Electrical and Computer Engineering Program

The rapidly converging world needs more professionals with profound knowledge of electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science. The Electrical and Computer Engineering program at UM-SJTU Joint Institute is an interdisciplinary program. It is supported by the EECS Department of UM and EIEE School of SJTU. This program places emphasis on both hardware and software technology, and the students’ capability to creatively use the knowledge learned in the class to solve real world problems. It is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

This program is built on a common science and engineering core. In the first 2 semesters, all students will receive rigorous instruction in math, physics, chemistry, engineering basics and computer programming. These courses have been verified by the UM College of Engineering as equivalent to corresponding UM courses. After the second semester, students choose to enter the ECE program. The ECE program at JI covers all the core requirements of both EE and CE programs at UM (including all the program subjects, technical cores and upper level technical electives).

The ECE program provides students with a fundamental background in the basic theoretical concepts and technological principles of modern electrical and computer engineering. A flexible curriculum allows students to emphasize a wide variety of subject areas within the field including: analog and digital circuits, communication systems, control systems, integrated circuit (microprocessor) design, micro electromechanical devices, signal processing, computer architecture, computer network, and embedded systems. A degree in electrical and computer engineering can lead to a wide range of work opportunities. Automotive applications include engine control processors and sensors to trigger airbags or activate antilock brake systems. Electrical and computer engineers work in the wireless communications field, including mobile phone systems and global positioning systems. They also work in remote sensing to infer characteristics of a region of the earth from the air or from space. They design, manufacture, test and market the microprocessor, analog and RF integrated circuits from which computers, digital movie and still cameras, the internet, communication systems and many other modern conveniences are made. Electrical and computer engineers develop signal processing algorithms and hardware for multimedia devices and develop control algorithms and electronics for mechanical systems such as automobiles, planes and spacecraft. They embed microprocessors in everything from entertainment gadgets to industrial plants.

Throughout the program students work with modern laboratory equipment and computer systems and are exposed to the most recent analytical techniques and technological developments in their field. Students have many opportunities to associate with outstanding faculty, most of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional consulting. Such interaction serves to acquaint students with the opportunities and rewards available to practicing electrical or computer engineers and scientists. Our students are encouraged to seek an advanced degree if further specialization and a higher degree of competence in a particular area are desired.

Program Educational Objectives
Within 3 to 5 years after graduation from the ECE program, the graduates are expected to:

  • Further their intellectual growth through graduate education or professional development.
  • Apply their creativity and global perspective in their engineering or non-engineering professions.
  • Assume leadership roles in a variety of contexts.
Student Outcomes

Graduates from the ECE program should be able to demonstrate:

1) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics

2) an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors

3) an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences

4) an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts

5) an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives

6) an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions

7) an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

 

Curriculum

Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in ECE must satisfactorily complete 136 credit hours required by the JI ECE program, including:

  • Engineering Foundation:                                39 credits
  • Program Subjects:                                             39 credits
  • Academic Writing:                                              8 credits
  • Intellectual Breadth:                                            16 credits
  • Electives:
    • Core Electives:                                                 8 credits
    • Upper-Level Technical Electives:                 7 credits
    • Flexible Technical Electives:                 12 credits
    • General Electives:                                 7 credits

Additionally, domestic Chinese students are also required to take all Chinese politics courses required by the Ministry of Education of China. International students are required to take 12 credits of Chinese language and culture courses.

Course requirements for each of the credit categories are listed below:

Engineering Foundation (39 credits)

Program Subject (39 credits)

  • Introduction to Circuits – ECE2150J
  • Introduction to Signals and Systems – ECE2160J
  • Programming &Introductory Data Structures –ECE2800J
  • Electromagnetics I – ECE2300J
  • Introduction to Logic Design –ECE2700J
  • Electronic Circuits – ECE3110J
  • Introduction to Computer Organization –ECE3700J
  • Probabilistic Methods in Engineering –ECE4010J
  • Technical Communication –TC3000J
  • Advanced Technical Communication – TC4960J
  • Capstone Design – ECE4500J or Global MDP – ENGR4500J

or a Major Design Experience (MDE) course

Note: TC3000J can be taken independently of any ECE course, but it is a prerequisite for TC4960J. TC4960J must be taken prior to or concurrently with ECE4500J, ENGR4500J, or an MDE course.

Major Design Experience:

All ECE students are required to complete a Capstone Design course (ECE4500J) or a Global MDP course (ENGR4500J) or one of the Major Design Experience (MDE) courses from the list below.

ECE4110J Microwave Circuits I

ECE4130J Monolithic Amplifier Circuits

ECE4270J VLSI Design I

ECE4380J Advanced Lasers and Optics Laboratory

ECE4410J App Development for Entrepreneurs

ECE4700J Computer Architecture

ECE4730J Advanced Embedded Systems

Courses in above list can be counted as either an MDE course or an upper-level technical elective course, which is a choice of a student. However, a course can be used to satisfy the major design experience requirement only when it is taken in the senior year of a student. Note that some courses are not offered every semester.

