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.

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.

Dr. A.M. Hariri's ECE 4432 Renewable Electrical Power Systems class tours the DTE Training Facility. Guiding the tour is Mahdi El-Syed, DTE full-time engineer and a UM-Dearborn graduate and current master's degree student, who gave the students an overview of the equipment inside and outside the lab. (Nov. 19, 2024)

Department Staff

Wencong Su

Chair and Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

[email protected]

313-593-5420

Amanda Donovan

Administrative Assistant Intermediate, Electrical and Computer Engineering

[email protected]

313-593-5420

Michael Hicks

Student Administrative Assistant Senior, Electrical and Computer Engineering

[email protected]

313-593-5420

Brittnie Smith

ECE Administrative Assistant Senior, Electrical and Computer Engineering

[email protected]

313-593-4352

Contact the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department

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

Please be aware that ECE Staff are no longer using their personal UMICH email accounts for student and non-employee 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.