Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
OFFICES:
Undergraduate Affairs, Room 2705
Graduate Affairs, Room 2718
Engineering Building Unit 1, Warren College
http://www.ece.ucsd.edu/
Professors
Courses
Program Mission Statement
To educate tomorrows technology leaders.
Program Educational Objectives
- To provide our students with training in the fundamental science
and mathematics that underlie engineering, and with a general
breadth and depth in engineering and in engineering design so
that they are prepared for graduate school and for engineering
careers. Students should have both proficiency in a specific technical
area, and the flexibility and broad knowledge base needed for
life-long engineering careers in a changing technical environment.
- To ensure that our students are educated in the classical sense.
In particular, that they are broadly aware of social and environmental
issues and of the impact of their profession on these issues.
- To assist our students in preparing themselves to work effectively
in their profession. Specifically, to develop communications,
teamwork, and leadership skills.
Program Outcomes and Assessment
Program outcomes have been established based on the Program Educational
Objectives. Graduates of the ECE Program in Electrical Engineering
are expected to have:
- An understanding of the underlying principles of, and an ability
to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to
electrical engineering problems
- An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to
analyze and interpret data
- A knowledge of electrical engineering safety issues
- An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet
desired needs
- a. An ability to collaborate effectively with others
b. An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
- An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering
tools necessary for engineering practice, including familiarity
with computer programming and information technology
- An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
- a. An ability to communicate effectively in writing
b. An ability to communicate effectively in speech
c. An ability to communicate effectively with visual means
- The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering
solutions in a global and societal context
- A recognition of the need for, and the ability to engage in,
lifelong learning
- A knowledge of contemporary issues
The Undergraduate Programs
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers undergraduate
programs leading to the B.S. degree in electrical engineering,
engineering physics, and computer engineering. Each of these
programs can be tailored to provide preparation for graduate study
or employment in a wide range of fields. The Electrical Engineering
Program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering
and Technology (ABET).
The Electrical Engineering Program has a common lower-division
and a very flexible structure in the upper-division. After the
lower-division
core, all students take six breadth courses during the junior year.
They must then satisfy a depth requirement which can be met with
five courses focused on some speciality, and a design requirement
of at least one project course. The remainder of the program consists
of seven electives, which may range as widely or as narrowly as
needed.
The Engineering Physics Program is conducted in cooperation with
the Department of Physics. Its structure is very similar to that
of electrical engineering except the depth requirement includes
seven courses and there are only five electives.
The Computer Engineering Program is conducted jointly with the
Department of Computer Science and Engineering. It has a more prescribed
structure. The program encompasses the study of hardware design,
data storage, computer architecture, assembly languages, and the
design of computers for engineering, information retrieval, and
scientific research.
For information about admission to the program and about academic
advising, students are referred to the section on ECE departmental
regulations. In order to complete the programs in a timely fashion,
students must plan their courses carefully, starting in their freshman
year. Students should have sufficient background in high school
mathematics so that they can take freshman calculus in the first
quarter.
For graduation, each student must also satisfy general-education
requirements determined by the students college. The six colleges
at UCSD require widely different numbers of general-education courses.
Students should choose their college carefully, considering the
special nature of the college and the breadth of education required.
They should realize that some colleges require considerably more
courses than others. Students wishing to transfer to another college
should see their college adviser.
Graduates of community colleges may enter ECE programs in the junior
year. However, transfer students should be particularly mindful
of the freshman and sophomore course requirements when planning
their programs.
These programs have strong components in laboratory experiments
and in the use of computers throughout the curricula. In addition,
the department is committed to exposing students to the nature of
engineering design. This is accomplished throughout the curricula
by use of open-ended homework problems, by exposure to engineering
problems in lectures, by courses which emphasize student-initiated
projects in both laboratory and computer courses, and finally by
senior design-project courses in which teams of students work to
solve an engineering design problem, often brought in from industry.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT STUDENTS DISCUSS THEIR CURRICULUM WITH
THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTAL ADVISER IMMEDIATELY UPON ENTRANCE TO
UCSD, AND THEN AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR UNTIL GRADUATION.
B.S. Electrical Engineering Program
Freshman Admits
Entering students who have indicated the desire
to major in electrical engineering will be admitted directly to
the major. To remain in good standing, a student
must complete a minimum of eight of the following Post-screening courses (or
equivalent) with a grade of C- or better during his or her first
five quarters
at UCSD. At least
two of the eight courses must be from the “EE Post-screening Courses” list.
Post-Screening
Courses for the EE Major:
EE Post-screening Courses: ECE 25, 30, 35, 45, 65
Other Post-screening Courses:
Chemistry 6A; Math 20A-B-C-D; Physics 2A-B-C
The average GPA from
any six of the above courses successfully completed, including
at least two EE Post-screening courses, must exceed
2.5. If a student
fails to complete
the eight required courses or to obtain the required minimum GPA, he or she
will be dismissed from the electrical engineering major.
Continuing-Student
Admits
Continuing UCSD students who wish to transfer into the EE
major will be evaluated under the rules in effect the year in which
they
enter the major. To remain
in good standing, a student must complete a minimum of eight of the Post-screening
courses
given above (see “Post-screening Courses for the EE Major”) with a grade
of C- or better during his or her first three quarters as an EE major. At least
two of the eight courses must be from the “EE Post-screening Courses” list.
The average
GPA from any six of the above courses successfully completed, including at
least two EE Post-screening courses, must exceed 2.5. If a student fails
to complete the eight required courses or to obtain the required
minimum GPA, he or she
will be dismissed from the electrical engineering major.
Transfer-Student
Admits
Entering transfer students who have indicated the desire
to major in electrical engineering will be admitted directly to
the major.
To remain in good standing,
the student must complete a minimum of eight of the Post-screening courses
given above (see “Post-screening Courses for the EE Major”) with a grade of
C- or better during his or her first three quarters as an EE major. At least
two of the eight
courses must be from the "EE Post-screening Courses" list.
The average
GPA from any six of the above courses successfully completed, including
at least two EE Post-screening courses, must exceed 2.5. If a student
fails to complete
the eight required courses or to obtain the required minimum GPA, he or
she will be dismissed from the electrical engineering major.
Minimum Requirements
and Course Equivalents
Please note that the above Post-screening process represents
the minimum requirement to remain in the major, and does not satisfy
all the
lower-division and upper-division requirements for the electrical
engineering major. Please consult the sections “Lower-Division
Requirements” and “Upper-Division Requirements” to
ensure that you satisfy all lower-division and upper-division course
requirements.
Petitions
to have courses from other departments or institutions considered as
equivalents to the Post-screening courses will be approved (or
denied) on
a case-by-case basis. If approved, both the course and the grade received
can
be used to satisfy
the screening requirements detailed above.
Students must complete 180 units for graduation, including the
general-education requirements (GER). Note that 144 units (excluding
GER) are required.
Lower-Division Requirements (total of 68 units)
Mathematics (24 units): Math. 20A-B-C-D-E-F.
Physics (16 units): Phys. 2A-B-C-D or Phys. 4A-B-C-D-E.
Math. 20A is a prerequisite for Phys. 2A. Students whose performance
on the mathematics placement test permits them to start with Math.
20B or higher may take Phys. 2A in the fall quarter of the freshman
year.
Chemistry (4 units): Chem. 6A.
Programming Course (4 units): ECE 15.
Electrical engineering (20 units): ECE 25, 30, 35, 45, and
65.
Additional Notes:
- Students with AP math credit are strongly advised to take Math.
20B in the fall quarter, leaving room for a GER in the winter
quarter.
- The ECE undergraduate Web site shows several scheduling options.
Please refer to the Web site and consult with the staff advisers
in the undergraduate offices, rooms 2705 and 2707 in EBU1.
