You are in the official 2003-2004 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Electrical
and Computer Engineering
and Computer Engineering
College of Engineering and Computer Science
NAGY BENGIAMIN, Chair
Engineering East Building, Room 254
(559) 278-2726
College of Engineering and Computer Science
NAGY BENGIAMIN, Chair
Engineering East Building, Room 254
(559) 278-2726
B.S. in Computer Engineering
Faculty
Nagy N. Bengiamin, Chair
Daniel C. Bukofzer, Albert A. Heaney, Robert W. Hecht, Chung K. Liu, Ramakrishna Nunna, Larry D. Owens, Kausik Chatterjee
The faculty, comprised of academically well-qualified engineers, have a wide range of teaching and industrial experience. Their backgrounds include significant research accomplishments, engineering teaching experience, consulting work, and related engineering experience.
Excellent facilities are housed in the Engineering East Building.
A 52,000 square-foot engineering building addition provides additional
classroom space, faculty offices, and expanded modern laboratories
that include: a microcomputer laboratory, a CAD/CAM laboratory,
and laboratories for microprocessors and digital systems, electronics,
computer development, optical communications, digital control/robotics,
special projects, and power systems.
The Department
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. Although many courses are common to both programs, there are significant differences between the graduation requirements for electrical engineering and for computer engineering. Students are advised to decide early in their program of study which major they intend to pursue. The department also offers a master's degree in engineering with emphasis in electrical engineering in cooperation with Edwards Air Force Base. For more information, see the Master of Engineering Program.
Mission and Educational Objectives
The mission of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is to fulfill the needs of the region and state by providing an undergraduate technical education in electrical engineering and computer engineering to a diverse group of students. Additionally, the department strives to continually update its strong program of study in order to qualify its graduates for positions in industry located in the region and beyond while providing sufficient breadth and depth in its program to assure its graduates a successful practice in the profession. At the same time, students are grounded in the rigorous scientific and theoretical foundations of the discipline, in order not only to enable graduates to enter and be successful in any advanced level educational program of their choosing, but also to be able to build upon this strong foundation and extend it to new depths.
The principal strengths of the department lie in its faculty, the curricular emphasis and balance, and the facilities available for instructional and investigative purposes. The practical experience, theoretical skill, and diversity of its faculty are the principal strengths of the department. The faculty members possess depth and breadth in their specialty areas and are active in bringing these experiences and skills to the classroom. The identifiable strengths of the academic program are the laboratory and hands-on experience for students, the proper attention given to the scientific and mathematical foundation of electrical engineering and computer engineering, and the rigor of upper-division courses coupled with design and culminating senior projects. Class sizes remain relatively small and interaction between faculty and students is encouraged inside and outside the classroom. This is enhanced with the availability of modem teaching laboratories and College of Engineering and Computer Science computing facilities in the form of PCs, workstations, and supporting equipment.
The technical and liberal arts components of the curriculum provide the students with the opportunity for gaining self-development, technical competence, and awareness of economic and ethical responsibilities. The technical curriculum includes (l) basic engineering science, (2) core electrical and computer engineering subjects such as circuits, analog/digital electronics, electric energy conversion, control systems, computer-aided design, electromagnetic fields, and computer architecture, and (3) a junior-/senior-level choice for more depth in electrical or computer engineering. Areas of depth include communications and analog systems, power systems and controls, and digital systems and computers.
Internship and co-op experiences are encouraged as a vehicle for enhancing students' communication and interpersonal skills in addition to establishing awareness of industry practice and technical development. Opportunities to enhance teamwork, written and oral communication, and self-learning skills are available across the curriculum. Students are encouraged to learn about and promote the profession - and to develop leadership skills through their involvement in honorary and professional societies and through their participation in laboratory and design project activities.
The department has a mandatory student advising program which facilitates individual contact with students to help them make sound academic decisions and understand the purpose of their education and the profession. Through this program, students and faculty establish personal relationships and enthusiasm toward engineering education. Service to the university is also within the mission of the department. Faculty members are active on university committees and faculty governance. The faculty and students are encouraged to participate in professional and technical societies and university projects.
Electrical Engineering
The Electrical Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Electrical engineers design and develop electronic circuits, equipment and systems in the areas of electromagnetics (antennas; radar, radio, and television systems), communications and control (telephone systems, satellite communications; laser and optical fiber communications; aircraft and missile guidance systems), computers and digital systems (computers, microprocessors, and microcomputers; artificial intelligence), physical electronics and optics (transistors; integrated circuits; optical display devices; lasers; optical fibers), power systems and energy conversion (hydro, thermal, nuclear, solar electric power generation; analysis and synthesis of power transmission and distribution systems; on-line power control and dispatch centers), and control systems (computer control, robotics, automated manufacturing, intelligent sensors).
Computer Engineering
The Computer Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Computer engineering is a discipline which allows the student to obtain expertise in the design, programming, and applications of computers. It prepares the graduate for professional practice or graduate studies. The program combines:
a. A strong emphasis on electrical engineering (primarily electronic circuits and systems)
b. A broad basis in mathematics, physical science, and general engineering
c. Fundamentals of computer science including programming methodology, software engineering, and operating systems
d. Introductory and advanced concepts in the design of computers and computer systems
A rich set of technical area courses is available to allow students to broaden their knowledge within any of several computer engineering areas.
Organizations
Student chapters of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and Eta Kappa Nu (the national honor society for electrical engineers) are active in the department. The College of Engineering and Computer Science, in addition, has chapters of Tau Beta Pi, the Society of Women Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Engineers, and the National Society of Black Engineers.
Co-op Program
The department participates in the Cooperative Educational Program which allows students to integrate planned industrial experiences into their academic programs. Students interested in this program should contact the chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the campus co-op coordinator.
Administrative Academic Probation
A minimum GPA of 2.0 must be maintained in all courses taken in the School of Engineering and Computer Science. Students who fail to maintain a 2.0 GPA in courses within their major may be placed on administrative academic probation. Failure to eliminate the grade point deficiency can result in disqualification from the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Mandatory Advising
Students must complete mandatory advising with a faculty member
at least once during each academic year. Students who fail to
do so by the established deadline (usually around the end of April)
will be prevented from participating in the STAR registration
process prior to the start of classes.
Career Opportunities
According to a report by the American Electronics Association,
a shortage of electrical and computer engineers is projected for
the next several years; it is anticipated that computer engineering
positions will increase more than any other major profession.
New developments are evolving in optical communications, microelectronics,
intelligent controls, computers, radar, microwave communications,
and innovative alternative energy sources at an explosive pace
which should assure a solid growth pattern for electrical and
computer engineers into the foreseeable future.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Courses