UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG 2000–2001
 Brigham Young University
Back Electrical and Computer Engineering

   

Richard L. Frost, Chair
459 CB, PO Box 24099, (801) 378-4012

College of Engineering and Technology Advisement Center
264 CB, PO Box 24101, (801) 378-4325

Admission to Degree Program

The degree programs in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering carry special enrollment limitations. Please see the college advisement center for specific details.

The Discipline

Electrical and computer engineers study phenomena, devices, and systems for information processing, communication, and systems control. These studies, grounded primarily in physics and mathematics, have enabled engineers to develop the innovative new technologies for information acquisition, processing, storage, and communication that have made possible our contemporary Age of Information.

Examples of systems developed by electrical and computer engineers include radio, television, radar, satellite communication systems, cellular telephones, laptop computers, fiber-optic communications devices, global and local computer networks, robotic systems, control systems, fax machines, medical image processing, computer modems, lasers, pagers, computer vision, programmable calculators, VLSI chips, computer-aided design tools, and medical instruments.
Although it is the goal of engineering to produce useful objects, electrical and computer engineers typically play a limited role in construction, assembly, or mass production. Instead, they focus on design, analysis, and the development of the underlying theory and knowledge applied in the design process.

Career Opportunities

Electrical and computer engineers are among the most actively recruited students graduating from a four-year program. Baccalaureate engineers typically start their careers as members of project teams with one or more of the following responsibilities: designing digital, analog, or opto-electronic circuits; creating or testing application-specific software; testing components or systems; or providing technical support for sales. Later on many engineers find themselves pursuing managerial careers, starting their own companies, or even managing entrepreneurial funds. Top graduates are also well received by medical schools, law schools, and professional and management programs.

The BS curriculum for both the electrical engineering and computer engineering degrees is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET).

Graduation Requirements

To receive a bachelor's degree a student must fill three groups of requirements: (1) general education requirements; (2) university requirements; and (3) major requirements.

General Education Requirements

Students should contact their college advisement center for information about general education courses that will also fill major requirements.

Languages of Learning

Precollege Math (zero to one course)
(or Math ACT score of at least 22)
0–3.0 hours
First-Year Writing (one course) 3.0
Advanced Writing (one course) 3.0
Advanced Languages/Math/Music
(one to four courses)
3–20.0

Liberal Arts Core

Biological Science (one to two courses) 3–6.0
Physical Science (one to two courses) 3–7.0
American Heritage (one to two courses) 3–6.0
Wellness (one to three courses) 1.5–2.0
Civilization (two courses) 6.0

Arts and Sciences Electives

Arts and Letters (one course) 3.0
Natural Sciences (one course) 3–4.0
Social and Behavioral Sciences (one course) 3.0

Note 1: For a complete list of courses that will fill each GE category, see the General Education section of the current class schedule.

Note 2: Additional information about general education requirements can be found in the General Education section of the current class schedule or this catalog.

Minimum University Requirements

Religion 14.0
Upper-division hours
Requirement deleted effective 04/04/00
40.0
Residency 30.0
Hours needed to graduate 120.0

Cumulative GPA must be at least 2.0.

Note: See the Graduation section of this catalog for more information.

Major Requirements

Complete the major requirements listed under one of the following undergraduate degree programs.

Undergraduate Programs and Degrees

BS Computer Engineering
BS Electrical Engineering

Students should see their college advisement center for help or information concerning the undergraduate programs.

Graduate Programs and Degrees

MS Electrical Engineering
PhD Electrical Engineering

For more information see the BYU 2000–2001 Graduate Catalog.



General Information

Preprofessional Program. All students who declare electrical and computer engineering as a major will be designated preprofessional until they submit an application for acceptance to the professional program (available at the college advisement center, 264 CB) and it has been approved by the department's admissions committee. Preprofessional students are not allowed to enroll in electrical and computer engineering professional courses.

Academic Standards and Continuance. In addition to being subject to university academic standards, electrical and computer engineering professional program students are required to attain grades of C– or better in all program classes and maintain a minimum major GPA of 2.0. Students who fail to meet these academic standards are subject to the following departmental restrictions.