Upper-Division Requirements (total of 76 units)
a. Electrical Engineering BREADTH Courses (24 units)
Courses required of all electrical engineering majors:
The six courses, ECE 101, 102, 103, 107, 108, and 109 are required
of all electrical engineering majors and they are an assumed prerequisite
for senior-level courses, even if they are not explicitly required.
Although the courses are largely independent, there are some prerequisites.
ECE 102 is a prerequisite for ECE 108. Students who delay some of
the breadth courses into the spring should be careful that it does
not delay their depth sequence.
b. Electrical Engineering DESIGN Course (4 units)
Note: In order to fulfill the design requirement,
students must complete one of the following courses with a grade
C or better. Graduation will not be approved until
a written copy of the design project is submitted to the ECE undergraduate
office.
The electrical engineering design requirement can be fulfilled
in any of the following three ways:
- Take ECE 191: Engineering Group Design Project
- Take ECE 192: Engineering Design This course requires the department
stamp. Specifications and enrollment forms are available in the
undergraduate office.
- Take one of the following courses:
- ECE 111: Advanced Digital Design Project
- ECE 118: Computer Interfacing
- ECE 155B or 155C: Digital Recording Projects
- Phys. 121: Experimental Techniques
Students who wish to take one of these courses to satisfy the design
requirement must fill out an enrollment form and have departmental
approval for the design credit prior to taking the course. The project
must meet the same specifications as ECE 192.
c. Electrical Engineering ELECTIVES (28 units)
- Four engineering, mathematics, or physics courses. Three of
these electives must be upper-division. The fourth may be either
lower- or upper-division.
- Three additional electives which students may use to broaden
their professional goals.
(For additional information, please refer to the section on Elective
Policy for Electrical Engineering and Engineering Physics Majors.)
d. Electrical Engineering Depth Requirement (20 units)
Students must complete a depth requirement of at least
five quarter courses to provide a focus for their studies. This
set must include a clear chain of study of at least three courses
which depend on the breadth courses. Students may choose
one of the approved depth sequences listed below, or propose another
with the approval of their faculty adviser. Some of the approved
sequences have lower-division prerequisites and thus list six courses.
Students choosing one of these sequences will have to complete only
two professional electives. Guidelines for meeting the
depth requirement can be obtained from the undergraduate office.
Electronics Circuits and Systems: ECE 163, 164, 165, and any two
of ECE 111, 118, 161A, 161B, 161C, and 166.
Electronic Devices and Materials: ECE 135A, ECE 135B, 136L, 139,
and 183.
Controls and Systems Theory: ECE 171A, 171B, 174, 118, and 173.
Machine Intelligence: ECE 173, 174, 172A and any two of ECE 175,
161A, 187, 253A, 285, and COGS 108F.
Photonics: ECE 181, 182, 183, 184, and 185.
Communications Systems: ECE 161A, 153, 154A-B-C.
Networks: ECE 153, 159A, 159B, 158A-B.
Queuing Systems: ECE 171A, 174, 159A-B, and Math. 181A.
Signal and Image Processing: ECE 161A, 161B, 161C, 153, and ECE
172A or 174.
Computer Design: CSE 12, 21, and 141, ECE 158A, 111 or 118, and
165.
Software Systems: CSE 12, 21, 100, 101, 141, and 120.
B.S. Engineering Physics
Students must complete a total of 180 units for graduation, including
the general-education requirements. Note that 146 units (excluding
GER) are required.
All students will initially be placed in pre-major status. Upon
successful completion of the following courses (with a minimum 2.0
GPA by the end of the first three quarters if a transfer student,
six quarters if an incoming freshman), students will be admitted
into full Engineering-Physics major status.
- Math. 20A-B-C
- Physics 2A-B
- ECE 15, 25, and 35
To initiate the change from pre-major status to full major status,
transfer students must see the ECE undergraduate adviser by the
end of their third quarter at UCSD; incoming freshmen by the end
of their sixth quarter.
Please refer to the sections “Undergraduate Regulations and
Requirements” and “Acceptance to the Jacobs School of
Engineering” for important details.
Lower-Division Requirements (total of 70 units)
Mathematics (24 units): Math. 20A-B-C-D-E-F.
Physics (16 units): Phys. 2A-B-C-D or Phys. 4A-B-C-D-E.
Math. 20A is a prerequisite for Phys. 2A. Students whose performance
on the mathematics placement test permits them to start with Math.
20B or higher may take Phys. 2A in the fall quarter of the freshman
year.
Physics Lab (2 units): Phys. 2DL is required.
Chemistry (4 units): Chem. 6A.
Programming Course (4 units): ECE 15.
Electrical engineering (20 units): ECE 25, 30, 35, 45, and
65.
Additional Notes:
- Students with AP math credit are strongly advised to take Math.
20B in the fall quarter, leaving room for a GER in the winter
quarter.
- The ECE undergraduate Web site shows several scheduling options.
Please refer to the Web site and consult with the staff advisers
in the undergraduate offices, rooms 2705 and 2707 in EBU1.
Upper-Division Requirements (76 units)
a. Engineering Physics BREADTH Courses (24 units)
The electrical engineering breadth courses ECE 101, 102, 103, 107,
108, and 109, are also required of engineering physics majors. However,
because of the scheduling of Math. 110, Phys. 110A and 130A, they
can only be taken in a specific order (please consult the ECE Web
site).
b. Engineering Physics DESIGN Course (4 units)
Note: In order to fulfill the design requirement,
students must complete one of the following courses with a grade
C or better. Graduation will not be approved until
a written copy of the design project is submitted to the ECE undergraduate
office.
The engineering physics design requirement can be fulfilled in
any of the following three ways:
- Take ECE 191: Engineering Group Design Project
- Take ECE 192: Engineering Design This course requires the department
stamp. Specifications and enrollment forms are available in the
undergraduate office.
- Take one of the following courses:
- ECE 111: Advanced Digital Design Project
- ECE 118: Computer Interfacing
- ECE 155B or 155C: Digital Recording Projects
- Physics 121: Experimental Techniques
Students who wish to take one of these courses to satisfy the design
requirement must fill out an enrollment form and have departmental
approval for the design credit prior to taking the course. The project
must meet the same specifications as ECE 192.
c. Engineering Physics ELECTIVES (20 units)
- Two engineering, mathematics, or physics courses. One must
be upper-division, while the other can be either upper- or lower-division.
- Three additional electives which students may use to broaden
their professional goals.
(For additional information, please refer to the section on Elective
Policy for Electrical Engineering and Engineering Physics Majors.)
d. Engineering Physics DEPTH Courses (28 Units)
All B.S. engineering physics students are required to take Phys.
110A, 130A-B, 140A, Math. 110, ECE 123 and 166; or ECE 135A and
135B; or ECE 182 and (181 or 183).
Elective Policy for Electrical Engineering and Engineering Physics
Majors
1. Technical Electives:
Technical electives must be upper-division engineering, math or
physics courses (except for the bioengineering track). Certain courses
listed below are not allowed as electives because of overlap with
ECE courses.
Physics: Students may not receive upper-division elective
credit for any lower-division physics courses. Students may not
receive credit for both Phys. 100A and ECE 107, Phys. 100B and ECE
107, Phys. 100C and ECE 123.
Mathematics: Math. 180A overlaps ECE 109 and 153, and therefore
will not qualify for elective credit of either type. Math. 183 will
not be allowed as an elective. Math. 163 will only be allowed as
a professional elective. All lower- division mathematics is excluded
from elective credit of either type.
Bioengineering: The following series of courses will provide
core preparation in bioengineering and will satisfy
five of the ECE technical elective requirements:
BILD 1, BILD 2, BE 100, BE 140A-B.
The bioengineering department will guarantee admission to these
courses for ECE students on a space available basis.
CSE: The following courses are excluded as electives: CSE
1, 2, 5A-B, 8A-B, 11, 123A (duplicates ECE 158A), 140 (duplicates
ECE 25), 140L (duplicates ECE 36), 143 (duplicates ECE 165). CSE
12, 20, and 21 will count toward the three professional electives
ONLY.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE): Credit will
not be allowed for MAE 105, 139, 140, 143B, or 170.
