Welcome to the Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). We are a new department, formed on July 1, 2007 with the merger of the Computer Science Department and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. Both departments had long distinguished histories, and the merger of the two departments should create an even better department that builds on the unique strengths of the two old departments. In particular, the divisions between software and hardware have become increasingly blurred with the emergence of small digital devices that we both see, such as cell phones and personal digital assistants, and those that we do not, such as the ones embedded in our cars and TVs. The merger of the two departments provides synergies in these areas that provide many new opportunities for expanding our mission in both education and research.

Appropriately for a newly formed department, we eagerly await construction of the new EECS building. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Min Kao Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Building were held on May 14, 2007. The building construction should be completed in late 2010. Upon completion almost all departmental activities will be housed in the new building. We are particularly grateful to Dr. Min Kao, CEO of Garmin, LTD., an alumnus of the old Electrical Engineering department, for his donation of funding for the building and other departmental support, and the confidence he has shown in our vision for EECS.

These times are exciting ones for Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. The rapidly evolving Internet, the demand for new types of digital and analog devices, and the challenges of developing and exploiting newer, greener energy sources provide many challenges and job opportunities for our graduates. Our three areas represent three of the fastest growing sources of jobs in the US. You have doubtless read articles about technical jobs being outsourced to India, China, or any of a number of other developing countries. However, the truth is that there is a shortage of qualified engineers and computer scientists in the US. Most of the jobs that have been outsourced are less intellectually demanding and rewarding than the ones for which you will be trained. While the Internet does allow for increased global collaboration, US companies still prefer US-trained talent when they can find it. Your contribution in any of our three degree areas will be crucial to keeping the US economy vibrant in the years ahead.

This handbook contains information on how the EECS Department works, the range and selection of degrees and courses available to you, and what to do should difficult situations arise. Please note that this handbook is purely advisory and that the material it contains is not intended to be a comprehensive statement of University policy. The University of Tennessee Catalog (http://catalog.utk.edu) is the official source of the university's academic programs, courses, policies, and procedures.