Students who receive a substandard grade (defined as E, UW, WE, D–, D, D+, or unconverted I) in any major class other than ECEn 212 or fail to maintain a major GPA of 2.0 during any term or semester will be placed on probation. The probation begins at the end of the term or semester in which the poor performance occurs. The department will make a reasonable effort to inform students of their probationary status by letter at the address listed by the university.
Any student receiving a substandard grade in ECEn 212 or more than one substandard grade in any other major classes will be suspended from the professional program. Also, students having a major GPA of less than 2.0 for more than one term or semester will be suspended from the program. Suspended students will receive a letter from the department notifying them on what basis, if any, they may be readmitted to the professional program. Although the department will make efforts to inform students of their probation or suspension, students should take the initiative to speak to department advisors as soon as they are aware of their variance with department standards. If students wait until they are informated by the department, it is sometimes too late to take the best corrective action.
One substandard grade in a major class may be counted toward graduation if it is a D– or higher and if it is received in a course that is not prerequisite to another course. Other major classes in which substandard grades are received will not be counted toward graduation until the student retakes them and receives a grade of C– or higher.

Professional Registration. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department provides the option for graduates to become registered professional engineers. General qualifications for becoming registered are explained in the College of Engineering and Technology section of this catalog. This status is vital to engineering practice in the public sector and to much consulting work. The basic electrical and computer engineering program outlined in this department prepares graduates to successfully complete the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination. Students who wish to become registered as professional engineers are advised to discuss this matter with an advisor from the department soon after admission to the professional program.



BS Computer Engineering (94-95 hours*)

This is a limited-enrollment program requiring departmental admissions approval. Please see the college advisement center or the department office for information regarding requirements for admission to this major. Premajor Program MAP

Major Requirements

  1. Complete the following preprofessional program as soon as possible upon entering BYU:
    • Complete at least 3 hours (other than Engl 312 or 316) from item 2 below.

    • Complete the following (or approved equivalent courses):
      ECEn 191.
      Math 112, 113.
      Phscs 121, 122.

      Note: Although ECEn 191 is not required before application for professional status, take it as early as possible.

    • During the semester of completing the above, obtain an application from the college advisement center and apply for professional status. (Contact the department or the college advisement center for additional details).

  2. Complete the following supporting courses (either as a preprofessional or a professional student):
    Chem 105 or 111.
    CS 142.
    ECEn 225, 491.
    Engl 312 or 316.
    Math 214, 334, 343.
    Phscs 281.
    Stat 421.

  3. Complete the following professional requirements:
    • Complete the following:
      ECEn 212, 313, 317, 320, 380, 492A,B,C.
      CS 235, 240.

    • Select three courses from the following:
      ECEn 425, 427, 428, 451.

    • Select two courses from the following:
      CS 345, 428, 431, 452, 453, 455, 456, 460, 470.

    • Complete at least 4 hours from the list below:
      1. Courses from the above list and selected 500-level computer science courses.
      2. Any 300-level and higher electrical and computer engineering courses except 301R.
      3. 300-level and higher other engineering, mathematics, and/or physics courses as specified or approved by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.

Note: Contact the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department for current information about added and/or deleted courses, as well as information about when courses are offered.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill GE or university requirements.



BS Electrical Engineering (93-95 hours*)

This is a limited-enrollment program requiring departmental admissions approval. Please see the college advisement center or the department office for information regarding requirements for admission to this major. Premajor Program MAP

Major Requirements

  1. Complete the following preprofessional program as soon as possible upon entering BYU:
    • Complete at least 3 hours (other than Engl 312 or 316) from item 2 below.

    • Complete the following (or approved equivalent courses):
      ECEn 191.
      Math 112, 113.
      Phscs 121, 122.

      Note: Although ECEn 191 is not required before application for professional status, take it as early as possible.

    • During the semester of completing the above, obtain an application from the college advisement center and apply for professional status. (Contact the department or the college advisement center for additional details).

