Circuits and Systems Track Update
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Tufts University
Summary:
The electrical and computer engineering department has deliberated for over a year, and
has voted unanimously to update the circuits and systems track. This specifically concerns
the following existing course sequence for the two majors:
Electrical Engineering Majors
Computer Engineering Majors
In this sequence ES-3 and EE-26 are only shown to highlight the pre- and post- courses in
the sequence. These courses will remain unchanged. Note that in the current system, EE13 comes before EE-11 and EE-12 in this sequence.
The main changes are as follows:
(1) Consolidate EE-13 and EE-11 into a single course, with the number EE-21 offered in
spring semester. The new name for the course is Electronics I
(2) Rename EE-103 as EE-23 to be offered in fall semester.
(3) EE-12 will now be offered in the fall semester renamed as EE-22: Electronics II.
(4) Add a new course EE-31: Junior Design to be offered in Spring semester of the junior
year. This course adds a much needed “project based learning” component in the EE
curriculum.
The new sequence is as follows:
Rationale:
It was realized that the syllabus for EE-13 and EE-11 had much overlap with preceding
course (ES-3) and among themselves. For example, circuit theory treatment was repeated
in EE-13 (from ES-3). Signal flow graphs analysis was also covered repeatedly in EE-13,
EE-11 and EE-12.
Also discussion on s-transform, z-transform and Fourier transform was not coherently
planned among these courses. EE-13 discussed s-transforms, which were covered again
in EE-102. Moreover, it was also realized that EE-102 was specifically a transforms and
linear systems course for undergraduates. It does not qualify as a 100 level course.
Department strongly supports the idea of project-based learning. It believes that such a
component could be incorporated into the curriculum in the junior year by the introduction
of a new course EE-31: Junior Design. This course provides means to apply concepts
from analog circuits, digital circuits, linear systems and microprocessor-based systems
learnt in earlier classes for hands-on problem-solving of real-life engineering problems.
This project component is similar to the senior design project, except that it is more
structured and organized.
To achieve these objectives, he department agreed to restructure the syllabus and change
the names and descriptions for these courses to stay relevant and provide a more focused
and learning sequence to our students.
The main consequence of this change is an overall reduction of one required course for
both electrical and computer engineering majors. Also, the movement of the courses from
spring to the fall semester for EE-12 and EE-13 provide a more equitable distribution of
workload for the students.
Detailed Changes in each of the courses:
1) The new EE-21: This is a combined EE-13 and EE-11 course that will be offered in
place of EE-13. Some topics from EE-13 such as frequency response and active filters will
be moved to EE-21. Signal flow graphs discussion from the old EE-13 is dropped. Course
starts with FET transistor discussion and not BJT, due to the prevalence of MOS circuits in
today’s world. Also computer engineers get to see MOSFETS in their curriculum, which is
not currently possible. Laplace based frequency response discussion is replaced by
phasor based understanding. Laplace transforms will be discussed next semester in detail
in the new EE-23 (that was EE-102).
2) The new EE-22: Course will start where EE-21 left off. BJT device and circuit operation
would be introduced for the first time. Integrated circuit realizations using active loads will
be the main focus. Differential and multi-stage amplifiers will be covered in much more
detail. Some control theoretic concepts based on the linear systems understanding of
analog circuits will be proposed. Advanced circuits will be covered.
3) The new EE-23: This is the renaming of the EE-102 course with slight changes in the
curriculum. Bilateral and unilateral s-transforms and z-transforms will now be covered.
Some control theoretic concepts will be covered in parallel with EE-22.
4) The new EE-31: This is the newly proposed “junior design” course to be offered in the
spring semester of the junior year. The course facilitates project based learning earlier into
the sequence. Application of principles of analog and digital circuit design, microprocessor
and computer architecture, signals and systems theory to a well-defined problem from
concept to prototype will be implemented.
Timeline:
Since the courses suggested here are for sophomore spring semester onwards, we expect
the freshman class (class of ’14) will be able to follow the new sequence beginning Spring
2012. The class of ’13 will not be affected, since we plan to offer EE-11 and EE-12 as well
to make sure they finish their promised sequence. To be more precise, EE-11 will be
offered in fall 2011 and EE-21 will be offered in Spring 2012, and then EE-11 will be
discontinued with EE-21 offered each spring. Similarly, EE-12 will be offered on Spring
2012 and EE-22 will be offered in Fall 2012, and then EE-12 will be discontinued, with EE22 repeated each fall semester. The new course EE-31: Junior design will start Spring of
2013. EE-102 will be offered in Spring of 2012 for the class of ‘13. Note that class of 2012
and class of 2015 will not be caught in the transition period.
Summary of timeline:
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Last offering of EE-11 will be Fall 2011. The number may be discontinued.
Last offering of EE-12 ill be Spring 2012. The number may be discontinued.
First time offering of EE-21 will be Spring 2012.
