Student in lab with equipment

As an electrical engineering student, you’ll design, develop, produce and improve every kind of electrical device imaginable.

You’ll learn fundamental concepts about how circuits work. It helps to be good at abstract thinking because even though you’ll work with tangible items such as conductors, switches, capacitors, and transistors, many of the processes involved are not visible.

For more information on electrical engineering and information on technical specialties within the field, visit the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Career Cornerstone.

Program Type

Major, Minor

Program Format

On Campus

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Career Outlook

You’ll be in demand across many fields. Graduates work in almost every industry. Electric power generation, transmission and distribution are among the top paying industries for electrical engineers and you’ll appreciate our faculty’s expertise in these fields. By 2030, the number of electrical engineers employed in the solar energy industry alone is expected to grow by nearly 25 percent and in the wind energy industry by almost 52 percent.**

2023 median pay was $109,010/year*

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

**Progressive Recruitment

“My internship with BD has allowed me to make new discoveries regarding chemical reactions with 3D printed materials.” –Maddie, Senior, Electrical Engineering

What to Expect

Increased speed to graduation

Our new and redesigned curriculum makes it easier and faster for you to complete your degree. You’ll also find greater flexibility in the electives available to customize your experience. 

What makes our program stand out

The Electrical Engineering major at the College of Engineering & Applied Science is an exceptional hands-on, multi-disciplinary program designed to prepare students for successful careers or graduate study with top-tier universities.

Though we have curriculum requirements, electrical engineering students at UWM have the flexibility to choose the areas of study that interest them. Our students are encouraged to have a broad exposure to different technical areas rather than a narrow focus in one. In fact, we find that students who choose at least two technical tracks, such as electrical engineering and physics, are best prepared to achieve success.

Honors

You will be eligible for these honors in the major during your studies and upon completing your degree.

Students at UWM have many opportunities to earn honors recognition.

UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science program provides many opportunities to pair classroom learning with hands-on experiences outside the classroom. The college’s location in Wisconsin’s largest city, with a broad network of industry partnerships, gives you easy access to well-paid internships and co-ops, as well as other important opportunities to enhance your resume. 

The hands on experience I was able to receive from co-oping paired with the EE curriculum and resources offered by the college made it possible for me receive and accept a full time job offer before graduating.


Kalila (Career Launch at Milwaukee Tool)Alumna, BS Electrical Engineering

Did you know? 

  • 97 percent of our graduates launch their careers or continue their education upon graduation.
  • $78,000 average starting salary
  • SOURCE: UWM First Destination Survey for the College of Engineering & Applied Science, 2021-2023

Internships & Co-ops

You’ll have many hands-on opportunities to develop your skills and determine what type of career experience you would like after graduation, with opportunities to earn a significant paycheck in nearby internships and co-ops over summer breaks and even during the academic year.

Here are some of the businesses where our electrical engineering degree students have had internships, co-ops or launched their careers:

  • ABB
  • Eaton Corporation
  • GE Healthcare
  • Generac Power Systems, Inc.
  • Honeywell
  • Johnson Controls
  • Leonardo DRS
  • Milwaukee Tool
  • Rockwell Automation
  • WEC Energy Group
Capstones / Senior Design Projects

In your senior year, you’ll team up with other students to complete a Capstone Project led by the Chief Electrical Officer at GE Healthcare. You’ll work as a group to use what you’ve learned in class to complete an experience similar to a real-world employer project.

View senior design projects here.

Student Organizations

Association of Energy Engineers

AEE promotes the scientific and educational interests of those engaged in the energy industry and to foster action for sustainable development.

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

IEEE is dedicated to helping students by providing networking opportunities, mentoring, project guidance, and more.

Robotics Association

RA UWM gives students with a passion for robotics an outlet to express that passion through designing, building, testing, programming, and competing with our robots against universities from around the world.

For full descriptions and contact information for all electrical-engineering and other engineering-related student organizations and clubs, click here.