  2. Complete the following supporting courses (either as a preprofessional or a professional student):
    Chem 105 or 111.
    CS 130 or 142.
    ECEn 225, 491.
    Engl 312 or 316.
    Math 214, 334, 343.
    Phscs 281.
    Stat 421.

  3. Complete the following professional requirements:
    ECEn 212, 313, 317, 320, 360, 361, 380, 492A,B,C.

  4. Complete at least 24 hours from the following advanced program and technical electives:
    • Complete four courses selected from at least three of the following groups:
      1. ECEn 443, 445, 450, ChEn 493R.
      2. ECEn 460.
      3. ECEn 483, 485, 487.
      4. ECEn 425, 427, 428, 451.

    • Complete remaining course hours selected from the following:
      1. Additional courses listed in 4a above.

      2. Any ECEn 500-level course.

      3. 300-level and higher courses in mechanical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, mathematics, physics, and/or computer science as specified or approved by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.

Note: Contact the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department for current information about added and/or deleted courses, as well as information about when courses are offered.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill GE or university requirements.



Electrical and Computer Engineering (EC En)

Class Schedule Major Academic Plan (MAP)

Undergraduate Courses

191. Freshman Seminar. (0.5:1:0) F, W

Presentations by faculty and advisors, including design projects. College Lecture attendance required.

199R. Academic Internship. (1–3:Arr.:Arr. ea.) Prerequisite: department chair's and cooperative education coordinator's consent.

Work experience evaluated by supervisor and posted on student's transcript.

212. Circuit Analysis and Laboratory. (5:4;3) F, W, Sp Prerequisite: Phscs 122; Math 113; professional status.

Analysis of electric circuits; sinusoidal-steady state, resonance, Bode plots, and balanced three-phase circuits. Includes labs. To be taken semester of admittance to professional program. Fee.

225. Introduction to Computing Systems. (4:3:3) F, W, Su Prerequisite: Math 113 or equivalent (or concurrent enrollment); Phscs 122 (or concurrent enrollment).

How a computer works, from hardware to high-level programming: logic circuits, instructions, assembly language, binary arithmetic, C programming, language translation, data structures, algorithm analysis.

301R. Elements of Electrical Engineering. (1–3:3:1 ea.) F, W, Sp Prerequisite: Phscs 122, Math 334.

Linear electrical circuits, computer organization, and logic circuits for nonmajors.

313. Electronic Circuit Design 1. (4:4:2) F, W, Sp Prerequisite: ECEn 212.

Analysis and design of linear and nonlinear electronic circuit building blocks.

317. Electronics Laboratory 1. (1:0:3) F, W, Sp Prerequisite: ECEn 313 or concurrent enrollment.

Measurement and design of basic electronic building blocks.

320. Fundamentals of Digital Systems. (5:4:3) F, W Prerequisite: ECEn 225.

Digital logic: theory, design, implementation. Laboratory experience in construction of synchronous and combinational digital logic circuits. Fee.

360. Transmission Lines and Introductory Fields. (4:4:2) F, W Prerequisite: Math 214, 334, ECEn 212.

Properties and application of transmission lines. Introduction to electric and magnetic field theory and development of Maxwell's equations.

361. Transmission Lines and Introductory Fields Laboratory. (1:0:3) F, W Prerequisite: ECEn 360 or concurrent enrollment.

Experiments and measurement techniques in static and time-varying fields. Transmission line design and measurements. Microwave generation, propagation, detection, and hardware components.

380. Signals and Systems. (5:4:3) F, W, Sp Prerequisite: ECEn 212, Math 334.

Time and frequency domain analysis of discrete or continuous systems subjected to periodic or nonperiodic input signals.

425. Real-Time and Embedded Systems. (4:3:3) F Prerequisite: ECEn 320 and C programming experience.

Hardware/software interface, real-time kernel internals, implementation of high-level language constructs, issues in real-time application software development.

427. Computer Input/Output Devices. (4:3:3) F Prerequisite: ECEn 313, 320.

Input/output interfacing of peripheral devices. Dynamic memory control; disk and graphics controllers. Computer communications; error-control coding with finite fields. Selected laboratory assignments.

