Gannon University

• Sound preparation in general science and applied mathematics.

• Sound electrical engineering and application.

• Strong computer and software systems development.

• Effective use of computer-aided design & analysis tools.

• Quality engineering design experience.

To achieve these goals, the ECE Program maintains a modern curriculum, state-of-the-art laboratories & teaching techniques, a well-qualified faculty, and a strong advising system.

Opportunities:

Electrical and Computer Engineering covers a wide variety of areas:

   Computer and Digital Systems Engineering
   Telecommunications Systems Engineering
   Software & Embedded Systems Engineering
   Information Technology
   Power Generation and Distribution
   Power Electronics and Machine Drive/Control
   Electronic Design and Circuit Fabrication
   Control Systems Engineering
   Optical Engineering

In these challenging fields there are several areas where engineers contribute:

• Research — Create and prove new ideas.
  
• Design & Development — Apply research & engineering techniques to the solution of problems.
  
• Process & Quality Control — Apply analysis skills to improve product and process effectiveness.
  
• Production — Apply knowledge to manage manufacturing.
  
• Marketing & Sales — Identify and fulfill the needs of customers and markets.
  
• Service — Apply engineering skills to maintain products and serve customer needs.
  

Facilities:

The department has laboratories for undergraduate education and research. These include specific laboratories that support:

• power electronics and electric machines
  
• circuits
  
• electronics
  
• digital logic & microprocessors
  
• PC/Unix Computing
  

The Program:

Electrical Engineering students are required to take a total of 134-137 credits (option dependent). This includes 32-35 credits of basic science and math, 36 credits of The Core of Discovery composed of humanities and social science, 63-67 credits of engineering courses. The breakdown of courses in the categories are given in the course descriptions below.

This program leads to a Bachelors of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. This degree is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

There are two technical options in Electrical and Computer Engineering. They are: Electrical and Electronics Option and Computer and Software Option. The freshmen year is the same for both options. Students should select either option by the beginning of their sophomore year. The student can switch options, but this may require additional coursework.

A five-year Electrical Engineering cooperative program is available. The student must meet the same requirements as the four-year program, plus spend a minimum of three semester equivalents in industry. In addition, a five-year Electrical Engineering/MBA program is available. The student must meet the same requirements as the four-year program plus four more semesters (2 summers) completing the MBA.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:

ENG 101: Introduction to Engineering
Introduction to Engineering is intended to stimulate and enhance student's interest and their understanding of engineering. Various engineering disciplines will be introduced. Crossdisciplinary nature of the engineering field and its interaction with non-engineering disciplines will be discussed and demonstrated. The design process and creative problem solving and systems approach to engineering design will be presented. Evaluation criteria of economics, environmental concerns, ethics, health and safety will be discussed. The experimental component of this course is intended to review the foundation of scientific experimentation and reporting and introduce various measurement devices used in engineering. The importance of experience, observation and analogies in problem solving will be emphasized. Various skills needed for problem solving in engineering will be discussed and practiced throughout the course. These skills include team skills, perspective of quantity and size, communication skills (written, oral, and graphical) and basic computer skills.
3 credits

ENG 326: Automatic Control
See description in ECE 326
3 credits

ENG 327: Automatic Control Laboratory
Three hours per week to accompany the course material of Automatic Control.
Prerequisite: ECE 326 or ME 326
1 credit

ENG 364: Engineering Economics
Basic elements and methods of economy as applied to engineering, elements of economy, cash flow diagrams, economy factors and their use, depreciation and depletion, present worth and cost, benefit/cost ratio, service life, replacement and retirement analysis.
Prerequisite: Instructor’s permission and junior standing
3 credits

ECE 140: Digital Logic Design
This course introduces fundamental design concept and process on digital logic. Boolean algebra and logic gate operations are first discussed, followed by combinational network design and sequential network concepts and design. The use of computer-aided design tools to support circut design is an integral part of the course.
Co-requisite: ECE 140
3 credits

ECE 141: Digital Logic Design Laboratory
This laboratory course is to be taken concurrently with ECE 140. The laboratory provides hands-on experience with logic design and includes the applications of Boolean Algebra, Karnaugh Maps, decoders, multiplexers, and flip-flops. Topics also include combinational network design and sequential network design. The use of contemporary software tools to support the digital design process is an integral part of the laboratory.
Co-requisite: ECE 140
1 credit

ECE 228: Circuits I
This course introduces the basic passive components (R, L, C) and their terminal voltage and current characteristics. Basic circuit concepts such as Kirchoff’s laws, linearity/superposition/Thevenin & Norton equivalents and the max power theorems are established. The analysis of DC and transient circuits including dependent and independent sources is considered along with the use of computer-aided design tools for solutions and verification of problems. AC circuits are also studied.
Prerequisite: MATH 140 or permission of Chair.
3 credits

