University Catalog 2015-2016

University of Colorado Boulder
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Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering

    Electrical, computer and energy engineering is about the science and technology of information and energy. Two undergraduate curricula lead to bachelor’s degrees: one in electrical engineering, and another in electrical and computer engineering. These curricula are revised frequently to keep pace with changes in this dynamic field.

    Up-to-date curricula and policies are contained in the department’s HELP! Guide, available through the department and on the Web at ecee.colorado.edu.

    Career Opportunities

    A degree in electrical engineering or electrical and computer engineering provides graduates the opportunity to enter the profession of engineering and to engage in work as a design, production, testing, consulting, research, teaching or management professional in a wide variety of careers in the computer industry, telecommunications, instruments, the power and renewable energy industry, the biomedical industry, aerospace and academia. Some graduates also go on to develop careers in other professions like law and medicine.

    Examples of career opportunities include development of new electrical or electronic devices, instruments or products; design of equipment or systems; production and quality control of electrical products for private industry or government; sales or management for a private firm or government; and teaching and research in a university.

    Research Centers

    Colorado Power Electronics Center (CoPEC). Since it was founded in 1983, the power electronics group at the University of Colorado has maintained a tradition of innovative design-oriented and application-driven research. Colorado Power Electronics Center (CoPEC) activities now span the range of applications from high-efficiency milliwatt converters for portable battery-operated systems, to hundreds or thousands of watts for computer, aerospace, telecommunications, medical and automotive power conversion, to hundreds of kilowatts for wind generation systems.

    Our current research activities include projects in high-efficiency, high-power converter technology, power electronics for portable, battery-operated systems, converter modeling and computer-aided analysis, low harmonic rectifier technology for single-phase and three-phase applications and advanced control techniques and their mixed-signal ASIC implementation. We collaborate with other research groups at the University of Colorado, including those in machines and power systems, microelectronics packaging, EMI, control and semiconductor devices. For more information call 303-492-7327 or visit ecee.colorado.edu/~pwrelect.

    The University of Colorado Center for Environmental Technology (CET). Understanding and managing the environment—whether for agriculture, health, water resources, disaster mitigation, energy generation, transportation, weather forecasting, climate modeling or biodiversity—requires accurate knowledge of many variables on a wide range of time and space scales. Measurements for environmental purposes are made either using in situ or remote sensors, and rely upon a variety of different means, including acoustic and electromagnetic waves, point measurements and wide-area imaging and active and passive systems. A variety of different types of platforms can be used for environmental observation, including ships and submersibles, aircraft (both manned and unmanned), spacecraft and stationary sites.

    Research and educational activities at the CU Center for Environmental Technology are focused on developing sensors, systems of sensors and associated hardware and algorithms for environmental observation with a focus on new remote and in situ techniques to meet contemporary scientific and applications goals. This is accomplished by direct involvement of CU faculty, CET engineering staff and undergraduate and graduate students on the development of sensing systems to meet the observational needs of a number of government and industry sponsors. CET training involves close interaction between students and experienced professional engineers, practicing scientists and CU faculty. 

    The CET was established in 2006 with a major donation of equipment from the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, and has members, associates and students from within the broad earth science and engineering communities of Colorado. For further information contact the CET director at 303-492-9688 or visit cet.colorado.edu.

    Center for Research and Education in Wind (CREW). Launched in 2009, CREW is a consortium of over 70 wind energy researchers and educators from four institutions—the University of Colorado Boulder (lead institution), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Colorado School of Mines and Colorado State University. In CREW, faculty and researchers from the four institutions have come together to work to address the research and operational issues of wind energy in a coordinated manner as well as train a new generation of scientists, engineers and managers. The center has also formed partnerships with the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Its research thrusts include atmosphere sciences, wind turbine and wind farm model development and validation, control of wind energy systems, electrical systems and turbine testing, and a center-wide thrust on education and outreach. For more information visit www.coloradocollaboratory.org/crew.html.

    Research and Instructional Equipment

    The department’s special equipment and facilities include a class 1000 clean room facility for epitaxial growth and fabrication of microwave and optical devices; an anechoic chamber; high-vacuum and vacuum deposition equipment for thin-films research; an integrated circuits laboratory; ion implantation equipment; crystal growing facilities; a modern systems laboratory; a laboratory for data storage research; a digital system design laboratory; a power electronics research laboratory; undergraduate laboratories in circuits, electronics; power electronics; digital signal processing and communications; embedded systems; microwaves; a holography and optics laboratory; an advanced optical metrology lab; numerous special purpose computers; a computer system development laboratory; a roof-mounted antenna range; a special microscope for laser manipulation of microorganisms in vivo; a bio-microwave laboratory; and a solar power lab.

