Norwich Electrical and Computer Engineering students working in computer lab

Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)

Prepare yourself to engineer the future. Whether you want to develop computer hardware, work in the Department of Defense, or create autonomous driving systems, Norwich faculty will be alongside you every step of the way preparing you for life after graduation. 

Why Norwich Electrical and Computer Engineering

A look inside the program with Department Chair Michael Cross, Ph.D 

“Norwich’s engineering program was started in 1895, so we’ve been around for a long time,” says Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michael Cross, Ph.D.  “We teach fundamentals because they haven’t changed in a long time – but we stay very current, doing cutting-edge and hands-on research with our students.”

Preparing students for the real world through experiential learning is key to the Norwich educational philosophy. “We have to do the math and understand the science and equations in the classroom, but the fun part is the hands-on stuff, the application – which we love to do as teachers,” he says. “We’re not a research institution, so we don’t have graduate engineering students; we stay current as professors and work with our students.”

"It’s a small department and we have better than the average student-to-faculty ratio and we’re very much invested in our students. We know them by first name and what’s going on with them. We have an open-door policy.”

Norwich University Engineering student working at server terminal

Cross enjoys the small class sizes and connections he forms with students. “I know students’ names, I know where they’re from, and I know where they’re going for spring break because we chat,” he says. “Getting that really personal connection makes it much more enjoyable as a professor.”

Connecting with students can look different throughout their time on The Hill. “We do summer projects, we do senior projects, and many of our classes have labs associated with them – we develop the labs, help students through the labs, and grade the labs,” says Cross. “It’s very hands-on with professors too. It’s a small department and we have better than the average student-to-faculty ratio and we’re very much invested in our students. We know them by first name and what’s going on with them. We have an open-door policy.”

Whether focusing on the electrical or computer engineering side of things, students are deeply familiar with the engineering faculty. “We merged our faculty; the areas of study are very closely related,” he says. “Computer engineering is more focused on computer hardware and infrastructure side of things. Electrical engineering is more about how you make electricity flow into the computer, so it calculates ones and zeroes to do some computation with it.”
 

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Department Chair Michael Cross Answers - What do Norwich Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduates Go On To Accomplish?

Though faculty are already so ingrained in the day-to-day life of students, Cross takes it a step further with his role as an advisor. “I always ask my students what they want to do with their degree because you can do just about anything you want, which is really cool,” he says. “Engineering is extremely diverse in what you can do after you leave The Hill.”

“You don’t need to know on day one, you can decide later – but once you finish your degree, the world is yours."

Norwich University Engineering students working on computer board

“A lot of times students may not know what they want to do until they get closer to junior or senior year when they’re completing internships or starting to get job offers,” says Cross. “I like to get them thinking about areas of interests and what they like. Do they like gadgets, or have an interest in the military or transportation?”

The crucial point in Cross’s view is that all students have their years at Norwich to discover their interests. “You don’t need to know on day one, you can decide later – but once you finish your degree, the world is yours. You can pretty much do whatever you want and go wherever you want.”

“Our electrical and computer engineering students in particular go work for electrical utilities; work for small firms with Department of Defense contracts creating drones and guidance systems; develop the next CPU or GPU; or work on control systems for autonomous vehicles and the battery motor interfaces. The choice is yours. What do you want to do with your degree?” 

Accreditations - David Crawford School of Engineering

New England Commission of Higher Education

REGIONAL ACCREDITATION

Norwich University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), known formerly as the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. (NEASC).

Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology

PROGRAM ACCREDITATION

Civil Engineering is accredited by the EAC Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET,  under the General Criteria and the Civil Engineering Program Criteria.

Construction Management is accredited by the ANSAC Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, under the General Criteria and the Construction Management Program Criteria.

Electrical and Computer Engineering is accredited by the EAC Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, under the General Criteria and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Program Criteria.

Interdisciplinary Engineering is accredited by the EAC Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria.

Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the EAC Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, under the General Criteria and the Mechanical Engineering Program Criteria.

Our Faculty

Image of Michael Cross

Michael Cross

Position(s):

  • Chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Assistant Professor
Image of R. Danner Friend

R. Danner Friend

Position(s):

  • Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Professor

William F. Lyons

Position(s):

  • Professor of Practice
  • Academic Director, Strategic Studies
  • Co-Director, Center for Global Resilience and Security
John E. Patterson

John E. Patterson

Position(s):

  • Associate Professor
  • Program Coordinator, Construction Management
Image of Karen Supan

Karen Supan

Position(s):

  • Associate Professor
  • Director, David Crawford School of Engineering
Moses Tefe

Moses Tefe

Position(s):

  • Associate Professor
  • Chair, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Chair, Construction Management
faculty placeholder - Norwich University Shield TM

Ali Al Bataineh

Position(s):

  • Assistant Professor
  • Director, Center for Artificial Intelligence

Goals, Outcomes & Details

To view additional program details for programs such as course offerings, requirements, and curriculum maps for the Electrical and computer engineering course offerings and a curriculum map, visit the Norwich University Course Catalog using these links.

Major

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