Special Studies Courses 195199: At most four units of 195199
may be used for elective credit.
2. Professional Electives:
Normally these will be upper-division courses in engineering, mathematics,
or physics. Students may also choose upper-division courses from
other departments provided that they fit into a coherent professional
program. In such cases, a lower-division prerequisite may be included
in the electives. Courses other than upper-division engineering,
mathematics, or physics must be justified in terms of such a program,
and must be approved by a faculty adviser.
Biology and Chemistry: Of the three electives intended to
allow for the professional diversity, one lower-division biology
or chemistry course from BILD 1, 2, Chem. 6B-C may be counted for
credit in combination with two upper-division biology or chemistry
courses. Furthermore, this will count only if the student can demonstrate
to a faculty adviser that they constitute part of a coherent plan
for professional/career development.
Upper-division biology and chemistry courses will count toward
the three professional electives but not the three math/physics/engineering
electives.
Economics: Suitable electives would include:
Economics 1 followed by courses in one of the following tracks:
- Public and Environmental Economics: Select 2Economics
118A-B, 130, 131, 132, 137.
- Labor and Human Resources: Select 2Economics 136, 137,
138A-B, 139.
- Microeconomics: Economics 100A-B or 170A-B.
- Finance Track (MBA) I: Must complete all 3Economics 4,
173, and another upper-division Economics elective.
- Finance Track (MBA) II: Economics 1, 100A or 170A, and 175.
- Operations Research: Must complete 172 AEconomics 172A
and (172B or 172C).
Economics 3 followed by courses in one of the following tracks:
- Monetary Economics: Economics 111 and another upper-division
Economics Elective.
- Macroeconomics: Economics 110A-B.
Note: Economics 120A, and 158A-B will not be allowed
as professional electives.
B.S. Computer Engineering
Students wishing to pursue the computer engineering curriculum
must be admitted to either the ECE or CSE department. The set
of required courses and allowed electives is the same in both departments;
please note that the curriculum requires twenty upper-division courses.
The Computer Engineering Program requires a total of 147 units (not
including the general-education requirements).
The Computer Engineering Program offers a strong emphasis on engineering
mathematics and other basic engineering science as well as a firm
grounding in computer science. Students should have sufficient background
in high school mathematics so that they can take freshman calculus
in their first quarter. Courses in high school physics and computer
programming, although helpful, are not required for admission to
the program.
Lower-Division Requirements (total of 70 units)
Mathematics (20 units): Math. 20A-B-C-D-F.
Physics (16 units): Phys. 2A-B-C-D, or Phys. 4A-B-C-D. Math.
20A is a prerequisite for Phys. 2A. Students whose performance on
the mathematics placement test permits them to start with Math.
20B or higher may take Phys. 2A in the fall quarter of the freshman
year.
Physics lab (2 units): Phys. 2BL or 2CL or 2DL. The lab
course should be taken concurrently with the Phys. 2 or Phys. 4
sequence.
Computer Science (21 units): CSE 11 or 8B*, 12, CSE 20 or
Math. 15A, CSE 21 or Math. 15B, CSE 30, and CSE 91.
* CSE 8A and CSE 8B are not required if a student completes CSE
11. CSE 11 is a faster paced version of CSE 8A and CSE 8B. Students
will self-select which course they wish to take. Students without
programming experience in a compiled language are advised to take
CSE 8A and then CSE 8B instead of CSE 11.
Electrical Engineering (12 units): ECE 53A-B, ECE 109.
Upper-Division Requirements (total of 76 units)
a. All B.S. computer engineering students are required to take
CSE 100 or Math. 176, CSE 101 or Math. 188, CSE 105 or Math. 166,
CSE 120, 131A-B, 140, 140L (CSE 140 and 140L must be taken concurrently),
141, 141L (CSE 141 and 141L must be taken concurrently).
b. In addition, all B.S. Computer engineering students must fulfill
the following upper-division ECE requirements:
- Engineering Probability and Statistics ECE 109. This course
can be taken in the sophomore year.
- Electronic Circuits and Systems ECE 102 and 108. The department
recommends that these courses be taken in the junior year.
- Linear systems ECE 101 and 171A or 161A.
c. Technical electives: All B.S. Computer engineering majors are
required to take six technical electives.
- One technical elective must be either ECE 111 or ECE 118.
- Of the remaining five technical electives, four must be ECE
or CSE upper-division or graduate courses.
- The remaining course can be any upper-division course listed
under the non-CSE/ECE electives. (See the section on electives
below.)
Electives
The discipline of computer engineering interacts with a number
of other disciplines in a mutually beneficial way. These disciplines
include mathematics, computer science, and cognitive science. The
following is a list of upper-division courses from these and other
disciplines that can be counted as technical electives.
At most four units of 197, 198, or 199 may be used towards technical
elective requirements. ECE/CSE 195 cannot be used towards course
requirements. Undergraduate students must get instructors
permission and departmental stamp to enroll in a graduate course.
Students may not get duplicate credit for equivalent courses. The
UCSD General Catalog should be consulted for equivalency
information and any restrictions placed on the courses. Additional
restrictions are noted below. Any deviation from this list must
be petitioned.
Mathematics: All upper-division courses except Math. 168A-B,
179A-B, 183, 184A-B, 189A-B, and 195199. If a student has
completed CSE 167, then he or she cannot get elective credit for
Math. 155A. Students may receive elective credit for only one of
the following courses: CSE 164A, Math. 174, Math. 173, Phys. 105A-B,
MAE 107, CENG 100. No credit for any of these courses will be given
if Math. 170A-B-C is taken. Students will receive credit for either
Math. 166 or CSE 105 (but not both), either Math. 188 or CSE 101
(but not both), and either Math. 176 or CSE 100 (but not both).
Computer Science and Engineering: All CSE upper-division
courses except CSE 195. Students will receive credit for either
CSE 123A or ECE 158A (but not both).
Cognitive Science: Sensation and Perception 101A, Learning,
Memory, and Attention 101B, Language 101C, Distributed Cognition
102A, Cognitive Ethnography 102B, Cognitive Engineering 102C, Neuroanatomy
and Physiology 107A, Systems Neuroscience 107B, Cognitive Neuroscience
107C, Programming Methods for Cognitive Science 108D, Neural Networks
Models of Cognitive I 108E, Advanced Programming Methods for Cognitive
Science 108F, Human Computer Interaction 120, Human Computer Interaction
Programming 121, Semantics 150, Language Comprehension 153, Natural
and Artificial Symbolic Representational Systems 170, Neural Network
Models of Cognition II 181, Artificial Intelligence Modeling II
182.
Students may not get credit for both CSE 150 and Advanced Programming
Methods for Cognitive Science 108F or for both CSE 151 and Artificial
Intelligence Modeling II 182.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE): All upper-division
MAE courses except MAE 140, and MAE 195-199.
Students may receive elective credit for only one of the following
courses: CSE 164A, Math. 174, Math. 173, Phys. 105A-B, CENG 100,
MAE 107. Students may only get credit for one of the two courses,
CSE 167 or MAE 152.
Economics: Microeconomics 100A-B, Game Theory 109, Macroeconomics
110A-B, Mathematical Economics 113, Econometrics 120B-C, Applied
Econometrics 121, Management Science Microeconomics 170A-B, Decisions
Under Uncertainty 171, Introduction to Operations Research 172A-B-C,
Economic and Business Forecasting 178.
Students cannot take Economics 120A since it duplicates ECE 109.
Linguistics: Phonetics 110, Phonology I 111, Phonology II
115, Morphology 120, Syntax I 121, Syntax II 125, Semantics 130,
Mathematical Analysis of Languages 160, Computers and Language 163,
Computational Linguistics 165, Psycholinguistics 170, Language and
the Brain 172, and Sociolinguistics 175.