    The Colorado Nanofabrication laboratory (CNL) is an open user facility at the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Our mission is to provide expertise, facilities, infrastructure and teaming environments to enable and facilitate interdisciplinary research in microelectronics, optoelectronics and MEMS.

    The Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering has a large variety of computing equipment to support its research and instructional activities. In addition to specialized computing equipment, this includes several hundred PCs, Macs, a department server and a student server. These machines are connected to the campuswide ethernet network. 

    Course code for this program is ECEN.

    Minors

    The following minors provide training in electrical, computer or energy engineering beyond the training usually received by science, mathematics and applied mathematics majors. These minors also can broaden the training of students majoring in other engineering and applied science fields. For more information, contact the department's office or visit www.colorado.edu/engineering/academics/degrees-minors-certificates/minors.

    • Computer Engineering Minor
    • Electrical Engineering Minor
    • Electrical Renewable Energy Systems Minor
    • Signals and Systems Minor

    Bachelor's Degree Program(s)

    Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering 

    Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

    A minimum of 128 semester hours must be completed for either the BS in electrical engineering (EE) or the BS in electrical and computer engineering (ECE).

    Students in both undergraduate degree programs take the same courses in their freshman year. In the sophomore year they begin the sequence of core courses that covers the sophomore and junior years. With this background, students are then able to specialize—or diversify—beginning in the second semester of the junior year or in the senior year. EE majors take three advanced core courses as juniors that prepare them for two senior EE theory and lab elective tracks/concentrations. These senior track courses may be chosen from the following areas with each area comprised of two specific courses: biomedical  engineering; communication and digital signal processing; electromagnetic fields; optics; power and power electronics; renewable energy/energy conversion; nanostructures, solid-state materials and devices; or systems and controls. For ECE majors, the requirement is for two of the three advanced core courses plus the Computer Engineering core: Discrete Math, Data Structures and Computer Organization. In addition, ECE majors must take one EE track and a software elective.

    Students in both majors are required to take the two-semester Capstone Senior Design Lab class.

    Practical experience in well-equipped laboratories augments the theoretical approach throughout the program. Students are encouraged to develop interests outside their electrical engineering specialties by enrolling in nontechnical courses in other colleges of the university. They are encouraged to participate in college and university activities, as well as in meetings of the two very active electrical engineering technical societies (IEEE and HKN).

    In just four years it is impossible to study all areas in detail. Qualified students may specialize further by pursuing a graduate program or by taking continuing education courses after completing the BS degree requirements. A graduating senior with high scholarship can finish a master’s degree in electrical engineering with about one additional full year of work at any of the nation’s major universities. Another option for especially well-qualified students is the department’s BS/MS program, which allows early admission to the MSEE program during the junior year. This option is described below under Concurrent BS/MS Program in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

    Biomedical Engineering Option and Premedical Studies in ECEE

    The biomedical engineering option, available to both EEEN and ECEN majors, focuses on the application of engineering concepts to the improvement and protection of health. Successful completion of this option is noted on a student’s transcript, and may meet medical school requirements. Course work in the ECEN/EEEN curriculum is coupled with specialized courses linking electrical engineering to such biomedical applications as bioeffects of electromagnetic fields, and therapeutic and diagnostic uses of bioelectric phenomena. Undergraduates may also undertake independent study in these areas.

    Students interested in biomedical engineering may receive elective credit for two semesters of biology if they also complete two bioengineering courses from the ECEN/EEEN offerings. The two ECEN/EEEN courses can also be used to satisfy an EE track requirement. The basic biomedical engineering option is thus composed of two semesters of biology and two ECEN/EEEN bioengineering courses.

    Students who wish to complete course requirements for medical (or dental, veterinary, etc.) school should add two semesters of organic chemistry to the ECEN/EEEN biomedical engineering option. Premedical ECEN/EEEN students may petition to have these courses substituted for other electives.

    Interested students are urged to contact the departmental biomedical engineering advisor for additional information.

    Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering 

    Program Objectives 

    • Graduates will be situated in growing careers involving the design, development or support of electrical or electronic systems, devices, instruments or products, or will be successfully pursuing an advanced degree.

    Graduates attaining the EE degree will have comprehensive knowledge and experience in the concepts and design of electrical and electronic devices, circuits and systems. This is achieved through a sequence of required courses in these areas, culminating in a major design project incorporating realistic engineering constraints. Moreover, graduates will have advanced, specialized knowledge and skills in elective areas such as communications and digital signal processing, control systems, analog and digital integrated circuit design, semiconductor devices and optoelectronics, electromagnetics and wireless systems, power electronics, renewable energy, bioelectronics and digital systems. 

