Graduate Level 500 Courses
Master's Graduate Research
Prerequisite: Submission of a formal proposal endorsed by a faculty advisor
Investigations of a fundamental and/or applied nature intended to develop
design techniques, research techniques, initiative, and self-reliance. Admission
is based on a formal proposal endorsed by an advisor and submitted to the
ECE Graduate Program Director.
Applications of Active Circuits
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Advanced analog design techniques with emphasis on using operational amplifiers.
Topics include multi-pole transfer functions and stability, noise calculations,
interfacing with digital circuits, and specialized analog applications.
Problems are solved using numerical and circuit simulation software packages.
Random Signals and Systems I
Prerequisite: Probability and random variables; or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Random variables and probabilistic description of signals and systems.
The course provides the analytical tools for studying random phenomena
in engineering systems and provides graduate students with an extensive
treatment of probability theory, Bayes theorem, random variables, distribution
and density functions, conditional distributions, moments, functions of
random variables, characteristic functions, stochastic processes, Gaussian
processes, stationary processes, correlation functions, power spectral
density, response of systems to random inputs, mean square error estimation,
filtering and prediction, and noise analysis. The course prepares students
for a wide range of courses in communications, signal processing, acoustics,
control and other areas of engineering in which random signals and systems
have an important role.
Digital Spectral Analysis
3 hours lecture
Spectral estimation techniques with particular emphasis on performance/resolution
tradeoffs. The course enables participants to understand spectral estimation
and acquire a working knowledge of the spectral analysis techniques available,
with a critical understanding of the advantages and limitations of all spectral
estimation techniques studied. The student learns: (1) the limitations of Fourier
transform based spectral estimators; (2) the benefits and limitations of high
resolution methods; (3) how to choose accurate and appropriate models; (4)
the state-of-the-art in modern spectral estimation; (5) how the
modern spectral estimators perform in practice; (6) when to select each spectral
estimation method.
Solid State Electronics
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Solid state device behavior. Among the topics covered are semiconductor fundamentals,
p-n junction theory, and both the bipolar and the field effect transistor. Emphasis
is placed on those transistor parameters that need to be considered in VLSI
and microwave applications.
Digital Filters
3 hours lecture
Design, simulation, and implementation of digital filters. After a review of
classical FIR and IIR design techniques and modern AR, MA, and ARMA techniques,
the course immerses the student in problem solving with digitized signals and
DSP microprocessors. These problems include noise reduction, echo cancellation,
signal detection, etc. Computer simulation is an integral part of the course,
and students are expected to have some familiarity with small computer operating
systems and assembly language programming concepts.
Active Remote Sensing of the Environment
3 hours lecture
Principles and applications of active remote sensing techniques. Course focuses
on microwave and millimeter wave radar techniques. Topics include radar equation,
detection theory, scattering from targets and natural surfaces, and imaging
systems. The following sensors are covered: synthetic aperture radar (SAR),
radar scatterometers, altimeters, polarimetric radars and interferometric radars.
Applications include ocean wave and wind measurements, soil moisture measurements,
biomass measurements, measurement of land topography, and precipitation studies.
Course also includes laboratory computer exercises for analyzing and processing
real sensor data.
Passive Remote Sensing of the Environment
3 hours lecture
Principles and applications of passive remote sensing techniques. Course addresses
the use of sensors such as thematic mappers, optical multispectral scanners,
infrared radiometers and multispectral microwave radiometers. The following
sensors are covered: Thematic Mapper, SPOT, AVHRR, SSM/I and WINDRAD. Applications
include ocean color and productivity measurements, ocean temperature measurements,
salinity measurements, ocean wind measurements, marine pollution monitoring
and atmospheric measurements. Course also includes laboratory computer exercises
for analyzing and processing real sensor data.
Radar Engineering
Prerequisite: ECE 436 or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Fundamentals of microwave radar engineering and radar system analysis. The course
covers the radar equation, radar detection theory, noise analysis, radar cross-section,
continuous wave and pulsed systems, moving target indicators, pulse compression,
radar transmitters and receivers. Also covered are radar systems such as pulsed
Doppler radar, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), inverse synthetic aperture radar
(ISAR), polarimetric radar and interferometric radar. Applications include target
detection, radar remote sensing, satellite oceanography and terrain mapping.
VLSI Design
Prerequisite: ECE 311 or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Design of Very Large Scale Integrated Circuits (VLSI), taught at the transistor
level. Computer tools are used to create and simulate integrated circuit layouts.
Levels of design automation covered include Full Custom layout, Schematic Driven
layout, Standard Cells and fully automated synthesis of HDL code. Required readings
from the current literature lead to a formal written report on recent developments
in VLSI. Students are required to complete and present at least one project.