Engineering: Team Engineering 101 (see course description
under the Jacobs School of Engineering section).
Music: Computer Music II 172, Audio Production: Mixing and
Editing 173.
Psychology: Engineering Psychology 161.
Minor Curricula
ECE offers three minors in accord with the general university policy
that a minor requires five upper-division courses. Students
must realize that these upper-division courses have extensive lower-division
prerequisites (please consult the ECE undergraduate office).
Students should also consult their college provosts office
concerning the rules governing minors and programs of concentration.
Electrical Engineering: 20 units chosen from the breadth
courses ECE 101, 102, 103, 107, 108, 109.
Engineering Physics: 20 units chosen from the junior year
courses Phys. 110A, 130A, Math. 110, ECE 101, 102, 103, 107, 108,
109.
Computer Engineering: 20 units chosen from the junior year
courses ECE 102, 108, CSE 100, 101, 105, 120, 140, 140L, 141, 141L.
The department will consider other mixtures of upper-division ECE,
CSE, physics, and mathematics courses by petition.
Undergraduate Admissions, Policies, and Procedures
Freshman eligibility:
- Computer Engineering majors:
Admission to the computer engineering major is currently restricted
as described in the section Admission to the School of Engineering.
The only way to become a computer engineering (CE) major is to
be directly admitted as an entering freshman or as an entering
transfer (Transfer students, see TRANSFER STUDENTS section below).
The electrical and
computer engineering department may periodically grant admission
to the computer engineering (CE) major to a small number of
academically
exceptional UCSD undergraduate students who were not admitted
to this major as entering students. Exceptional admission will
be considered for students having an overall UCSD GPA of 3.5
or better who have taken at least two CSE, math, or science
courses
demonstrating special aptitude for the CE curriculum. Applications
for exceptional admission must include submission of a course
plan demonstrating ability to satisfy graduation requirements
and a personal statement addressing the applicants motivation
to join the CE major, in addition to other criteria established
by the department.
- Electrical Engineering:
See sections above—“B.S. Electrical Engineering Program” and “Freshman
Admits.”
- Engineering Physics:
All students will initially be placed in pre-major status.
Upon successful completion of the following courses (with a
minimum 2.0 GPA by the end of the first three quarters if a
transfer student, six quarters if an incoming freshman), students
will be admitted into full Engineering-Physics major status.
- Math. 20A-B-C
- Physics 2A-B
- ECE 15, 25, and 35
To initiate the change from pre-major status to full major
status, transfer students must see the ECE undergraduate adviser
by the end of their third quarter at UCSD; incoming freshmen
by the end of their sixth quarter.
Please refer to the sections “Undergraduate Regulations
and Requirements” and “Acceptance to the Jacobs
School of Engineering” for important details.
Transfer Students Eligibility
Effective fall 2004, it is strongly recommended
that transfer students complete the following course preparation
for engineering majors*:
- Calculus I—for Science and Engineering (Math. 20A)
- Calculus II—for Science and Engineering (Math. 20B)
- Calculus and Analytic Geometry (Math. 20C)
- Differential Equations (Math. 20D)
- Linear Algebra (Math. 20F)
- Complete calculus-based physics series with lab experience (Physics
2A-B-C)
- Chemistry 6A (except computer science and computer engineering
majors)
- Highest level of introductory computer programming language
course offerings at the community college**
*Effective fall 2006, these courses will be required
preparation for all engineering transfer students.
**Refer to the UCSD General Catalog to select major prerequisite
requirement for computer language courses.
- Computer Engineering:
The B.S. in Computer Engineering is a heavily impacted major
and admission is limited to applicants who have demonstrated a
high level of achievement commensurate with the prospect of success
in this major. Successful applicants must have completed substantial
training at the community college and must have achieved a high
level of academic performance there. For example, the required
minimum of ninety quarter transfer units must include eighteen
quarter units of calculus, twelve quarter units of calculus-based
physics, and the highest level computer science course offered
at their community college. Although the actual required GPA cutoff
depends on the number of openings, at least a 3.2 GPA in the community
college transfer courses, and a 3.4 GPA in math, physics and computer
science courses, are likely to be needed to gain admission.
When planning their programs, students should be mindful of lower-division
prerequisites necessary for admission to upper-division courses.
Effective fall 2004 applicants seeking admission as transfer students
will be considered for direct admission into the Computer Engineering
(CE) major in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
(ECE). The only way to become a Computer Engineering (CE) major
is to be directly admitted as an entering transfer student.
- Electrical Engineering:
See sections above—“B.S. Electrical Engineering Program” and “Transfer-Student
Admits.”
- Engineering Physics:
Students are accepted into the pre-major and must complete the
following courses in order to be accepted into the engineering
physics major: Math. 20A-B-C, Phys. 2A-B, ECE 15, 25, and 35.
Students who wish to enter in the engineering physics major must
contact
the
department
before the beginning of the
fall quarter, submitting course descriptions and transcripts
for courses used to satisfy their lower-division requirements.
Normally,
admission will be for the fall quarter; students entering in
the winter or spring quarter should be aware that scheduling
difficulties
may occur because upper-division sequences normally begin in
the fall quarter.
Grade Requirement in the Major
Courses required for the major must be taken for a letter grade.
All major courses must be completed with a grade of C– or
better.
A GPA of 2.0 is required in all upper-division courses in the major,
including technical electives. The grade of D will not be considered
an adequate prerequisite for any ECE course and will not be allowed
for graduation. The engineering design requirement must be completed
with a grade of C– or better.
Advising
Students are required to complete an academic planning form
and to discuss their curriculum with the appropriate departmental
adviser immediately upon entrance to UCSD, and then every year until
graduation. This is intended to help students in: a) their choice
of depth sequence, b) their choice of electives, c) keeping up with
changes in departmental requirements. A faculty adviser will be
assigned by the ECE department undergraduate office.
New Transfer Students in Electrical Engineering and Engineering
Physics
The entire curriculum is predicated on the idea of actively involving
students in engineering from the time they enter as freshmen.
The
freshman courses have been
carefully crafted to provide an overview of the engineering mindset
with its interrelationships among physics, mathematics, problem
solving, and computation. All later courses are specifically designed
to build on this foundation. All transfer students should understand
that the lower-division curriculum is demanding. Transfer students
will be required to take all lower-division requirements or their
equivalent. Transfer students are advised to consult
the ECE Web site for sample recommended course schedules and for
the ECE course requirement
guide.
New Transfer Students in Computer Engineering
Transfer students are advised to consult the ECE Web
site for sample recommended course schedules and for the ECE
course requirement guide.
Students who do not have any programming experience are encouraged
to take the CSE 8A-B sequence instead of CSE 11. Experience has
shown that most students who are not familiar with programming and
take CSE 11 have to retake the class because the accelerated pace
makes it difficult to learn the new material.
Note: Transfer students are encouraged to consult
with the ECE undergraduate office for academic planning upon entrance
to UCSD.
ECE Honors Program
The ECE Undergraduate Honors Program is intended to give eligible
students the opportunity to work closely with faculty in a project,
and to honor the top graduating undergraduate students.
Eligibility for Admission to the Honors Program:
- Students with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the major and 3.25 overall
will be eligible to apply. Students may apply at the end of the
winter quarter of their junior year and no later than the end
of the second week of fall quarter of their senior year. No late
applications will be accepted.
- Students must submit a project proposal (sponsored by an ECE
faculty member) to the honors program committee at the time of
application.
- The major GPA will include ALL lower-division required for
the major and all upper-division required for the major that are
completed at the time of application (a minimum of twenty-four
units of upper-division course work).
Requirements for Award of Honors:
- Completion of all ECE requirements with a minimum GPA of 3.5
in the major based on grades through winter quarter of the senior
year.
- Formal participation (i.e., registration and attendance) in
the ECE 290 graduate seminar program in the fall quarter of their
senior year.
