Introduction to Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering
ECSE 1100
3 hours
Introduction to Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering
Course Description
Students will learn about the role of electrical and computer
engineers in today's world while developing soft and hard skills
to prepare them to be successful in the major and their careers.
Through a series of lectures, design projects, and labs, students
will explore topics spanning core areas of Electrical and Computer
Systems Engineering.
Athena Title
Intro to ECSE
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in ECSE 1100E, ECSE 1100H
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will develop an understanding of the electrical and computer engineering major and the role electrical and computer engineers play in today’s world.
Students will develop a strong work ethic and a positive attitude towards the electrical and computer engineering major.
Students will develop strong problem solving, time management, and team player skills.
Students will develop confidence and ease in using the sometimes intimidating underlying technological tools for electrical and computer engineers.
Students will conceptualize high-level solutions to some of today’s complex problems using a systems approach.
Students will analyze resistive DC circuits using Ohm’s law, KCL, and KVL.
Topical Outline
Through a series of lectures and labs, students will explore the following topics, all of which are core areas of electrical and computer engineering:
1. Describe the fundamental operation of a digital computer.
2. Describe and identify fundamental electronics input and output components.
3. What is the role of electrical and/or computer engineering in today’s world?
4. Identification of complex problems in today’s world (including a section on the NAE Grand Challenges) and the role of electrical engineering in solving them.
5. Ethics.
6. Professional aspects of engineering.
7. Basic electrical and electronic circuits.
8. Introduction to Ohm’s Law, KCL and KVL.
9. Analog and digital computation.
10. Testing and measurement.
11. Prototyping and simulation tools.
12. Embedded systems.
13. Number systems, arithmetic operations of binary number systems, and their conversions to each other (binary, decimal, hexadecimal, octal).
14. Boolean algebra (Boolean operations, Truth tables).
15. Logic circuits.
16. Basic logic gates (AND, OR, NOT).
NOTE: The lab experience incorporated into this course features hands-on activities designed to illustrate key topical items listed above.
