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Electrical & Computer Engineering

THE MING HSIEH DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING

The Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering is the enabling technology driving many of today’s most crucial industries and a critical field in advancing the future. It is a diverse discipline encompassing computer and information systems, digital media, telecommunications and wireless technologies, nanoelectronics, lasers, robotics, display technologies, circuit design, and more.

In particular, it is a vital part of every industry, from biomedical engineering and health applications to telecommunications, aerospace, and information technology.

Hear From our Faculty

Check out our faculty roundtable discussion with three of our Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering faculty members, Dr. Urbashi Mitra, Dr. Yasser Khan, and Dr. Sandeep Gupta. This roundtable will discuss what the major is, the courses each faculty teach, research they conduct and the discipline of  join us to discuss the courses they teach, the research they conduct, and the discipline of Electrical and Computer Engineering at USC Viterbi

ECE On The Podcast

ECE Student Blog

Learn More about Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) at USC through our student blog. These posts were written by USC Viterbi ECE students during their time at USC to help you better understand the discipline and their life.

From Healthcare to Hardware: How I Picked My Major

From Healthcare to Hardware: How I Picked My Major

Every Wednesday after school, I embarked on the familiar journey to my Introduction to Health Sciences class. For three hours,…
Cecilia BetancourtCecilia Betancourt
Is ECE for me?

Is ECE for me?

My process of choosing Electrical and Computer Engineering was a scientific discovery in and of itself. I knew I liked…
Hansini RamachandranHansini Ramachandran
Why Electrical and Computer Engineering at USC?

Why Electrical and Computer Engineering at USC?

For me, the deciding factor that cemented my choice to pursue electrical and computer engineering was the course EE 109:…
Ashly LamAshly Lam
Why it’s Okay to be Lost

Why it’s Okay to be Lost

Computer Engineering and computer science can be daunting as a beginner. The feeling of looking at lines of code, not…
Viterbi VoicesViterbi Voices
Latinx Lives at USC Viterbi: Aiyana’s Story

Latinx Lives at USC Viterbi: Aiyana’s Story

This is a guest blog entry written by Aiyana Bartolome. If you want to read more stories, visit viterbiadmission.usc.edu/latinxlives.My name…
Viterbi VoicesViterbi Voices

Curriculum and Emphases

The ECE department offers an exciting diverse curriculum that prepares students with significant breadth and depth.  Core sets of classes prepare students for one of three areas of emphasis: Circuit, Signals, and Systems; Computer Engineering; and Energy and Electrical Sciences. Additionally, a Computer Engineering and Computer Science degree is jointly offered by the CS and ECE Departments.

Electrical Engineering (Circuit, Signals, and Systems)

Students who choose a to focus on circuits, signals, and systems cover areas in VLSI design, media and audio systems, wireless communications, adaptive control, and mixed signal integrated circuits.

Course Plan

Electrical Engineering (Computer Engineering)

The computer engineering emphasis within electrical engineering contains courses that focus on digital hardware, embedded systems, and VLSI design.

Course Plan

Electrical Engineering (Energy and Electrical Sciences)

Courses in the energy and electrical sciences area cover nanoelectronics, integrated circuit technology, energy sources and management, mixed signal integrated circuits, and communications hardware.

Course Plan

Computer Engineering & Computer Science

(Jointly administered by the Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments)

This program trains students to integrate hardware and software processes to design solutions to problems arising in complex domains such as atomic reactors, guidance systems, and manufacturing systems.  These students graduate ready to design and build complex systems of hardware, software, and networks.

Course Plan

Research

We have a balance of programs - theoretical, computational, and experimental – which exemplify the Viterbi School’s approach to intensive and collaborative research.

Research in the Electrical & Computer Engineering department is revolutionizing nanoelectronics, information processing, telecommunications, medical diagnosis and treatment, energy and green initiatives, computer systems, and new media, among other areas. Partnerships with off-campus research institutions like the Information Sciences Institute and the Institute for Creative Technologies create unparalleled opportunities for students to work at the cutting-edge of technology.

The department’s instructional laboratories have been integrated into “studio” learning environments that combine traditional lectures with hands-on activities so that students learn by doing, not just listening. State-of-the-art instrumentation and computers support classes involving analog and digital electronics, microprocessor systems, and radio-frequency communications.

Faculty

Faculty will be teaching all of your classes and leading research projects as well. Your opportunities to build relationships with your faculty will begin immediately in your first year, both in the classroom and the lab.

