Electrical and Computer Engineering
The Electrical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s), and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. The Electrical and Computer Engineering department also administers a graduate program granting the Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering. The undergraduate electrical engineering program also offers a computer engineering concentration. These programs support the mission of the University by providing students with appropriate curricula and educational experiences.
For the first year of study, all engineering programs place major emphasis on the fundamentals of engineering and computer science, mathematics, and the basic sciences to provide the background for later engineering science and design courses. Following preparatory work, the fundamentals of electrical, computer, mechanical, and materials engineering concepts are developed. Advanced courses in electrical and computer engineering further develop knowledge in these engineering disciplines. Students may specialize in a specific area of interest to them, and in accord with their specific career objectives, by taking elective courses that provide depth in that area.
The electrical engineering courses have a strong design component. Students learn the theory in the classroom and put it into practice in the laboratory, resulting in graduates who can practice in industry. The electrical engineering curriculum blends theoretical knowledge with hands-on experiential learning. An interdisciplinary team-based senior design project completes the technical education.
Students desiring to obtain a background in the next generation of computer technologies can pursue the Computer Engineering concentration within the Electrical Engineering program. That option produces engineers able to develop both hardware and software solutions to solve societal problems.
Close interactions with industry results in employment of our graduates in all sectors of industry, government, and academe. They are active in the areas of power, electronics, robotics and automation, computer hardware and software design, and take the lead in the research and development of new systems and applications.
The Program Educational Objectives are broad statements that describe what alumni do within a few years following graduation. The Electrical Engineering program is committed to graduating engineers who within a few years of their graduation are expected to:
- Apply their in-depth understanding in areas of electrical systems to solve problems in a modern technological society as productive engineers and/or enter and succeed in a graduate program.
- Function effectively, both individually and within multidisciplinary teams.
- Continue as lifelong learners to develop their engineering design abilities, problem-solving skills, and aptitude for innovation.
- Practice professional ethics with social responsibility through service in the framework of a global technical community.
- Demonstrate the organizational, leadership, and communication skills to achieve success in their chosen careers and make reasoned decisions based on a respect for diversity, and welcome it as a source for creativity, innovation, and productive collaboration.
Students will build skills and knowledge through formal course work, projects, and presentations. Electrical Engineering students will graduate from the program with the ability to perform and execute the following student outcomes:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
- Electrical Engineering Major
- Concentration in Computer Engineering
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Five-Year Accelerated Degree Bachelor and Master of Science Program
Computer Engineering
CPEG 2245 Digital Design I 3 Credits
Corequisite(s): CPEG 2245L.
An introduction to computer hardware design. Topics include: digital design principles, Boolean algebra, combinational logic design, sequential logic design, registers, counters, memory, multiplexers, finite state machines, radix conversion, and programmable logic devices. Students learn to write, implement, and simulate elementary digital design.
CPEG 2245L Digital Design I Lab 1 Credit
Fee: $132 Electrical and Computer Engineering Lab Fee
Corequisite(s): CPEG 2245.
This lab course covers the practical aspects of digital logic design. Students design and implement logic circuits using techniques taught in CPEG 2245. Students gain experience using state of the art design software and development boards, which use modern field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology.
CPEG 3246 Digital Electronics Design II 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): CPEG 2245.
This course examines computer architecture implemented using a hardware design language and programmable logic devices. Students learn the VHDL hardware description language, and learn to use modern design, simulation, and synthesis software. Students design, verify, build and test digital logic circuits using industry standard development boards, and field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5406.
CPEG 3331 Biomedical Signal Processing 3 Credits
This course presents an overview of different methods used in biomedical signal processing. Signals with bioelectric origin are given special attention and their properties and clinical significance are reviewed. In many cases, the methods used for processing and analyzing biomedical signals are derived from a modeling perspective based on statistical signal descriptions. The purpose of the signal processing methods ranges from reduction of noise and artifacts to extraction of clinically significant features. The course gives each participant the opportunity to study the performance of a method on real, biomedical signals. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5331.