Some designs may be fabricated.
Analog Integrated Circuit Design
3 hours lecture
Introduction to the design of CMOS analog integrated circuits (ICs),
with occasional references to bipolar ICs to make comparisons. Required
readings from the current literature lead to a formal written report on recent
developments in analog ICs. Students are required to complete the design
of a complex IC and make a class presentation of its design methodology and
simulation results.
Applied Computational Electromagnetics
Prerequisite: ECE 336 or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Numerical techniques for practical applications in electromagnetic scattering,
propagation, and radiation. The course reviews fundamentals of electromagnetic
field and wave theory and covers all basic classes of computational techniques
used in modern applied electromagnetics. Numerical techniques include the method
of moments, finite difference method, finite element method, and physical optics.
Applications cover static and quasi-static problems, transmission lines, scattering,
and antennas.
Antenna Theory
Prerequisite: ECE 336 or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Antenna fundamentals, antenna arrays, and basic types of antennas for wireless
communication. Mathematical solution of Maxwell’s equations for radiation
problems is introduced. Basic antenna parameters are defined and discussed. Electrically
small antennas are analyzed. Theory of receiving antennas is presented. Topics
in antenna arrays include the array factor, pattern multiplication, multidimensional
arrays, and phased arrays. Several types of antennas are studied, including wire
and microstrip antennas.
Electromagnetics of Signal Integrity
Prerequisite: ECE 336 or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Electromagnetic fundamentals of signal integrity in high-speed, high-density interconnects.
Theory of multi-conductor transmission lines (MTLs) is presented. Per-unit-length
capacitance, inductance, conductance, and resistance matrices of MTLs embedded
in a multi-layer substrate are introduced and evaluated numerically using the
method of moments. Time-domain response of MTLs terminated in arbitrary networks
is studied. Circuit-analysis models for MTLs in the Laplace-transform domain are
introduced. The effects of signal delay, distortion, cross-talk, ringing, multiple
reflections, and losses are discussed.
Electromagnetics
Prerequisite: ECE 336 or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Advanced electromagnetics concepts, with in-depth studies of electromagnetic
waves, radiation, and scattering. Time-varying electromagnetic fields, electrical
properties of matter, and electromagnetic theorems are presented. Wave equations
are discussed, along with wave propagation, polarization, reflection, and transmission.
Multiconductor transmission lines, waveguides, cavity resonators, and radiation
and antenna principles are studied. Geometrical optics, diffraction theory,
and physical optics are introduced. Topics in scattering include scattering
by planar surfaces, cylinders, wedges, and spheres.
Database Systems I
Prerequisites: Graduate standing and at least a C grade in programming
3 hours lecture
Introduction to database systems from an architectural and functional perspective.
The course provides an overview of database systems architecture, computer representation
of information, computer data storage, properties of persistent data, database
structuring models (relational, network, object, object-relational and entity-relationship),
transaction processing models, concurrency control techniques, database and transaction
recovery, and security. These concepts will then be explored by examining and
comparing the architecture and operations of database systems such as conventional,
real-time, temporal, fault tolerant, distributed, heterogeneous, secure and others.
Fault-Tolerant Computing and Reliability Engineering
Prerequisites: MTH 212; MTH 331 or ECE 384; or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Techniques for designing and analyzing computer-based systems. Topics addressed
include: fault, error, and failure cause-and-effect relationships; fault avoidance
techniques; fault tolerance techniques, including hardware redundancy, software
redundancy, information redundancy, and time redundancy; fault coverage; time-to-failure
models and distributions; reliability modeling and evaluation techniques, including
fault trees, cut-sets, reliability block diagrams, binary decision diagrams,
and Markov models. In addition, availability modeling, safety modeling, and
trade-off analysis are presented. The course will also include a research project
and investigation of current topics.
Network Security
Prerequisite: ECE 469 or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture,1 hour laboratory
Principles and practices of security in computer networks. This course covers the
theoretical foundations of securing computer networks including cryptography and
models. It steps through the practical process of defending networking resources.
It also reveals various case studies, large and small, to familiarize the techniques
that attackers use. An Internet Testbed is facilitated for students to experiment
attacksand defenses.
Fundamentals of Acoustics
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of instructor.
3 hours lecture supplemented by classroom demonstrations
Fundamentals of acoustics including vibration and wave propagation in solid
and fluid media. Topics include: vibration and wave propagation in one-dimensional,
two-dimensional, and three-dimensional media including strings, bars, membranes,
plates and fluids; mechanical and electrical equivalent circuit models, separation
of variables and normal modes; the development of the homogeneous and inhomogeneous
linearized wave equation and solutions; propagation of plane waves and spherical
waves in gasses and fluids, derivation of speed of sound for arbitrary fluids,
complex sound speed and wave numbers; acoustic impedance, acoustic velocity,
acoustic displacement and energy relations; reflection, transmission, refraction
and attenuation phenomena in fluids.