428. Computer Architecture. (4:3:3) W Prerequisite: ECEn 320.

Performance-directed design principles, advanced pipelining, instruction-level parallelism (superscalar and VLIW CPUs), compiler optimizations, memory hierarchy design, etc.

443. Electronic Circuit Design 2. (4:3:5) W Prerequisite: ECEn 313, 317.

Design of electronic circuits, such as multistage, power, feedback, and high frequency amplifiers, oscillators, modulators, and power supplies.

445. Introduction to Mixed-Signal VLSI. (4:3:3) F Prerequisite: ECEn 313.

VLSI circuit design emphasizing mixed-signal circuits such as D/A and A/D converters, phase-locked loops, S/H circuits. Associated laboratory provides layout-design experience.

450. Introduction to Semiconductor Devices. (3:3:1) W Prerequisite: ECEn 313, Phscs 281.

Physics of electronic and optical solid state devices; includes semiconductor materials, bipolar and FET device physics and modeling, optical properties of semiconductors, and lasers.

451. Introduction to Digital VLSI Circuits. (4:3:5) F, W Prerequisite: ECEn 313, 320.

Design of very large-scale integrated circuits for digital systems. CAD tools used extensively to simulate the design and create and verify mask circuits.

452. Experiments in Integrated Circuit Development. (1:0:3) W Prerequisite: ECEn 450 or concurrent enrollment.

Measurements of key silicon properties and fabrication of integrated circuits.

455. VLSI Testing. (1:0:3) F, W Prerequisite: ECEn 451 or 445.

Testing of ICs designed previous semester in ECEn 451 or ECEn 445. Topics in VLSI-testable circuit designs.

460. Applied Electromagnetic Theory. (3:3:1) F Prerequisite: ECEn 360.

Application of Maxwell's equations to propagating and radiating components and systems.

461. Electromagnetics Laboratory. (1:0:3) F Prerequisite: ECEn 361; 460 or concurrent enrollment.

Design and evaluation of microwave devices, systems, and materials.

483. Feedback Control of Dynamic Systems. (4:3:3) F Prerequisite: ECEn 380.

Analysis of feedback control: stability, root-locus, Nyquist criteria, Bode constraints, state space methods. Design of PID, phase lead/lag, observer-based state feedback controllers.

485. Introduction to Digital Communication Theory. (4:3:3) F Prerequisite: ECEn 380, Stat 421.

Analysis and design of digital communications systems in AWGN: signal space concepts, modulation, matched filter and correlation detection, synchronization, performance. Computer-based design exercises.

487. Introduction to Discrete-Time Signal Processing. (4:3:3) W Prerequisite: ECEn 380.

Digital signal processing, fast Fourier transforms, digital filter design, spectrum analysis, Applications in speech processing, SONAR, communications, etc.

491. Senior Seminar. (0.5:2:0) F Prerequisite: senior electrical and computer engineering standing.

Department seminars and College Lecture attendance required.

492A. Senior Seminar and Design Project Proposal. (0.5:1:0) F, W Prerequisite: senior electrical and computer engineering standing; Engl 312 or 316 or concurrent registration.

Senior seminar and proposal for senior capstone design project. College Lecture attendance required.

492B. Senior Design Project. (1:0:Arr.) F, W, Sp Prerequisite: ECEn 492A.

Senior design project implementation.

492C. Senior Seminar and Design Project Report. (0.5:0:Arr.) F, W, Sp Prerequisite: ECEn 492B or concurrent enrollment.

Report and presentation of senior design project. College Lecture attendance required.

493R. Special Topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering. (1–4:Arr.:Arr. ea.) F, W, Sp, Su

Topics vary. Recent developments in electrical and computer engineering.

500-Level Graduate Courses (available to advanced undergraduates)

522R. Special Topics in Computer Systems. (1–3:Arr.:Arr. ea.) F, W, Sp, Su Prerequisite: instructor's consent.

523. Queueing Theory and Modeling Fundamentals. (3:3:0) F alt yr. Prerequisite: ECEn 380 or concurrent enrollment; Stat 421.

Computer systems and network modeling using stochastic processes: queueing theory models, performance analysis, resource allocations, large-system response parameters.

