Background/Broader Motivation
• Flexibility/global economy and opportunities.
– Study abroad.
– Alternative semesters.
• Engineering as a “liberal arts” education.
– Interdisciplinary/Combine with other disciplines.
– Other disciplines study engineering – minors.
– Transition to learn how to learn balanced with a particular
body of knowledge.
• ECE as a discipline is broader than ever.
• Sources: NAE, Association of American Universities,
Al Soyster, Provost Director, Other Writers, Students,
Faculty, Other Curricula. See USC Web Site.
Some Goals of the Revised Curriculum
• Sophomore students understand connections among a broad
range of Electrical and Computer Engineering concepts.
• Provide early, integrated courses with labs to motivate students, make
connections within ECE, help students choose area of focus, and improve
coop preparation.
• Not survey courses, strong ECE content, Sophomore year.
• Provide breadth to the EE and CE curricula.
• Offer flexibility, including options for alternative semester or
summer experiences.
• Students can tailor program to interests more easily.
• Semester abroad or Dialogue or research or other.
• Build a curriculum that can be modified easily in the future.
• Reduce # of credits.
Proposed Schedule for Adoption
• Spring 13: Vote to move forward with new
curriculum
– Compromise between finishing before voting and
voting before starting
• Fall 13: Offer second pilot of Biomedical
Circuits and Signals
• Spring 14: Offer pilot of CE Broad
Introductory course
• Fall 14: Launch new curriculum
Discussion Suggestions
• Overall Curriculum Design
• Broad Introductory Course I (Biomedical
Circuits and Signals)
• Broad Introductory Course II
• ?
Proposed New BS in EE/CE
2 Capstone
5 General
Electives
3EE + 1CE or
3CE + 1EE
Fundamentals
2 Broad
Introductory
Sophomore
2 Freshman
Engineering
EEs take at least 2 EE technical electives
CEs take at least 2 CE technical electives
ECEs take at least 2 CE and 2 EE electives
ECEs take all 6 fundamentals courses
Capstone II
EE
CE
Other
Micro and NanoFabrication
Electrical
Machines
Biomedical
Optics
Computer and
Telecommunicati
on Networks
CAD for Deign
and Test
Semiconductor
Device Theory
Electric Drives
Biomedical Signal
Processing
Embedded
System Design
Parallel and
Distributed
Computing
Antennas
Biomedical
Electronics
Power Systems
Analysis
Digital Control
Systems
Hardware
Description Lang.
Synthesis
VLSI Design
Microwave
Circuits and
Networks
Power
Electronics
Wireless Personal
Communications
Systems
Classical Control
Systems
High-Speed
Digital Design
Networks
Electronic
Materials
Electronic Design
Wireless
Communications
Circuits
Digital Signal
Processing
Microprocessor
Based Design
Software
Engineering I
Optics for
Engineers
Electronics II
Communications
Image Processing
and Pattern
Recognition
Computer
Architecture
Optimization
Methods
EE Fundamentals
of
Electromagnetics
EE Fundamentals
of Electronics
EE Fundamentals
of Linear
Systems
CE Fundamentals
Dig. Logic Comp.
Organization
CE Fundamentals
of Networks
CE Fundamentals
of Engineering
Algorithms
Numerical
Methods and
Comp. App.
Subsurface
Sensing and
Imaging
4 Technical
Electives
•
•
•
•
Capstone I
Probability?
Current or
All Math or
All ECE
ECE Broad Intro. I
Biomedical Circuits and
Signals
Freshman
Engineering I
ECE Broad Introductory
Course II
Freshman
Engineering II
EEs must have a
programming course
(AP, Freshman, CE
Fundamentals, or
other).
Current Curricular Structure, BSCE
Capstone
CE Tech. Electives
General Electives
CE Core
Freshman Eng.
Science
Math
Arts, Hum., S.S.
Writing
32 four-credit courses + 10 one-credit extras = 138 credits
New Curricular Structure, BSEE and BSCE
Capstone
CE Tech. Electives
General Electives
ECE Broad Intro.
+ EE or CE core.
Freshman Eng.
Science
Math
Arts, Hum., S.S.
Writing
31 four-credit courses + 10 one-credit extras = 134 credits
Biomedical Circuits and Signals
• Covers a little more than half of circuits (some signals
material is covered in circuits)
–
–
–
–
R, L, C, sources, Kirchoff’s Laws
Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits
Op-Amp Circuits
Phasor Analysis, Filters, Transfer Function
• Covers Portions of Linear Systems
–
–
–
–
LTI Systems, Convolution and Impulse Response
CT and DT Fourier Transform
Detailed, class-byTransfer Functions and Filters
class draft syllabus
on web site.
