Co-Chairs: Melvin A. Breuer, Ph.D. (Systems); Martin Gundersen, Ph.D. (Electrophysics)

Associate Chair (Systems): Melvin Breuer, Ph.D. (Computer Science)

Associate Chair (Electrophysics): Hans H. Kuehl, Ph.D.

Faculty

Zohrab A. Kaprielian Dean’s Chair in Engineering: Leonard M. Silverman, Ph.D.

Lloyd F. Hunt Chair in Electrical Power Engineering: Tsen-Chung Cheng, Sc.D.

William M. Keck Chair in Engineering: P. Daniel Dapkus, Ph.D.

George T. Pfleger Chair in Electrical Engineering: Robert W. Hellwarth, Ph.D. (Physics)

Charles Lee Powell Chair in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science: Melvin Breuer, Ph.D. (Computer Science)

William M. Hogue Professorship in Electrical Engineering: William H. Steier, Ph.D.

Andrew and Erna Viterbi Char in Communications Solomon W. Golomb, Ph. D.

Professors: Michael Arbib, Ph.D. (Computer Science, Neurobiology, Biomedical Engineering); Stanley P. Azen, Ph.D. (Preventive Medicine and Biomedical Engineering); George A. Bekey, Ph.D. (Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering and Speech Science and Technology); Melvin Breuer, Ph.D.* (Computer Science); Tsen-Chung Cheng, Sc.D.; John Choma, Jr., Ph.D.*; P. Daniel Dapkus, Ph.D.; Michel Dubois, Ph.D. (Physics); Jack Feinberg, Ph.D. (Physics); Robert M. Gagliardi, Ph.D.; Jean-Luc Gaudiot, Ph.D.; Seymour Ginsburg, Ph.D. (Computer Science); Solomon W. Golomb, Ph.D. (Mathematics); Martin Gundersen, Ph.D. (Physics); Robert W. Hellwarth, Ph.D. (Physics); Ellis Horowitz, Ph.D. (Computer Science) Kai Hwang, Ph.D. (Computer Science); Petros Ioannou, Ph.D.; Edmond Jonckheere, Ph.D.; Robert Kalaba, Ph.D. (Biomedical Engineering and Economics and Speech Science and Technology); Thomas Katsouleas, Ph.D.; Chung-Chieh Kuo, Ph.D.; Hans H. Kuehl, Ph.D.*; P. Vijay Kumar, Ph.D.; Richard Leahy, Ph.D.* (Biomedical Engineering, Radiology); Anthony F. J. Levi, Ph.D.; William C. Lindsey, Ph.D.; Vasilis Z. Marmarelis, Ph.D. (Biomedical Engineering); Jerry M. Mendel, Ph.D.; Ramakant Nevatia, Ph.D. (Computer Science); Chrysostomos L. Nikias, Ph.D.; George P. Papavassilopoulos, Ph.D.; Alice C. Parker, Ph.D.; V. Prasanna, Ph.D.; Aristides Requicha, Ph.D. (Computer Science); Michael J. Safonov, Ph.D.; Steven B. Sample, Ph.D.; Alexander A. Sawchuk, Ph.D.*; Robert A. Scholtz, Ph.D.; John Silvester, Ph.D.; William H. Steier, Ph.D.; William G. Wagner, Ph.D. (Physics); Charles L. Weber, Ph.D.; Alan Willner, Ph.D.*; Curt F. Wittig, Ph.D. (Chemistry and Physics); Stanley M. Yamashiro, Ph.D. (Biomedical Engineering); Zhen Zhang, Ph.D.