Computer Systems Performance Evaluation
Prerequisites: ECE 460 and graduate standing
3 hours lecture
Development of a broad working knowledge of probability, queuing theory, petri-nets,
simulation and empirical modeling as applied to computer systems hardware and
software performance modeling and assessment. The course is oriented toward
a practical application of theory and concepts with an emphasis placed on the
use of computer tools to model performance and to perform tradeoff analysis.
Computer Systems
3 hours lecture
An examination of various components that make up a computer system, including
CPU, memory, input/output, and buses, as well as how they all work together
to form a functioning computer system. The major advances in the computer organization
and architecture including von Neumann architecture, interrupts, the family
concept, microprocessors, cache memory, virtual memory, virtual I/O, pipelining,
RISC, superscalar processors, IA-64 (EPIC), micro-programmed control unit as
well as parallel processing are also presented. State-of-the-art research projects
are assigned to prepare students to perform research in the field of computer
organization and architecture.
Advanced Computer Architecture
Prerequisite: ECE 561 or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Advanced computer design, emphasizing fundamental limitations and tradeoffs
in designing high performance computer systems. Students develop an understanding
of the theoretical foundations in both hardware and software by studying parallel
computer models; program partitioning, granularity, and latency; processor architectures
and interconnects; and memory hierarchy, interleaving and bandwidth. Specific
architectures such as shared memory multi-processors, message passing multi-computers,
and superscalar, supervector, VLIW and dataflow designs will be explored.
Computer Operating Systems
3 hours lecture
Operating system design and implementation using the specifics of current operating
systems. Topics covered include: file, process, memory and Input/Output management;
multitasking, synchronization, and deadlocks; scheduling and inter-process
communication. Projects include system’s programming assignments to investigate the
kernel interface, files, processes, and inter-process communication for a current
operating system.
Microprocessors I
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in the College of Engineering
3 hours lecture
Design and construction of a microprocessor based computer system. Students
will learn how a computer operates at the chip level and develop an understanding
of the interdependence of hardware and software. Students will develop circuitry
and software to control CPU interaction with SRAM, ROM and peripheral chips,
as well as reset and boot-up control and interrupt handling. At the end of the
course, students will have produced a working computer.
Microprocessors II
Prerequisite: ECE 566
3 hours lecture
Design and construction of multiprocessor microprocessor computer systems. This
course is a continuation of ECE566 in which students will modify the previous
design to accommodate multiple processors to achieve parallel computation.
Advanced Computer Networks
Prerequisite: ECE 469 or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Advanced topics on the protocols, algorithms and tools supporting the development
and delivery of quality assured services over networks. The course covers capabilities
provided by emerging ultra-fast network technologies, routers and routing functions.
Emphasis in on todays de-facto Internet standards of TCP/IP protocol
suite, recent developments and research issues for next generation internetworking
driven by multimedia real-time distributed applications requiring quality of
service guarantees.
Digital Communications
Prerequisite: ECE 471 or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Fundamentals of digital communications. Topics covered include information theory,
vector signal space, detection of digital signals in noise, sampling process,
waveform coding techniques, digital modulation and demodulation techniques,
error control coding, spread spectrum modulation, and wireless communications.
Discrete-Time Signal Processing
3 hours lecture
Representation, analysis and design of discrete signals and systems. Topics
include a review of the z-transform and the discrete-time Fourier transform,
the fast Fourier transform, digital filter structures, digital filter design
techniques, quantization issues and effects of finite word-length arithmetic,
sampling and oversampling, decimation and interpolation, linear prediction,
the Hilbert transform and the complex cepstrum. Students gain experience in
analyzing and designing digital signal processing systems through computer projects.
Sonar Signal Processing
3 hours lecture
Classical theories in detecting and processing both active and passive signals
in noise with special emphasis on the underwater environment and associated
techniques in sound navigation ranging (SONAR). Both spatial and temporal processing
methods are studied including beamforming, matched filtering, effects of noise
and interference, application and utility of frequency agile signals, narrowband
and broadband passive techniques, and adaptive algorithms to address the time/space
varying interference sources. Applications in underwater detection, classification,
localization and communication are also discussed.
Artificial Intelligence
Prerequisites: Probability and random variables; or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
An introduction to artificial intelligence and expert systems. Topics covered
include state-space representations and search methods; problem-reduction representation
and search methods; Bayes networks; theorem proving using predicate calculus;
natural languages; expert system design using Lisp or Prolog; and an introduction
to neural networks and pattern recognition.