Academic Writing (8 credits)

Intellectual Breadth (16 credits)

This category requires:

  • 2 credits of ENGR4960J Professional Ethics, and
  • 14 credits of courses in humanities, social sciences, professional development, natural sciences and art.
  • At least 3 credits in humanities and at least 3 credits in social sciences must be completed.
  • Up to 8 credits of language courses can be counted towards this category.

Humanities category includes, but not limited to, Philosophy, English Language and Literature, Asian Languages and Culture, American Culture, Comparative Literature, Film Studies, etc.

Social Sciences category includes, but not limited to, International and Comparative Studies, Political Science, Asian Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, History, etc.

Professional Development category includes, but not limited to, Engineering Ethics, Business Studies, Entrepreneurship Studies, etc.

Natural Sciences category includes Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, and Earth Sciences.

A complete list of courses is maintained at the JI Undergraduate Education Office.

Core Electives (8 credits):

A minimum of 8 credits from the following categories:

Additional courses may be acceptable but must be approved by the JI Undergraduate Committee.

The JI Undergraduate Education Office keeps a current list of courses counted towards this category.

Any qualified credits in excess of 8 may be applied to Upper-Level Technical Elective, Flexible Technical Elective, or General Elective categories.

Students in the UM-JI Dual-Degree program may satisfy 4 credits in this category by taking Flexible Technical Elective courses.

Upper Level ECE Technical Electives (7 credits):

The upper-level technical elective courses give students options to either explore further in the area same as the core elective or discover interests in other Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science disciplines. This category of requirement may be satisfied by taking:

  • Approved Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science courses at 300-level or higher , excluding ECE4900J
  • At least one course must be at 400-level or higher

The JI Undergraduate Education Office keeps a current list of courses counted towards this category.

Additional courses may be acceptable but must be approved by the ECE Program Advisor. Any qualified credits in excess of 7 may be applied to Flexible Technical Elective categories.

Flexible Technical Electives (12 credits):

The flexible technical elective requirement may be fulfilled by taking 300-level or higher courses in ECE or in other engineering, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics fields.

Up to 6 credits of courses taken from other engineering or science departments of SJTU may be counted in this category but must be 300-level or higher. These courses must be approved by the ECE Program Advisor. The JI Undergraduate Education Office keeps a list of pre-approved courses.

Any credits in excess of 12 may be applied to the General Elective category.

The technical courses in the ECE curriculum are categorized into four disciplinary areas including Circuits and Devices; Electromagnetics, Optics, and Photonics; Communications, Signal Processing, and Control; and Computer Science and Engineering. The courses JI offers in each area are listed as follows. The Undergraduate Education Office maintains an updated list of the courses.

Discipline Areas Required Courses Elective Options
Circuits and Devices

ECE2150J Intro to Circuits

ECE3110J Electronic Circuits

ECE3120J Digital IC Design

ECE3200J Intro to Semicon. Devices

ECE4110J Microwave Circuits I

ECE4130J Monolithic Amplifier Circuits

ECE4140J Introduction to MEMS

ECE4210J Properties of Transistors

ECE4270J VLSI Design

Electromagnetics,

Optics,

and Photonics

ECE2150J Intro to Circuits

ECE2300J Electromagnetics I

ECE3200J Intro to Semicon. Devices

ECE3300J Electromagnetic II

ECE3340J Principles of Optics

ECE4340J Principles of Photonics

ECE4380J Adv. Lasers and Optics Lab

Communications,

Signal Processing,

and Control

ECE2150J Intro to Circuits

ECE2160J Signals and Systems

ECE4010J Probabilistic Methods in Engr.

VE353 Intro to Comm. Systems

ECE4510J Digital Signal Processing

ECE4550J Digital Comm. Sig. and Sys.

ECE4600J Contr. Sys. Analysis and Dsn.

ECE4890J Computer Networks

ECE6601J Probability and Random Processes

Computer Science

and Engineering

ECE2700J Intro to Logic Design

ECE2800J Progra. And Data Structures

ECE3700J Intro to Comp. Organization

ECE2810J Data Structure and Algorithms

ECE3730J Microprocessor Based Sys. Dsn

ECE4410J App Development for Entrepreneurs

ECE4440J Networks

ECE4450J Intro to Machine Learning

ECE4700J Computer Architecture

ECE4730J Advanced Embedded System

ECE4750J Intro to Cryptography

ECE4770J Intro to Algorithms

ECE4820J Intro to Operating Sys.

ECE4850J Optimization in Machine Learning

ECE4870J Interactive Computer Graphics

ECE4890J Computer Networks

ECE4920J Intro to Artificial Intelligence

 

General Electives (7 credits):

General electives are intended to allow students to explore any dimension of intellectual endeavor that they elect, in both technical (including engineering) and non-technical fields. This requirement can be met by any course subject to the following restrictions:

  • A maximum of 4 credits of research work (such as PRP, IAP, etc.) can be counted towards graduation.

Students should select general elective classes to explore areas of their cultural interest or professional interest, such as:

  • Management, business, or finance classes in preparation for working in industry.
  • Classes to prepare for further study outside engineering such as medicine, dentistry, law or education.
  • Additional language, literature or culture classes to prepare for a career in the global economy.
  • Additional ECE classes to go into more depth than what the limited technical electives allow.
  • Engineering classes in other departments in preparation for graduate school outside ECE.