CPEG 3346 Computer Systems Architecture 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): CPEG 2245.
This course introduces the machine language and various components of a computer hardware in modern computer systems. The course focuses on CPU, memory, bus, cache, I/O module, internal data representation, and instruction set design. It also covers pipelining, superscalar architecture, reduced instruction set computers, parallel architectures, and interconnection networks. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5346.
CPEG 4320 Computer Networks 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): CPSC 1131, MATH 4351.
This course covers principles of networking and network programming. Topics include OSI layers, elementary queuing theory, protocol analysis, multi-threading, command-line interpreters, and monitors. Students write a distributed computing system and check their performance predictions with experiments. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5460.
CPEG 4325 Computer Graphics 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): CPSC 1131.
This course supports the visualization and computer systems domain, offering an introductory treatment to two-dimensional and three-dimensional computer graphics concepts. Students write computer games and employ their knowledge to imbue them with realism. High performance rendering uses the latest in cutting edge hardware-accelerated graphics processors. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5325.
CPEG 4332 Biomedical Imaging 3 Credits
The fundamentals and applications of medical imaging techniques will be presented, including x-ray and computed tomography, nuclear imaging, ultrasound, and MRI. Image processing and analysis techniques will be introduced through suitable programming exercises. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5332.
CPEG 4333 Biomedical Visualization 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): CPSC 1131.
This course is an introduction to 3-D biomedical visualization. Various technologies are introduced, including ultrasound, MRI, CAT scans, PET scans, etc. Students will learn about spatial data structures, computational geometry and solid modeling with applications in 3-D molecular and anatomical modeling. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5333.
Electrical Engineering
ELEG 2213 Introduction to Electric Circuits 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): MATH 1142, PHYS 1172, PHYS 1172L.
This course introduces engineering students to the analysis of linear electric circuits. The course covers the basic laws of circuit behavior and analysis techniques, including descriptions of circuit elements and electronic variables, and considers circuit theorems and principles for insightful analysis of electrical circuits. The course introduces basic concepts and analysis of networks.
ELEG 2213L Electric Circuits Lab 1 Credit
Fee: $132 Electrical and Computer Engineering Lab Fee
Corequisite(s): ELEG 2213.
Students use common electrical laboratory instruments (oscilloscopes, meters, and signal generators) and elemental circuit components to construct and analyze basic electrical circuits. They study the application of circuit theorems and circuit elements (RL and RC); conduct experiments with transient, steady state, and frequency response; and use software applications to simulate and analyze circuit performance.
ELEG 2221 Frequency Domain Circuit Analysis 3 Credits
Students perform frequency domain analysis of passive and active circuits, study transient and AC circuit analysis manually and with computer-aided applications, and examine the transient response of first and second order circuits. The course introduces pole and zero concepts and applies them to circuit analysis, and introduces computer methods of circuit analysis and design.
ELEG 3231 Introduction to Electronics Circuits and Devices 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): ELEG 2213.
This first course in electronics teaches basic principles and technologies to understand, analyze, and design electronic circuits. The course reviews the properties of semiconductor materials used in the fabrication of diodes, bipolar junction transistors, and field effect transistors. Students analyze amplifier biasing techniques and develop circuit models of semi-conductor devices that are used to analyze and design electronic circuits. Computer simulations of circuits are used to illustrate the fundamental principles.
ELEG 3231L Electronics Circuits Lab 1 Credit
Fee: $132 Electrical and Computer Engineering Lab Fee
Corequisite(s): ELEG 3231.
Students build and test circuits using diodes, bipolar junction transistors, and MOSFETs. They use the principles developed in ELEG 3231 to analyze, build, and test amplifier and oscillator circuits.
