Joint Curriculum CEN UG Program CEN Curriculum Committee Manuel Bermudez, Doug Dankel, Paul Fishwick, Rob Fox, Ann Gordon-Ross, Herman Lam (chair), Janise McNair 1

Outline  Overview of existing CEN curriculum  Software (SW) and hardware (HW) tracks  Issues with existing curriculum  With respect to students  Advising issues  Curriculum issues  Joint CEN UG curriculum  What is Computer Engineering?  Guiding principles for joint curriculum  Proposed curriculum  Sample plans of study  Details of CEN UG curriculum  Conclusions and discussion 2

Overview of Existing CEN Curriculum 3 Hardware Track 2 Software Track

Issues with Existing Curriculum Too much emphasis on early distinction between HW and SW rather than on value of integrated HW/SW knowledge  With respect to students  Has to commit to SW or HW track too early  Once committed, follows different study plans  The further down the track, the more difficult to change to “other” track if desired  Advising issues  Limited advising to select a track – student has to commit to a track before any real advising  Advising is on committed track only; little info about “other” track  Inconsistency in curriculum  Different study plans  Inconsistent capstone senior design courses  Different GPA requirements  No major examination of CEN curriculum since 1999  e.g., 2004: ACM Curriculum Guidelines for UG Program in CEN 4 Freshman Preview Orientation

What is Computer Engineering? 5 CS (CSE, CSC) EE Core CEN  ACM Curriculum Guidelines for UG Degree Program in Computer Engineering (2004)   160 pages, including appendix on “Details of Body of Knowledge for Computer Engineering”  Every major university has its view (curriculum)  No “one size fits all” definition of Computer Engineering  With respect to our program, Computer Engineering falls within a continuum between Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

What is Computer Engineering? 6 CS (CSE, CSC) EE Core CEN  ACM Curriculum Guidelines for UG Degree Program in Computer Engineering (2004)   160 pages, including appendix on “Details of Body of Knowledge for Computer Engineering”  Every major university has its view (curriculum)  No “one size fits all” definition of Computer Engineering  With respect to our program, Computer Engineering falls within a continuum between Computer Science and Electrical Engineering  Boundary and core of CEN is in the eyes of beholder

7 Hardware Track 2 Software Track 1 Required courses 108 hrs. Required courses 109 hrs. So, What is Our Core? Similarities and Differences

So, What is Our Core? 8 Hardware Track 2 Software Track 1 Similarities and Differences

9 Hardware Track 2 Software Track 1 Common required courses 102 hrs. CNT 4007 MAS 3114 or equivalent COT 4501 or equivalent EEL 3105 EEE 3396 EEL 3112 EEE 3308 or EEL 3135 Also differences in computer programming and capstone design CNT 4007: Computer NetworkingEEE 3396: Solid State Electronics MAS 3114: Linear AlgebraEEL 3112: Circuits 2 COT 4501: Numerical AnalysisEEE 3308: Electronic Circuits EEL 3105: Analytical MethodsEEL 3135: Signals and Systems So, What is Our Core?

Guiding Principles Joint CEN Curriculum  CEN core competency (breadth)  CEN major brings unique value of integrated knowledge in both computer software and hardware (vs. EE or CS major)  Flexible specialization (depth)  Student’s choice of career path is selected when appropriate, not necessarily early in curriculum  Explicit and clear guidance and focus  For students, advisors, and employers  Additional design goals:  Implementable: no drastic disruption to existing course offerings  Improve where necessary: e.g., capstone design sequence, programming requirement, CEN-oriented courses 10

1.CEN core competency:  Core courses common to existing SW and HW tracks (102 hrs)  Changes (improvement) to core (6 hrs) Computer programming requirement Capstone design sequence 2.Flexible specialization  18 hrs: To be selected from an approved list of courses from either department (with constraints; e.g., cannot take >1 programming language courses as tech electives) 3.Explicit and clear guidance and focus  Certificate option: each certificate orients toward a CEN career or graduate school research direction  Officially recognized - must be approved by UCC (University Curriculum Committee)  Must include at least three courses  Certificates are noted on student transcript Proposed Joint Curriculum 11

