The mapped Galerkin method based on the transverse electric fields (E formulation) for vectorial analysis of optical waveguides is described. The vector wave equation is solved by using nonlinear mapping of the x-y plane and subsequent Fourier decomposition. The modal propagation constants and field distributions for rectangular waveguides and optical rib waveguides are presented. The calculated results accord well with those published earlier, which proves the accuracy and validity of the mapped Galerkin method.