Minor Programs

Enrich your undergraduate experience.

A student pursuing a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado may also receive a minor in one of the following areas.

Apply to an ECEE Minor

Computer Engineering Minor

The minor in computer engineering provides training in computer engineering beyond the training usually received by science and mathematics majors. It can also broaden the training of students majoring in other engineering and applied science fields to provide more depth in computer engineering. The goal is to introduce students to the fundamentals of computer engineering and introduce them to a more advanced field. Such skills are important to students who expect to participate in real world situations that increasingly involve computer engineering solutions. This minor is not available to students earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering or Electrical & Computer Engineering.

Admissions Requirements

  • Programming: ASEN 1320, ECEN 1310, CSCI 1300, APPM 3050, PHYS 2600 or similar (C- or higher)
    • Can be completed or currently in-progress to be eligible to apply for the minor.

Students who meet admissions requirements can apply to the minor using the form on the right. 

Course Requirements (19 credits)

  • CSCI 2270 Data Structures (or CSCI 2275)
  • ECEN 2350 Digital Logic 
  • ECEN 2360 Programming Digital Systems or CSCI 2400 Computer Systems 
  • ECEN 2370 Embedded Software Engineering 
  • CSCI or ECEN 3593 Computer Organization  
  • One Emphasis Area course (3 credits) 
    • ECEN 3250 Microelectronics
    • ECEN 3300 Linear Systems or ECEN 3301 Biomedical Signals & Systems
    • ECEN 3303 or CSCI 3302 Introduction to Robotics
    • ECEN 3320 Semiconductor Devices
    • ECEN 3400 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
    • ECEN 3730 Practical Printed Circuit Board Design and Manufacture
    • ECEN 3753 Real-Time Operating Systems or CSCI 3753 Design and Analysis of Operating Systems
    • ECEN 3763 FPGA Design and HDL
    • ECEN 4111 Engineering Applications in Biomedicine: Cardiovascular Devices and Systems
    • ECEN 4133 Fundamentals of Computer Security
    • ECEN 4138 Control Systems Analysis or MCEN 4138 Special Topics: Feedback Control
    • ECEN 4224 High Speed Digital Design
    • ECEN 4313 Concurrent Programming
    • ECEN 4322 Data and Network Science
    • ECEN 4341 Bioelectromagnetics
    • ECEN 4395 Organic Electronic Materials and Devices
    • ECEN 4553 Compiler Construction
    • ECEN 4693 Advanced Computer Architecture
    • ECEN 4763 Embedded Software Algorithms
    • ECEN 4915 Foundations of Quantum Engineering
    • ECEN 4925 Foundations of Quantum Hardware
    • ECEN 4933 Engineering Genetic Circuits
    • ECEN 5139 Computer-Aided Verification

Students with questions about the minor can reach out to ecee-advising@colorado.edu.  

Full minor requirements

Electrical Engineering Minor 

The minor in electrical engineering provides training in electrical engineering beyond the training usually received by science, mathematics and applied mathematics majors. It can also broaden the training of students majoring in other engineering fields to provide more depth in electrical engineering. The goal is to teach students the fundamentals of electrical engineering and introduce them to at least one of its many advanced application areas. Such skills are important to students who expect to participate in real world situations that increasingly involve electrical engineering applications. This minor is not available to students earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering or Electrical & Computer Engineering.

Admissions Requirements

  • Calculus 1 (C- or higher)
  • Calculus 2 (C- or higher)
  • Linear Algebra & Differential Equations: APPM 2360 or MATH 2130+3430 (C- or higher) 

Students who have completed all above courses are encouraged to apply for the minor. Additionally, students who have completed all but one of the above courses, with the last required course currently in-progress, are also eligible to apply for the minor. Please use the link on the right side of the webpage to access the minor application form.

Course Requirements (18 credits)

    • ECEN 2250 Intro to Circuits and Electronics
      • MCEN 3017 or ECEN 3010 or GEEN 3010 if student is in Mechanical Engineering 
    • ECEN 2260 Circuits as Systems
    • ECEN 2270 Electronics Design Lab
    • Emphasis Area Electives (9 credits) 

    Students with questions about the minor can reach out to ecee-advising@colorado.edu.  

    Full minor requirements

    Quantum Engineering Minor

    The quantum engineering minor is open to students from diverse STEM backgrounds, regardless of major or college. If you have completed a programming course, calculus 2 and linear algebra, this minor demystifies quantum physics and will teach you how to approach quantum science and engineering problems.