Resource Rooms & Teaching Labs

Electrical Engineering Lab

As an Electrical Engineering student, you’ll have plenty of hands-on learning opportunities in this lab, from computer simulation through building and testing phases of projects, whether for your freshman Electrical Engineering course or your senior capstone design experience, providing you hands-on experience that employers value. In addition to this general-purpose lab, the Electrical Engineering department has dedicated teaching labs for power electronics, electric machines, and digital/microcontroller design and testing.

Resource Rooms

UWM students have a wealth of additional resources available to them within the College of Engineering & Applied Science. From computer labs and tutoring resources to teaching labs and spaces to create or collaborate. Details here.

Research Opportunities

A benefit of attending a top tier R1 research university is the opportunity to work with faculty engaged in cutting-edge research and to participate in the Support for Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) program. The SURF program helps you to improve your professional preparation through research by closely working with our faculty to explore, discover, and transform ideas into reality.

SURF students also receive funding for their efforts: from 2012-2023 almost $1.5M was awarded to over 700 students from our college.

Graduate and undergraduate students also have the opportunity to participate in the annual Research Poster Competition & Experiential Learning Expo, providing them with excellent opportunities to share their work with judges from industry.

Student Startup Challenge

Directed by the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center, the UWM Student Startup Challenge is an optional, co-curricular program that fosters our students’ innovative and entrepreneurial ideas. You can work alone or as part of a team as you gain the skills that come from entrepreneurial experience.

We’re Here to Help

Our dedicated Center for Student Experience & Talent (SET) works with our students to prepare them for a career after graduation.

What You’ll Do

Graduates of our electrical engineering degree program work in almost every industry because electricity has integrated itself into every aspect of modern life, and demand for electrical engineers is expected to grow 3% per year for the next decade so there is job security in electrical engineering. Careers in electrical engineering can involve:

  • Batteries
  • Bio-imaging and devices
  • Communications
  • Controls and automation
  • Embedded System Design and implementation
  • Energy generation and transmission
  • Motors
  • Optical and photonic circuits and devices
  • Power electronics
  • Renewable energy
  • Signal and image processing

For general information on electrical engineering as well as information on technical specialties within the field, visit the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Career Cornerstone.

Advising

Megan Wisnowski
  • Academic Advisor, Undergraduate Advising
  • Students with last names M-R
Brandon Clark
  • Academic Advisor, Undergraduate Advising
  • Students with last names A-E
Tina Current
  • Senior Advisor, Undergraduate Advising
  • Students with last names beginning F-L
  • Prospective Transfer Student Liaison
Jennie Klumpp
  • Senior Advisor, Undergraduate Advising
  • Students with last names beginning S-Z
  • Prospective Student Liaison

Tutoring

Steven Anderson
  • Retention Coordinator, Tutoring
  • Student Support Center Coordinator
  • Freshmen Orientation Instructor

Faculty & Staff

Ali Abedi
  • Vice Provost for Research, UWM
  • Professor, Electrical Engineering
Rob Cuzner
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Professor
  • Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
  • Director, Center for Sustainable Electrical Energy Systems (SEES)
  • Site Director, Center for GRid-Connected Power Electronic Systems (GRAPES)
William Dussault electrical engineering
  • Teaching Faculty 2, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Feng Guo
  • Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering
faculty member yi-hu
  • Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering
  • Department Chair, Electrical Engineering
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science
Jeffrey Kautzer
  • Adjunct Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
  • General Manager, Hardware Excellence & Chief Electrical Engineer, GE Healthcare
Chiu Law
  • Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science
Shuaiqi Roger Shen
  • Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering
Lingfeng Wang
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Faculty Fellowship
  • Professor, Electrical Engineering
  • Professor, Computer Science
faculty image weizhong wang
  • Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science
Jun Zhang
  • Professor, Electrical Engineering
  • Professor, Computer Science
Accreditation
The Electrical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Contact
Electrical Engineering
Contact Info: ceas-ee@uwm.edu

Street Address
College of Engineering & Applied Science
3200 North Cramer Street
Milwaukee, WI 53211

Mailing Address
College of Engineering & Applied Science
P.O. Box 784
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0784