- Completion of an eight-unit approved honors project (ECE 193H:
Honors Project) and submission of a written report by the first
day of spring quarter of the senior year. This project must
contain enough design to satisfy the ECE B.S.four-unit design
requirement.
- The ECE honors committee will review each project final report
and certify the projects which have been successfully completed
at the honors level.
Procedure for Application to the Honors Program:
Between the end of the winter quarter of their junior year and
the second week of the fall quarter of their senior year, interested
students must advise the department of their intention to participate
by submitting a proposal for the honors project sponsored by an
ECE faculty member. Admission to the honors program will be formally
approved by the ECE honors committee based on GPA and the proposal.
Unit Considerations
Except for the two-unit graduate seminar, this honors program does
not increase a participants total unit requirements. The honors
project will satisfy the departmental design requirement and students
may use four units of their honors project course as a technical
elective.
Five-Year B.S./Master's Program
Undergraduates in the ECE department who have maintained a good
academic record in
both departmental and overall course work are encouraged to participate
in the five-year B.S./master's program offered by the department.
Participation in the program will permit students to complete the
requirements for the M.S. or M.Eng. degree within one year following
receipt of the B.S. degree. Complete details regarding admission
to and participation in the program are available from the ECE
Undergraduate Affairs office.
Admission to the Program
Students should submit an application for the B.S./master’s
program, including three letters of recommendation, by the program
deadline during the spring quarter of their junior year. Applications
are available from the ECE Undergraduate Affairs office. No GRE’s
are required for application to the B.S./master’s program.
A GPA of at least 3.0 both overall and in the major and strong
letters
of recommendation are required to be considered for program admission.
Students should indicate at that time whether they wish to be
considered for the M.S. or the M.Eng. degree program.
In the winter quarter of the senior year, applications of students
admitted to the program will be forwarded by the department to
the UCSD Office of Graduate Studies and Research. Each student
must submit the regular graduate application fee prior to the application
deadline for their application to be processed. Students who have
been accepted into the B.S./master’s program will automatically
be admitted for graduate study beginning the following fall provided
they maintain an overall GPA through the winter quarter of the
senior year of at least 3.0. Upper-division (up to twelve units)
or graduate courses taken during the senior year that are not used
to satisfy undergraduate course requirements may be counted towards
the forty-eight units required for the M.S. or M.Eng. degree.
Continuation in the Program
Once admitted to the B.S./master's program, students must maintain
a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all courses through the winter quarter
of the senior year and in addition must at all times maintain
a 3.0
cumulative GPA in their graduate course work. Students not satisfying
these requirements may be re-evaluated for continuation in the
program.
Admission for graduate study through the B.S./master’s
program will be for the M.S. or M.Eng. degree only. Undergraduate
students wishing to continue toward the Ph.D. degree
must apply and be evaluated according to the usual procedures and
criteria for admission to the Ph.D. program.
Curriculum
Students in the five-year B.S./master’s program must complete
the same requirements as those in the regular M.S. or M.Eng. program.
Completion of the M.S. or M.Eng. degree requirements within one
year following receipt of the B.S. degree will generally require
that students begin graduate course work in their senior year.
All requirements for the B.S. degree should be completed by the
end of the senior (fourth) year, and the B.S. degree awarded prior
to the start of the fifth year. Courses taken in the senior year
may be counted toward the B.S. degree requirements or the M.S.
or M.Eng. degree requirements, but not both. Students must
have received their B.S. degree before they will be eligible to
enroll
as graduate students in the department.
The Graduate Programs
The department offers graduate programs leading to the M.Eng.,
M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering. The Ph.D. program
is strongly research oriented and is for students whose final degree
objective is the Ph.D. If a student with a B.S. is admitted to
this program, he or she will be expected to complete the requirements
for the M.S. degree (outlined below) before beginning doctoral
research. By contrast, the M. Eng. is intended to be a terminal
professional degree, for those not planning to pursue the Ph.D.
The M. Eng. has only a course work requirement.
In addition, the department offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs in
computer engineering jointly with CSE, and a Ph.D. program in
applied ocean
science jointly with MAE and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Admission to an ECE graduate program is in accordance with
the general requirements of the UCSD graduate division, and requires
at least a B.S. Degree in engineering, physical sciences, or mathematics
with a minimum upper division GPA of 3.0. Applicants must provide
three letters of recommendation and recent GRE General Test scores.
TOEFL scores are required from international applicants whose native
language is not English. Applicants should be aware that the University
does not permit duplication of degrees.
Support: The department makes every effort to provide financial
support for Ph.D. students who are making satisfactory progress.
Support may take the form of a fellowship, teaching assistantship,
research assistantship, or some combination thereof. International
students will not be admitted unless there is reasonable assurance
that support can be provided for the duration of their Ph.D. Program
Students in the M.Eng. and M.S. programs may also obtain support
through teaching or research assistantships, but this is less certain.
Advising: Students should seek advice on requirements and
procedures from the departmental graduate office and/or the departmental
Web site http://www.ece.ucsd.edu.
All students will be assigned a faculty academic adviser upon admission
and are strongly encouraged to discuss their academic program with
their adviser immediately upon arrival and subsequently at least
once per academic year.
Master of Engineering
The Master of Engineering (M. Eng.) program
is intended primarily for engineers who desire master’s-level
work but do not intend to continue with Ph.D.-level research. It
differs from the M.S. program in that it is a terminal professional
degree, whereas the M.S. may serve as an entry to a Ph.D. program.
Salient features of the M. Eng. program include the following:
It can be completed in four quarters at full-time or eight quarters
at half time; it does not require a thesis, a research project,
or a comprehensive exam; and it has an option of three courses
in business, management, and finance.
Course Requirements:
The total course requirements are forty-eight units (twelve quarter
courses). At least thirty-six units must be at the graduate level.
The choice of courses is subject to general focus and
breadth requirements. Students will be assigned a faculty adviser
who will help select courses.
- The Focus Requirement: (five courses) The M. Eng. Program
should reflect, among other things, a continuity and focus in
one subject area. The course selection must therefore include
at least twenty units (five quarter courses) in closely related
courses leading to the state of the art in that area. The requirement
may be met by selecting five courses from within one of the
focus
areas listed below. In some cases it may be appropriate to select
five closely related courses from two of the areas listed below.
Such cases must be approved by a faculty adviser and the ECE
Graduate Affairs Committee.
- The Breadth Requirement: (two courses) A graduate student
often cannot be certain of his or her future professional career
activities and may benefit from exposure to interesting opportunities
in other subject areas. The breadth requirement is intended to
provide protection against technical obsolescence, open up new
areas of interest, and provide for future self-education and
interaction with people from related and sometime disparate disciplines.
The
minimum breadth requirement is eight units (two quarter courses)
of ECE/CSE graduate courses selected from among the courses listed
below, in an area distinctly different from that of the focus
requirement.
- Technical Electives: (two courses) Two technical electives
may be any graduate courses in ECE, CSE, Physics, or Mathematics.
Other technical courses may be selected with the approval of
the faculty adviser and the ECE Graduate Affairs
Committee. Technical
electives may include a maximum of four units of ECE 298 (Independent
Study), or ECE 299 (Research).
- Professional Electives: (three courses) The three professional
electives may be used in several ways: for the IP/Core 401, 420,
421 series in business, management, and finance; for upper-division
undergraduate technical courses specified as prerequisites for
graduate-level focus, breadth, or technical elective courses taken
to satisfy the M.Eng. Degree requirements; or for additional graduate
technical electives. Use of other courses to satisfy the Professional
Elective requirement must be approved by the faculty adviser.
Scholarship Requirement: The forty-eight units of required
course work must be taken for a letter grade (A-F), except for ECE
298 or 299, for which only S/U grades are allowed. Courses for which
a D or F is received may not be counted. Students must maintain
a GPA of 3.0 overall.
Master of Engineering Program Focus Courses
Please consult the ECE graduate office or the ECE Web site http://www.ece.ucsd.edu
for the current list of focus areas and courses.