ELEG 3301 Signal and Systems I 3 Credits
This course studies and classifies continuous and discrete signals and systems. It presents time domain and discrete analysis of signals using the Fourier series, Laplace transforms, Fourier transforms, z-transforms, and fast Fourier transforms (e.g., differential equations, convolution, concept and meaning of impulse response); and examines frequency domain analysis, the Fourier series, and the Fourier transform as an alternative to time domain analysis. Students gain further insights into signal and system properties through the Laplace transform methods and the concept of the transfer function.
ELEG 3348 Embedded Microcontrollers 3 Credits
Corequisite(s): ELEG 3348L, CPSC 1131.
Prerequisite(s): CPEG 2245.
This course covers the architecture of microcontrollers, including how they are constructed internally and how they interface with external circuitry. Applications for microcontrollers in both complex and simple equipment are discussed. Students learn how to apply and how to select a microcontroller for a given application. Students will learn to program the microcontroller to develop programming skills. The software tools will be used to develop software code for practical applications such as servo motor control, sensor reading, and data display. An accompanying laboratory course covers the programming of microprocessors to do a specific task. An accompanying laboratory course covers the programming of microprocessors to do a specific task. This course covers the programming and application of the PIC microcontroller. Students are able to develop programming skills using assembly language and software tools such as MPLAB IDE and MultiSim MCU. These tools are used to develop software code for practical applications such as motor speed control and voltage regulation for power supplies. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5348.
ELEG 3348L Embedded Microcontrollers Lab 1 Credit
Fee: $132 Electrical and Computer Engineering Lab Fee
Corequisite(s): ELEG 3348.
This laboratory covers the basic operation and applications of a microcontroller. Students learn to program a microcontroller to control applications, such as motor speed, by the use of an emulator connected to a PC. They design a circuit using a microcontroller for a specific application and write a program to control the circuit. On completion of the program, they use the emulator to program an actual microcontroller for use in their circuits.
ELEG 4315 Nanoelectronics I 3 Credits
Building on the two introductory courses in nanotechnology, this course is the first of two that describe how nanotechnology can be integrated into the electronics industry. The unique electrical, mechanical, and optical properties of structures in the nanometer range and how they may be applied to electronics products are discussed. Principles of electronic materials, semiconductor devices, and microfabrication techniques will be extended to the nanoscale. Students will increase their knowledge of electronic structure, quantum mechanics, and the behavior of optoelectronic and low-dimensional systems. Students make extensive use of the available literature to seek out potential applications of nanotechnology. Intended for students interested in the minor in nanotechnology/nanoelectronics track. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5315.
ELEG 4331 Analog Electronics Design 3 Credits
Corequisite(s): ELEG 4331L.
This advanced course in electronics examines high frequency response of bipolar junction transistor and field-effect transistor amplifiers using hybrid two-port active device models. Students consider the effect of feedback and frequency compensation techniques on the amplifier response and study a variety of analog circuits with respect to their analysis and applications, including active filters, oscillators, waveform generation and shaping, voltage regulator, and communication circuits. The course introduces basic power electronics device components.
ELEG 4331L Analog Electronics Lab 1 Credit
Fee: $132 Electrical and Computer Engineering Lab Fee
Corequisite(s): ELEG 4331.
This advanced lab provides insight into the functions of various application-specific electronic circuits. Experiments characterize functioning of various analog systems, such as oscillators, active filters, waveform generation and shaping circuits, and voltage regulator circuits.
ELEG 4335 Microelectronics 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): ELEG 4331.
This course covers three methods of fabricating high-density interconnection structures for manufacturing microelectronic assemblies: thick films, thin films, and printed circuit boards. The thick and thin film technologies use substrates of metalized ceramic to make the interconnections between components and are capable of fabricating integrated resistors with high precision and stability. The printed circuit board technology uses organic materials with copper laminates to etch the interconnection patterns. The individual layers are laminated to produce the multilayer structure, but do not include integrated resistors. Each of the technologies is examined to determine the electrical and physical properties of the structures. Such parameters as distributed capacitance and how they affect circuit performance are discussed. In the laboratory accompanying the course, students have the opportunity to fabricate thick and thin film circuits and to examine the structure of printed circuit boards. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5335.
