CEN Program Focus Group TOPICS: –Suggestions for the CEN program. –CEN program Overhaul 1

Suggestions for the CEN program Advising ? Courses offered often enough ? Any courses should be dropped ? Any courses should be added/merged ? Any course with problems ? Content ? Emphasize more/less topics ? 2

Joint Curriculum CEN UG Program CEN Curriculum Committee Manuel Bermudez, Doug Dankel, Paul Fishwick, Rob Fox, Ann Gordon-Ross, Herman Lam (chair), Janise McNair 3

Overview of Existing CEN Curriculum 4 Hardware Track 2 Software Track

Issues with Existing Curriculum Too much emphasis on differences 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 5 Freshman Preview Orientation

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

What is Computer Engineering? 7 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

8 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?

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 CEN-specific courses (e.g., CEN-oriented electronics course) 2.Flexible specialization  YY 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 9

Sample Certificate Areas  Artificial Intelligence  CAP 4053 AI for Comp. Games  CAP 4621 AI & Heuristics  CAP 4680 Knowledge-based Sys.  Computer Architecture  EEL 4712 Digital Design  EEL 4713 Digital Computer Architecture  CDA 4102 Computer Architecture  Data Computer Communications & Network  EEL 4713 or CDA 4102 Comp. Arch.  CNT 4007 Computer Network  EEL 4598 is Data Comp. Communications  Database Management  ???  CIS 4301 DB Sys I  CIS 4720 DB Sys II 10  Reconfigurable Computing  EEL 4712 Digital Design  EEL 4713 Digital Computer Architecture  EEL 4930 Reconfigurable Computing  Software System Development  CEN 3031 Software Engineering  CEN 4012 SW System Development  CEN 4072 SW Testing & Verification  This is just a “starter” set of certificate areas that I “made up” looking through the course descriptions. The “real” set should be developed by the faculty members from each area..

 Certificate in Database Management  ???  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 11 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. 12 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.  ???  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 13 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

Proposed CEN Capstone Sequence  CEN capstone sequence consists of 2 required courses  CEN Design 1: CEN 3923  Prerequisite to CEN Design 2  Provides training and integration of skills necessary for successful project in CEN Design 2  CEN Design 2: CEN 4924  Capstone design class required for all CEN students  Design projects can range from one extreme (all software) to the other extreme (all hardware), or have both From “What is Computer Engineering” slide: With respect to our program, Computer Engineering falls within a continuum between Computer Science and Electrical Engineering 14

15 Proposed Programming Requirements Summary and Conclusions  COP 2502: beginning programming course  Java-based  COP 3503: advanced programming course  C ++ based  Similar to existing CISE sequence, but streamlined  Satisfies C++ recommendation (from IABs) COP 2502 COP 3503 A: Student without prior programming experience in Java B:Student with prior programming experience in Java A B

Discussion 16