- Applied Physics
Allied Ph.D. research areas: Applied PhysicsApplied Optics,
Applied PhysicsElectronic Devices and Materials, Photonics,
Radio Space Science, and Magnetic Recording.
ECE 222A-B-C. Electromagnetic Theory
ECE 230A-B-C. Solid State Electronics
ECE 236A-B-C-D. Semiconductors
ECE 238A-B. Materials Science
MS 201A-B-C. Materials Science
ECE 240A-B-C. Optics
ECE 241A-B-C. Optics
- Communications and Signal Analysis
Allied Ph.D. Research areas: Communication Theory and Systems,
Intelligent Systems, Robotics, and Control, Magnetic Recording,
Signal and Image Processing.
ECE 153. Random Processes
ECE 250. Random Processes
ECE 251AN-BN-CN-DN. Digital Signal Processing
ECE 252A-B. Speech Compression and Recognition
ECE 253A-B. Digital Image Analysis
ECE 254. Detection Theory
ECE 255A. Information Theory
ECE 255B-C. Source Coding
ECE 256A-B. Time Series Analysis
ECE 257A-B. Wireless Communications
ECE 258A-B. Digital Communications
ECE 259AN-BN-CN. Channel Coding
ECE 273A-B-C. Optimization in Linear Vector Spaces
ECE 275A-B. Statistical Parameter Estimation
ECE 285. Special Topic: Computer Vision; Pattern Recognition (offerings
vary annually)
- Electronic Circuits and Systems
Allied Ph.D. Research areas: Computer Engineering, Electronic
Circuits and Systems.
ECE 222A-B-C. Applied Electromagnetic Theory
ECE 230A-B-C. Solid State Electronics
ECE 236A-B-C. Semiconductor Hetero-structure Materials
ECE 250. Random Processes
ECE 260A-B-C. VLSI Circuits
ECE 263A-B-C. Fault Tolerant Computing
ECE 264A-B-C. Analog IC Design
ECE 265A-B. Wireless Circuit Design CSE 240A, 240B. Computer
Architecture
CSE 242A, 243A. Computer Aided Design
Transferring to the Ph.D. Program
Although the M. Eng. is intended as a terminal degree, the department
recognizes that degree goals can change, including the possibility
that a student admitted to the M. Eng. may wish to obtain a Ph.D.
To this end, we outline below the procedure that must be followed
to effect such a change. At the outset, however, we stress that
this option should not be used in an attempt to circumvent the
normal
Ph.D. admissions process. Students who fail to meet the standards
for the Ph.D. program at the time of admission have little chance
of being allowed into the Ph.D. program at a later date.
Students in the M.Eng. program wishing to be considered for admission
to the Ph.D. program should consult their academic adviser as
soon
as possible. Transfer from M. Eng. to the Ph.D. program is possible
provided that the student satisfies the following requirements:
- Satisfy all requirements for initial admission to the Ph.D
program, including submission of GRE General Test Scores, and
be approved
for consideration for transfer to the Ph.D program by the ECE
Graduate Admissions Committee.
- Identify a faculty member who agrees, in writing, to serve
as that students academic and Ph.D. research adviser.
- In consultation with the academic adviser, design and complete
a program of course work that satisfies all course requirements
and constraints for a Ph.D. discipline appropriate to their research.
All students in the Ph.D. programs are required to satisfy all
Ph.D. degree requirements as described below. Should the student
not be admitted to the Ph.D. program, this program of course
work
will serve, with the approval of the academic adviser and the
ECE Graduate Affairs Committee, to satisfy the course work
requirements
for the M.Eng. degree.
- Pass the comprehensive examination at the
level required for continuation in the Ph.D. program A student
failing to pass the comprehensive exam at this required level
will not be admitted to the Ph.D. program, and will instead continue
in the M.Eng. degree program.
- Maintain a GPA of at least 3.4 in the appropriate core graduate
courses.
A student who has fulfilled all of the above requirements should,
after passing the departmental comprehensive exam, submit a petition
to change their degree objective from M.Eng. to Ph.D.
Master of Science
The ECE department offers M.S. programs
in electrical and computer engineering. The M.S. program in computer
engineering is jointly administered with the Department of Computer
Science and Engineering. The M.S. programs are research oriented,
are intended to provide the intensive technical preparation necessary
for subsequent pursuit of a Ph.D. The M.S. degree may be earned
either with a thesis (Plan 1) or with a research project followed
by
a comprehensive examination (Plan 2). However, continuation in
the Ph.D. program requires a comprehensive examination so most
students opt for Plan 2.
Course Requirements:
The total course requirements for the master of science degrees
in electrical engineering and in computer engineering are forty-eight
units (twelve quarter courses) and forty-nine units, respectively,
of which at least thirty-six units must be in graduate courses.
Note that this is greater than the minimum requirements of the university.
The department maintains a list of core courses for each disciplinary
area from which the thirty-six graduate course units must be selected.
The current list may be obtained from the department graduate office
or the official Web site of the department. Students in interdisciplinary
programs may select other core courses with the approval of their
academic adviser. The course requirements must be completed within
two years of full-time study. Students will be assigned a faculty
adviser who will help select courses and approve their overall academic
curriculum.
Scholarship Requirement: The forty-eight units of required
course work must be taken for a letter grade (AF), except for graduate
research (e.g. ECE 298, 299) for which only S/U grades are allowed.
Courses for which a D or F is received may not be counted. Students
must maintain a GPA of 3.0 overall.
Thesis and Comprehensive Requirements: The department offers
both M.S. Plan 1 (thesis) and M.S. Plan 2 (comprehensive exam).
Students in the M.S. program may elect either Plan 1 or Plan 2 any
time. Students in the M.S. Plan 1 (thesis) must take twelve units
of ECE 299 (Research) and must submit a thesis as described in the
general requirements of the university. Students in the M.S. Plan
2 (comprehensive exam) must find a faculty member who will agree
to supervise the student in a research project. This should be done
before the start of the second year of study. They should complete
at least four units of ECE 299 (Research) and must pass the departmental
comprehensive examination by the end of their second year of study.
This is an oral exam in which the student presents his or her research
to a committee of three ECE faculty members, and is examined orally
on a two-quarter core sequence in ECE. The outcome of the exam is
based on the students research presentation, proficiency demonstrated
in the students area of specialization, and overall academic
record and performance in the graduate program.
Students in the computer engineering discipline may elect to take
two written examinations in the Department of Computer Science and
Engineering, in accordance with the CSE guidelines, in place of
the oral examination on a two-quarter sequence in ECE. They are
then required to give a thirty- to forty-five minute research presentation
in the ECE department.
Transfer to the Ph.D. Program: Students in the
M.S. program wishing to be considered for admission to the Ph.D.
program should consult
their academic adviser as soon as possible. Transfer from the M.S.
to the Ph.D. program is possible provided that the student:
- Satisfy all requirements for initial admission to the Ph.D.
program, including submission of GRE general test scores, and
be approved
for consideration for transfer to the Ph.D. program by the ECE
Graduate Admissions Committee.
- Identify a faculty member who agrees, in writing, to serve as
that student's academic and Ph.D. research adviser.
- In consultation
with the academic adviser, design and complete a program of course
work that satisfies all course requirements
and constraints for a Ph.D. discipline appropriate to the student's
research. All students in the Ph.D. program are required to satisfy
all Ph.D. degree requirements as described below. Should the
student not be admitted to the Ph.D. program, this program of
course work
will serve, with the approval of the academic adviser and the
ECE Graduate Affairs Committee, to satisfy the course work requirements
for the M.S. degree.
- Pass the comprehensive examination at the level
required for continuation in the Ph.D. program. A student failing
to pass the comprehensive
exam at this required level will not be admitted to the Ph.D. program,
and will instead continue in the M.S. degree program.
- Maintain a
GPA of at least 3.4 in the appropriate core graduate courses.