Sample Certificate Areas (DRAFT)  Artificial Intelligence  CAP 4053 AI for Comp. Games  CAP 4621 AI & Heuristics  CAP 4680 Knowledge-based Sys.  Data Computer Communications & Network  EEL 4713 or CDA 4102 Comp. Arch.  CNT 4007 Computer Network  EEL 4598 Data Computer Communications  Database Management  COP 3530 Data Struct. & Algorithms  CIS 4301 DB System I  CIS 4720 DB System II 12  Modeling & Interaction  CAP 4800 Systems Simulation  CAP 4730 Computational Structures in Computer Graphics  CIS 4930 Human-Computer  Interaction Programming for Industrial Sys. and Operations  COT4501 Numerical Methods  ESI 4312 Operations Research  CAP 4680 Knowledge-Based Sys.  Optical Networks  EEE3396 Solid State Electronics  EEL4440 Optical Communication Systems  EEL4598 Data Comp Communication

 Reconfigurable Computing  EEL 4712 Digital Design  EEL 4713 Digital Computer Arch.  EEL 4930 Reconfigurable Computing  Robotics  EEL 4744: Microprocessor Apps  EEL 4665: Intelligent Machines Design Laboratory  CAP 4621: Artificial Intelligence  Sensor Networks  ABE4304 Remote Sensing in Engineering: Science, Sensors and Applications  CEN 4507 ???  EEL 4598 Data Computer Communications 13  Software System Development  CEN 3031 Software Engineering  CEN 4012 Software System Development  CEN 4072 SW Testing & Verification  VLSI  EEE3396 Solid-State Devices  EEE3308C Electronic Circuits 1  One of: EEE4310 Digital Electronics EEE4331 Microelectronics Fabrication Technology EEE4329 Future of Microelectronics Technology Sample Certificate Areas (DRAFT)

 Certificate in Database Management  COP 3530 Data Structure  CIS 4301 DB Sys. I  CIS 4720 DB Sys. II  Other tech electives  CEN 4012 SW System Dev.  CNT 4007 Comp. Network  CAP 4053 AI for Comp. Games 14 CS EE Core One Certificate (SW emphasis)  Certificate in Reconfigurable Computing  EEL 4712 Digital Design  EEL 4713 Digital Comp. Arch.  EEL 4930 Reconfig. Computing  Other tech electives  EEE 4310 Digital IC  EEL 4598 Data Comp. Com.  CNT 4007 Comp. Network CS EE Core One Certificate (HW emphasis) Sample Study Plans

 Certificate in Reconfigurable Computing  EEL 4712 Digital Design  EEL 4713 Digital Comp. Arch.  EEL 4930 Reconfig. Computing  Certificate in Software System Development  CEN 3031 Software Engineering  CEN 4012 SW System Dev.  CEN 4072 SW Testing & Verif. 15 CS EE Core Two Certificates (SW/HW emphases)  Certificate in Artificial Intelligence  CAP 4053 AI for Comp. Games  CAP 4621 AI & Heuristics  CAP 4680 Knowledge-based Sys.  Certificate in Database Mgt.  COP 3530 Data Structure  CIS 4301 DB Sys I  CIS 4720 DB Sys II CS EE Core Two Certificates (SW emphasis) Sample Study Plans

 Certificate in Data Computer Communications & Network  CDA 4102 Computer Arch.  CNT 4007 Computer Network  EEL 4598 is Data Computer Communications  Other tech electives  CEN 4012 SW System Dev.  EEL 4930 Reconfig. Computing  CAP 4053 AI for Comp. Games 16 CS EE Core One Certificate (SW/HW emphasis)  Tech electives  EEL 4713 Digital Comp. Arch.  EEL 4930 Reconfig. Computing  CAP 4410 Digital Image Proc.  CAP 4800 System Simulation  CNT 4007C Comp. Network  EEL 4665 Intel. Machine Design CS EE Core No Certificate Sample Study Plans

Conclusions  Time to re-examine CEN curriculum (since 1999)  Joint CEN curriculum driven by student needs 1. CEN core competency  Required courses common to existing SW/HW tracks & improvements  Brings unique value of integrated knowledge in both computer software and hardware 2. Flexible specialization  Tech electives selected from approved list from either department  Choice of career path is selected when appropriate, not necessarily early in curriculum 3. Certificate option:  Officially recognized and noted on student transcripts  Explicit, clear guidance and focus for students, advising, & employers  Plan and schedule  Today: meeting for overview and discussion  Blog discussion for one week  In one week? meeting for final discussion and vote 17 Details of CEN UG curriculum

Discussion 18