    EE graduates will have attained other professional skills that will be useful throughout their careers, including verbal and written communication and the ability to function on multidisciplinary teams. 

    The EE curriculum is rich in laboratory work. EE graduates will have achieved extensive practical experience in the laboratory techniques, tools and skills that provide a bridge between theory and practice. 

    • Graduates will have advanced in professional standing based on their technical accomplishments and will have accumulated additional technical expertise to remain globally competitive. 

    EE graduates experience a curriculum that contains a broad core of classes focused on mathematical and physical principles that are fundamental to the field of electrical engineering. Hence, they understand the physical and mathematical principles underlying electrical and electronic technology, and are able to analyze and solve electrical engineering problems using this knowledge. In addition to basic classes in mathematics, science and computing, the EE curriculum includes a sequence of courses in analog and digital electronic circuits and systems, and electromagnetic fields. 

    • Graduates will have demonstrated professional and personal leadership and growth. 

    To lay the foundation for a long career in a rapidly changing field, a broad background of fundamental knowledge is required. This is achieved in the EE curriculum through a sequence of required courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry and the EE core. In addition, the graduate must be capable of lifelong learning; this is taught through assignments and projects that require independent research and study. 

    The curriculum includes a significant component of electives in the humanities and social sciences. EE graduates will have knowledge of the broader contemporary issues that impact engineering solutions in a global and societal context. They will have the verbal and written communication skills necessary for a successful career in industry or academia. Graduates also understand the meaning and importance of professional and ethical responsibility. 

    Curriculum for BS in Electrical Engineering

    The following information may be changed by the time this catalog is posted. Up-to-date policies are contained in the department’s HELP! Guide, which is given to students who enter the program.

    Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours

    Freshman Year
    Fall Semester

    • APPM 1350 Calculus 1 for Engineers—4
    • ECEN 1100 Freshman Seminar—1
    • First-Year Engineering Projects course—3
    • PHYS 1110 General Physics 1—4
    • Lower-division humanities/social science—3

    Spring Semester

    • APPM 1360 Calculus 2 for Engineers—4
    • ECEN 1310 C Programming for EE/ECE —4
    • PHYS 1120 General Physics 2—4
    • PHYS 1140 Experimental Physics—1
    • Lower-division humanities/social science—3

    Sophomore Year
    Fall Semester

    • APPM 2360 Differential Equations with Linear Algebra—4
    • ECEN 24-- Sophomore Elective 1—3
    • ECEN 2250 Introduction to Circuits and Electronics—3
    • ECEN 2350 Digital Logic—3
    • Lower-division humanities/social science—3

    Spring Semester

    • APPM 2350 Calculus 3 for Engineers—4
    • ECEN 24-- Sophomore Elective 2—3
    • ECEN 2260 Circuits as Systems—3
    • ECEN 2270 Electronics Design Lab—3
    • General science elective —3

    Junior Year
    Fall Semester

    • ECEN 3350 Programming of Digital Systems—3
    • ECEN 3810 Probability—3
    • ECEN 3--- Analog Elective 1—3
    • ECEN 3--- Analog Elective 2—3
    • Lower-division humanities/social science—3

    Spring Semester

    • ECEN 3--- Analog Elective 3—3
    • ECEN 3360 Digital Design Lab—3
    • College-approved writing course—3
    • Technical electives—6
    • Free elective—3

    Senior Year
    Fall Semester

    • Capstone, Part 1—3 
    • Technical electives—8
    • Upper-division humanities/social science—3
    • Free elective—3

    Spring Semester

    • Capstone, Part 2—3 (minimum grade of C- required)
    • Technical electives—9
    • Upper-division humanities/social science—3

    Minimum total hours for degree—128

    Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering 

    Program Objectives 

    • Graduates will be situated in growing careers involving the design, development or support of electrical, electronic and computer hardware and software systems, software engineering, devices instruments or products, or will be successfully pursuing an advanced degree. 

    Graduates attaining the ECE degree will have comprehensive knowledge and experience in the concepts and design of electrical, electronic and computer devices, circuits and systems. Besides emphasizing computer hardware and software, the ECE curriculum also emphasizes design, integration, implementation and application of computer systems, as well as experience in software development. This is achieved through a sequence of required courses in these areas, culminating in a major design project incorporating realistic engineering constraints. The curriculum also provides opportunities for specialization in areas such as compiler design, embedded systems, software engineering and VLSI design, as well as in the electrical engineering specialties. 