ELEG 4355 Sensor Design and Applications 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): ELEG 2213.
This course covers the design, fabrication, and properties of sensors intended to measure a variety of parameters, such as stress, temperature, differential pressure, and acceleration. Sensors of different types are used in a wide range of equipment, especially automated equipment, to detect changes in state and to provide the signals necessary to control various functions. Sensors are generally connected to electronics systems that process and distribute the signals. The support electronics must identify the signal, separate it from noise and other interference, and direct it to the appropriate point. These support electronics are a critical part of the sensor technology; students discuss their design and packaging in detail. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5355.
ELEG 4360 Power Electronics 3 Credits
This course covers the design and operation of power electronics circuits, such as power supplies and motor controls. Using electronic circuit models for transistors and diodes developed in earlier courses, students analyze and design power circuits. Particular attention is paid to power dissipation and packaging.
ELEG 4361 Green Power Generation 3 Credits
This course compares various methods of green power generation including solar power, wind power, water power, and several others. This course covers how power is generated from these sources, the startup costs, the efficiency, and the practicality. These methods are compared to the present most common method of using oil and gas to heat water into steam to turn turbines. The student does not necessarily need a background in engineering and any necessary background material will be covered to the understanding of all. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5361.
ELEG 4365 Internet of Things 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): ELEG 3348, ELEG 3348L.
This course introduces one or more of the possible hardware devices that support Internet of Things (IoT). The associated communication protocols, storage of data, and the distributed systems needed to support IoT applications will be discussed. Practical IoT device programming (Arduino and Raspberry Pi, STM 32, Azure Sphere devices), and technologies for sensing and collecting data, and utilizing them to design actuating mechanism or data analysis will be presented. Selected IoT protocol stacks (Zigbee, Bluetooth, WiFi) for networking and security enforcement will be presented. Cloud-based IoT platforms such as AWS, Azure will be discussed. Student class project will include development of an IoT application with practical sensor data collection and deployment on a cloud-based IoT service platform.
ELEG 4377 Power Security and Reliability 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): ELEG 4385.
This course focuses on Power System Protection and Relaying to allow the design of robust and reliable power systems. After reviewing the need for protection of power system elements (motors, generators, transformers, and transmission/distribution lines), the course: Explores developments in the creation of smarter, more flexible protective systems based on advances in the computational power of digital devices and the capabilities of communication systems that can be applied within the power grid, Examines the regulations related to power system protection and how they impact the way protective relaying systems are designed, applied, set, and monitored, Considers the evaluation of protective systems during system disturbances and describes the tools available for analysis, Addresses the benefits and problems associated with applying microprocessor-based devices in protection schemes' Contains an expanded discussion of internal protection requirements at dispersed generation facilities. MatLab is used to solve homework problems and do team design projects. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5377.
ELEG 4378 Electromagnetic Compatibility 3 Credits
This course presents design techniques to minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI) from or to it. The various sources of Radio-frequency emissions from electronic systems, coupling paths for the transfer of undesired electromagnetic energy will be introduced. Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) requirements for electronic products will be presented along with techniques to measure EMI. High speed digital signal transmission integrity related issues and methods to overcome signal integrity will be introduced. Techniques to minimize conducted and radiated Emissions through filtering and grounding will be presented. System design for EMC will be presented. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 4378.
ELEG 4379 Communication Systems 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): ELEG 3301.
This course focuses on analog and digital communication systems and the effects of noise on those systems. It includes analog modulation and demodulation techniques (amplitude, frequency, and phase modulation) and digital Modulation and demodulation techniques (ASK, FSK, PSK, PCM, and delta modulation). It discusses performance analysis of analog and digital communication systems under noise with applications of probability theory to the analysis. It discusses information measure, source coding, error correcting codes and Spread spectrum systems. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5379.
ELEG 4385 Power Generation and Distribution 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): ELEG 2221.
