Electrical and Computer Engineering

About the Department

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) is responsible for administering undergraduate degrees in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Robotics Engineering, as well as a dual-degree program in Electrical and Computer Engineering. The ECE Department also oversees four M.S.E graduate degree programs, as well a PhD program in Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering and a D.Eng degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Our undergraduate programs have more than 550 students presently enrolled. Each year, approximately 60 - 70 students graduate with a Bachelor's degree from an ECE program and approximately 50 students graduate with a master's degree from one of our programs.

We are proud of our high retention rate which exceeds 60%. While most of the graduates go on to work in industry often in a design and development environment, a few pursue full-time graduate studies at regional and national universities.

In 2023, the University of Michigan-Dearborn was ranked among the nation's best Electrical Engineering degree programs by Best Accredited Colleges. Our online Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering was recognized by OnlineMastersDegrees.org (OMD), as well, earning it a spot among only six percent of U.S. postsecondary institutions to have earned a ranking position.

CECS PhD & DEng Virtual Open House

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

9:00 am - 10:30 am EST

Want to learn more about our programs and the experience you’ll have as a doctoral student? Join us for our virtual graduate open house to learn more about our programs and the admission process. You'll have an opportunity to speak with faculty and staff and to have all of your questions answered.

Programs: Automotive Systems and Mobility (D.Eng.), Electrical and Computer Engineering (D.Eng.), Computer and Information Science (PhD), Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering (PhD), Industrial and Systems Engineering (PhD), Mechanical Sciences and Engineering (PhD)

RSVP to Attend

UM-Dearborn is proud to be one of 12 teams - and the only team in Michigan - selected to take part in the three-year Battery Workforce Challenge, a national competition co-sponsored by the Department of Energy and Stellantis and managed by Argonne National Laboratory, which challenges collegiate student teams to design, build, test and integrate an advanced EV battery system into a future Stellantis electric vehicle.

It’s an incredible opportunity for students, says Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Xuan (Joe) Zhou, who’s advising the UM-Dearborn team. “Stellantis is supplying a real battery cell, the charger, even a vehicle to us, and then the students will design the whole pack, including the battery management system, and put it in a real vehicle,” Zhou says. “I’ve been working with batteries for many years, and even I haven’t had a chance to work with a whole pack! So this is really going to be special for the students.”

The Battery Workforce Challenge was recently given the spotlight in WXYZ-TV's Spotlight on the News, featuring an extensive interview with Micky Bly, Senior VP and Head of Global Propulsion for Stellantis. You can watch the complete broadcast on Youtube.

For more information on the Battery Workforce Challenge and UM-Dearborn's role in it, read this article from UM-Dearborn News.

Spotlight On The News: Battery Workforce Challenge Video

Our ECE faculty use active learning, innovative teaching methods and resources, such as Project-Based Learning (PBL), which includes hands-on activities, to create an engaging and dynamic learning experience. Dr. Azeem Hafeez is one of our ECE faculty who is playing an important role in the successful implementation of Project-Based Learning (PBL) within the educational landscape. The objective of PBL is to create an environment where students can thrive, engage, and develop critical skills by designing and structuring meaningful projects that align with curriculum objectives while stimulating curiosity and creativity in their students. Our faculty provide guidance and support, acting as facilitators rather than traditional instructors, to empower students to take ownership of their learning journey by encouraging collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, and the application of knowledge in real-world contexts. In this way, commitment to PBL not only transforms education but also equips students with the skills they need to succeed in an ever-evolving world.

Electrical and Computer Engineering undergraduate student Antonio Chambers demonstrates the AI-based Connect-4 Game his team developed and explains their use of the engineering design process in its creation.

Electrical and Computer Engineering undergraduate students Toby Erickson and Nadim Younes demonstrate the Wireless Charging Device their team developed and explain their use of the engineering design process in its creation.

Beginning Fall 2024, the 4+1 accelerated undergraduate/master’s studies option in electrical engineering, computer engineering, and robotics engineering allows the most qualified UM-Dearborn undergraduate electrical, computer, and robotics engineering students to pursue a program of study in which BSE and MSE degrees are earned in a five-year accelerated format. This is achieved by combining a portion of undergraduate and graduate coursework.

To be eligible for the 4+1 option, a student must:

Be enrolled in the undergraduate EE, CE, or RE program at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Have completed at least 60 undergraduate credit hours with a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA or better.
Not be enrolled in two undergraduate programs or in a dual-degree program in either their undergraduate or graduate program

To successfully achieve the 4+1 option within a five-year timeframe, students can look forward to completing 2 core courses, 2 cognates, and 6 electives, which may even include up to 6 credits of thesis work. Additionally, for those who opt not to use the three transfer credit options, there is an opportunity to engage in 4 graduate courses during the final year of study, providing an enriching academic experience. In this case, students should plan on completing the master’s degree in three terms after the BSE degree is completed.

For more information on the 4+1 ECE Accelerated Master's Programs, please visit our Undergraduate Programs page.

How to Reach Us

The Electrical and Computer Engineering department is conducting university business remotely and in-person.

Our in-person office hours are Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Our contact information and location are near the bottom of this page.

Please be aware that ECE Staff are no longer using their personal UMICH email accounts for student communications. All academic inquiries must be submitted to the department via the [email protected] email address.

Advisor Appointments

Undergraduate students in need of advising should refer to the Undergraduate Advising page for scheduling options.

To schedule an appointment with your graduate program advisor, refer to the contact information on the Graduate Advising page or the "Graduate Advising" block on each of the program-specific ECE graduate program pages.