    ECE graduates will have attained other professional skills that will be useful throughout their careers, including verbal and written communication and the ability to function on multidisciplinary teams. 

    The ECE curriculum is rich in laboratory work. ECE graduates will have achieved extensive practical experience in the laboratory techniques, tools and skills that provide a bridge between theory and practice. 

    • Graduates will have advanced in professional standing based on their technical accomplishments and will have accumulated additional technical expertise to remain globally competitive. 

    ECE graduates experience a curriculum that contains a broad core of classes focused on mathematical and physical principles that are fundamental to the fields of electrical and computer engineering. Hence, they understand the physical and mathematical principles underlying electrical and electronic technology and computer systems, and are able to analyze and solve electrical and computer engineering problems using this knowledge. In addition to basic classes in mathematics, science and computing, the ECE curriculum includes a sequence of courses in analog and digital electronic circuits and systems, electromagnetic fields, probability, computer software and computer design and architecture. 

    • Graduates will have demonstrated professional and personal leadership and growth. 

    To lay the foundation of a long career in a rapidly changing field, a broad background of fundamental knowledge is required. This is achieved in the ECE curriculum through a sequence of required classes in mathematics, physics, chemistry and the ECE core. In addition, the graduate must be capable of lifelong learning; this is taught through assignments and projects that require independent research and study. 

    The curriculum includes a significant component of electives in the humanities and social sciences. ECE graduates will have knowledge of the broader contemporary issues that impact engineering solutions in a global and societal context. They will have the verbal and written communications skills necessary for a successful career in industry or academia. Graduates also understand the meaning and importance of professional and ethical responsibility.

    Curriculum for BS in Engineering and Computer Engineering

    The following information may be changed by the time this catalog is printed and distributed. Up-to-date policies are contained in the department’s HELP! Guide, which is given to students who enter the program.

    Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours

    Freshman Year
    Fall Semester

    • APPM 1350 Calculus 1 for Engineers—4
    • ECEN 1100 Freshman Seminar—1
    • First-Year Engineering Projects course—3
    • PHYS 1110 General Physics 1—4
    • Lower-division humanities/social science—3

    Spring Semester

    • APPM 1360 Calculus 2 for Engineers—4
    • ECEN 1310 C Programming for EE/ECE—4
    • PHYS 1120 General Physics 2—4
    • PHYS 1140 Experimental Physics—1
    • Lower-division humanities/social science—3

    Sophomore Year|
    Fall Semester

    • APPM 2360 Differential Equations with Linear Algebra—4
    • ECEN 2250 Introduction to Circuits and Electronics—3
    • ECEN 24-- Sophomore Elective 1—3
    • ECEN 2703 Discrete Math for Computer Engineers—3
    • Lower-division humanities/social science—3

    Spring Semester

    • APPM 2350 Calculus 3 for Engineers—4
    • ECEN 2260 Circuits as Systems—3
    • ECEN 2270 Electronics Design Lab—3
    • ECEN 2350 Digital Logic—3
    • General science elective—3

    Junior Year
    Fall Semester

    • CSCI 2270 Data Structures—4
    • ECEN 3350 Programming of Digital Systems—3
    • ECEN 3810 Probability—3
    • ECEN 3---Analog Elective—3
    • Lower-division humanities/social science—3

    Spring Semester

    • ECEN 3360 Digital Design Lab—3
    • ECEN 4593 Computer Organization—3
    • ECEN 3--- Analog Elective—3
    • Technical electives—6
    • College-approved writing course—3

    Senior Year
    Fall Semester

    • Capstone, Part 1—3
    • Technical electives—7
    • Upper-division humanities/social science—3
    • Free elective—3

    Spring Semester

    • Capstone, Part 2—3 (minimum grade of C- required)
    • Software elective—3
    • Technical elective—3
    • Upper-division humanities/social science—3
    • Free elective—3

    Minimum total hours for degree—128

    Concurrent Bachelor's/Master's Program

    BS/MS Program in Electrical and Computer Engineering

    The concurrent BS/MS program in electrical and computer engineering enables especially well qualified EEEN and ECEN majors to be admitted to the MS program during the junior year of their BS program, and to work simultaneously towards BS and MS degrees in electrical engineering. This program allows for early planning of the MS portion of the student’s education, taking graduate courses as part of the BS degree, more flexibility in the order in which courses are taken and more efficient use of what would otherwise be a final semester with a light credit-hour load.