ADC
• Biological Component (2 classes)
Instructional Model, Circuits/Intro to ECE vs Biomedical Circuits and Signals
Current Model
Section 1, Prof. 1, TA 1,2
35 Students
Section 2, Prof. 2, TA 1,2
35 Students
Proposed Model
Section 3, Prof. 3, TA 1,2
35 Students
Section 2, Prof. 1, 2, 3, 4
TA 1,2 105 Students
Tues. Morning
Tues. Aft.
Fri. Morning
Fri. Aft.
Tues. Morning
Tues. Aft.
Fri. Morning
Fri. Aft.
ILS 1, TA 1,2,
Prof 4
Lab 1, TA 3,4,
Prof. 4
ILS 3, TA 1,2,
Prof 4
Lab 3, TA 3,4,
Prof. 4
ILS 5, TA 1,2,
Prof 5
Lab 5, TA 3,4,
Prof. 5
ILS 7, TA 1,2,
Prof 5
Lab 7, TA 3,4,
Prof. 5
Lab 1, TA 3,4,
Prof. 1
UG 1?
Lab 1, TA 3,4,
Prof. 2
UG 2?
Lab 1, TA 3,4,
Prof. 3
UG 3?
Lab 1, TA 3,4,
Prof. 4
UG 4?
ILS 2, TA 1,2,
Prof. 4
Lab 2, TA 3,4,
Prof. 4
ILS 4, TA 1,2,
Prof. 4
Lab 4, TA 3,4,
Prof. 4
ILS 6, TA 1,2,
Prof. 5
Lab 6, TA 3,4,
Prof. 5
ILS 8, TA 1,2,
Prof. 5
Lab 8, TA 3,4,
Prof. 5
Lab 1, TA 3,4,
Prof. 1
UG 1?
Lab 1, TA 3,4,
Prof. 2
UG 2?
Lab 1, TA 3,4,
Prof. 3
UG 3?
Lab 1, TA 3,4,
Prof. 4
UG4 ?
Circuits Tutors
TA 1,2 Office
Hours
HKN Tutors
Prof. Office Hours
Summary:
• 5 Professor-Loads
• 5 Credits 4/1
• Lecture/ILS/Lab/Grading/Tutor
coordination is a problem
• Students don’t know where to
turn
Prof. Office Hours
HKN Tutors
Summary:
• 4 Professor-Loads
• 5 Credits 4/1 (re-examine!)
• More consistent set of
resources
• Could be 2, 3, or 4
professors depending on
teaching loads
Mostly CE Broad Introductory
Course
Topics
• Networking
Predesigned
Sensor, e.g.
Ultrasound
Digital
Output
– Layer-based Implementation
model based on OSI/ISO
Sensor
– Concepts of packets and
reliable end to end delivery
– Using TCP and its contrast with UDP
– Addressing using Internet Protocol
– Socket programming fundamental
Simple logic
for sensor
data
processing
Digital
Logic
Query Sensor, Decision
Making
LED Control
Socket Interface to network
Microprocessor
I
F
C
IP Net.
LED Strip
• Digital Logic Design
– Combinational Logic intro
– Sequential circuits intro
– Number representation
• Embedded systems programming
– Digital I/O -> controlling LED strip with multi-color
– PWM / Hardware timers
Detailed, class-byclass draft syllabus
on web site.
EE Fundamentals Courses
• Electromagnetics is mostly unchanged.
– Can be taken earlier
– Easier to take electromagnetics electives
• Linear Systems is mostly unchanged
– Too much material now
– Starts at a more advanced level after the new course
• Fundamentals of Circuits and Electronics focuses on
transistors as switches, including CMOS. Includes an
introduction to Small-Signal Analysis
Detailed,
– Preparation for Computer Engineers and Electrical class-byclass draft
Engineers. Prerequisite for VLSI
syllabus
on web
site.
Consequences for Other Courses, EE
• Electronics II will be analog electronics
• Advanced Electronics course requested
by students to be offered as an elective.
Detailed,
class-byclass draft
syllabus
on web
site.
– Would go beyond the current courses
• Communications becomes an elective
• Need to discuss probability course/noise and
stochastic processes course
• Fundamentals of Electromagnetics available
earlier
– Easier to take electromagnetics electives
CE Fundamentals Courses
• Digital Logic and Computer Organization
– Most of the current Digital Logic course is here
– Covers the beginning of Comp. Architecture
• Fundamentals of Networks
More detailed
descriptions
follow below
– Most of current Networks course is here
– Benefits from exposure in Smart Home
– May offer more advanced networks elective
• Fundamentals of Engineering Algorithms
– Most of the current Optimization Methods course
is here
Consequences for Other CE Courses
• Computer Architecture
– Becomes technical elective
– Expand topics with head start in Fundamentals
course
• Optimization Methods
– More optimization aspects (much programming
covered in Fundamentals course)
– Becomes elective
• CS programming course eliminated