This course considers the generation and distribution of electrical power to large areas. Three-phase networks are described in detail, including both generators and loads. Methods of modeling distribution systems by per-unit parameters are covered, along with power factor correction methods. Fault detection and lightning protection methods are also described. Some economic aspects of power generation and distribution are presented. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5385.
ELEG 4386 Fault Analysis in Power Systems 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): ELEG 4385.
This course covers three types of faults in electrical power grids: open lines, lines shorted to ground, and lines shorted to each other. Methods of locating faults are covered along with an analysis of the effects of such faults. Methods of protection and fault isolation are also covered. Graduate equivalent: ECEG 5386.
ENGINEERING
ENGR 3260 Robots 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): ELEG 2213, ELEG 2213L.
Introductory course in robotics develops understanding of how robotic systems integrate sensors, actuators, and control systems to achieve specific goals. Principles of autonomy, programming, wireless communications, sensor applications, mechatronics, electrical power, electric motors, pneumatics, structure, and locomotion will be understood and applied. Design of robotic subsystems will utilize multiple areas of knowledge. Students will understand degrees of freedom of a robotic arm and their safety parameters through demonstration and use of Fanuc Robot. Service learning is an integral part of the course. All students will participate in mentoring of youth to put into practice the principles learned in class, and gain communication skills through community interaction. Particularly they will participate in mentoring to build small robots to accomplish different feats, for example obstacle avoidance by a mobile robot.
ENGR 4303 Industrial Automation 3 Credits
This hands-on course teaches students about components in automation systems and automated production lines. Students learn and practice with industrial sensors, actuators, PLCs, robot arms, pneumatics devices, and electro-pneumatic components. Students create, simulate, and assemble pneumatics, electric, electronics, and electro-pneumatic control circuits. Automation software, ladder logic programming, and robot programming are also discussed. The course comprises lectures, an automation lab, individual assignments, two group projects, and an individual project. Graduate equivalents: ECEG 5303, MEEG 5303.
ENGR 4305 Design of Mechatronics Systems 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): Senior standing.
This course covers development of mechatronics theory and applications to systems dependent upon the integration of mechanical, electrical and computer engineering. Students assemble hardware components to create a product design that fulfills a specified task in a mechatronics system. Students develop design skills in mechanisms, electrical devices, and software to create, test, and verify system function. Graduate equivalent: MEEG 5305.
ENGR 4308 Autonomous Mobile Robots 3 Credits
Prerequisite(s): ELEG 2213, ELEG 2213L.
In this course, students will design and construct functional autonomous robots using provided hardware and electronics to implement multiple “simultaneous” behaviors: position control, obstacle avoidance, and objective completion. Students will focus on programming multi-behavior capability on a robot. In doing so, students will become familiar with microcontroller programming, data acquisition, motors, and sensor characterization for different sensors, such as inertial measurement units, timers, distance sensors / rangefinders, cameras, and beacons. This course will cover the fundamentals of robotic architecture: low-level and high-level control. For low level control, students will implement feedback controllers for orientation and displacement. For high level control, students will program or teach decision-making capabilities for their robot. Robots may complete specific high-level tasks, such as snow removal, lawn mowing, parcel delivery, and a tank battle. Ultimately, students will learn to fuse multiple, simultaneous robot behaviors to produce a functioning, “thinking” autonomous mobile robot with natural behavior. Students may use premade robotic chasses if preferred. Graduate equivalent: ENGR 5308.
ENGR 4334 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Design, Navigation, and Control 3 Credits
This course provides an in-depth exploration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), focusing on their design, navigation, and control. Students will learn the fundamental principles of UAVs, how to design and build basic drones, and apply advanced control and sensor fusion techniques for effective navigation and stabilization. The course also covers the use of UAVs in various applications like photogrammetry and payload delivery, along with a thorough understanding of the regulatory and ethical issues surrounding drone operations. Graduate Equivalent: ECEG 5334.