The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is part of the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. It offers a Bachelor of Engineering degree in two majors: Computer and Communications Engineering (CCE), Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), and an undergraduate minor in Biomedical Engineering. The department also offers a Master of Engineering (ME) degree and a PhD degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). The department is home to about 605 undergraduate students, 62 master's students, and 31 PhD students. There are 31 full-time faculty members in the department, and the number of alumni of the department is close to 3000.
As early as 1913, the university recognized the need for engineering education and training in the Arab East, and courses in this field were offered in the School of Arts and Sciences. In 1951, a separate school of engineering was established and curricula were initiated in architectural engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. In 1966, the School was renamed the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (FEA) that comprised, among others, the Department of Electrical Engineering, which was renamed later the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). The department initially offered only the degree of BE in EE. In 1986, the department introduced the degree BE in CCE. In 2006, the BE in EE was renamed BE in ECE.
Students receive high-quality basic and advanced technical education in electrical and computer engineering, with emphasis placed on critical thinking, communication skills, creativity, ethical and professional behavior, leadership, and creating life-long learners. Faculty members in the department attract funding and contribute to state-of-the-art research in electrical and computer engineering. Ties with researchers at renowned industrial and academic institutions and with professional organizations are maintained to advance the professional development of faculty members and students. The department provides services to the university, to local and international professional organizations, and to the community at large, with special consideration given to the needs of Lebanon and the region. The department attracts excellent students to its programs, and attracts and retains outstanding faculty members. The department provides a supportive environment for the development of both faculty members and students, and encourages student-faculty interactions through curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Both of the undergraduate programs offered by the ECE department, CCE and ECE are ABET accredited. ABET Inc. is an organization that accredits programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. It is the main body that accredits engineering programs in the US and Canada and it is increasingly accrediting programs internationally. Graduating from an ABET accredited program assures that the quality of the program meets standards for engineering education set by a well-established organization. It also means that the program is striving to keep up with developments in the field and continually working to improve the quality of education you receive. Students who graduate from ABET accredited programs have easier access to graduate programs in engineering, professional engineering registration, and membership in certain professional societies.