    The minor in quantum engineering provides training and a solid foundation in quantum technologies. Quantum technologies have applications in quantum-enhanced sensors, quantum communications and quantum computing. The goal is to introduce students to the fundamentals of quantum theory and explore all of the major hardware platforms. This will allow graduates to easily adapt to the variety of technologies seen in industry. The skills obtained in this minor are important to students who expect to participate in real-world situations that increasingly involve quantum technologies.

    Admissions Requirements

    • Programming: ASEN 1320, ECEN 1310, CSCI 1300, APPM 3050, PHYS 2600 or similar (C- or higher) 
    • Calculus 2 (C- or higher): MATH 2300 or APPM 1360 
    • Linear Algebra (C- or higher): MATH 3135 OR MATH 2130 OR MATH 2135 OR APPM 2360 OR APPM 3310 OR CSCI 2820
    • Recommended: 
      • Calculus 3 
      • Probability 
      • PHYS 2130 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and Its Applications

    Students who have completed all above courses are encouraged to apply for the minor. Additionally, students who have completed all but one of the above courses, with the last required course currently in-progress, are also eligible to apply for the minor. Please use the link on the right side of the webpage to access the minor application form.

    Course Requirements (18 credits)

    Required Courses (9 credits)

    • ECEN 3915/5915 Foundations of Quantum Engineering (3 credits), offered in fall semesters only
    • ECEN 4925/5925* Foundations of Quantum Hardware (3 credits), offered in spring semesters only
    • CSCI/PHYS 3090 Introduction to Quantum Computing (3 credits), offered in spring semesters only

    *For Spring 2023, the course was listed as ECEN 4005/5005-001

    Students earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering or Electrical & Computer Engineering are eligible for this minor, but the three required courses (ECEN 3915, ECEN 4925, CSCI/PHYS 3090) may only apply toward Free Electives for your bachelor's degree.

    Elective Courses (9 credits)

    • Aerospace Engineering: ASEN 3000+ excluding the following: 
      • ASEN 3036 Introduction to Human Spaceflight 
      • ASEN 3046 Introduction to Humans in Aviation 
    • Applied Math: APPM 3000+ 
    • Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences: ASTR 3000+ 
    • ATLAS: ATLS 3000+ 
    • Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences: ATOC 3000+ 
    • Biomedical Engineering: BMEN 3000+ 
    • Chemical Engineering: CHEN 3000+ 
    • Chemistry: CHEM 3000+ 
    • Civil Engineering: CVEN 3000+ 
    • Computer Science CSCI 3000+ excluding the following: 
      • CSCI 4250/5250 Computer Science: The Canon 
    • Electrical Engineering ECEN 3000+ excluding the following: 
      • ECEN 3070 Edges of Science 
    • Energy Engineering: ENEN 3000+ 
    • Engineering Plus: GEEN 3000+  
    • Environmental Engineering: EVEN 3000+ 
    • Geological Sciences: GEOL 3000+ 
    • Mathematics: MATH 3000+ 
    • Mechanical Engineering: MCEN 3000+ 
    • Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology: MCDB 3000+ 
    • Physics PHYS 3000+ excluding the following: 
      • PHYS 3000 Science and Public Policy 
      • PHYS 3050 Writing in Physics 
      • PHYS 3221 Tutorial Practicum for Quantum Mechanics 1 
    • Statistics: STAT 3000+ 

    Students with questions about the minor can reach out to ecee-advising@colorado.edu.  

    Full minor requirements

    Systems & Signals Minor

    The minor in signals and systems provides training in control systems, digital signal processing or communications beyond the training usually received by science, mathematics and applied mathematics majors. It can also broaden the training of students majoring in other engineering fields to provide depth in signals and systems. The goal is to teach students the fundamentals of signals and systems and introduce them to laboratory applications. This minor is not available to students earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering or Electrical & Computer Engineering.

    Admissions Requirements

    • PHYS 1120 General Physics 2 
      • Can be completed or currently in-progress to be eligible to apply for the minor.
    • Solid mathematics background in Fourier series, Laplace transforms, transfer functions and sinusoidal response 

    Students who meet admissions requirements can apply to the minor using the form on the right.

    Course Requirements (18 credits)

      • ECEN 2250 Intro to Circuits & Electronics 
      • ECEN 2260 Circuits as Systems 
      • ECEN 3300 Linear Systems 
      • Electives (9 credits) 

      Students with questions about the minor can reach out to ecee-advising@colorado.edu.  

      Full minor requirements