524. Advanced Digital Systems. (3:3:0) F Prerequisite: ECEn 451; proficiency in C or C++.

Advanced synchronous systems design; CAD and HDLs; systolic arrays; high-speed, low-power digital circuit architectures.

526. Computer Internetworking. (3:3:0) W Prerequisite: ECEn 427 or equivalent.

Basics of computer networking, legacy and modern LANS, switches/routers, voice/data/video communications, lab experience with network routers and switches, performance evaluation.

528. Advanced Computer Architecture. (3:3:0) F alt. yr. Prerequisite: ECEn 428; proficiency in C or C++.

Lab experience with hardware and software techniques for exploiting instruction-level parallelism.

541. Active and Passive Filter Design. (3:3:0) F alt yr. Prerequisite: ECEn 313, 380; or equivalents.

Design methods for electronic filters based on passive components, active components, and integrated circuit components.

542R. Special Topics in Electronics. (1–3:Arr.:Arr. ea.) F, W, Sp, Su Prerequisite: instructor's consent.

543. CMOS Analog Circuit Design. (3:3:0) F alt. yr. Prerequisite: ECEn 443 or 445 or equivalent.

Factors affecting performance of MOS devices in analog applications. Design of MOS amplifiers, buffers, and comparators.

550. Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS). (3:3:0) Prerequisite: ECEn 450 or MeEn 372 or equivalent.

Design, fabrication, and applications of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Mechanical properties governing design and reliability of MEMS and the processing technologies used to fabricate them.

551. VLSI Systems Design. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: ECEn 451.

Design of structured circuit systems for very large-scale integrated semiconductor chips. Architecture of digital VLSI systems.

553. VLSI Process Technology. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: senior or graduate standing in engineering or physical sciences.

Physical and chemical process steps used in fabricating very large-scale integrated circuits on monolithic silicon crystal.

560. Electromagnetic Wave Theory. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: ECEn 460, or equivalent.

Principles and methods of modern electromagnetic wave theory: anisotropic media, dyadic green functions, Nuygen's principle, contour integration methods, asymptotic integration. Applications in radiation and scattering.

561. High-Frequency Communication Circuits. (4:4:3) W Alt. yr. Prerequisite: ECEn 360, 443.

Circuits and RF techniques used in communication systems.

562. Optical Communication Components and Systems. (3:3:0) W Prerequisite: ECEn 460 or equivalent.

Fiber-optic communication system components and their operating and performance characteristics.

563. Applied Computational Electromagnetics. (3:3:0) W alt. yr. Prerequisite: ECEn 460 or equivalent.

Current theory and practice in numerically solving Maxwell's equations for antenna and circuit design and radar-scattering prediction.

564. Radar and Communication Systems. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: ECEn 460, 485; or equivalents.

Design and performance of radar and communication systems: radar equation ambiguity functions, modulation, signal detection, link budgets, spread spectrum, system design, and performance trade-offs.

568. Microwave Remote Sensing. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: instructor's consent.

Emphasis on space-borne remote sensing of the earth's atmosphere, land, and oceans. Primary methods and applications for both active (radar) and passive (radiometry).

580. Stochastic Processes. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: ECEn 380 or equivalent; Stat 421 or equivalent; graduate standing or instructor's consent.

Review of elementary probability, introduction to random processes: definitions, properties, covariance, spectral density, time average, stationarity, ergodicity, linear system relations, mean square estimation, Markov processes.

581. Detection and Estimation Theory. (3:3:0) W Prerequisite: ECEn 582; Stat 421 or equivalent; graduate standing or instructor's consent.

Sufficiency, completeness; Neyman-Pearson and Bayes detector; maximum likelihood, Bayes, minimum mean square, and linear estimation; Kalman filters; selected topics.

582. Mathematics of Signals and Systems. (3:3:0) F Prerequisite: ECEn 380, Math 343 (or equivalents); graduate standing or instructor's consent.

Introduction to mathematics of signal processing, communication, and control theory; linear spaces, Eigenvalue and singular-value decompositions, quadratic forms, linear operators, adjoints, dual spaces.

