Download info_prsp_stdts - Electrical and Computer Engineering, ECE

Department of
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What is Electrical and Computer
Engineering?
Professor Charles Kime, ECE
Associate Chair for Undergraduate
Activities
Overview
• A Lifetime of Change: What is Electrical
and Computer Engineering?
• Electrical Engineering (EE), Computer
Sciences (CS), or Computer Engineering?
• Education and Careers
• Specialized Areas of Study
A Lifetime of Change
• What we didn’t have when I was born
(1940)
– Transistors, integrated circuits,
microprocessors
– Computers, personal computers
– Televisions, VCRs, CDs, Nintendo
– Satellite communications
– Internet, email, world wide web
– Cellular Phones
– Jet Airliners
A Lifetime of Change II
• What we did have when I was a college
student (1961)
– Transistors, integrated circuits (barely)
– Television
– Mainframe Computers (tubes, core
memory)
– Jet Airliners
Where did all this stuff come
from?
• engineering (Webster’s dictionary): The
application of scientific knowledge to the
solution of practical problems, as in
designing structures and apparatus.
Computer Engineering
• Computer – A combination of software and hardware
capable performing useful tasks.
•
The Obvious:
PCs/Workstations/Servers/Mainframes
•
The Not So Obvious: Embedded Computers –
Computers within
•
Other things! Examples?
• Computer Engineering = Engineering of
Computers
• Problem-solving with the goal of creating software,
hardware or combinations of hardware and
software to perform useful tasks.
Electrical Engineering
• Electrical – Use of electricity to performing useful
tasks.
• Electrical Engineering = Engineering of All Things
Electrical
• Problem-solving based on mathematics and
science with the goal of creating new electrical
and electronic hardware and systems to perform
useful tasks.
EE, Comp Sci, or CMPE?
Relationships:
Computer Computer Electrical
Sciences
Engineering Engineering
Software ++++++++++++++++++ Hardware
Comp Sci versus EE, CMPE at UW
Computer Sciences
Focus on Software
More Scholarly Breadth
Less Technical Content
and Technical ProblemSolving
Somewhat Less
demanding overall
program
Electrical Engineering,
Computer Engineering
Focus on Hardware or
Hardware and Software
More Technical Content and
Technical Problem-Solving
Less Scholarly Breadth
Somewhat more demanding
overall program
EE versus CMPE at UW
Electrical Engineering
Primary focus on
hardware, but some areas
have significant software
component
Stronger emphasis on
device physics, analog
systems, and energy
Involves more physically
oriented courses
Computer Engineering
Focused on a balanced mix
of hardware and software
Stronger emphasis on
software, digital systems,
and computers
Involves more digitallyoriented courses in
hardware, software or both
How do I decide between EE, CMPE or
Comp Sci?
• What area am I interested in specializing in, an EE
area, a CMPE area, or a CS area?
– Databases? Control Systems? Network Design?
• What topics do I do well in and enjoy?
– Programming? Calculus? Physics?
• What overall degree environment fits me better
– Engineering? Letters & Sciences?
• Which degree program is most marketable?
– All!
• Do I have geographic preferences for jobs?
What if I make the wrong
decision?
• Transfer between the EE and CMPE
programs is not difficult
• In the transfer process, you may lose some
credits toward your degree, but not many
• Due to more limited capacity admission
standards for CMPE may be higher
• Transfer to and from CS more complex
Roles of Electrical and Computer
Engineers
• Analyze, design, develop, market and
operate electrical/electronic/computer
systems
• Work with energy and information
• Invent new technologies and improve
existing technologies
• Many graduates take positions in companies
like Intel, IBM, Motorola, GM, and
Qualcomm
Desirable Traits
• Interested in mathematics, physics, and
science
• Scientific curiosity and the desire to
understand how things work
• Desire to learn continuously
• Good communication skills
• Good team player
• Persistent, but flexible
Education
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree ( 4 years)
in EE or CMPE
• For more in-depth knowledge: Master of
Science (M.S.) degree (1.5 to 2 years)—not
necessary for first job
• For research and college teaching: Doctor of
Philosophy degree (3 to 5 years)
• Opportunities exist to spend summers
(intern) or half-year (co-op) in industry
Current Starting Salaries
• B.S. degree and no experience—$48,000 per
year
• M.S. degree and no experience—$55,000
per year
• Ph.D. degree and no experience—$70,000
or more per year
• Signing bonuses and stock options in some
areas
Advancement Opportunities
• Advancement in industrial jobs is based on
performance
• Excellent opportunities to advance
• Many engineers end up in management roles
Future Demand
• Technological, global society demands
more and more engineers
• Computer engineering: 250,000
openings in US 1996-2006
• Electrical engineering: 197,000
openings in US 1996-2006
• 250 companies visited Engineering
Career Services last year looking for
new electrical/computer engineers
A Day in the Life of an
Integrated Circuit Designer
• 7:30 AM Arrive at cubicle and log in to workstation.
• Read and answer e-mail.
• Finish a design for a controller using a hardware description language
(HDL).
• Read and answer e-mail.
• Attend an hour long meeting to discuss changes in the interface of the
designer’s part of the chip to other parts with the design team.
• Go for a run and then to lunch.
• Read and answer e-mail.
• Write a set of test inputs to verify the HDL version of the controller.
• Read and answer e-mail.
• Meet with another team member to discuss a design problem.
• Begin controller simulation using the test inputs.
• 6:30 PM Log out and go home.
+’s and -’s of EE and CMPE Careers
• Pluses
–
–
–
–
–
Opportunity to create
Excitement of producing a useful, working product
Excellent pay
Ability to be entrepreneur or independently employed
Generally respected and (to some) awesome
• Minuses
–
–
–
–
–
–
Hours worked often long
Work sometimes tedious
Job security varies
Career often peaks early
Stress level can be high
Viewed as a nerd
Undergraduate Areas - CMPE
• VLSI Systems Design
– microprocessors, digital signal processing
chips, cellular telephone chips, computers,
computer peripherals
• Embedded Systems
– digital cameras, digital games, digital
instruments, automobile electronics,
aircraft electronics, product line automation
Undergraduate Areas - CMPE
(cont.)
• Networks and Communication
– routers, bridges, switches, base stations,
cellular telephones, internet network
services
• Electronic Design Automation
– simulation software, synthesis software,
circuit analysis software, integrated circuit
layout software
Undergraduate Areas - EE
• Biomedical Engineering
– pacemaker, intensive care unit monitor, hearing aid,
speech recognition, MRI
– (contrast with separate degree program in BME)
• Communications & Signal Processing
– radio, television, radar, telephone, satellite transmission
• Control Systems
– robotics, feedback control of engines, refrigerators,
ovens, aircraft, trains, production lines
Undergraduate Areas - EE (cont.)
• Electric Machines & Power Electronics
– electric motors, motor controls, hybrid electric cars
• Electronic Devices, Microelectronics & Integrated
Circuits
– fabrication of integrated circuits, sensors,
microelectromechanical systems (MEMs)
• Electromagnetic Fields & Wave Propagating
Systems
– antennas, global navigation, fiber optical
communication, satellite communication, microwave
oven
Undergraduate Areas - EE
(cont.)
• Photonics
– lasers, fiber optics, optical communication
• Plasmas & Controlled Fusion
– nuclear fusion energy, machine tool
hardening, integrated circuit manufacturing
• Power Systems
– electric generators, power transmission
lines, transmission system control