Associate Professors: Peter Beerel, Ph.D.; Keith M. Chugg, Ph.D.; Sandeep Gupta, Ph.D.; Keith Jenkins, Ph.D.; Eun Sok Kim, Ph.D.; Bart Kosko, Ph.D.; Urbashi Mitra, Ph.D.; Richard Nottenburg, Ph.D.; Antonio Ortega, Ph.D.; Massoud Pedram, Ph.D.*; Timothy Pinkston, Ph.D.; Aluizio Prata, Jr., Ph.D.*; Armand R. Tanguay, Jr., Ph.D. (Materials Science)

Assistant Professors: Joâo Hespanha, Ph.D.; Ahmed Helmy, Ph.D.; Christos Kyriakakis, Ph.D.; Daniel C. Lee, Ph.D.; Gerard Medioni, Ph.D. (Computer Science); Won Namgoong, Ph.D.; John O’Brien, Ph.D.; Chongwu Zhou, Ph.D.

Adjunct Professors: Paul L. Feintuch, Ph.D.; Lloyd Griffiths, Ph.D.; Kirby Holte, Ph.D.; Sukhan Lee, Ph.D. (Computer Science); Virendra N. Mahajan, Ph.D.; Mostafa Shiva, Ph.D.; Trieu-Kien Truong, Ph.D.; Monte Ung, Ph.D.

Adjunct Associate Professors: James Ellison, Ph.D.; Bayesteh Ghaffary, Ph.D.; Srinivasiengar Govind, Ph.D.; Alan Kost, Ph.D.; Ram C. Mukherji, M.S.; Gandhi Puvvada, M.S.; Edgar Satorius, Ph.D.; Keith Soo Hoo, Ph.D.; Ali A. Zahid, M.S.

Adjunct Assistant Professors: Douglas Bender, Ph.D.; Serge Dubovitsky, Ph.D.; Lute Maleki, Ph.D.; Toyone Mayeda, M.S.

Research Professors: Elliot I. Axelband, Ph.D.; Milton Birnbaum, Ph.D.

Research Associate Professor: Keith L. Price, Ph.D. (Computer Science)

Senior Lecturers: Kian Kaviani, Ph.D.; Edward Maby, Ph.D.

Instructor in Electrical Engineering: Joe Ed Baker, Engr.

Emeritus Professors: Clarence Crowell, Ph.D. (Materials Science); Murray Gershenzon, Ph.D.* (Materials Science); Kurt Lehovec, Ph.D. (Materials Science); Jack Munushian, Ph.D.; Eberhardt Rechtin, Ph.D. (Industrial and Systems Engineering and Aerospace Engineering); Irving S. Reed, Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering); Jan Smit, Ph.D. (Materials Science); William G. Spitzer, Ph.D. (Physics and Materials Science); Lloyd Welch, Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering); David B. Wittry, Ph.D. (Materials Science)

Emeritus Instructor: Sydney A. Wielin, B.S.

*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.

Electrical Engineering Honor Society: Eta Kappa Nu

The undergraduate programs in electrical engineering have the following objectives:

(1) Graduates will have the proficiency in mathematics, science, and engineering necessary to apply these principles effectively to the solution of problems encountered in modern electrical engineering practice.

(2) Graduates will have the preparation to compete effectively in the current world of rapid technological innovation as well as to become leaders in industrial, academic and governmental environments.

(3) Students have the opportunity to tailor their undergraduate plan of study to provide the preparation necessary either to embark immediately into professional practice or to engage in graduate level studies in such diverse areas as engineering, computer science, medicine, multimedia, law, business or music.

(4) Graduates will have the capability to model, analyze and design practical systems or components to meet desired economic and technical requirements and specifications.

(5) Graduates will have an understanding of the importance of high ethical and professional standards as well as the importance of engineering issues, decisions and solutions in a global, environmental and societal context.

(6) Graduates will have the capabilities and communication skills to function effectively as individuals or as members of multidisciplinary teams in an environment of rapid technological change and global competition.

(7) Graduates will have the background necessary to design and conduct laboratory experiments using modern, up-to-date equipment and techniques, and to analyze and interpret the data.