ECE 229: Circuits Laboratory
This laboratory course is to be taken concurrently with ECE 228 (Circuts I). The laboratory provides hands-on experience with DC and AC circuits that includes the applications of Kirchhoff’s laws, superposition, Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits. Topics also include operational amplifier circuits and phasor diagrams. The use of contemporary computer-aided design in support of circut analysis and design is an integral part of the laboratory.
Co-requisite: ECE 228
1 credit

ECE 231: Introduction to Electrical Engineering
This is a basic course that covers general introduction to circuit theory, electronic circuits, and electric machines. This course cannot be taken for credit by Electrical and Computer Engineering students.
Prerequisite: PHYS 214 and MATH 140
3 credits

ECE 232: Introduction to Electrical Engineering Laboratory
This laboratory course is to be taken concurrently with ECE 231. The laboratory provides hands-on experience with DC and AC circuits that includes the applications of Kirchhoff’s laws, superposition and Thevenin equivalent circuits. Topics also include operational amplifier circuits, phasor diagrams and electric machines.
Co-requisite: ECE 231
1 credit

ECE 240: Circuits II
This course first introduces the AC circuits and three-phase circuits analysis. Power concepts are introduced as pertaining to single phase and three-phase circuit applications. Frequency response characteristics of RLC circuits are studied, including the Fourier Series representation of a periodic signal. Frequency domain tools such as Laplace Transform and Fourier Transforms are presented and employed in circuit analysis. Modern computer-aided design tools are used for solving homework assignments.
Prerequisite: ECE 228 and 229
3 credits

ECE 241: Circuits II Lab
This laboratory course is to be taken concurrently with Circuits II ECE 240. The laboratory provides hands-on experience with AC circuits that includes the transient analysis and frequency response applications of first and second order circuits. Topics also include Butterworth filter design for frequency response application. The use of a contemporary computer-aided design tool in support of circuit design is an integral part of the laboratory.
Co-requisite: ECE 240
1 credit

ECE 243: Instrumentation and Measurement
Develop measurement techniques and understanding measurement and instrumentation limitations. Sensor and transducer characteristics and applications. Interface and design of basic electro-mechanical and data acquisition systems.
Co-requisite: ECE 228.
2 credits

ECE 244: Instrumentation and Measurement Laboratory
Three hours laboratory per week is integrated closely with ECE 243. Must be taken concurrently.
Co-requisite: ECE 243
1 credit

ECE 311: Embedded Kernel
This course covers basic understanding of real-time embedded kernel development and implementation. Development will start with a non-preemptive kernel and advances into a preemptive kernel by the end of the semester. Topics covered include interrupts, tasks, time management, inter-task communication and synchronization, and memory management. These topics will be implemented on an embedded-system platform.
Prerequisite: ECE 342
3 credits

ECE 321: Electronics I
This course focuses on diode, transistor (BJT and FET) and operational amplifier systems with emphasis on the design process. General design aspects are considered from a top down approach and thus sub-system design and analysis naturally follow. Analysis techniques include the DC operation point, large signal and small signal variations/modeling. All devices are considered as system components. The use of a computer-aided design tool in support of circuit design is an integral part of the course and used for design/analysis.
Prerequisites: ECE 228
3 credits

ECE 322: Electronics I Lab
This lab is to accompany and complement Electronics I and taken concurrently with it. Hands-on work with op-amps, diodes, BJTs and FETs in different circut configurations are conducted. Theoretical and a computer-aided design tool for analysis is used to complement the lab activity.
Co-requisite: ECE 321
1 credit

ECE 324: Electric Machines
This course introduces the fundamental principles of transformers, energy conversion and the operational principles of electric machines. Induction machines, Synchronous machines, and DC machines are discussed including their steady-state characteristics and operations.
Prerequisites: ECE 335
3 credits

ECE 325: Electric Machines Laboratory
Three hours per week to follow Electric Machines.
Prerequisite: ECE 324
1 credit

ECE 326: Automatic Control
An introduction to dynamic systems with emphasis on feedback control. Representation of control components in various engineering systems. Steady state and transient specification and stability characteristics to design interdisciplinary engineering systems.
Prerequisite: ECE 330 or MATH 307 or permission of chair
3 credits

ECE 330: Signals and Systems
Signals and linear systems in continuous time and discrete time are studied. Both Time Domain solution methods and Frequency Domain solutions (Laplace Transform and Z Transform) are covered. Fourier Series, Fourier Transform and sampling theory are also studied.
Prerequisites: ECE 228 and MATH 141
3 credits