    Graduate Degree Program(s)

    Graduate Study in Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering

    Electrical engineering graduate programs leading to ME, MS and PhD degrees include the areas of biomedical engineering; communications and signal processing; computer engineering (including computer-aided synthesis and verification, software defined networks and embedded systems); dynamics and controls; electromagnetics; RF and microwaves; optics and photonics; power electronics and renewable energy systems; remote sensing; and nanostructures and devices.

    Close cooperation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN) and Colorado Front Range industrial organizations in communications, computers and instrumentation enhances the graduate program, and both teaching and research capabilities are strengthened by the addition of adjoint faculty members from these institutions.

    Master's and Doctoral Degrees

    A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 is required for application to the master’s program. Minimum requirements for admission to the PhD program include a 3.50 undergraduate GPA, good GRE scores and demonstration of research ability. Students who are interested in the PhD degree should apply directly to the PhD program. Information and application forms may be obtained by going to ecee.colorado.edu/academics/grad/admission.html. Qualified students in their senior year at the University of Colorado and within 18 hours of graduation may be admitted into the graduate program and apply graduate-level credit hours above the 128-semester-hour BS requirement toward an advanced degree. Students formally accepted into the graduate program are assigned to program advisors.

    Master’s students may choose either an MS thesis option under Plan I or a non-thesis option of 30 hours under Plan II. The ME program is discussed in the College of Engineering and Applied Science general section on graduate study.

    All students accepted into the PhD program must take the PhD preliminary examination the first time it is offered. PhD students are subject to a foreign language requirement. Further information is available in the ECEE graduate office.

    Certificate Program(s)

    Professional Certificate Programs

    Professional certificate programs are offered in embedded systems, and power electronics. For more information, see www.colorado.edu/engineering/academics/degrees-minors-certificates/certificates.

    Professional Certificate in Embedded Systems

    In the last few years, commercially available digital systems (microprocessors, microcontrollers, memory chips, interface systems and systems that handle image, voice, music and other types of signals) have experienced explosive growth in the electronics industry. These devices are increasingly powerful, cheap and flexible as design components.

    The certificate in embedded systems, which is offered by the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering and the Center for Advanced Engineering and Technology Education, with support of the Division of Continuing Education, offers students the hardware and software knowledge and skills needed to design and implement these systems. The curriculum consists of two core courses and one elective course from an approved list. The two core courses are:

    • ECEN 4613/5613 Embedded System Design
    • ECEN 4623/5623 Real-Time Embedded Systems or ECEN 4033/5033 Real-time Digital Media Systems

    The list of approved electives is periodically updated and currently includes:

    • ECEN 4573 ECE Capstone (course number is now 4033, but students may still apply with old course number)
    • ECEN 4033/5543 Software Engineering of Stand-Alone Programs
    • ECEN 4532/5532 DSP Lab

    Applicants for the certificate program must have been or currently be enrolled for a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and have satisfied the prerequisites for each course through course work or work experience. They need not be enrolled in a degree-granting program at CU-Boulder. A grade of B- or better is required for each course applied toward the certificate. For more information, visit ecee.colorado.edu/academics/cert_programs/overview.html.

    Professional Certificate in Power Electronics

    Power electronics is a key enabling technology in essentially all electronic systems ranging from wireless communication devices, portable and desktop computers, to telecommunication infrastructure systems, renewable energy systems and industrial systems. The necessity for power electronics technology in these rapidly expanding areas creates a rising need for design engineers equipped with knowledge and skills to follow sound engineering principles and actively participate in multidisciplinary teams. The power electronics field has evolved rapidly with the advances in technology and introduction of many new application areas. As a result, it is likely that the required knowledge and skills were not in the curricula when many of today’s professionals were in college. This creates a strong ongoing demand for continuing education of the workforce in the area of power electronics. The certificate program addresses the ongoing demand for skilled power electronics design engineers.

    This program offers an opportunity for electrical engineers to obtain the specialized knowledge required to practice power electronics. It is intended for students and engineers having a BS degree in electrical engineering or equivalent.

    The courses required for the professional certificate in power electronics are:

    • ECEN 5797 Introduction to Power Electronics 
    • ECEN 5807 Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Systems
    • ECEN 5817 Resonant and Soft-Switching Techniques in Power Electronics

    The certification program was initiated by the Colorado Power Electronics Center, and is operated through the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering and through the Center for Advanced Engineering and Technology Education (CAETE). A grade of B- or better is required for each course applied toward the certificate. For more information, go to ecee.colorado.edu/academics/cert_programs/overview.html.