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

The requirement for the degree is 131 units. A cumulative scholarship average of C (2.0) is required for: (a) all courses taken at USC; (b) all courses taken within the Department of Electrical Engineering; (c) all upper division courses taken within the Department of Electrical Engineering.See also the common requirements for undergraduate degrees section.

CHEM 105aL	General Chemistry, or
CHEM 115aL	Advanced General Chemistry, or
MASC 110L	Materials Science	4
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
WRIT 140*	Writing and Critical Reasoning	4
General education*	Social Issues	4
		____
		16

CSCI 101L	Fundamentals of Computer Programming	3
EE 105	Introduction to Electrical Engineering	3
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
PHYS 151L**	Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics	4
General education		4
		____
		18

EE 101	Introduction to Digital Logic	3
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
PHYS 152L	Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism	4
General education		4
		____
		15

EE 202L	Linear Circuits	4
MATH 245	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I	4
PHYS 153L	Fundamentals of Physics III: Optics and Modern Physics	4
Electives	See requirements for graduation	5
		____
		17

EE 301a	Introduction to Linear Systems	3
EE 364	Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Electrical Engineering	3
MATH 445	Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II	4
Electives	See requirements for graduation	3
WRIT 340	Advanced writing	3
		____
		16

EE 330	Electromagnetics I	3
ISE 460	Engineering Economy, or
BUAD 301	Technical Entrepreneurship	3
Electives	See requirements for graduation following	7
General education		4
		____
		17

Electives	See requirements for graduation following	12
General education		4
		____
		16

Electives	See requirements for graduation following	16
		____
		16

*Taken concurrently.

**Satisfies general education category III.

All elective courses are to be 200-level or above. Engineering electives are to be chosen from the courses listed under entry-level electives, areas of specialization, non-EE engineering science elective and EE design electives.

The entry-level courses listed under three of the four following topical areas are required:

Communication, Control and Signal Processing: EE 241 (3), EE 301b (3)

Computer Engineering: EE 102L (2), EE 357 (3)

Electromagnetics and Energy Conversion: EE 370 (3), EE 470 (3)

Electronic Devices and Circuits: EE 338 (3), EE 348L (4)

Courses in at least one of the 13 areas of specialization listed below are required:

Control Systems (take 3): EE 401 (3), EE 454L (4/CD*), EE 482 (3)

Systems (take 3 of 4): EE 434L (4/CD*), EE 467x (3), EE 482 (3), EE 483 (3)

Digital Signal Processing: EE 434L (3/CD*), EE 469, EE 483 (3)

Communication Networks (take 3 of 4): Communication Networks (take 3 of 4): EE 450 (3), EE/CS 455x (4), EE 467x (3), CSCI 402x (3)

Modern Communication Systems: (take 3 of 4) EE 401 (3), EE 447L (4/D**), EE 450 (3), EE 467x (3)

Robotics: EE 454L (4/CD*), EE 482 (3), CSCI 445 (3).

Computer Architecture and Organization: EE 454L (4/CD*), EE 457x (3), EE 459L (3/CD*)

Hardware/Software (take 3 of 4): CSCI 402x (3), CSCI 455x (4), EE 454L (4/CD), EE 457x (3)

Computer Networks (take 3 of 4): CSCI 402x (3), CSCI 455x (4), EE 450 (3), EE 457x (3).

Energy Conversion (take 3 of 4): EE 440 (3), EE 442 (3), EE 443 (3), EE 444L (4/D**)

Lasers: EE 471 (3), EE 472 (3), EE 473L (3/D**).

Electronic Circuits (take 3 of 4): EE 447L (4/D**), EE 448 (3/D**), EE 478L (4/CD*), EE 479L (4/D**)

Integrated Circuits: EE 438L (3/D**), EE 448 (3/D**), EE 477L (4/CD*).

At least one elective must be a non-EE engineering science elective, either from the list below: CE 205, 225, 309, 325; CHE 472; ME 201, 310, 452, 453; or others by special advisor approval.