ECE 333: Electronics II
This course focuses on the application and the design process involving diodes, transistors (BJT and FET) and operational amplifier systems. Topics include wave-shaping circuits, IC amplifiers, Oscillators, and active filters design. General design aspects are considered from a top down approach, including sub-system design and analysis. The use of computer-aided design software tools in the support of circuit design is an integral part of the course.
Prerequisites: ECE 321
2 credits

ECE 334: Electronics II Laboratory
This lab is to accompany and complement Electronics II and taken concurrently with it. Lab topics complement closely classroom discussion of various designs.
Co-requisite: ECE 333
1 credit

ECE 335: Electromagnetic Fields
This course emphasizes the fundamental principles of electric and magnetic fields with applications to transmission lines and wave propagation. Brief introduction to vector analysis is given followed by providing a precise but thorough introduction to Maxwell’s equations. Waves in space and their interaction with media are discussed with analogies to wave behavior on transmission lines.
Prerequisites: MATH 242 and ECE 240
3 credits

ECE 336: Solid State Material and Devices
Crystal properties and growth in semiconductors, atomic and electron properties, energy bands and charge carriers in semiconductors, junctions, p-n junction diodes, BJTs and FETs, ICs and semiconductors. Fabrication of junctions and diodes.
Prerequisites: CHEM 111 and MATH 307
3 credits

ECE 337: Computer Architecture
Understanding of computer interactions between hardware and software, including Von-Neumann and Harvard architectures. Topics include hardware, software and system performance measures, instruction-set architecture as well as the understanding of computer instructions and assembly language programming, computer arithmetic, processer control and data manipulation, memory hierarchy and performance, I/O subsystems and advanced topics.
Prerequisites: CIS 214 and either MATH 123 or ECE 140
3 credits

ECE 342: Microprocessors
This course is designed to give students a basic background in hardware and software aspects of microprocessors. Contents of the course include: a microprocessor architecture, addressing modes, instruction set, assembly language, timers, I/O interrupt handling, mixed C/Assembly programming, finite state machine design, basic peripheral interface timers, UART, ADC and DAC. Microcontroller configuration. Schematic entry and basic PCB design.
Prerequisites: ECE 140 and CIS 214, or ECE 337
Co-requisites: ECE 343
2 credits

ECE 343: Microprocessors Laboratory
This course is designed to give students a basic background in hardware and software aspects of microprocesors. Contents of the course include: a microprocessor architecture, addressing modes, instruction set, assembly language, timers, I/O interrupt handling, mixed C/Assembly programming, finite state machine design, basic peripheral interfaces, UART, ADC and DAC. Microcontroller configuration. Schematic entry and basic PCB design.
Co-requisite: ECE 342
1 credit

ECE 345: Advanced Digital Design
Advanced topics in top-down digital design and bottom-up verification are introduced. Combinatorial and sequential logic design, circuit aspects of logic devices, families, and interfaces are reviewed. Topics include the use of CAD tools for schematic and hardware description language based design entry for simulation, synthesis, post-synthesis analysis and implementation on a programmable target device. An integrated design and development environment will be used throughout the course.
Prerequisite: ECE 140
Co-requisite: ECE 346
2 credits

ECE 346: Advanced Digital Design Laboratory
This lab is to accompany and complement Advanced Digital Design and taken concurrently with it.
Co-requisite: ECE 345
1 credit

ECE 347: Embedded Systems Design
Concept to delivery microprocessor-based design flow, CPU architectures, instruction sets, interrupts, peripheral configuration and interface: Timers, UART, ADC, DAC I2C, hardware/software design, simulation, debugging and testing, serial data communication, interfacing external devices: keypad, mouse, LCD, motor drivers, schematic capture, PCB placement and layout, CAD based simulation, design, and testing. Real-time operating system utilization, Hardware & software co-design tergeting System-on-aChip platforms.
Prerequisites: ECE 342
Co-requisite: ECE 348
2 credits

ECE 348: Embedded Systems Design Laboratory
Laboratory to be taken concurrently with ECE 347.
Co-requisite: ECE 347
1 credit

ECE 357: Senior Design
Discuss design fundamentals. Application of design principles to a design problem. Determination of a complete problem definition/specification. Development of a conceptual and then a preliminary design with alternatives. Establish a schedule and tentative test plan. Discuss ethics and ethical standards and consider their impact on engineering decisions. Present design at a formal design review .
Prerequisite: Senior standing and permission of the chair.
3 credits

