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Microelectronic Engineering and Applications Program
Introduction
The International Graduate Program of Microelectronic Engineering and
Applications was set up in 2006 in the Department of Electronic Engineering at Chung
Yuan Christian University (CYCU). The Department of Electronic Engineering was
established in 1966 with an undergraduate program leading to the degree of Bachelor of
Science. In response to the Government's extended education policy, an evening
undergraduate program was established in 1971. Graduate programs in Electronic
Engineering leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy were
established later in 1981 and 1993, respectively. In 1997, the evening program was
transformed to a second department, and was incorporated into the day program in 2000.
So far, three sessions of classes were offered each year.
To strengthen in-service education, increase the overall educational standard, and
provide an excellent learning place, this department also set up an Executive Master
Program in 2002. At present, the student body of the department has 749 students in its
undergraduate program, 100 students in its master’s program, 73 students in its executive
master’s program, and 41 students in its Ph.D. program. Up to 2006, the department had
more than 5000 students graduated from its undergraduate program. From 2001 to 2006,
226 students graduated from its master’s program, and 20 students graduated from its
Ph.D. program. Excellent graduates are working in every sector and acting substantial
roles in the domestic and world-wide electronic industry.
At present the department has 19 full-time faculties (3 professors, 9 associate
professors, 6 assistant professors, and 1 lecturer) and 15 adjunct professors, whose
professions cover the following 3 major fields: (1) solid-state electronics; (2) electronic
circuit design, automation, and computer system applications; and (3) communication
engineering. Two more full-time and several adjunct professors will be recruited in the
near future. The Department of Electronic Engineering at CYCU has highly-appraised
atmosphere of academic study and outstanding research achievements. At present the
department is featured in the research and development of sensor materials and
integrated-circuit related technology, analog/ mixed-signal/ RF/ SOC circuit design,
electronic design automation, communication theory, multi-media signal processing,
internet and wireless network applications. It not only achieves outstanding performance
in these fields but also creates leading technology. The department has 21 laboratories and
has an Electronics and Information Technology Research Center (EITC). The department
receives R&D funding of about NT$ 17,000,000 every year. The EITC has been
established since 2000. The center is supported by major research labs located in the
Departments of Electronic Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Information and
Computer Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. The mission of the center is to
develop the low-power and portable system-on-a-chip (SOC) technology for diversified
application areas by using VLSI related methodology.
The department aims at training students to be intellectually, morally,
professionally, and socially capacitated in the field of electronic engineering, and also
devoting its resources to academic research with the aim of serving the nation and society,
and promoting the welfare of human beings. In terms of teaching, the Department of
Electronic Engineering strives to balance both theory and practice, develop independent
thinking, innovation, and problem solving ability in students, and encourage team spirit
and respect for the profession; and subsequently lay down the foundation for lifetime
learning and the ability to face the challenges of the 21 Century. In terms of research and
service, the Department of Electronic Engineering strives to devote itself to relevant
research fields in electronic engineering, pursue new knowledge, and cooperate with the
needs of the nation and society to promote the development of the economy and people's
well-being.
Courses Requirement
The International Graduate Program of Microelectronic Engineering and
Applications is associated with the Electronic Engineering Department at CYCU. It
provides graduate studies in microelectronics (solid-state electronics, IC fabrication
technology, sensor development and applications), digital/ analog/ RF/ SOC circuit
design, electronic design automation, signal processing, communication and biomedical
applications at both MS and Ph.D. levels. The program is supported by a series of courses
and research projects, with emphasis on low power VLSI microelectronics and SOC
design methodology. These courses are taught by the selected faculties in various
departments at CYCU, including Electronic Engineering (EL), Information and Computer
Engineering (CS), Electrical Engineering (EE), and Biomedical Engineering (BE).
Required courses
Seminar (4 credits each for MS and Ph.D. programs),
Master Thesis (6),
Doctoral Dissertation (12)
Elective courses (7 courses for MS and 6 courses for Ph.D. programs, respectively)
EL-Fundamentals of VLSI Design (3)
EL-CMOS Analog Integrated Circuit Design (3)
EL-ASIC Design (3)
EL-VLSI Devices and Processing (3)
EL-Solid-state Sensors in Environmental Protection (3)
EL-Thin-Film Technology (3)
BE-Medical Instrumentation (3)
EL/BE/EE-Digital Signal Processing (3)
EL/CS-Advanced Digital Image Processing (3)
CS/EL/BE-System on Chip Technologies (I) (3)
EL/CS-Introduction to VLSI Design Automation (3)
EL-Process Integration of Integrated Circuits (3)
EL-Fundamentals of Semiconductor Memory Device (3)
Program Duration and Degree Offered
M.S. Program-The normal duration for the M.S. program is from 2 year to 4 years.
Students, who have successfully completed and passed 30 credits of courses (including 4
credits of Seminar and 6 credits of Master Thesis) and oral defense for thesis within the
stipulated time period, shall receive the M.S. Degree of this program conferred by the
Department of Electronic Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University. Generally, M.S.
students need to publish one conference or journal paper as a prerequisite of their oral
defense for thesis. More details on this requirement will be available upon request.
Ph.D. Program-The normal duration for the Ph.D. program is 4 years. The general
information is as follows:
A. Graduate Committee
Each student’s course of study and research is directed by a committee of
Graduate faculty called a Graduate Committee. The Graduate Committee will be
composed of the major professor as chairman who must be a full-time member of
Microelectronic Engineering and Applications Program and professors from the
student’s major and minor field of interest.
B. Course Requirements
At least 30 credits of courses (including 4 credits of Seminar and 12 credits of
Doctoral Dissertation)
C. Qualifying Examination
The Microelectronic Engineering and Applications Program in Electronic
Engineering require doctoral students to take a qualifying examination within 4 years.
However, it is strongly recommended that students take the qualifying examination as
early as possible.
D. Admission to Candidacy
A student will be admitted to candidacy under the following conditions:
(a) The dissertation topic must have been selected and approved;
(b) The satisfactory completion of graduate course work as deemed appropriate by the
Graduate Committee;
(c) The qualifying examination must have been passed.
E. Time Limit
After the student begins the doctoral program, he/she must complete the
program within a period of seven years.
F. Publications
Before the student applies the final defense of dissertation, he/she must publish
journal/ conference papers. The details regarding the quality and quantity of the
publication will be available upon request.
G. Dissertation and Defense
The dissertation shall be required of all candidates for the doctorate, and a
minimum of twelve semester hours of research for the dissertation must be scheduled.
The dissertation must show (a) mastery of the technique of research, and (b) a very
distinct contribution to the field under investigation and study. The Graduate
Committee must approve the dissertation topic, the outline, and the final product.
Following acceptance, the student will conduct an oral defense of the
dissertation before a graduate faculty committee. In order to allow careful and
thoughtful evaluation and time for clarification and discussion, it is required that the
dissertation be given to the committee no less than 10 days prior to the final exam.
A student who fails the final examination cannot apply for another until a
period of six months has elapsed from the date of the original examination. Two
failures on the final examination will result in the student being dropped from further
consideration as a doctoral candidate.
After a successful defense by the candidate, the dissertation will be endorsed
with the signature of the major advisor, and members of the Committee.