Check out a few highlighted professors with whom you may work in the future:

Dr. Maryam Shanechi

Neural Systems Engineering & Information Processing

Her lab works at the interface of statistical inference and signal processing, machine learning, and control to develop algorithmic solutions for problems in basic and clinical neuroscience that involve the collection and manipulation of neural signals.

Dr. Paul (Dan) Dapkus

Computational Social Science Lab

In his interdisciplinary research group, researchers tackle similar research problems from different perspectives (Pyschology versus Engineering). They investigate properties of cognition at multiple levels of analysis using a mixture of computational, behavioral, and fMRI methods.

Dr. Mahta Moghaddam

Microwave Systems, Sensors, and Imaging

Her research group carries out a diverse range of research involving microwave systems and senors, environmental and medical imaging, electrostatic and acoustic scattering and inverse problems, non-contact medical therapy, and ultra-low-energy wireless sensor networks.

Dr. Shri Narayanan

Signal Analysis and Interpretation

His research group, also called SAIL, conducts fundamental and applied research in human-centered information processing. SAIL's research applications and systems development especially focus on domains with direct societal relevance including human health and well being, education, and defense.

Don't stop here.

Learn more about the cool faculty and amazing research being done at the Ming Hsieh Electrical & Computer Engineering Department:

ECE Dept. Website

Careers

Your engineering undergraduate degree will prepare you for many career and academic opportunities.

Your future with a degree in Chemical Engineering can see you pursue a number of future career paths at companies serving a variety of industries.

Whether you have always known “what you want to do when you grow up” or are hoping to find out, we are here to help you plan for your future beyond USC. We provide dedicated career services starting in your first year to help you find internships, co-ops, and full-time positions post graduation.

Develop alternative energy and green power sources

Develop wireless communication systems

Design robots and other embedded systems

Build new computer circuits, microchips, and boards for machine learning, autonomous vehicles, and the internet of things

Research and develop novel neuromorphic hardware, machine learning, and other artificial intelligence systems

Develop new biomedical imaging devices

Develop airborne and satellite electronic systems

Develop semiconductors and consumer electronics

Student Life

We want students who like to work hard – both in and out of the classroom. Our students know that going to college is more than attending class and completing assignments. College is about making connections and joining a community of dedicated students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Our students want to work and play with people as interesting as they are, and we have a number of ways for you to do the same.

Your life can be designed how you like it. Join a design team like Solar Car. Get industry advice from Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers. Keep making art with Corpus Callosum. On this page, we have a few student organizations we think you might be interested in, but there are so many more you can get involved in!

Institute for Electrical an Electronics Engineers

Professional Organization

IEEE at USC aims to connect student with Electrical & Computer Engineering related careers. Their general meetings allow students to network with industry representatives as well as USC faculty and staff.

Solar Car

Design/Build/Race

The Solar Car Team was founded in 2014 at USC and their mission is to design, build, and race full-size street legal solar-powered vehicles. They are currently preparing for a 2500 km race across the US.

USC Makers

Innovation in Electronics

Students offer assistance with electronics-related projects and host workshops that are open to general public in order to promote more innovation and interest in electronics.

Imagine yourself on campus.

Learn more about life at USC as an engineering student at Viterbi Voices:

Viterbi Voices

Alumni

As students, these alumni worked hard in class and didn’t stop there. From start-ups to research, they took advantage of all corners of campus in order to bring their dreams to life and succeed post-graduation.  See what some of our alumni are doing now and how they reflect on their time at USC Viterbi.

More Engineering Disciplines

This area of the Viterbi School is just one of the many areas of Engineering & Computer Science.  Beyond this area of study, we have ten academic disciplines spread across eight departments to make up more than thirty majors and areas of emphasis. Take some time to explore all of your interests before you apply by clicking on any area below.

Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering

 Design for Movement

Learn More

Astronautical Engineering

 Build for Beyond.

Learn More

Biomedical Engineering

Help Others Live Better.

Learn More

Chemical Engineering

Make the Stuff of Tomorrow.

Learn More

Civil & Environmental Engineering

 Design. Build. Improve.

Learn More

Computer Science & Computer Engineering

 It’s Way More Than Coding.

Learn More

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Power Up.

Learn More

Industrial & Systems Engineering

 Engineer Better Businesses.

Learn More