Power System Protection and Relaying

Academic Certificate

The University of Idaho offers academic certificates in various academic disciplines. An academic certificate is a coherent body of work designed to reflect specialized expertise. Earning a certificate may provide professional advancement opportunities and build a strong foundation for future graduate study. College of Engineering certificate courses already exist in the graduate curricula, and all required courses are delivered online by Engineering Outreach.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers the Power System Protection and Relaying Academic Certificate, which provides engineers with a concentrated focus on power system protection and relaying.

Prerequisites
  • A completed undergraduate degree in a related field from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (required prior to enrolling in a 500-level course); 
  • Admission to the University of Idaho;
  • Nondegree students must obtain permission from the instructor prior to registering for a 500-level course;
  • All students must submit the Academic Certificate Declaration on page 2 of the Change of Curriculum form to the certificate coordinator for department chair approval;
  • Review Steps to Certificate Completion
  • Students must contact the certificate coordinator to discuss background qualifications prior to starting the certificate.
Course Selection
This academic certificate consists of 12 credits selected from the courses listed below and approved by the certificate coordinator. Refer to the University of Idaho General Catalog for course descriptions and prerequisite requirements. Students must earn a grade of 'B' or better in each course to qualify for a College of Engineering certificate; course work may not be more than five (5) years old unless it is being used in conjunction with the completion of a graduate degree. View the current Engineering Outreach courses and watch a sample session.

Required courses (6 credits)
Credits
ECE 422 Power Systems Analysis
3
ECE 525 Power System Protection and Relaying
3
Electives (6 credits)
ECE 452 Communication Systems
3
ECE 476 Digital Filtering
3
ECE 504 Special Topics (as approved by the certificate coordinator)
3
ECE 523 Symmetrical Components
3
ECE 524 Transients in Power Systems
3
ECE 526     
Protection of Power Systems II
 3

Admission and Transfer Credits
Students must be admitted to the University of Idaho prior to starting a certificate; discuss admission category options and qualifications with the certificate coordinator prior to applying.
  • Nondegree students must earn all certificate course credits from the University of Idaho unless they plan to continue working toward a graduate degree in the same department. A maximum of 12 approved credits taken as a nondegree student or at another institution can be transferred toward a master's degree; students considering transferring credits into a graduate program must contact the department for early advising. Nondegree students are not eligible for financial aid.
  • Graduate students may use up to three (3) approved transfer credits toward the certificate, with department approval.
  • Course credits earned as an undergraduate student may not be applied toward this certificate.
Certificate Coordinator
Brian K. Johnson, Ph.D., P.E.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Phone: (208) 885-6902 or (800) 824-2889, press 1, ext. 6902