Electrical Engineering

Required Courses

The following are required courses in the EE curriculum:

Please Note: The course links below are for the current term. If a course is not offered during the current term, please search the course catalog to view other terms.

ECE 0101: Linear Circuits and Systems

Credits: 4

Term(s) Offered:Fall: Yes Spring: Yes Summer: No

Description:
The analysis of linear circuits. Electric variables and circuit elements, Kirchoff's and Ohm's Law, mesh and node equations, Thevenin and Norton Equivalent circuits. First and second-order circuits, time domain analysis.

Co-Requisite:

ECE 0401

ECE 0201: Digital Circuits and Systems

ECE 0201 - Digital Circuits and Systems

Credits: 4

Term(s) Offered:Fall: Yes Spring: Yes Summer: No

Description:

In this course, students study the fundamental building blocks used in the design of modern digital electronics and computers. Students learn how to use and combine digital components to create circuits that perform fundamental computing tasks such as arithmetic and storage of information. Primary topics covered include Boolean algebra and binary arithmetic, combinational and sequential logic circuits, Finite-State Machine (FSM), Hardware Design Language (HDL), and Register Transfer Level (RTL) for digital design. Students extend their knowledge to practice by way of hands-on laboratory exercises where various software and hardware tools are used to design and test solutions for real-world applications. After completing this course, students understand the design of digital computing systems at their most fundamental level and are able to craft such systems using modern tools and techniques.

Prerequisites:

PHYS 0175

ECE 0301 - ECE Problem Solving with C++

Credits: 3

Term(s) Offered:Fall: Yes Spring: Yes Summer: No

Description:

This course covers fundamental concepts and techniques in software design for solving problems in electrical and computer engineering (ECE) using C++. Students learn procedural and object-oriented program development, as well as basic control structures, data structures, and algorithms. Students apply these skills in crafting and testing structured programs to solve problems of interest in ECE, such as linear circuits and systems, digital circuits and systems, and linear algebra and differential equations, through assignments that are tied to concepts covered in these other core sophomore courses of ECE.

Prerequisites:

ENGR 0012 or ENGR 0016

ECE 0401: ECE Analytical Methods

Credits: 3

Term(s) Offered:Fall: Yes Spring: Yes Summer: No

Description:

This course provides the fundamental mathematical background to solve problems in electrical and computer engineering (ECE). The main objective is to cover topics from calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and complex analysis most relevant to electrical and computer engineering. Primary topics include matrices, vectors, systems of equations, determinants, double integrals, first- and second-order ordinary differential equations, complex numbers, Eulers identity, phasor analysis, signal waveforms, Laplace transform, transfer functions, frequency response, and an introduction to the Fourier transform. Students also learn to solve mathematical problems based upon these topics, both analytically and using the MATLAB programming environment.

Prerequisites:

MATH 0230
ENGR 0012 or ENGR 0016

ECE 0102: Microelectronic Circuits

Credits: 4

Term(s) Offered:Fall: No Spring: Yes Summer: Yes

Description:

This course covers the fundamentals of microelectronic circuits,specifically operational amplifiers, diode and rectifier circuits, analysis and design of MOS field-effect transistor and bipolar-junction transistor amplifiers, and CMOS digital-logic circuits. In this course, the students will integrate their knowledge of linear circuits and will learn how to analyze, evaluate, and design electronic circuits. This course includes a laboratory section in which the students will gain prototyping, design, and testing skills using conventional equipment.

Prerequisites:

ECE 0101

ECE 0202: Embedded Processors and Interfacing

Credits: 4

Term(s) Offered:Fall: No Spring: Yes Summer: Yes

Description:

This course covers the fundamentals of embedded processors and interfacing, including microprocessor structure and instruction sets, programming using C and assembly languages, memory and peripherals, interfacing, and embedded system design. Detailed studies of microprocessor I/O and interrupt techniques as applied to analog-to-digital, digital-to-analog, timers, and parallel and serial interfaces are also included. Laboratory activities provide the student with experience in developing and testing the hardware and software required to incorporate embedded computers into systems that solve real-world problems.

Prerequisites:

ECE 0201
ECE 0301

ECE 0302: Data Structures and Algorithms

Credits: 3

Term(s) Offered:Fall: No Spring: Yes Summer: Yes

Description:This course covers the fundamentals of data structures and algorithms. Topics include stacks, queues, trees, lists, heaps, and other widely used abstract data types. Students will learn how to implement these data structures using C++ and techniques for analyzing algorithms that contain them. Advanced applications of recursion, sorting, and searching algorithms and other algorithms that incorporate data structures will also be discussed. This course will also introduce topics in parallel computing, and students will learn how to solve problems using modern application programmer interfaces (API) for parallel programming.

Prerequisites:

ECE 0301

ECE 0402: Signal, Systems and Probability

ECE 0402: Signals, Systems and Probability

Credits: 3

Term(s) Offered:Fall: No Spring: Yes Summer: Yes

This is an introductory course covering the mathematical modeling and analysis of signals and input-output systems, probability and statistics, with an emphasis on ECE applications of these concepts. The signal-processing portion builds on existing knowledge of ordinary differential equations and Laplace transforms, to a complete treatment of continuous-time signals and systems, especially linear time-invariant systems, in the time and frequency domains. The latter portion of the course covers basic concepts in probability, including discrete and continuous random variables, probability density and mass functions, computation of expected values, conditional probability densities, as well as an introduction to hypothesis testing and statistical analysis.

