ECE Undergraduate Advising Blog

Day: January 4, 2019

Enterprise – How to Register

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Getting Started in Enterprise

1.  Figure out your course number.
How many semesters do you have remaining at Tech, on campus? This will determine which course number to register in. Then, find the section number and CRN on the Schedule of Classes.

2. Get permission.
Every semester, you must seek permission to join or continue in Enterprise. Use the fillable Approval / Waiver form for permission to enroll in ENT project work EXCEPT for ENT4950 (see below). Select “Special Approval” and then see the Enterprise advisor:

BMSE – Blue Marble Security  – Dr. Glen Archer, EERC 629
WCE – Wireless Communication – Mr. Kit Cischke, EERC 520
RSE – Robotic Systems – Dr. Jeremy Bos, EERC 623
Open Source Hardware – Rick Berkey (M&M 722E) & Shane Oberloier, EERC
AE – Aerospace – Dr. Brad King, AE registration instructions, MEEM 1014

Other enterprises:  Enterprise Program.
Also see: Schedule of Classes

3. Turn in the form.
Email the completed, signed approval/waiver form to the Student Services Center, at schedule@mtu.edu, or bring to the Registrar’s Office. Once the Approval has been entered, you will be able to go into Banweb and register in your Enterprise.

Meet with your Academic Advisor if you are uncertain which course number to register in for project work, to stay on track with your graduation semester.

Capstone Enterprise Work (4950-4960)

Once you get to your senior year, registering in ENT 4950 requires a different process. To register in ENT4950, go here: ENT4950 Registration for instructions. You will start by completing Part A, which is an online form under the tab:  Enterprise Student Resources (click forms).

For ABET accreditation standards, join an Enterprise that will provide you with an appropriate project work and responsibilities to meet design standards throughout ENT4950 and ENT4960:

  • EE Majors: must apply EE knowledge and skills in engineering design
  • CpE Majors:  must apply hardware/software integration skills in engineering design
  • CpE/EE Double Majors: apply EE knowledge/skills and hardware/software integration skills in engineering design

ECE Department Rules

The department does have some rules for completing your Enterprise Design requirements. For starters, you must plan to complete a four-semester sequence: ENT3950, ENT3960, ENT4950, then ENT4960.

  • If you to take a semester off to co-op or study abroad, do it before you take ENT4950.
  • Your last year of project work in enterprise must be consecutive semesters to apply to senior design requirements.
  • ENT4950 and ENT4960 need to be in the same enterprise.

Plan carefully and plan well in advance of graduation.  Pre-requisites required for senior-level project work (4000 level):

  • EE Majors: complete EE3901 and EE3131 before enrolling in ENT4950. Take EE3171 before or in same semester as ENT4950.
  • CpE Majors: complete EE3901 and EE3131 before enrolling in ENT4950. Take EE3173 before or in same semester as ENT4950.
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Should I join Enterprise ?

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Enterprise is project work, not a class.  You will be a team member working on a project for industry, competition or student ideas.  Many enterprises will require a Approval / Waiver Form signed by the faculty advisor of the enterprise you wish to join. The faculty advisor is the instructor listed in the Schedule of Classes.

The enterprise course numbers are synced with a 4-year plan beginning with semester two. The latest you should join is that point in time when you have 4 semesters left until graduation – ENT3950 – if you plan to use enterprise project work for your ENGINEERING DESIGN requirement.  Each enterprise has a unique section number as listed in the Schedule of Classes.  Ensure you are enrolling in the correct course number – This guide will help you determine that:

Enterprise Course Number REGISTRATION GUIDE

To register, bring a signed Special Approval (waiver) form to the Student Services Center in the Admin Bldg.   See your advisor if you need help determining which course number to enroll in. (see above link)

List of enterprises

There are one-credit ENT modules, which are classes that you may take as part of an Enterprise minor or concentration. ENT courses may count as “approved electives” for EE majors; or Free Electives.  A couple of these modules are on the HASS Supplemental List.

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EE Electives / Focus Areas

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The Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree requirements contain a number of credits for  “EE Electives“. You will see “boxes” for these credits listed on the 8-semester flowcharts, and an area of the degree audit report for EE elective coursework. This is a way to choose classes you most prefer from different focus areas or areas of specialization.

The number of credits required in EE (Technical) Electives varies depending on without or with a concentration, and the catalog year you are following. Your degree audit report shows the minimum number of “EE Electives” credits you need and how your registered and completed courses are applied toward degree requirements.

What are “EE Electives”? also called “EE Technical Electives“.

The ECE Department groups EE courses by “Focus Area” (area of specialization): Signal Processing, Power, Control, Computer, Electronics, Photonics, etc… See here for the latest list. If you plan ahead, you should be able to get all or most of the courses you prefer. Each course is typically offered once per year, either in fall or spring, so plan ahead for your next two or three semesters. Look up course prerequisites in the undergraduate course descriptions link. View the Schedule of Classes to see what courses are offered in a particular semester, when that schedule is available.

You do not have to choose one focus area, and you can mix and match the courses as you like. A concentration may use some of these courses as required courses for the concentration.

What can count?  EE courses that are mainly lecture and/or lab-based courses with the subject code of “EE”. These types of credits will not count: project, research, and independent study credits.  Specifically required courses such as EE2112 or EE3131 will not count in “EE Electives” (see “major requirements” on the degree audit report).

When should you choose EE Elective courses and how?  This advising tutorial will help.
Begin to get familiar with the EE Electives list as early as the sophomore year, and ideally, no later than the end of the third year, to plan for the courses you’d prefer by the time you graduate.

Meet with Judy if you’d like help with planning future semesters with your EE Elective choices.

Take the time to consider these explorations:

– join an enterprise project team that deals with a area or two that you might be interested in

– join IEEE and/or SPIE for access to world-wide information in the field and the various focus areas; talk with mentors (ieee@mtu.edu for more info)

– become involved with undergraduate research in one of the areas you’d like to explore

– talk with faculty who teach or do research in areas you’re curious about. They are the experts.

– take a co-op semester or summer internship. This can expose you to one or more areas of specialization, and help you decide which electives you might take after you return.

– ask an acquaintance, senior student, or someone you know working in industry; inquire about job-shadowing at a company near your hometown

Summary:
“EE (Technical) Electives” are courses in topics from the various areas of specialization (focus areas) in ECE. You can mix and match them as you like. You do not have to take all the classes listed under a focus area. Choose the courses you most prefer. Plan ahead (2nd and 3rd year). 
Each concentration has a different number of “EE Elective” credits required. 

Where to find:
Focus Areas: EE electives listed by focus area and by semester in which they are offered.

Concentration flowcharts — Expand “8-Semester Flowcharts”.

All on the ECE Electrical Engineering advising page

Selecting EE Elective  courses for the BSEE (EE Technical Electives)

CpE Technical Elective  courses for the BSCpE.

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