At least three courses must be taken from the following list of design courses: EE 402, 434L*, 438L, 444L, 448, 447L, 454L*, 459L*, 473L, 477L*, 478L*, 479L, including one of the asterisked capstone design courses.

*CD – Capstone Design Elective
**D – Design Elective

The Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (Computers) is earned by successfully completing the normal requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with the following courses chosen as EE electives: EE 454L; CSCI 455x; EE 457x; EE 478L.

See the listing under Computer Engineering.

If a student chooses six courses (9 to 18 units) from a prescribed program, he or she may graduate with the special designation Area of Emphasis in Manufacturing Engineering on the transcript. Details are given under Manufacturing Engineering.

See listing under Multimedia and Creative Technologies.

A minor in music recording is offered through the USC Thornton School of Music to provide undergraduate students with the background necessary to enter the field of recording engineering and to familiarize them with the design needs of modern recording equipment. The minor is recommended to electrical engineering majors with extensive musical training who would like to combine their technical and musical abilities while learning the engineering applications of physical and mathematical principles to the art of music recording. See the USC School of Music.

A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be earned on all course work applied toward the master’s degree in electrical engineering. This average must also be achieved on all 400-level and above course work attempted at USC beyond the bachelor’s degree. Transfer units count as credit (CR) toward the master’s degree and are not computed in the grade point average. In addition to the general requirements of the School of Engineering, the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering is also subject to the following requirements: (1) a total of at least 27 units is required; (2) every course for graduate credit requires prior written advisor approval recorded each semester on the study plan in the student’s department file; (3) no more than nine units at the 400 level may be counted toward the degree – the remaining units must be taken at the 500 or 600 level; (4) at least 18 units must be taken in electrical engineering, those not in EE are subject to written advisor approval and must be technical in nature; (5) to achieve a degree of breadth in their program, students are encouraged to take two technical courses outside their area of specialization but within EE; (6) at least 21 of the 27 units must be taken in the School of Engineering; (7) units to be transferred (maximum four with advisor approval) must have been taken prior to taking classes at USC – interruption of residency is not allowed.

The aerospace controls option is available as an area of emphasis for MSEE students interested in learning to apply innovative control techniques to aerospace control problems. In addition to 18 approved units of electrical engineering courses, students in this option will take at least three of the following aerospace and mechanical engineering courses: ME 453 Engineering Dynamics (3); AE 512 Aerodynamics of Wings and Bodies (3); AE 515ab State Space for Aeronautical Engineers (3-3); AE 516ab Flight Vehicle Stability and Control (3-3); AE 525ab Engineering Analysis (3-3); ME 553ab Advanced Analytical Mechanics (3-3); AE 580 Orbital Mechanics (3).

Under the computer networks option students must satisfy the MSEE requirements with the exception that only 15 units of EE are required and the following courses must be included in the program: EE 450; EE 465 or EE 549; CSCI 402; CSCI 555 or CSCI 558L; CSCI 551; EE 550 or EE 555; EE 557 or EE 554. Students who can demonstrate that they have already taken these courses (or equivalent) may be waived out of the requirement by memo from a faculty advisor. All courses must be approved by a faculty advisor. A list of suggested electives is available from the department office.

See Multimedia and Creative Technologies.

See Systems Architecture and Engineering.

The Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (VLSI Design) is earned by successfully completing the normal requirements for the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, with the following additional required courses: EE 533a; 577a; 577b or 533b; 552 and 582. If a student chooses to take EE 533b as well as EE 577b, the student may either count EE 533b as one of the courses for Area 2 or EE 577b as one of the courses for Area 1 or Area 3.

The students must also take three courses from one of the following areas and one course from a second area:

Area 1: CSCI 455x, EE 577b (see above), 658, 680 and 681/P>

Area 2: EE 448, 504L, 533b (see above), 536, 537 and 630.

Area 3: CSCI 455x, CSCI 570, EE 557, 577b (see above), 597, 659, 677.

