibility in an electrical engineering field or related area, demonstrating professional competence and ethical behavior.
3. Contribute to their organization or discipline as an active member of a professional team or as a technical liaison in a bilingual (Spanish-English) environment.
4. Continue their professional development through independent learning, involvement in advanced professional studies in electrical engineering or related areas or enrolling in graduate school.

Student Outcomes

By the time of graduation, students of the Electrical Engineering program at PUPR are expected to have attained the following:

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze, and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Academic Load

The minimum full-time load per trimester is twelve (12) credit-hours. To register for sixteen (16) credit-hours or above, the student must obtain the approval of the department head and dean. Credits will not be awarded for courses in which the student is not properly registered.

Duration

The program’s format offers career-minded professionals the unique opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in four years while continuing to work in their current positions. It is also suitable for full-time students who have the desire to commit to a more demanding academic schedule. The program may be completed in four years by enrolling in about eleven (11) to fourteen (14) credits per term.

Academic Schedule

Registration for all students is held prior to the beginning of each term on designated registration days, as stipulated on the Academic Calendar. Completion of registration for each term is required prior to class attendance. The academic year consists of three terms, and three summer sessions. One summer session for engineering courses, and two summer sessions for arts and sciences courses. Fall, winter, and spring classes are scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Students are required to make-up class contact hours lost because of holidays.

Career Opportunities

The alignment of the Electrical Engineering program with industry requirements assures that graduates of this program will remain in high demand. Today, our electric power industry constituents face challenges for providing an efficient and economical energy supply to satisfy increasing exigencies by applying traditional schemes as well as using smart power distribution and control technologies, and new alternative energy sources. Other constituents of the communication industry have also been undergoing sweeping changes (i.e., wireless technology, 5G-cellular, optic fiber, etc.), forever transforming people’s lives and culture. Increasing demands for efficiency, productivity, and multiple bottom-line goals in the modern enterprise require the smart application of automation, controls, and ubiquitous interconnectedness while preserving ethical, environmental, and humanistic goals. The demands of these and other related fields of human endeavor assure the availability of highly satisfying, high impact jobs for our well-equipped graduates in the foreseeable future.

Developmental Studies

All students that request admission and are admitted to the Electrical Engineering Program must show evidence that they have acquired the academic abilities and skills necessary to progress through this major. Those not demonstrating the complete acquisition of these abilities and skills will be required to take some of these developmental courses. Abilities and skills are demonstrated through the results of the College Entrance Examination Board Test, results of PUPR’s placement test, previous university experience, and other tests or criteria. The courses are designed to help students overcome deficiencies in languages, mathematics, and science. These developmental courses are in addition to the 150 credits of the Electrical Engineering Program. The courses are awarded their corresponding credits according to contact hours. The courses are the following:

Developmental Studies Component

(Maximum of 30 Credit-Hours)

Laboratories

The ECECS Department provides undergraduate teaching and/or research laboratories in the following subjects: Electrical Measurements, Electronics, Power Electronics, Communications, Logic Circuits, Process Control & Instrumentation, Electromechanical Energy Conversion, Power System Analysis, Power System Protection, Computer Programming, Computer Interfacing, Computer Architecture, Computer Networks, Real Time Digital Signal Processing, Fundamentals of Digital Signal Processing, Automation Engineering, Robotic Engineering, and Plasma Engineering.

Student Organizations

The students enrolled in the department may become members of any of the following organizations:

• IEEE Student Branch – This is an organization for undergraduates currently enrolled in electrical engineering programs.  Branches are organized under the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., the world’s largest professional engineering society.

Degree Offered

PUPR offers a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) degree. In order to earn the BSEE degree, the student must complete the following requirements:

Minimum Graduation Requirements 

15         Credit-hours in Mathematics

14         Credit-hours in Basic Sciences

21         Credit-hours in Socio-Humanistic Studies and Languages

12         Credit-hours in Engineering Sciences

52         Credit-hours in Basic Electrical Engineering Component

33         Credit-hours in Smart Grid Power Systems or Communications, Signals & Controls Systems Track Options

 3          Credit-hours in Free Electives

150      Total Credit-hours

Electrical Engineering Curriculum

(150 Credit-Hours)

Mathematics Component
(15 Credit-Hours)

Basic Sciences Component
(14 Credit-Hours)

Socio-Humanistic Studies and Languages Component
(21 Credit-Hours)

Engineering Sciences Component
(12 Credit-Hours)

Electrical Engineering Basic Core Component
(52 Credit-Hours)

Free Electives
(3 Credit-Hours)

Select any three credit-hours, except electrical engineering courses offered as service course for non-electrical engineering students.

