A Breadth First Course in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Abstract

As technology continues to advance and competition within the global economy becomes fierce, it is increasingly important that engineering students can not only select the proper equations, perform the correct computations/simulations and build circuits correctly, but also possess an appreciation for the variety of knowledge areas within their field of study. In an effort to better prepare electrical and computer engineering students, the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department at the United States Air Force Academy created a breadth-first introductory course to give students this view as a starting point in their education. A thorough review of the curriculum revealed primary knowledge areas that the students need early in their education in order to better prepare them for the depth of a rigorous ECE curriculum. This knowledge includes, but is not limited to, Radio Frequency (RF) communications, RADAR and electronic warfare, analog circuits including power generation and distribution and digital circuits and systems. These topics were selected due to their extensive use in senior capstone projects and needs the industry of the program constituents? The solution proposed here is to create a breadth-first introductory course to motivate and inspire the students to dig deeper into topics they will see later in the curriculum. Through early exposure to a broad set of knowledge and simulation/laboratory techniques, students can begin to develop intellectual curiosity and intuition about how electrical and computer systems work and, in the process, see the fun and excitement in electrical and computer engineering. This paper delves into the development of the course, from the determination of the goals through the implementation of the course structure and teaching philosophy. The paper concludes with an analysis of student feedback.