Our objectives for our graduating undergraduate students, from our electrical engineering program and/or from our computer engineering program, are that they possess a strong and broad technical foundation, good professional skills, and the well-roundedness to be successful in their next endeavor – be it a first job in industry or government, or attending graduate school – and so that they can adapt to the rapid changes in technology and career demands that will surely come their way.

Towards the latter objectives we aim for the following outcomes in our students upon graduation:

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
• an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data

Design and Problem-Solving

• an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
• an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems

Ethics and Professionalism

• an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
• an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
• an ability to communicate effectively

Societal Context

• the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
• a knowledge of contemporary issues

Career and Development

• a recognition of the need for, and ability to engage in life-long learning
• an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

The mission of the Harry Lynde Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech conforms to the global mission of the College of Engineering through “serving the citizens of Virginia, the nation, and the world by developing and transferring electrical and computer engineering knowledge that will improve the quality of people’s lives.” In order to accomplish this broad ideal, the primary goals of the department are: to provide the highest quality engineering education at the undergraduate and graduate levels; to conduct scholarly research at the frontiers of electrical and computer engineering; and to make the unique facilities and faculty expertise of the department available to serve the profession and to provide leadership in electrical and computer engineering.

The ECE Department is one of the largest departments in the College of Engineering, with a strong orientation towards research. As a result of this research culture, many faculty members incorporate hands-on practical learning opportunities in the early courses. As students progress through the curriculum they are increasingly provided with more learning opportunities that emphasize the application of the basics towards design. The final year is dominated by a wide range of electives.