592R. Supervised Teaching Experience. (1–3:Arr.:Arr. ea.)

For students receiving supervised teaching experience.

Graduate Courses

For 600- and 700-level courses, see the BYU 2000–2001 Graduate Catalog.



Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty

Professors

Chabries, Douglas M. (1978) BS, U. of Utah, 1966; MS, California Inst. of Technology, 1967; PhD, Brown U., 1970.

Christiansen, Richard W. (1978) BS, Rutgers U., 1961; MS, U. of New Mexico, 1966; PhD, U. of Utah, 1976.

Comer, David J. (1981) BSEE, San Jose State U., 1961; MSEE, U. of California, Berkeley, 1962; PhD, Washington State U., 1966.

Long, David G. (1990) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1982, 1983; PhD, U. of Southern California, 1989.

Nelson, Brent E. (1984) BS, MS, PhD, U. of Utah, 1981, 1983, 1984.

Stirling, Wynn C. (1984) BS, MS, U. of Utah, 1969, 1971; PhD, Stanford U., 1983.

Associate Professors

Archibald, James K. (1987) BS, Brigham Young U., 1981; MS, PhD, U. of Washington, 1983, 1987.

Bearnson, Leroy W. (1972) BS, U. of Utah, 1961; MS, Syracuse U., 1965; PhD, Auburn U., 1970.

Frost, Richard L. (1987) BS, MS, PhD, U. of Utah, 1975, 1977, 1979.

Hutchings, Brad (1992) BS, MS, PhD, U. of Utah, 1984, 1987, 1992.

Jeffs, Brian D. (1990) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1978, 1982; PhD, U. of Southern California, 1989.

Rice, Michael D. (1991) BS, Louisiana Tech U., 1987; MS, PhD, Georgia Inst. of Technology, 1989, 1991.

Selfridge, Richard H. (1987) BS, California State U., Sacramento, 1978; MS, PhD, U. of California, Davis, 1980, 1984.

Swindlehurst, A. Lee (1990) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1985, 1986; PhD, Stanford U., 1990.

Wilde, Doran (1995) BS, Brigham Young U., 1978; MS, PhD, Oregon State U., 1993, 1995.

Research Associate Professor

Arnold, David V. (1992) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1983, 1987; PhD, Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, 1992.

Assistant Professors

Beard, Randal W. (1996) BS, U. of Utah, 1991; MS, PhD, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1993, 1995.

Jensen, Michael (1994) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1990, 1991; PhD, U. of California, Los Angeles, 1994.

Wirthlin, Michael J. (1999) BS, PhD, Brigham Young U., 1992, 1997.

Adjunct Faculty

Lawton, Robert A., BS, Brigham Young U., 1960; MS, PhD, U. of Colorado, 1968, 1972.

Rose, Darrell E., BS, Brigham Young U., 1960; MS, Southern Illinois U., 1961; PhD, U. of Oklahoma, 1965.

Emeriti

Berrett, Paul O. (1964) BS, U. of Utah, 1953; MS, U. of Southern California, 1955; PhD, U. of Utah, 1965.

Bowman, Lawrence S. (1967) BS, MS, PhD, U. of Utah, 1957, 1961, 1964.

Chaston, A. Norton (1957) AS, U. of Idaho, 1944; BS, U. of Utah, 1951; MS, Brigham Young U., 1963.

Clegg, John C. (1961) BS, MS, PhD, U. of Utah, 1949, 1954, 1957.

Humpherys, Deverl S. (1964) BS, Brigham Young U., 1955; MS, U. of Utah, 1957; PhD, U. of Illinois, 1963.

Jonsson, Jens J. (1953) BS, BS, U. of Utah, 1944, 1947; MS, PhD, Purdue U., 1948, 1951.

Losee, Ferril A. (1965) BS, U. of Utah, 1953; MS, U. of Southern California, 1957.

Miner, Gayle F. (1960) BS, MS, U. of Utah, 1959, 1960; PhD, U. of California, Berkeley, 1969.

Ward, David M. (1964) BS, Stanford U., 1959.






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