Time Series Analysis
Prerequisite: ECE 384 or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Fundamentals of time series analysis. Topics covered: moving average and autoregressive
models; estimation of the mean and autocorrelation; statistical forecasting;
spectral analysis and estimation; bivariate processes; linear system identification;
and nonstationary time series. Application to electrical engineering and marine
science problems is emphasized.
Mathematics of Systems Analysis
Prerequisite: Graduate standing
3 hours lecture
Elementary exposition of linear algebra and time domain methods and their utility
in the analysis and design of linear systems. Linear space, state variables,
controllability, observability, assignability, linear state variable feedback
design, time variant systems and adjoint model are included.
Optimal Control Theory
Prerequisite: ECE 581
3 hours lecture
The calculus of variations and classical optimal control techniques based on
it. Modern control theory is presented including Pontryagin’s principle
of maximum and Bellman’s dynamic programming. Relation to Hamiltonian
mechanics is discussed.
Nonlinear Systems Theory
Prerequisite: ECE 581
3 hours lecture
Analysis and design techniques for nonlinear systems. Topics covered include
singular points, contraction mapping, existence and uniqueness of solutions,
comparison principle, Lyapunov stability, stability of perturbed systems, slowly
varying systems, input-output stability, circle criterion, Popov criterion,
small-gain theorem, describing function method, feedback control design via
linearization, exact feedback linearization, and other selected topics from
nonlinear control theory.
Estimation Theory
3 hours lecture
Basic concepts and principles of estimation theory. Topics include least squares
estimation, recursive least squares estimation, best linear unbiased estimator,
Bayes estimation, maximum likelihood estimation, maximum a posteriori estimation,
conditional mean, Gauss-Markov random processes, Kalman filtering, prediction,
smoothing, and nonlinear estimation. Estimator bounds and properties are discussed.
Fuzzy Sets and Applications
Prerequisite: Probability and random variables; or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Concepts of fuzzy sets, understanding their impact on mathematics, and development
of the principles of design. Crisp sets, their operations, and classical two value
logic are reviewed and extended to fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic. Relations, orderings,
compatibility maps, and morphisms are extended to their fuzzy counterparts. Fuzzy
numbers, fuzzy arithmetic and equations are presented. Approximate reasoning,
evidence theory, possibility theory and probability are covered. Measures of uncertainty,
vagueness, and information are developed. Application to fuzzy control is presented
while applications to other disciplines are studied via individualized student projects.
Topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Topics of timely interest in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Course content
may change from year to year according to instructor’s preferences.
Principles of Project Engineering
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
An introduction to design, scheduling, managing, implementation and documentation
of engineering and applied science projects. The course emphasizes the methodologies
that lead to successful execution of projects and the phases and steps of the
design process. The course requires the students to practice writing parts of
a professional technical document or journal submission. Students work on real
engineering tasks and assignments of contemporary importance; these works may
be work or school related.
Independent Study
Prerequisite: Submission of a formal proposal that includes grading procedure
and must be endorsed by the instructor, the students advisor, the ECE
Graduate Program Director, and the department Chairperson before the course
begins.
Allows study into areas not included in the formal course listings.
Directed Study
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor, the ECE Graduate Program Director, and the department Chairperson.
Allows completion of a numbered course formally in the graduate program listing
but not being offered as a scheduled class.
Underwater Acoustics I
Prerequisite: ECE 557 or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
Underwater aspects of sound including a review of the wave equation and its
solutions. Topics include: production, propagation and reception of sound underwater,
radiation impedance, normal modes in rectangular and cylindrical cavities,
acoustic
waveguides, group speed and phase speed, introduction to transducers and arrays,
beam patterns and aperture functions Fourier transform pairs, beam
steering, The wave equation and its application to boundary value problems
are reviewed.
The Eikonal equation, velocity profiles in the ocean, ray tracing techniques
and propagation models of sound in the sea are introduced. Transmission loss,
noise, directivity and the passive and active sonar equations are also developed.
Underwater Acoustics II
Prerequisite: ECE 597 or permission of instructor
3 hours lecture
A continuation of ECE 597. This course covers advanced aspects of underwater
sound propagation including ray, normal mode, parabolic and WKB approximations,
shallow water treatments, surface and bottom reflection, scattering theory,
reverberation, and ambient and self noise studies.
Graduate Seminar
Prerequisite: Graduate Students in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Course includes instruction in library services, introduction of department
faculty research and laboratories, thesis/dissertation requirements, professional
ethics and standards, and seminar presentations by speakers from industry and
academia in addition to UMass Dartmouth faculty. Students are required to attend
several department seminars and participate in technical discussions and write
a report by the end of the semester.