ECE 358: Senior Design Laboratory and Seminar
Prototype construction based upon design specification of ECE 357. Test plan is developed and implemented on the prototype. Alternative considerations, risk management and possible design changes following initial prototype results. The outcome will include a complete design document and a final presentation. Student teams will present their final prototypes to a review committee including peers, faculty and/or invited industrial guests.
Prerequisite: ECE 357
3 credits

ECE 363: Power System Engineering I
Models for elements of power system are studied. Per unit values and per unit system are discussed. Power flow studies are investigated. Gauss Seidel, Newton Raphson, and Decoupled lead flow are studied. Balanced faults are discussed.
Prerequisite: ECE 324
3 credits

ECE 366: Power System Engineering II
Symmetrical components are studied. Power System under fault conditions is analyzed using symmetrical components. Economic operations of power systems are studied. Problem of power systems stability is discussed. Analysis of two machine system is performed using equal area criterion. Multi-machine stability is discussed.
Prerequisite: ECE 363
3 credits

ECE 390-399: Special Topics in Electrical Engineering
Special courses developed from student interest in all areas of electrical engineering. Brief description of current content to be announced in schedule of classes.
Prerequisite: Permission of the chair.
3 credits

ECE 400: Professional Seminar
Focuses on issues facing electrical, computer and software engineering professionals. Includes trends in the field, job prospects, political issues, team and workplace behavior, project leadership as well as reviews of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
Co-requisite:Senior standing
1 credit

ECE 421: VLSI Design
Focuses on the theory, design, implementation, and testing of Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) Circuits and associated technologies. Primarily focuses on CMOS technologies and their implementation. Includes a review of CMOS circuits & theory, overview of MOS fabrication technology, circuit characterizations and performance estimation, electrical & physical design of logic gates, clocking strategies, I/O structures, system design and test methods, design synthesis, and advanced topics.
Prerequisites: ECE 321
3 credits

ECE 437: Advanced Computer Architecture
Focuses on the design and implementation of the instruction-set architecture. Performance measures, ALU design, data and control path design, evolving into custom high performance processor design using VHDL, pipelining, memory hierarchy design, cache memory and advanced topics.
Prerequisites: ECE 337
3 credits

ECE 449: VHDL Design
This is an introductory course for the VHDL hardware description language targeting programmable logic and ASIC design. THe usage of the language in representation, simulation, verification and synthesis areas is studied with extensive lab assignments. Essential syntax and semantics of the VHDL language including design entity, architectural bodies, concurrent and sequential statements, processes, data types, packages, configurations, register transfer level design are among the covered topics.
Prerequisites: ECE 345
3 credits

ECE 451: Optical Devices and Systems
This course presents an introduction to electro optics. Topics include topics of wave propagation, interaction with both isotropic and anisotropic materials, modulation techniques, lenses and lens systems, optical sources and optical detectors. Optical systems, subsystems and applications are considered.
Prerequisites: ECE 333 and ECE 335
3 credits

ECE 456: R F Circuit Design
Unifies concepts from circuits, electronics, communications and electromagnetic field theory. Applies concepts to subsystem radio frequency design: filtered amplifiers, oscillators, mixers, filters, power amps, transmission lines, and digital processing. Design of systems using discrete elements and integrated elements is considered. RF on a chip technology is also considered in the lab for high technology communication system application.
Prerequisites: ECE 330, ECE 335
3 credits

ECE 465: Power Electronics
This course introduces the basic concepts of various topologies ( AC-DC, DC-DC, DC-AC, AC-AC, etc) of power converters. The fundamental principles of switching components are discussed first prior to introduction of the design and application of the converters. Emphasis is on the design issues associated with the converters and the computer techniques used for the performance evaluation and analysis. Experiments are part of the course.
Prerequisites: ECE 333
3 credits

ECE 466: Modeling and Analysis of Electric Drives
This course introduces the issues on modeling and analysis of electrical drives. Basic concepts of electromechanical energy conversion will be presented prior to the detailed modeling of the dynamical aspects of both the DC and AC machines. Dynamic behavior of the machines and their computer simulation will be examined. Numerical schemes for simulation, singular peturbation technique, linerization technique, etc. are parts of the analysis tools. In addition, modeling of switching power conversion will be studied as it pertains to drive application. If time permits, some other practical aspects of drives will be examined, too.
Prerequisites: ECE 324
3 credits

ECE 471: Control of Electrical Machines
This course introduces the concept on the control of electric machines (DC and AC). Emphasis is placed on fundamentals, and conventional methods of speed control of electric machines. Control strategies using power semiconductors for DC motor drives, induction motor drives, synchronous motor drives, and brushless dc and ac motors are discussed.
Prerequisite: ECE 324
3 credits