A
student who has fulfilled all of the above requirements should,
after passing the departmental comprehensive exam, submit a
petition to change his or her degree
objective from M.S. to Ph.D.
The Doctoral Programs
The ECE department offers graduate programs leading to the Ph.D.
Degree in ten disciplines within electrical and computer engineering,
as described in detail below. The Ph.D. Is a research degree requiring
completion of the Ph.D. Program course requirements, satisfactory
performance on the comprehensive (Ph.D. Preliminary) examination
and University Qualifying Examination, and submission and defense
of a doctoral thesis (as described under the Graduate Studies
section of this catalog). Students in the Ph.D. Program must pass
the comprehensive exam (Ph.D. Preliminary) before the beginning
of the third year of graduate study. To ensure timely progress in
their research, students are strongly encouraged to identify a faculty
member willing to supervise their doctoral research by the end of
their first year of study.
Students should begin defining and preparing for their thesis
research as soon as they have passed the comprehensive exam (Ph.D.
Preliminary).
They should plan on taking the University Qualifying Examination
about one year later. The University does not permit students to
continue in graduate study for more than four years without passing
this examination. At the Qualifying Examination the student will
give an oral presentation on research accomplishments to date
and the thesis proposal to a campus-wide
committee. The committee will decide if the work and proposal has
adequate content and reasonable chance for success. They may require
that
the student modify the proposal and may require a further review.
The final Ph.D. Requirements are the submission of a dissertation
and the dissertation defense (as described under the Graduate
Studies section of this catalog).
Course Requirements: The total course requirements for
the Ph.D. Degree in electrical engineering are essentially the
same as the M.S. degree and consists of forty-eight units (twelve
quarter courses), of which at least thirty-six units must be in
graduate courses. Note that this is greater than the minimum requirements
of the university. The department maintains a list of core courses
for each disciplinary area from which the thirty-six graduate course
units must be selected. The current list may be obtained from the
ECE department graduate office or the official Web site of the
department.
Students in the interdisciplinary programs may select other core
courses with the approval of their academic adviser. The course
requirements must be completed within two years of full-time study.
Students in the Ph.D programs may count no more than eight units
of ECE 299 towards their course requirements.
Students who already hold an M.S. degree in electrical engineering
must nevertheless satisfy the requirements for the core courses.
However, graduate courses taken elsewhere can be substituted for
specific courses with the approval of the academic adviser.
Scholarship Requirement: The forty-eight units of required
courses must be taken for a letter grade (AF), except for eight
units of ECE 299 (Research) for which only S/U grades are allowed.
Courses for which a D or F is received may not be counted. Students
must maintain a GPA of 3.0 overall. In addition, a GPA of 3.4 in
the core graduate courses is generally expected.
Comprehensive Exam (Ph.D. Preliminary): Ph.D. students
must find a faculty member who will agree to supervise their thesis
research.
This should be done before the start of the second year of study.
They should then devote at least half their time to research and
must pass the comprehensive examination (Ph.D. Preliminary) by
the end of their second year of study.* This is an oral exam in
which
the student presents his or her research to a committee of three
ECE faculty members, and is examined orally for proficiency in
his
or her area of specialization. The outcome of the exam is based
on the students research presentation, proficiency demonstrated
in the students area of specialization, and overall academic
record and performance in the graduate program. Successful completion
of the comprehensive examination (Ph.D. Preliminary) will also
satisfy the M.S. Plan 2 comprehensive exam requirement.
* Students in the computer engineering discipline may elect to
take two written examinations in the Department of Computer Science
and Engineering, in accordance with the CSE guidelines, in place
of the oral examination on a two-quarter sequence in ECE. They are
then required to give a thirty to forty-five minute research presentation
in the ECE department.
University Qualifying Exam: Students who have passed the
comprehensive exam (Ph.D. Preliminary) should plan to take the University
Qualifying Examination approximately a year after passing the comprehensive
exam (Ph.D. Preliminary). The University does not permit students
to continue in graduate study for more than four years without passing
this examination. The University Qualifying Examination is an oral
exam in which the student presents his or her thesis proposal to
a university-wide committee. After passing this exam the student
is advanced to candidacy.
Dissertation Defense: The final Ph.D. Requirements are the
submission of a dissertation, and the dissertation defense (as described
under the Graduate Studies section of this catalog). Students who
are advanced to candidacy may register for any ECE course on an
S/U basis.
Departmental Time Limits: Students who enter the Ph.D. Program
with an M.S. degree from another institution are expected to complete
their Ph.D. Requirements a year earlier than B.S. entrants. They
must discuss their program with an academic adviser in their first
quarter of residence. If their Ph.D. Program overlaps significantly
with their earlier M.S. work, the time limits for the comprehensive
and qualifying exams will also be reduced by one year. Specific
time limits for the Ph.D. Program, assuming entry with a B.S. Degree,
are as follows:
- The Comprehensive Exam (Ph.D. Preliminary) must be completed
before the start of the third year of full-time study.
- The University Qualifying Exam must be completed before
the start of the fifth year of full-time study.
- Support Limit: Students may not receive financial support
through the University for more than seven years of full-time
study (six years with an M.S. degree).
- Registered Time Limit: Students may not register as
graduate students for more than eight years of full-time study
(seven years with an M.S. degree).
Half-Time Study: Time limits are extended by one quarter
for every two quarters of approved half-time status. Students
on
half-time status may not take more than 6 units each quarter.
Ph.D. Research Programs:
- Applied Ocean Sciences: This program in applied science
related to the oceans is interdepartmental with the Graduate Department
of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) and the Department
of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). It is administered
by SIO. All aspects of mans purposeful and unusual intervention
into the sea are included. The M.S. degree is not offered in this
program.
- Applied PhysicsApplied Optics and Photonics: These
programs encompass a broad range of interdisciplinary activities
involving optical science and engineering, optical and optoelectronic
materials and device technology, communications, computer engineering,
and photonic systems engineering. Specific topics of interest
include ultrafast optical processes, nonlinear optics, quantum
cryptography and communications, optical image science, multidimensional
optoelectronic I/O devices, spatial light modulators and photodetectors,
artificial dielectrics, multifunctional diffractive and micro-optics,
volume and computer-generated holography, optoelectronic and micromechanical
devices and packaging, wave modulators and detectors, semiconductor-based
optoelectronics, injection lasers, and photodetectors. Current
research projects are focused on applications such as optical
interconnects in high-speed digital systems, optical multidimensional
signal and image processing, ultrahigh-speed optical networks,
3D optical memories and memory interfaces, 3D imaging and displays,
and biophotonic systems. Facilities available for research in
these areas include electron-beam and optical lithography, material
growth, microfabrication, assembly, and packaging facilities,
cw and femtosecond pulse laser systems, detection systems, optical
and electro-optic components and devices, and electronic and optical
characterization and testing equipment.
- Communication Theory and Systems
Communications theory and systems concerns the transmission, processing,
and storage of information. Topics covered by the group include
wireless and wireline communications, spread-spectrum communication,
multi-user communication, network protocols, error-correcting
codes for transmission and magnetic recording, data compression,
time-series analysis, and image and voice processing.
- Computer Engineering consists of balanced programs of
studies in both hardware and software, the premise being that
knowledge and skill in both areas are essential both for the modern-day
computer engineer to make the proper unbiased tradeoffs in design,
and for researchers to consider all paths towards the solution
of research questions and problems. Toward these ends, the programs
emphasize studies (course work) and competency (comprehensive
examinations, and dissertations or projects) in the areas of VLSI
and logic design, and reliable computer and communication systems.
Specific research areas include: computer systems, signal processing
systems, multiprocessing and parallel and distributed computing,
computer communications and networks, computer architecture, computer-aided
design, fault-tolerance and reliability, and neurocomputing. The
faculty is composed of interested members of the Departments of
Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Computer Science and
Engineering (CSE), and related areas. The specialization is administered
by both departments; the requirements are similar in both departments,
with students taking the comprehensive exam, if necessary, given
by the students respective department.
