Electrical and Computer Engineering

Design Experience

The electrical/electronic engineering program at CSU, Chico is a balance of engineering science and design. The freshman and sophomore year courses are structured to lay a solid foundation for the junior and senior level design courses by the introduction of courses in hardware, software, and the engineering sciences (math, physics, and chemistry).

Design methodology and analysis techniques are stressed throughout the curriculum in the majority of the core courses required for graduation. The lecture classes are typically complemented by laboratory experiments that the student has designed, simulated and analyzed before commencing with the actual hands on construction and testing. Students are well prepared in the hardware/software design procedure when they reach the final classes of Digital Signal Processing, Control Systems, Radio Frequency circuits, technical electives and the Senior Project Classes. Skills in hardware, software and CAD that have been emphasized in the design process throughout the upper division classes are employed in the design of advanced electronic systems in senior and special project classes. Teamwork is stressed throughout the majority of the project classes.

Students have several pattern electives to choose from in advanced software and hardware design classes. Such classes include topics in networks, embedded systems, digital design, digital signal processing, state machine design, VLSI, control systems, communications RF circuits and artificial intelligence.

The senior project class brings together the design and analysis skills acquired throughout the required and elective curriculum. This project is a culminating experience which involves teamwork, design, report writing and oral presentation. Many students enter their projects in the annual IEEE student competition. These experiences prepare our graduates to be successful engineers with an awareness of the many challenges involved in the work place.