First time offering of EE-22 will be Fall 2012
First time offering of EE-23 will be fall 2012
Last time offering of EE-102 will be Spring 2012. The number may be discontinued
First time offering of EE-31 will be Spring 2013.
Course Descriptions:
The old and new bulletin course descriptions are as follows:
OLD DESCRIPTIONS:
EE -011 INTRODUCTION TO ANALOG ELECTRONICS W/LAB
INSTRUCTOR: JOYNER, VALENCI FOR FALL 2010
Characteristics of the operational amplifier; amplifiers and active filters using the
operational amplifier; characteristics of junction diodes, bipolar transistors, and field-effect
transistors; analysis and design of diode circuits, small-signal models and the lowfrequency analysis of transistor amplifiers; computer modeling of discrete semiconductor
circuits; analysis of logic circuits. Associated laboratory work. Fall.
Prerequisites: Electrical Engineering 13, Engineering Science 3.
This course is offered during the following semesters: Fall Semester
EE-013 CIRCUIT THEORY
INSTRUCTOR: FERMENTAL, Dennis for SPRING 2010
Network topology, branch equations and Mason's flow graph, frequency response of
networks. Analysis and design of filters, transient response using the Laplace transform,
poles and zeros, Bode plots. Active filters and network computer simulation.
Prerequisites Engineering Science 3
This course is offered during the following semesters: Spring Semester
EE-012 INTERMEDIATE ELECTRONICS W/LAB
INSTRUCTOR: SONKUSALE, SAMEER FOR SPRING 2010
Techniques used in the analysis of multitransistor circuits; RC oscillators, LC oscillators,
and waveform generators; transistor arrangements common to integrated circuits,
including current mirrors, balanced pairs, and output structures; power amplifiers.
Associated laboratory work. Spring.
Prerequisites Electrical Engineering 11.
This course is offered during the following semesters: Spring Semester
EE-102 LINEAR SYSTEMS
INSTRUCTOR: LASSER, RON FOR SPRING 2010
Vector spaces, orthogonality, Fourier series, the Fourier transform, the laplace transform,
convolution, and correlation. The Z transform. Matrices, Eigenvectors, and Eigenvalues.
Numerical methods for linear systems. Fall
Prerequisites: Mathematics 38 or permission of instructor.
This course is offered during the following semesters: Spring Semester
NEW DESCRIPTIONS
EE-021 ELECTRONICS I W/LAB
INSTRUCTOR: JOYNER, VALENCI FOR SPRING 2012
Characteristics of the operational amplifier; amplifiers and active filters using the
operational amplifier; analysis and design of filters using phasors; characteristics of
junction diodes, analysis and design of diode circuits; field-effect transistors, MOSFET
device operation, small-signal models and the low-frequency analysis of transistor
amplifiers; Elementary MOS amplifier configurations. Associated laboratory work. Spring.
Prerequisites: Engineering Science 3.
This course is offered during the following semesters: Spring Semester
EE-022 ELECTRONICS II W/LAB
INSTRUCTOR: SONKUSALE, SAMEER FOR FALL 2012
Integrated circuit realizations of MOS transistor circuits, current mirrors, active loads;
Bipolar Junction Transistors, (BJT), device operation, small signal model and analysis,
elementary BJT amplifier configuration; differential amplifiers, multi-stage amplifiers;
frequency response of amplifiers; feedback and stability in analog circuits, nyquist stability
criteria, frequency compensation; RC oscillators, LC oscillators, and waveform
generators; output structures; power amplifiers; AM/FM circuits. Associated laboratory
work. Fall
Prerequisites Electrical Engineering 21.
This course is offered during the following semesters: Fall Semester
EE-023 LINEAR SYSTEMS
INSTRUCTOR: LASSER, RON FOR FALL 2012
Vector spaces, orthogonality, the continuous and discrete bi-lateral and uni-lateral Fourier
transform, the bi-lateral and uni-lateral Laplace transform, convolution, and correlation;
Introduction to discrete Fourier transform and Fast Fourier transform via MatLab; the Z
transform.; matrices, eigenvectors, and eigenvalues; numerical methods for linear systems
through stability and causality for control systems for analog applications and up-sampling
an down-sampling for discrete systems.
Prerequisites: Electrical Engineering 21.
This course is offered during the following semesters: Fall Semester
EE-031: JUNIOR DESIGN PROJECT
INSTRUCTOR: TBA
Junior level team project with ECE faculty direction and guidance. Introduction of the
engineering method: concept, planning and analysis, design, test. Integration of theoretical
concepts from circuit theory, digital and analog electronics, signal processing, engineering
economics, and engineering design practices to deliver a working prototype. Use of
microcontroller and peripherals, analog-to-digital converters, digital signal-processors,
memory and computer aided design tools. Students are expected to provide schedules,
schematics and specifications; build prototypes; present their projects orally; and deliver a
working system.
Prerequisites: Junior Standing
This course is offered during the following semesters: Spring Semester