Electrical and Computer Engineering

Electrical engineering has its origins in the study and application of electrical phenomena. This includes the development of computers and all of their applications. However, in recent years the field has grown to embrace a diverse range of problems in applied physics and mathematics. The department currently offers advanced study in five broad areas.

• Computer Engineering concentrates on the architecture and implementation of digital logic and computing systems.
• Cybersecurity concentrates on securing cyber assets of all kinds.
• Electromagnetics explores the theory, physical properties, and applications of electromagnetic radiation and includes emphases in optics, remote sensing, numerical computation, and microwave systems.
• Microelectronics and VLSI focuses on the design and fabrication of micro-electronic circuits for digital and analog applications, including device physics, modeling, processing, and fabrication.
• Signals and Systems studies fundamental and applied issues in information processing and includes emphases in communication theory, linear and nonlinear control systems, digital signal processing, and estimation theory.

Specific research activities in these broad areas are described on the department graduate program Web page at https://ece.byu.edu/graduate.

The degrees offered through the department include Cybersecurity – MS, Electrical and Computer Engineering – MS, and Electrical and Computer Engineering – PhD

Chair: Randy Beard
Graduate Coordinator: Jeff Goeders

Resources & Opportunity

The department maintains a variety of facilities to support the diverse research efforts of the graduate faculty. Facilities include:

• Extensive PC and Unix workstation computer resources.
• A Cybersecurity Research Lab (CSRL) & facilities for full sandbox development and testing
• Digital signal processing laboratory that includes a variety of software tools, image display and digitizing equipment, and audio processing equipment.
• Well-equipped clean-room to support research in semiconductor and electro-optic fabrication.
• Microwave remote sensing and integrated systems laboratories.
• Electro-optics laboratory that includes lasers and fiber optic research equipment.
• Antenna range.
• Reconfigurable logic laboratory.
• Telemetering laboratory to support research in digital communications and error control coding.
• Laboratory to support research in cooperative and autonomous systems.
• Facilities for medical imaging research.
• Laboratories to support research on chemical and biological systems.

For a description of current research activities associated with each facility, see the department graduate program Web page at https://ece.byu.edu/graduate.

Financial Assistance

The department provides several types of financial assistance for graduate students. All applicants in good standing are considered for financial aid, but priority is given to PhD students. More information may be obtained from the department. No special application form is required. The following types of assistance are available:

Research Assistantships. Full-time graduate students in good standing may be awarded research assistantships to assist faculty with externally funded research. Contact individual faculty directly to identify research assistantship opportunities.

Teaching Assistantships. The department employs graduate students as teaching assistants in undergraduate and graduate courses. The department also employs students in a number of department support positions such as computer system administration and laboratory support. Applications for teaching assistant and department student positions are accepted the week prior to the given semester or term. Contact the department for more information about current teaching assistant and department support opportunities.

In some cases , research assistantships or teaching assistantships may also include some funding for student tuition.