2nd Year Curriculum


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.



Spring Semester


Circuit Theory Applications Introduction to Communications Principles Differential Equations KI Activities Content Threads
Anchoring Concepts
LSM 1 First and second order circuits a. Probability theory and discrete random variables

b. Continuous random variables
First order equations
LSM 2 AC circuits: Circuits with AC sources and linear elements Multivariate probability distributions Mathematical models
LSM 3 a. Power in AC circuits

b. Intro to three-phase circuits
Functions of random variables Linear equations of second order
LSM 4 Magnetically coupled circuits (transformers) Transform methods Laplace transform KI Activity 1
  • Professionalism (Presentation Skills)
LSM 5 Frequency domain Laws of large numbers and central limit theorem Linear algebra
LSM 6 Filters Stochastic processes Linear systems of arbitrary order and matrices
LSM 7 Laplace transform in solving circuits Nonlinear systems and phase plane analysis
LSM 8 Numerical methods KI Activity 2
  • Professionalism (Presentation Skills)