Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Do you get a kick out of taking things apart and putting them back together? If so, electrical engineering could be the perfect major for you!

About

Electrical engineering is the application of physics and mathematics to the study of photonics and semiconductor devices, sensors, analog and digital electronic circuit design, power generation and delivery, telecommunications, image and signal processing, computer interfacing and robotics.

Why Electrical Engineering is in Demand:

  • Nearly 90 percent of Americans own a computerized gadget – a smart phone, a tablet, an e-reader, a laptop. From hospitals and factories to classrooms and offices, technology is everywhere.
  • Engineering is one of the top 10 college majors most in demand. (Source: CareerBuilder.com)
  • The median annual pay for electrical engineers was $101,780 in 2021.  (Source: United States Department of Labor Statistics)
  • Technical skills in written and verbal communication, information technology, analytical thinking and research are characteristics highly sought after by all employers.

Is it for me?

  • Do you like designing things that work?
  • Love problem solving?
  • Enjoy the challenge of making the impossible possible?

Five Reasons to Choose Scranton for Electrical Engineering

1.
Emphasis on the “whole person.”   Gain expertise in electrical engineering within the context of a broad-based liberal arts education. Complement academic knowledge with strong communication and interpersonal skills.
2.
Be a name, not a number.   Small classes capped at 25-30 students. Undergraduate studies are our focus. Instructors and advisors get to know you on an individual basis and are generous with their time and attention inside and outside of class.
3.
Independent research opportunities.   Faculty members lend expertise and a helping hand while leaving room for self-discovery and responsibility.
4.
A transformative education.   Our Jesuit approach means that students are challenged to grow personally and spiritually, to develop a sense of responsibility for themselves and others, and to reinforce a commitment to ethical, professional and socially conscientious practices.
5.
Strong sense of community.   There are plenty of opportunities to participate in clubs and honor societies. Faculty members are your academic and professional advocates.
  • Preparing You For Personal & Professional Successplus or minus

    As a student in Scranton’s electrical engineering program you’ll become fluent in a variety of programming languages and develop technical writing, oral presentation and project management skills. You will also learn how to write compelling and persuasive reports, work effectively and efficiently in teams and be a steward of ethical practices in business and technology.

    Internships

    Nearly all upper class students obtain paid engineering internships during the summer.

    Here are some examples of recent summer engineering internships:

    • Buro Happold
    • Herley
    • Honda
    • Iridium Communications
    • NASA
    • PECO
    • PPL
    • Tobyhanna Army Depot
    • Fairchild Semiconductor
    • Hershey Corporation
    • Hyland Associates
    • Lockheed Martin
    • National Security Agency (NSA)
    • Penn DOT
    • Sanofi Pasteur
  • What You'll Learnplus or minus

    Curriculum

    The electrical engineering curriculum at Scranton emphasizes design and analysis, using a project-based course structure.

    • Nathan Williams, Class of 2016, along with Professor Nicholas Truncale, filed a US Patent Disclosure “Celestial Body Digital Tracking System) in February 2014. Read more here.
    • Three engineering students placed 3rd in The 2015 Intel-Cornell Cup, a prestigious national college-level engineering competition. The device they developed is a universal motor controller capable of operating a movable device in multiple dimensions. 
    • Engineering students won 1st and 3rd place honors at the 2015 IEEE Region 2 Activities Conference (SAC) at The Ohio State University. 
    • Engineering students took 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards in competitions at the 2017 IEEE Region 2 Activities Conference at Rowan University. Read more here.

    Courses include electromagnetics, analog and digital electronics, digital signal processing, communications, control systems, computer interfacing and robotics.

    Click here to see the curriculum.

    The program culminates in a two-term capstone senior project where student teams design, construct, program and debug an artificially intelligent robot. Examples of senior projects include robots that are capable of:

    • Playing miniaturized versions of team sports   
    • Object recognition, handling and transfer
    • Communicating using optics, ultrasound and radio

    What robot will you create?

    Electrical engineering classes are held in the Loyola Science Center, a state-of-the-art STEM facility, which encourages interdisciplinary collaborations, promotes active learning, and encourages informal interactions with faculty and fellow students.

    Research Projects

    • First- and second-year engineering students are working with faculty to develop a Reflective Solar Tracking (RST) system which was deployed in Africa to provide power for water pumps for two schools.  Read more here.
    • Engineering students developed a custom-made XBOX controller to help a paralyzed teenager use head, wrist, shoulder and arm movements to control game play.  Read more here.
  • Pursue Your Passion and Make a Differenceplus or minus

    Interested giving back and helping others?

    There's no shortage of service learning opportunities here at Scranton. Here are a few recent examples:

    • Students learned first hand about the environmental impact of energy usage by performing energy audits at a local school district. They presented their energy saving recommendations in a final report to the district, which was a win-win for both the students and the community.
    • Students provided construction of solar powered lighting for a bus stop in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.
    • Powering a fire station in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
    • Students have focused on sustainable energy to benefit local and global communities.

    Learning at a Jesuit institution provides benefits you will not find in other engineering curriculums. We have an inward drive to help those who do not have the means to help themselves. This ideal is entwined with our studies, helping us to not only become better members of society, but better engineers.

    Nate Williams, Class of 2016

Careers

Where will electrical engineering take me?

Engineering majors at Scranton are well prepared to excel in their chosen profession in the private, public and government sectors. Many of our electrical engineering majors go on to graduate school while others enter industry right after graduation.   

Here is some examples of jobs depending on your interests:

  • Business Development Analyst
  • Electrical Engineer
  • Facility Engineer
  • Field Engineer
  • High School Math Teacher
  • IT Program Director
  • Nuclear Engineer
  • Product Marketing Engineer
  • Systems Engineer
  • Test Engineer

Top Graduate Schools

Just some of the prestigious graduate schools which have admitted recent graduates:

  • Drexel University
  • Lehigh University
  • Michigan State University Law School
  • Penn State University
  • SUNY Binghamton
  • University of Miami
  • University of Rochester
  • Yale University

Leading Employers:

You’ll find Scranton electrical engineering graduates working in a wide range of companies and organizations including:

  • Armstrong
  • BAE Systems
  • Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Exelis
  • Fairchild Semiconductor
  • FTS International
  • Gryphon Technologies
  • Iridium
  • Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory
  • Lockheed-Martin
  • NSA
  • Parsons Brinckerhoff
  • PSE&G
  • Sanofi Pasteur
  • Tobyhanna Army Depot

How Scranton Gives You a Competitive Edge

Competitive Edge

Whether it's advising or providing letters of references for a competitive graduate school or dream job, faculty make it their priority to get to know each student on an individual level. That deep level of understanding means that our faculty members are not only dedicated teachers and strong researchers but advocates for you professionally.

The opportunity to shadow local engineering professionals while conducting energy audits was a great introduction to sustainability and also added to my understanding of building electrical systems. I’m happy that department faculty recognized the job growth in this sector.

- Rob Huylo, Class of 2014

Accreditation

ABET

Take the Next Step

Get the Facts

View PDF with Program Overview
& Curriculum

For More Information

Office of Admissions
The Estate
Scranton, PA 18510
1-888-SCRANTON or (570) 941-7540
570-941-7572
admissions@scranton.edu

Department of Physics/Engineering
Andrew Berger, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Physics/Engineering
(570) 941-4056
wandrew.berger@scranton.edu