Program Electives Component

Communications, Signals & Controls Systems Area of Interest
(Must take 33 Credit-Hours)

Must select 11 credit-hours in required area courses in the “Communications, Signals & Controls Systems Area of Interest”, and other 22 credit-hours in elective area courses.  CECS courses will also be available as department electives.  Of the program electives, a total of 14 credit-hours must be in EE or COE 4th year level, or CECS 3rd year level. No CS courses will be accepted.  At least two credit-hours, or their equivalent in laboratory experience must be included.  Elective courses must amount to at least eight credit-hours of design.

Required Area Courses
(Must take 11 Credit-Hours)

(*)Technical Elective Course: any Civil Engineering (CE) elective course; or any Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) elective course; or an Environmental Engineering (ENVE) course approved by the Department Head; or a Land Surveying (SURV) course approved by the Department Head; or a Geomatic Science (GEOM) course approved by the Department Head; or any of the following General Engineering courses: ENGI 2320-Principles of Electrical Engineering, ENGI 2430-Engineering Thermodynamics, or ENGI 3510-Engineering Materials; or a technical course approved by the Department Head. Those students enrolled in the Combined Bachelor’s-Master’s Degree Program may take a graduate-level course as a Technical Elective Course with the approval of the Department Head

Elective Area Courses
(Must take 22 credits, at least 14 credits in EE 4XXX or CECS 3XXX Level Courses)

Note: Availability of courses EE 4902, EE 4904 and EE 4990, EE 4991, as well as CS 4990, and COE 4990 for the Electrical Engineering Program students, will be determined by the department head, depending on the specific teaching or research topic.

Program Electives Component

Smart Grid Power Systems Area of Interest
(Must take 33 Credit-Hours)

Must select 24 credit-hours in required area courses in the “Smart Grid Power Systems Area of Interest”, and other nine credit-hours in elective area courses. CECS courses will also be available as department electives. Of the program electives area courses, a total of 14 credit-hours must be in courses EE or COE 4th year level. No CS courses will be accepted. At least two credit-hours, or their equivalent in laboratory experience must be included. Elective courses must include at least eight credit-hours of design.

Required Area Courses
(Must take 24 Credit-Hours)

Elective Area Courses
(Must take nine credits, at least four credits in EE 4XXX Level Courses)

Note: Availability of courses EE 4902, EE 4904 and EE 4990, EE 4991, as well as CS 4990, and COE 4990 for the Electrical Engineering Program students, will be determined by the department head, depending on the specific teaching or research topic.

Electrical Engineering Program Curriculum Sequence

(150 Credit-Hours)

First Year
First Quarter

1^st Year – Second Quarter

1^st Year – Third Quarter

Second Year
First Quarter

2^nd Year – Second Quarter

(Only for Students in Smart Grid Power Systems Area of Interest) 

2^nd Year – Third Quarter

Third Year
First Quarter

3^rd Year – Second Quarter

3^rd Year – Third Quarter

Fourth Year
First Quarter

4^th Year – Second Quarter

4^th Year – Third Quarter

(Only for Students in Communications, Signals & Controls Systems Area of Interest)

2^nd Year – Third Quarter

Third Year
First Quarter

3^rd Year – Second Quarter

3^rd Year – Third Quarter

Fourth Year
First Quarter

4^th Year – Second Quarter

4^th Year – Third Quarter

Program Courses

Computer Engineering and Computer Science Courses

(Go to the ECECS Department Courses for the Description)

CECS       2200                                    Computer Programming Fundamentals

CECS       2202                                    Computer Programming I

CECS       2203                                    Computer Programming I Laboratory

