ECEN - Electrical and Computer Engineering

This course reviews the fundamental mathematical modules that are applied in various areas of electrical and computer engineering (ECE). Emphasis will be placed on the engineering approach to solving practical problems through the application of mathematical principles and techniques. This course also covers common tools used in mathematical analysis of electrical and computer engineering designs and solutions, such as Matlab. Students are expected to have had undergraduate education in science or engineering mathematical foundation topics; this course serves to review or strengthen student understanding on these topics.

This course reviews the fundamental theories, concepts, and techniques in the analysis, design, and construction of electric and electronics circuits. Topics include dc and ac circuits fundamentals, electrical energy and power, circuit analysis, semiconductor devices, signals and systems, and electromagnetics. Students are expected to have had introductory background in electric and electronic circuits; this course serves to review or strengthen student understanding on these topics.

This course reviews materials covered in the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam for Electrical and Computer Engineering, the first step towards becoming a professional licensed engineer (P.E.). This course will review foundational engineering topics such as math, physics, engineering ethics and engineering economics, as well as core ECE topics such as circuit analysis, electronics and software engineering. It is assumed that the student has already completed coursework in these areas. Students will be required to complete a practice FE exam at the end of the course.

This course provides an in-depth treatment of analog and digital circuits. The course covers the design, testing, and optimization of electric and electronic circuits that consider real-world modern constraints, tradeoffs, low power, performance, reliability, and efficiency objectives, as well as the industry-standard tools used in the design process and analyses. This course focuses on the integrated circuits used in various modern systems, including digital, analog, mixed-signal ICs, and RFICs.

This course covers tools and software applications used for creating CAD and mathematical models and simulation of analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuits, as well as formal methods for verification of circuits under practical constraints and tradeoffs. The course covers simulation, modelling, and analysis of circuits at various levels of design entry, including circuit-level, gate-level, digital/analog/mixed-level (e.g. VHDL, VHDL-AMS), and system-level designs.

This course focuses on the theories, methods, and techniques for designing and building systems that meet commercial and industry standards. Topics include reliability theory and methods of reliability analysis, as well as determining, evaluating, and improving system performance to produce solutions that meet specified quality and standards.

This course covers the fundamentals of the two options for completing the culminating experience requirement for MSECE – project or research thesis. To prepare students for the project culminating experience, fundamentals of engineering project management and systems engineering are covered, including requirements analysis and development, design, integration and system validation and formal architecture modelling (e.g. SysML). Additionally, the course covers formal methods and processes for conducting engineering research, such as defining research problems, conducting literature search, collecting, analyzing and evaluating data, and presentation of research results. Fundamentals of technical writing for both project documentation and research dissemination are also covered.

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of Internet of Things (IoT) and Cyber-Physical systems (CPS), including definitions, history, standards, technologies, and trends. In-depth discussions on functional and architecture models of IoT and CPS are covered, as well as enabling technologies such as identification, communication, sensor and actuator capabilities, cloud computing, and security.

This course covers concepts and techniques to design, implement, maintain, and analyze computer and electronic systems with real-time response requirements. It contrasts design factors of real time and embedded systems with those of more traditional computer systems, and highlights applications with critical timing requirements such as vehicle and aircraft controls. Topics such as peripheral interfacing, device drivers, real-time scheduling, concurrency, synchronization, and real-time controls are also discussed.

This course covers fundamental topics in the design, development, and analysis of automation systems and robotic mechanics and control, including tools and techniques and design processes. Focus is placed on the industrial applications of automation systems and robotics.

This course covers the fundamental principles and methodologies of classical feedback control of linear systems and its applications. Emphasis is on understanding the principles in feedback systems, practical problem formulation and the analysis and synthesis of feedback control systems using frequency and time domain techniques.

This course covers the security and ethical issues of securing Internet of Things (IoT) systems that are becoming increasingly embedded in modern society, potentially creating privacy, data security, and ethical issues. The course also covers safety design requirements and standards of industrial IoT, automation systems, and cyber-physical systems.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being integrated into Internet of Things (IoT) and Cyber-physical Systems (CPS). This course covers intelligent control of IoT and CPS and surveys current applications and capabilities of state-of-the-art intelligent IoT and CPS systems. Additionally, enabling technologies and their integration are discussed in-depth.

This course provides a graduate treatment of electric power systems and covers fundamental power engineering topics such as the analysis of power flows in delivery networks, electro-mechanical energy conversion technologies, dynamic system response to disturbances, power systems control, fault modelling and calculations, and stability analysis of power networks.

This course provides advanced treatment of power electronics and the analysis and operation of electronic circuits for conditioning and managing large electric power signals such as those found in power supplies, motor controls, and smart electrical grid devices. Topics include advanced power electronic converters, resonant converters, switching circuits, and methods.

This course covers conversion principles and technologies behind various sources of renewable energy, with significant focus on the mathematics and physics behind the generation and distribution of electricity from these sources. The technical and sustainability advantages and disadvantages of the sources are compared.

This course focuses on the design, planning, and operation of large scale power systems. Topics include model development, interchange capability, interconnections, and pooling. Technical aspects of design and implementation are studied in-depth, as well as practical planning considerations such as economic factors and site selection.

This course focuses on the design and operating principles of state-of-the-art and next generation smart grids. Topics include enabling technologies, integration of different energy sources, distributed generation, integration of flexible loads, distribution automation, and advanced metering infrastructure.

This course is the capstone experience for students pursuing the non-thesis option in the MSECE program. Students will design, develop, implement and analyze the performance of a solution for a real-world problem related to the area of Electrical and/or Computer Engineering. Students are expected to apply formal engineering design process methodologies to develop, document, and present project results. This course is repeatable and can be taken in 1-6 credit hour chunks; students in the non-thesis option must accumulate at least six credit hours of the Master’s Project course in order to graduate.

Students design and conduct research in the area of Electrical and/or Computer Engineering. Students will work closely with a faculty adviser to produce a publication-worthy document to be formally presented to a panel of faculty and peers. This course is repeatable and can be taken in 1-6 credit hour chunks; students in the thesis option must accumulate at least six credit hours of the Master’s Thesis course in order to graduate.