3rd Year Curriculum


The New Approach to Teaching and Learning

ECE faculty are now working in teams to deliver integrated content. What does this mean? As shown in the tables below, all the 3rd year professors have collaborated to dissect, rearrange, and synchronize fundamental topics from each of the technical core courses into cohesive Learning Studio Modules (LSMs) to help students makes sense of extremely abstract and mathematically intense information.


Learning Studio Modules (LSMs)

Unlike a traditional course, an LSM provides a framework for examining junior-year content at a fine-grained level. Through the LSMs, material is presented in a cohesive manner so that students can see how anchoring concepts from each junior course are interrelated and critical to understanding the big picture.


Knowledge Integration Activities (KIs)

All the faculty and students from the junior year come together in one room to participate in interactive, team-based learning exercises that illustrate how LSM concepts are highly connected and dependent on each other to make a complex system (such as the smartphone) function as intended.


Thematic Content Threads

Many central concepts and skills impact a student's ability to become a well-rounded engineer, and these subjects must permeate the curriculum. The department is now weaving foundations, creativity, and professionalism threads throughout the curriculum.



Fall Semester


Linear Systems Analysis Electronics Principles Electromagnetics KI Activities 1-3 Overview Content Threads
Anchoring Concepts
LSM 1 Transient and complex exponential signals Diodes, diode models, and applications Electrostatic field in free space KI Activity 1
  • Math Foundations
  • Professionalism (Teamwork)
  • Creativity (Software Tools)
  • Professionalism (Communication)
LSM 2 Linear time-invariant systems PN junction physics Electrostatic field materials media
LSM 3 Spectrum analysis of continuous-time signals Large signal analysis for BJTs and FETs Steady electric currents KI Activity 2
  • Professionalism (Conflict Resolution)
  • Professionalism (Ethics)
  • Creativity
LSM 4 Spectrum analysis of discrete-time signals Small signal analysis for BJTs and FETs Magnetostatic field
LSM 5 Frequency response of LTI systems and sampling OPAMP networks Low-frequency electromagnetic field KI Activity 3


Spring Semester


Linear Systems Analysis Electronics Principles Electromagnetics KI Activities 4-6 Overview Content Threads
Anchoring Concepts
LSM 1 Complex-frequency spectrum analysis of continuous-time signals and systems (Laplace-transform) CMOS Single-Transistor Circuits High-Frequency Electromagnetic Field KI Activity 4
LSM 2 Spectrum analysis of discrete-time signals and systems (Z-transform) CMOS Output Drivers Plane Electromagnetic Waves
LSM 3 Filtering and modulation CMOS OTA and OpAmp Design Wave Reflection and Transmission KI Activity 5
LSM 4 Computing for spectrum analysis Circuit Frequency Response Transmission Lines and Waveguides
LSM 5 Noise Feedback and stability Circuit Analysis of Transmission Lines KI Activity 6
LSM 6 Noise