CECS       3216                                    Machine Learning

CECS       3218                                    Data Engineering for Machine Learning I

CECS       3234                                    UNIX Operating System

CECS       3302                                    Data Communications

CECS       4224                                    Deep Learning

CECS       4232                                    Data Engineering for Machine Learning II

CECS       4240                                    Real-Time Operating Systems

Computer Engineering Courses

(Go to the ECECS Department Courses for the Description)

COE        2300                                    Logic Circuits

COE        2301                                    Logic Circuits Laboratory

COE        3302                                    Digital System Design with VHDL

COE        3303                                    Digital Systems Design with VHDL Laboratory 

COE        3320                                    Microprocessors

COE        3321                                    Microprocessors Laboratory

COE        4330                                    Computer Networks

COE        4331                                    Computer Networks Laboratory

COE        4340                                    Microcomputer Interfacing

COE        4341                                    Microcomputer Interfacing Laboratory

Electrical Engineering Courses

(Go to the ECECS Department Courses for the Description)

EE           1130                                    Freshman Design for Electrical & Computer Engineers

EE           2000                                    Circuit Analysis I

EE           2001                                    Electrical Measurements Laboratory

EE           2010                                    Computational Methods in Electrical & Computer Engineering

EE           2020                                    Circuit Analysis II

EE           2030                                    Electromagnetics Theory

EE           2402                                    Electromechanical Energy Conversion

EE           2403                                    Electromechanical Energy Conversion Laboratory

EE           2500                                    Electronics I

EE           2501                                    Electronics I Laboratory

EE           3002                                    Signals & Systems

EE           3220                                    Software Applications for Electrical Engineering

EE           3412                                    Electric Machines Control

EE           3413                                    Electric Machines Control Laboratory

EE           3420                                    Power Systems Analysis I

EE           3440                                    Electric System Design I

EE           3510                                    Electronics II

EE           3511                                    Electronics II Laboratory

EE           3512                                    Power Electronics

EE           3513                                    Power Electronics Laboratory

EE           3600                                    Automatic Controls

EE           3610                                    Automation Engineering

EE           3611                                    Automation Engineering Laboratory

EE           3702                                    Fundamentals of Wireless Communications & Cellular Networks

EE           3710                                    Random Processes

EE           4002                                    Capstone Design Course I

EE           4010                                    Electromagnetics Theory II

EE           4022                                    Capstone Design Course II

EE           4030                                    Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC/EMI)

EE           4031                                    Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC/EMI) Laboratory

EE           4220                                    Fundamentals of Software Processes, Databases, and Networking

EE           4400                                    Power Systems Analysis II

EE           4401                                    Power Systems Analysis Laboratory

EE           4422                                    Electric Power Quality

EE           4432                                    Power System Protection

EE           4433                                    Power System Protection Laboratory

EE           4438                                    Smart Distribution Systems Engineering

EE           4442                                    Lighting Fundamentals Design

EE           4444                                    Electric System Design II

EE           4462                                    Electrical Construction Project Management

EE           4464                                    Generation Control Systems

EE           4466                                    Renewable Energy Systems

EE           4602                                    Process Control & Instrumentation

EE           4603                                    Process Control & Instrumentation Laboratory

EE           4606                                    Digital Control Systems

EE           4612                                    Control System Design

EE           4620                                    Robotic Engineering Design

EE           4621                                    Robotic Engineering Design Laboratory

EE           4622                                    Industrial Automation

EE           4640                                    Avionics Systems

EE           4706                                    Fiber Optics System Design

EE           4720                                    Digital Signal Processing

EE           4724                                    Digital Data Transmission Systems

EE           4736                                    Communication Systems, Simulation & Design

EE           4742                                    Advanced Mobile Networks and Technologies

EE           4902                                    Undergraduate Research in Electrical Engineering

EE           4904                                    Undergraduate Research in Electrical Engineering II

EE           4911                                    Electrical Engineering Seminar I

EE           4912                                    Electrical Engineering Seminar II

EE           4990/4991                          Special Topics in Electrical Engineering

Other Department Courses

(Go to the Mathematics and Sciences Department Courses for the Description)

MATH    2360                                    Linear Algebra