Prerequisites:

ECE 0401

ECE 1201: Electronic Measurements and Circuits Laboratory

Credits: 3

Term(s) Offered: LAST OFFERING IS SPRING, 2020 (2204)

Description:
This is a laboratory course which includes electronic measurements and circuits including experiments on the use of electronic test equipment, a variety of linear circuits; non-linear device characteristics, operational amplifier basics, and transistor amplifier characteristics and design. Time and frequency domain methodologies are also covered.

Corequisites:

ECE 0257

ECE 1212: Electronic Circuit Design Laboratory

Credits: 3

Term(s) Offered: Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020 and then Fall/Spring going forward.

Description:
This is an electronic circuit's laboratory experience with emphasis on circuit applications and design. Topics include: multi-stage amplifier design; operational amplifier applications; analog-digital conversion applications, active filters.

Prerequisites - Old Curriculum:

ECE 0257
ECE 1201

Prerequisites - New Curriculum:

ECE 0102
ECE 0402

ECE 1247: Semiconductor Device Theory

Credits: 3

Term(s) Offered:Fall: Yes Spring: Yes Summer: No

Description:
This course includes the electrical properties of solids, energy levels, semiconductor theory, diodes, bipolar junction transistors, field effect transistors.

Prerequisites - Old Curriculum:

ECE 0257
CHEM 2
MATH 0290

Prerequisites - New Curriculum:

ECE 0102
ECE 0401
CHEM 2

ECE 1259: Electromagnetics

Credits: 3

Term(s) Offered: Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021 and then Spring/Summer going forward.

Description:
The content of this course included: Vector Calculus, Gradient Curl, Divergence Theorem and Stokes' Theorem, Coulomb's Law, Gauss's Law, Laplace Equation, Poisson Equation, Dielectrics, Biot-Savart Law, Vector Potentials, Ampere's Law, Faraday's Law, Inductance, Magnetic Materials, Lorentz Force, Maxwell's Equations, Electromagnetic Radiation.

Prerequisites - Old Curriculum:

PHYS 0175
MATH 0240

Prerequisites - New Curriculum:

ECE 0402

ECE 1552: Signals and Systems Analysis

Credits: 3

Term(s) Offered: LAST OFFERING SPRING, 2020 (2204)

Description:
This course provides an introduction to signal representation, continuous-time systems, Fourier series, Fourier transforms, Laplace transforms, discrete-time systems, Fourier analysis of discrete-time systems, z-transforms, the discrete Fourier transforms.

Prerequisites:

ECE/COE 0031
MATH 0240

ECE 1563: Signal Processing Laboratory

Credits: 3

Term(s) Offered:Fall: Yes Spring: Yes Summer: No

Description:
This is a laboratory course that includes data acquisition and computer-based measurements, recursive and FIR filters, and frequency response and filter implementation using FFT's.

Prerequisites:

ECE 1201
ECE 1552

ECE 1673: Linear Control Theory

Credits: 3

Term(s) Offered: Fall and Spring, beginning Fall 2020

Description:
Introduction to feedback control systems, mathematical models, second order systems response and identification, system types, steady-state errors, root locus analysis and design, bode plots, nyquist theory and frequency domain compensation techniques. Includes a laboratory.

This is a required class for EEs under the new curriculum and an elective class under the old.

Prerequisites - Old Curriculum:

ECE 1552

Prerequisites - New Curriculum:

ECE 0402

ECE 1701: Fundamentals of Electric Power Engineering

Credits: 3

Term(s) Offered: Fall and Spring, beginning Fall 2020

Description:
his is a first course in electric power engineering for electrical and computer engineers. The course provides the fundamental background to solve some common problems in electric power engineering, and to design power systems using engineering assumptions based on this background. The main objective is to cover topics in AC single phase and three phase power, transformers, transmission lines and electric machinery by integrating their knowledge of linear circuit analysis, electricity, and magnetism to these power systems topics. Students will also gain knowledge of power systems simulation using the PowerWorld simulator. This course will provide the prerequisite knowledge for the study of load flow, symmetrical components, and fault analysis which will be covered in a later course.

Prerequisites - New Curriculum:

ECE 0102
ECE 0402

Each student must complete the following probability and statistics course:

ENGR 0020: Probability and Statistics for Engineers 1

Credits: 4

Term(s) Offered:Fall: Yes Spring: Yes Summer: Yes

Description:
An introductory course in statistics. Topics covered include: data analysis, probability, random variables, selected discrete and continuous probability distributions, one sample and two sample estimation, hypothesis testing, experiments with one factor, experiments with two factors and introduction to regression analysis.

Prerequisites:

MATH 0230 (Calculus 2) or equivalent

Substitute Courses

The following University of Pittsburgh courses may be substituted for required courses in the EE curriculum:

CHEM 0110 and/or 0120 for CHEM 0960 and/or 0970
PHYS 0475 and 0476 (honors physics) for PHYS 0174 and 0175
PHYS 1351 for ECE 1259

If a student wishes to have any other courses considered as a substitute for a required ECE course, the student must submit a written request to the undergraduate coordinator, including a course syllabus, catalog description, and description of prerequisites.