Electrical and Computer Engineering

Duke’s Department of Electrical and Computer engineering offers an ABET accredited Bachelor of Science in engineering emphasizing analytical thinking, problem solving, and technology, and each fosters the development of ethical leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.

The Duke program provides more opportunities and is less restrictive than many other ECE programs in the United States. Students use this flexibility to expand their personal horizons or to explore a personal interest more deeply.

Students have the option to pursue five different areas of concentration, depending on personal interests. Each study track emphasizes the acquisition, processing, control, transmission, and application of information and energy by what are fundamentally electrical or electromagnetic means. All encompass high-level computer languages (software) that facilitate the convenient and efficient application of technology (hardware) to the solution of useful problems. They provide a firm foundation for future technical accomplishment and for effective problem solving in the diverse nominally non-technical fields that many of our graduates pursue.

The general requirements and departmental requirements for a B.S.E. with the electrical and computer engineering major requires the completion of 34 distinct courses which are composed of:

• WRITING 101(20), during the first academic year
• 5 elective Social Sciences or Humanities courses, appropriately distributed
• A 6-course mathematics and probability/statistics sequence (MATH 111L(31L), 112L(32L), 212(103), 216(107) & 353(108), and a Statistics Elective: one of {STA 130(113), MATH 230(135), ECE 380 or ECE 555(255)})
• 4 natural science courses: CHEM 20(18), 21(19), or 101DL(31L); PHYSICS 151L(61L) and 152L(62L); and BIOLOGY 20(19), 201L(101L), 202L(102L), 275A(144), or 311(147)
• 2 foundation courses in engineering computation: EGR 103L(53L) and COMPSCI 201(100)
• 5 foundation courses in electrical engineering: ECE 110L(27L), 230L(51L), 250L(52L), 270L(53L), and 280L(54L)
• 4 approved ECE Concentration Electives, in two different areas with at least two courses in one of the elected areas
• 2 Elective ECE Courses at the 300-level or above 
• An approved ECE Design Elective
• 4 Free Electives

First Year

• EGR 103L (53L) Computational Methods in Engineering 
• ECE 110L (27L) Fundamentals of ECE
• Math 111L (31L) Introductory Calculus I 
• Math 112L (32L) Introductory Calculus II
• Chem 101DL (31L) Core Concepts in Chemistry
• Physics 151L (61L) Introductory Mechanics
• Writing 101(20) / Social Science or Humanities Elective 1
• Social Science or Humanities Elective 1 / Writing 101(20)

Sophomore Year

• ECE 280L (54L) Signals and Systems
• ECE 230L (51L) Microelectronic Devices and Circuits
• COMPSCI 201 (100) Data Structures and Algorithms
• ECE 250L Computer Architecture
• Math 212 (103) Multivariable Calculus
• Math 216 (107) Linear Algebra & Differential Equations
• Physics 152L (62L) Intro Electricity, Magnetism, Optics2
• Biology Elective3
• Social Science or Humanities Elective 2
• Social Science or Humanities Elective 3

Junior Year

• ECE 270L (53L) Electromagnetic Fields
• ECE Elective 15
• ECE Concentration Elective 14
• ECE Concentration Elective 2
• Math 353 (108) Ordinary & Partial Differential Equations
• Statistics Elective6
• Social Science or Humanities Elective 4
• Social Science or Humanities Elective 5
• ECE Elective 2 or Approved ECE Design Elective7
• Approved ECE Design Elective or ECE Elective 2 
• ECE Concentration Elective 3
• ECE Concentration Elective 4
• Free Electives

• Common Application or Coalition Application
• Early Decision Agreement
• Secondary School Report with Counselor Recommendation
• High School Transcript
• Two Teacher Recommendations
• First Quarter Grades
• Midyear Grade Report
• Final Transcript
• SAT (Two Subject Tests strongly recommended) or ACT with Writing
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Minimum band score expected: 7
• ​PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English) Minimum score expected: 70
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Minimum scores expected: 100 on the internet-based TOEFL, 600 on the paper-based TOEFL

Scholarships

Duke University will meet full demonstrated financial need for a limited number of international students. Each year Duke expects to enroll 20-25 first-year foreign citizens who receive need-based financial aid and/or merit-based scholarships. There is no need-based aid for international transfer applicants.