ECE 472: Digital Signal Processing
This course emphasizes the fundamental principles of signals and systems, sampling theorem, discrete-time Fourier transform, power spectrum, z-transform, discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm, digital filter design and implementation. Matlab/Simuling will be used to evaluate implementations of digital signal processing algorithms.
Prerequisite: ECE 330
3 credits

ECE 474: Artificial Neural Networks
This course will present artificial neural network (ANN) architectures and computational algorithms sutied for practical engineering applications. Topics will include an overview of artificial neural networks and neural computing, elementary ANN building blocks and models. Concepts of learning and training rules, the back-propogation algortihm as well as examples and discussion of several classes of ANN such as feed-forward networks, multilayer networks, recurrent networks, and self organizing networks will be presented. Implementations will be evaluated in Matlab/Simulink.
Prerequisite: senior standing
3 credits

ECE 483: Communication Theory
This course emphasizes Fourier series/transform and FFT, frequency shifting concepts ideally and in reality. Analog modulation techniques and technology including digital enhancement techniques (Amplitude, sideband and frequency modulation), digital modulation (PAM, PWM, PPM, PCM), sampling theory and digital modulation (PAM, PWM, PPM, PCM). Noise aspects considered in determining best SNR technique. Both time and frequency multiplexing and practical examples are included.
Prerequisite: ECE 330
3 credits

ECE 485: Advanced Programming in C/C++
Problem analysis. Translation path from pseudo-code to implementation. Comparison of C and C++ implementations. Critical evaluation of time, memory, and program structure. Programming style.
Prerequisite:CIS 214
3 credits

ECE 486: Object-Oriented Modeling
An advanced treatment of methods for producing an object-oriented design, including structural, behavioral, and architectural design. Focus is on Object-Oriented analysis and design methods and design processes they support. Includes treatment of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) techniques and their application to systems/software development.
Prerequisite: CIS 310
3 credits

ECE 488: Modern Control Theory
Linear spaces and operators, mathematical descriptions of systems. Linear dynamical systems and impulse responce, matrices. Controllability and observability of linear dynamical systems. Irreducible realizations of rational transfer function matrices. Canonical forms, state feedback and state estimators. Stability of linear systems. Composite systems; linear optimal control and linear distributed systems.
Prerequisite: ECE 326
3 credits

ECE 489: Digital Control
This course deals with the control of dynamic systems by employing classical and modern control tools incorporating a digital computer in the control loop. It builds upon the foundational concepts of continuous-time control, and provides the background needed for practicing engineers to enhance their knowledge in the area of digital control system. Topics of discussion are state-space and transfer function representations, Z-transform, digital control system design, filter design, state-space approach to control system design, linearization, stability, system identification, and adaptive control.
Prerequisite: ECE 326
3 credits

ECE 490-499: Advanced Topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Advanced. courses developed from student interest in all areas of electrical engineering. Brief description of current content to be announced in schedule of classes.
Prerequisite: Permission of the chair
3 credits

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Electrical and Electronics Option of ECE Curriculum

(Numerals in front of courses indicate credits)

(Numerals in front of courses indicate credits)

++Technical Electives

Technical electives are specialized courses intended to allow students to focus the breadth or depth of their degree program. Students should plan for these courses well in advance (at least a year) to ensure that the course(s) they are interested in will be offered in the sequence in which they can enroll. Students should plan their course sequence in order to have the appropriate pre-requisites. In all cases, students should select these courses in consultation with their academic advisor.

Students in all ECE degree options are required to take two technical electives. The following table indicates which courses are pre-approved technical electives for which degree option.
‘*’ indicates that the course is approved as a technical elective.

Five Year Program - Electrical Engineering/MBA

The School of Engineering and Computer Science in cooperation with the Dahlkemper School of Business offers a special program for qualified undergraduates leading to a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Degree and a Master of Business Administration Degree. The program may be completed in five years of full time study (includes three summers).

The first three years of the 5 year Electrical Engineering/MBA option is identical to the Electrical Engineering course of study.

SUMMER

The Senior year is identical to other Electrical Engineering options.

Waive

FIFTH YEAR

Electrical Engineering Co-Op Curriculum

*Work Period
**Core of Discovery Courses

Notes:

(1) Fall and Spring follow the regular engineering schedule.

(2) For maximum financial aid, 12 credits of Core of Discovery Courses should be taken during the 4 month summer session listed.

(3) One credit Co-Op seminar (ME 296, ECE 296) is to be taken during the Spring Semester of freshman year.

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