- Electronic Circuits and Systems: This program involves
the study and design of analog, mixed-signal (combined analog
and digital), and digital electronic circuits and systems. Emphasis
is on the development, analysis, and implementation of integrated
circuits that perform analog and digital signal processing for
applications such as wireless and wireline communication systems,
test and measurement systems, and interfaces between computers
and sensors. Particular areas of study currently include radio
frequency (RF) power amplifiers, RF low noise amplifiers, RF mixers,
fractional-N phase-locked loops (PLLs) for modulated and continuous-wave
frequency synthesis, pipelined analog-to-digital converters (ADCs),
delta-sigma ADCs and digital-to-analog converters (DACs), PLLs
for clock recovery, adaptive and fixed continuous-time, switched-capacitor,
and digital filters, echo cancellation circuits, adaptive equalization
circuits, wireless receiver and transmitter linearization circuits,
mixed-signal baseband processing circuits for wireless transmitters
and receivers, high-speed digital circuits, and high-speed clock
distribution circuits.
- Applied PhysicsElectronic Devices and Materials:
This program addresses the synthesis and characterization of advanced
electronic materials, including semiconductors, metals, and dielectrics,
and their application in novel electronic, optoelectronic, and
photonic devices. Emphasis is placed on exploration of techniques
for high-quality epitaxial growth of semiconductors, including
both molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) and metalorganic chemical vapor
deposition (MOCVD); fabrication and characterization of materials
and devices at the nanoscale; development of novel materials processing
and integration techniques; and high-performance electronic devices
based on both Group IV (Si/SiGe) and III-V compound semiconductor
materials. Areas of current interest include novel materials and
high-speed devices for wireless communications; electronic and
optoelectronic devices for high-speed optical networks; high-power
microwave-frequency devices; nanoscale CMOS devices and circuits;
heterogeneous materials integration; novel device structures for
biological and chemical sensing; advanced tools for nanoscale
characterization and metrology; and novel nanoscale electronic,
optoelectronic, and photonic devices. Extensive facilities are
available for research in this area, including several MBE and
MOCVD systems; a complete microfabrication facility; electron-beam
lithography and associated process tools for nanoscale fabrication;
a Rutherford backscattering system; x-ray diffractometers; electron
microscopy facilities; extensive scanning-probe instrumentation;
cryogenic systems; and comprehensive facilities for DC to RF electrical
device characterization and optical characterization of materials
and devices.
- Intelligent Systems, Robotics, and Control: This information
sciences-based field is concerned with the design of human-interactive
intelligent systems that can sense the world (defined as some
specified domain of interest); represent or model the world; detect
and identify states and events in the world; reason about and
make decisions about the world; and/or act on the world, perhaps
all in real-time. A sense of the type of systems and applications
encountered in this discipline can be obtained by viewing the
projects shown at the Web site http://swiftlet.ucsd.edu.
The development of such sophisticated systems is necessarily an
interdiscipinary activity. To sense and succinctly represent events
in the world requires knowledge of signal processing, computer
vision, information theory, coding theory, and data-basing; to
detect and reason about states of the world utilizes concepts
from statistical detection theory, hypothesis testing, pattern
recognition, time series analysis, and artificial intelligence;
to make good decisions about highly complex systems requires knowledge
of traditional mathematical optimization theory and contemporary
near-optimal approaches such as evolutionary computation; and
to act upon the world requires familiarity with concepts of control
theory and robotics. Very often learning and adaptation are required
as either critical aspects of the world are poorly known at the
outset, and must be refined online, or the world is non-stationary
and our system must constantly adapt to it as it evolves. In addition
to the theoretical information and computer science aspects, many
important hardware and software issues must be addressed in order
to obtain an effective fusion of a complicated suite of sensors,
computers, and problem dynamics into one integrated system.
Faculty affiliated with the ISRC subarea are involved in virtually
all aspects of the field, including applications to intelligent
communications systems; advanced human-computer interfacing; statistical
signal- and image-processing; intelligent tracking and guidance
systems; biomedical system identification and control; and control
of teleoperated and autonomous multiagent robotic systems.
- Magnetic Recording is an interdisciplinary field involving
physics, material science, communications, and mechanical engineering.
The physics of magnetic recording involves studying magnetic heads,
recording media, and the process of transferring information between
the heads and the medium. General areas of investigation include:
nonlinear behavior of magnetic heads, very high frequency loss
mechanisms in head materials, characterization of recording media
by micromagnetic and many body interaction analysis, response
of the medium to the application of spatially varying vectorial
head fields, fundamental analysis of medium nonuniformities leading
to media noise, and experimental studies of the channel transfer
function emphasizing non-linearities, interferences, and noise.
Current projects include numerical simulations of high density
digital recording in metallic thin films, micromagnetic analysis
of magnetic reversal in individual magnetic particles, theory
of recorded transition phase noise and magnetization induced nonlinear
bit shift in thin metallic films, and analysis of the thermal-temporal
stability of interacting fine particles.
Research laboratories are housed in the Center for Magnetic Recording
Research, a national center devoted to multidisciplinary teaching
and research in the field.
- Radio and Space Science: The Radio Science Program focuses
on the study of radio waves propagating through turbulent media.
The primary objectives are probing of otherwise inaccessible media
such as the solar wind and interstellar plasma. Techniques for
removing the effects of the turbulent medium to restore the intrinsic
signals are also studied.
The Space Science Program is concerned with the nature of the
sun, its ionized and supersonic outer atmosphere (the solar wind),
and the interaction of the solar wind with various bodies in the
solar system. Theoretical studies include: the interaction of
the solar wind with the earth, planets, and comets; cosmic dusty-plasmas;
waves in the ionosphere; and the physics of shocks. A major theoretical
effort involves the use of supercomputers for modeling and simulation
studies of both fluid and kinetic processes in space plasmas.
Students in radio science will take measurements at various radio
observatories in the U.S. And elsewhere. This work involves a
great deal of digital signal processing and statistical analysis.
All students will need to become familiar with electromagnetic
theory, plasma physics, and numerical analysis.
- The Signal and Image Processing Program explores engineering
issues related to the modeling of signals starting from the physics
of the problem, developing and evaluating algorithms for extracting
the necessary information from the signal, and the implementation
of these algorithms on electronic and opto-electronic systems.
Examples of research areas include filter design, fast transforms,
adaptive filters, spectrum estimation and modeling, sensor array
processing, image processing, image restoration, video processing,
pattern recognition, and the implementation of signal processing
algorithms using appropriate technologies. Signal and image processing
techniques have found application in a number of areas such as
sonar, radar, speech, geophysics, medical imaging, robotic vision,
digital communications, and multimedia systems among others.
Research Facilities
Most of the research laboratories of the department are associated
with individual faculty members or small informal groups of faculty.
Larger instruments and facilities, such as those for electron microscopy
and e-beam lithography are operated jointly. In addition the department
operates several research centers and participates in various university
wide organized research units.
The department-operated research centers are the NSF Industrial/University
Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) for Ultra-High Speed Integrated
Circuits and Systems (ICAS); Optoelectronics Technology Center
(OTC)
sponsored by the Advanced Project Research Agency; the Center for
Wireless Communications which is a university-industry partnership;
and the Institute for Neural
Computation.
Department research is also associated with the Center for Astronomy
and Space Science, the Center for Magnetic Recording Research,
the
California Space Institute, the Institute for Nonlinear Science,
and Calit2 (http://www.calit2.net).
Departmental researchers also use various national and international
laboratories, such as the National Nanofabrication Facility and
the National Radio Astronomy Laboratory.
The department emphasizes computational capability and maintains
numerous computer laboratories for instruction and research. One
of the NSF national supercomputer centers is located on the campus.
This is particularly useful for those whose work requires high data
bandwidths.
Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
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