With explicit approval of a faculty advisor, EE 599 Special Topics and/or 3 units of EE 590 Directed Research may be used to meet requirements for any of the approved areas.

The remaining courses must be technical electives approved by the advisor, and can including the following: EE 501, 502, 504L, 506, 532, 540, 554, 560L, 590, 601 and 677.

See listing under Multimedia and Creative Technologies.

Students who have demonstrated exceptional academic success have the opportunity to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in an accelerated degree program. This program allows students to earn both degrees in five years.

Admission is available to freshmen or continuing students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering program. Freshman admission requirements are: minimum 3.8 GPA (A = 4.0) and SAT score of 1420. Continuing students: minimum 3.5 GPA and more than 20 units completed in residence. Applications are available from the Engineering Student Affairs Office, Olin Hall 106.

Students must meet all requirements for both the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degrees. A total of 131 units is required for the Bachelor of Science degree. Undergraduate 400-level course work beyond 128 units may be applied toward the Master of Science degree. No more than nine units at the 400 level may be counted toward master’s degree requirements. A total of 155 units is required for the dual degree program. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average or higher at all times to remain in this program

A graduate student who already holds a master’s degree from USC or another accredited engineering school may apply up to four units toward a second master’s degree with the permission of the chair of the major department. All credit, including the transferred units, must be earned within seven calendar years.

Requirements for the Engineer in Electrical Engineering are the same as those listed under Engineer Degree, except that both areas of concentration must be in electrical engineering.

The Doctor of Philosophy with a major in Electrical Engineering is awarded in strict conformity with the general requirements of the USC Graduate School. See general requirements for graduate degrees. Departmental requirements for this degree consist of a concentrated program of study and research and a dissertation. Each student wishing to undertake a doctoral program must first be admitted to the program and then take the screening examination. This examination will emphasize comprehension of fundamental material in one of the 13 specialized areas of electrical engineering listed below. Listed under each area are courses offered by the Department of Electrical Engineering which will provide basic background for the examination and partial preparation for the dissertation. Not all courses listed are required for preparation for the screening examination in any specific area. Consult a separately published guide, available from the department office, for more information concerning examination content and scheduling. Further guidance concerning the full completion of courses, including those given outside the department, which are recommended for preparation for the dissertation, can be obtained from the faculty in each technical area.

Students may major in the following fields: Electromagnetics-EE 570ab, 571ab, 572ab, 573ab, 575, 576, 578, 604; Plasma Science- EE 539, 570ab, 572ab; Power and Machinery-EE 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 521, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 620, 621; Quantum Electronics-EE 529, 530, 531, 532, 539, 540; Solid State-EE 501, 502, 504L, 506, 507, 508, 533, 537, 601, 602, 604, 606, 607, 609; Integrated Circuits-EE 471, 501, 504L, 506, 533, 536, 537, 540, 569, 577, 585, 601, 602, 604, 605, 606, 630; Optics-EE 529, 530, 531, 532, 539, 540, 559, 566, 569, 589, 629ab, 642, 669.

Students may major in the following fields: Biomedical Engineering and Biomathematics-EE 591ab, 593; Communication Theory-EE 535, 538, 550, 551, 562ab, 563, 564, 565ab, 566, 567, 568, 569, 583, 595, 663, 664, 666, 667, 669; Computer Engineering-EE 541, 545, 547, 548, 549, 550, 552, 553, 554, 555, 557, 560, 561, 574, 577ab, 578, 582, 597, 649, 650, 653, 656, 657, 658, 677, 680, 681 (see program listing for the Master of Science in Computer Engineering); Intelligent Systems-EE 559, CSCI 561, CSCI 574; Signal Processing-EE 522, 559, 562a, 566, 569, 583, 586L, 589, 596, 668, 669, 683, 689; Systems and Controls-EE 541, 544, 553, 563, 585, 586, 587, 588, 593, 684, 685.