Electromagnetics
Courses | FAQs | Advisors | EE Tech Areas
The students in the Electromagnetic Engineering technical area are exposed to different aspects of applied electromagnetics including antennas, radio wave propagation, microwave and radio frequency (RF) circuits and transmission structures, optical components and lasers, and engineering acoustics. A student should choose the Electromagnetic Engineering area if he or she is interested in engineering that involves the physical layer in modern communication and radar systems. In particular, the area is concerned with the physical mechanisms of the transmission medium and the design of transmission structures to deliver information from one location to another. It provides the natural linkage between the Telecommunications and Signal Processing area and the Electronics Materials and Devices area. Upon graduation, a student is well positioned for a job in antenna design and testing, propagation channel characterization, microwave and RF circuit design, electromagnetic emission testing from electronic devices and systems, radar system design and development, optical telecommunication, optical information and signal processing systems, component design and development.
Courses
Students must complete three courses from the following list:
- EE 321K Mixed Signal and Circuits Laboratory (F, Sp)
- EE 325K Antennas and Wireless Propagation (F)
- EE 347 Modern Optics (Sp)
- EE 348 Laser and Optical Engineering (F)
- EE 361R Radio Frequency Circuit Design (Only offered in spring of odd years)
- EE 363M Microwaves and RF Engineering (Only offered in spring of even years)
- EE 363N Engineering Acoustics (F)
- PHY 355 Modern Physics for Engineers (F, Sp)
FAQ
Which courses in the core curriculum (i.e., required basic sequence and major sequence courses) might indicate whether this is a good technical area for the student?
All of the math and physics courses in the basic sequence, and EE 325 and EE 339 in the major sequence.
What are the immediate and long-term employment opportunities for students who have some exposure to this technical area?
Employment opportunities for students who are exposed to this area include:
Telecommunications industry (Motorola, Samsung, Sprint, Nortel)
Defense industry (Lockheed, Boeing, Raytheon, SAIC)
Electronics manufacturers (HP, IBM, Delco)
Government (Air Force, Navy, Army, NASA) and national labs (Sandia, Lincoln, Livermore, UT Applied Research Laboratory)
Electromagnetic design software companies (Ansoft, Agilent, and Cadence)
Small start-ups (TDK-RF Solutions in Austin)
How important is a graduate degree (MS or PhD) in this area?
A graduate degree is in general a good long-term investment in one's career. This is especially true for areas such as electromagnetics, which requires a steeper learning curve. A graduate degree is highly encouraged for a career in electromagnetic engineering.
This information provided by Dr. Hao Ling, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Ling currently heads the Electromagnetic Scattering Group. Dr. Ling's research explores computational electromagnetics and its applications in radar signature analysis, radar target identification, antenna design and propagation channel modeling for wireless communications.
Faculty Advisors for Basic and Conditional Major Students
The faculty advisors listed below can meet with Basic Sequence and Conditional Major Sequence Students to discuss topics such as:
- Educational opportunities within ECE
- Course planning to meet a student's educational goals
- Short-term and long-term career planning
Students should either meet with the faculty during their office hours or send them an e-mail to make an appointment. Students in Major Sequence should discuss this matters with their assigned faculty advisor.