Advising Guide for Study Abroad in
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
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GENERAL PLANNING TIPS FOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
- With careful and early planning, you can study abroad for a semester and still graduate on time.
- The minimum eligibility requirements to study abroad are the completion of one semester on campus and a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Some programs may have additional eligibility requirements.
- Study abroad is a great way to satisfy your KU Core requirements. Therefore, it is a good idea to reserve some of your KU Core classes to take abroad.
- Scholarships are available for study abroad both through the KU Office of Study Abroad and national organizations. Additionally, the School of Engineering offers scholarship opportunities for engineering students pursuing international study. Research your opportunities early.
- Courses to take at KU: You should plan to take your senior design courses at KU. Meet with your EECS advisor to learn more about which courses you can take abroad so that you can effectively plan for a study abroad experience.
WHEN TO GO
Freshman
- Schedule a meeting with an engineering advisor during your first semester at KU to discuss your graduation plan and identify specific courses as well as specific timing opportunities for your study abroad experience.
- After you've met with your academic advisor, continue your program research by visiting the KU Office of Study Abroad Info Center in Lippincott Hall. Study abroad peer advisors can help you to identify suitable study abroad options based upon the information you received from your advisor.
- Studying abroad usually requires two letters of recommendation, so it's good to start identifying individuals who can speak to your academic qualifications as well as your ability to be successful during an international experience.
- There are a few summer programs that offer good course options for Electrical Engineering majors, and the best time to pursue these programs is the summer before your sophomore year. These programs typically offer courses such as physics and/or upper level math. Otherwise, summer is a great time to take some of your KU Core courses abroad.
Sophomore
- Electrical Engineering students may consider studying abroad the spring semester of their sophomore year provided that they have successfully completed EECS 140, 168, and 211.
- Because many of the sophomore level EECS courses at KU are offered during the fall and spring semesters, there is some degree of flexibility with your sequencing during this time.
- Because there are limited sophomore level EE course options available abroad, you should plan to take a combination of mathematics, basic sciences, KU Core, and/or EECS courses (such as Embedded Systems) abroad.
- If you are not planning on an internship during the summer, you could look for a summer program to complete some of your KU Core requirements abroad.
Junior
- The fall semester of your junior year is an ideal time for Electrical Engineering students to study abroad, and the spring semester may work as well depending on the host institution's course offerings.
- Similar to sophomore year options, look for KU Core and EECS courses abroad. You could also take technical electives that do not serve as a prerequisite for other required EECS courses.
- Junior level EECS courses that are commonly offered abroad include: Electronic Circuits I, Programming Language Paradigms, Signal and System Analysis, Control Systems, Probability and Statistics, Digital Systems Design, and Intro to Communication Systems
Senior
- It is not recommended that Electrical Engineering students study abroad senior year due to their senior design course requirements.
COURSES AND CREDIT
- KU Engineering faculty have already reviewed and pre-approved a number of study abroad courses for KU credit. To see available pre-approved courses, visit the Course Equivalency Database.
- If you want to take a class/classes that have not been pre-approved, complete the credit approval process.
RECOMMENDED PROGRAMS FOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Semester Programs
Graz University of Technology – Austria
Recommended Timing: Spring semester – junior year
Sample courses: EECS elective coursework
University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong
Recommended Timing: Fall or spring semester – junior year
Sample courses: EECS 312, EECS 360, EECS 444, EECS 461, EECS 562
University of Newcastle – Australia
Recommended Timing: Spring semester – sophomore year OR Fall semester - junior year
Sample courses: EECS 360, EECS 388, EECS 443, EECS 448
Short term Programs
Recommended Timing: Summer – after freshman year
Sample courses: Upper level math
Recommended Timing: Summer – after freshman or sophomore year
Sample courses: Varies by location
Korea University - South Korea
Recommended Timing: Summer – after freshman year
Sample courses: KU Core, Upper level math and science