Money Available For Electrical And Computer Engineering

Thanks to a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant of almost $600,000, students accepted into the undergraduate Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering degree programs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott Campus may apply for substantial financial assistance, ERAU representatives tell ANN.

The grant will provide NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to 13 NSF Scholars, with each student receiving up to $10,000 per academic year for up to four years. Scholarship recipients will also receive a minimum of $5,000 per year in other scholarships and grants funded by Embry-Riddle. With NSF and Embry-Riddle financial assistance combined, a student could receive $60,000 over the course of four years. Students are also welcome to apply for assistance from other federal and state programs.

Students who are enrolled full-time, academically talented, in need of financial assistance, and Pell Grant eligible are invited to apply for the NSF scholarship. The deadline is April 15, 2008.

The NSF scholarship program emphasizes the importance of recruiting students to science and engineering disciplines, mentoring and supporting students through degree completion, and partnering with employers to facilitate student career placement.

"Many students in Embry-Riddle’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering degree programs progress to graduate school and find careers in research and development or in academia," said Dr. Milton Cone, chairman of Embry-Riddle’s Electrical/Computer Engineering Department. "Others work for federal agencies, the military, or find private-sector employment as engineers or consultants."

ERAU states students in the B.S. in Electrical Engineering degree program hone their skills in classrooms and laboratories that feature the most advanced educational technologies, including state-of-the-art computing and simulation environments. Learning on operational control, communications, and power systems from faculty with significant industry experience, the student enjoys the advantages of a more practice-oriented program than typically found at other institutions.

In addition, seniors prepare a capstone project that brings together students from several disciplines to design and build an aerospace system or subsystem.

Students enrolled in the B.S. in Computer Engineering degree program acquire a broad background in computer design, including embedded control systems, real-time systems, telecommunication systems, and software engineering. The curriculum also includes team projects and a capstone senior design. The emphasis on real-time embedded control systems and hardware/software interfaces gives graduates employment opportunities beyond those of traditional computer engineering degree programs, including positions in the aerospace and defense industries.

FMI: www.embryriddle.edu