Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

What is Electrical and Computer Engineering?

Charles Kime, Professor Emeritus, ECE

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

• Relationships:

• Software ++++++++++++++++++ Hardware

Computer Sciences

Electrical Engineering

EE, Comp Sci, or CMPE?

ComputerEngineering

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Comp Sci versus EE, CMPE at UW

• Computer Sciences– Focus on Software

– More Scholarly Breadth

– Less Technical Content and Technical Problem-Solving

– Somewhat less demanding overall undergrad 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 undergrad program

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

EE versus CMPEat 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 digitally-oriented courses in hardware, software or both

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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? Computer 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?

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

What if I make the wrong decision?

• Transfer between the EE and CMPE programs is usually not difficult

• In the transfer process, you may lose some credits toward your degree, but not too many

• Due to more limited capacity admission standards for CMPE at UW are higher

• Transfer to and from CS at UW more complex

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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 additional years)—not necessary for first job

• For research and college teaching: Doctor of Philosophy degree (3 to 5 additional years)

• Opportunities exist to spend summers (intern) or half-year (co-op) in industry during programs

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Job Function• Design

– Integrated Circuits – Boards – Software– Systems

• Manufacture and Support– Production Facility Automation– Production Control and Supervision– Information Technology

• Market and Sell– Product Marketing– Product Sales– Field Applications

• Consulting, Research and Teaching

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Current Starting Salaries• B.S. degree — $50,500 per year

• M.S. degree — $60,000 per year

• Ph.D. degree — $80,000 or more per year

• Signing bonuses and stock options in some areas

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Advancement Opportunities

• Advancement in industrial jobs is based on performance

• Excellent opportunities to advance

• Many engineers end up in management roles

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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 in 1999-

2000 looking for new electrical/computer engineers• Whoa! So what happened this year?

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

+’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 can peak early– Stress level can be high– Viewed as a nerd

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Areas - EE

• Biomedical Engineering– pacemaker, intensive care unit monitor, hearing

aid, speech recognition, MRI– (contrast with separate degree program in

BME)

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Areas - EE

• Communications & Signal Processing– radio, television, radar, telephone, satellite

transmission

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Areas - EE

• Control Systems– robotics, feedback control of engines,

refrigerators, ovens, aircraft, trains, production lines

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Areas - EE (cont.)

• Electric Machines & Power Electronics– electric motors, motor controls, hybrid electric

cars

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Areas - EE (cont.)

• Electronic Devices, Microelectronics & Integrated Circuits– fabrication of integrated circuits, sensors,

microelectromechanical systems (MEMs)

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Areas - EE (cont.)

• Electromagnetic Fields & Wave Propagating Systems– antennas, global navigation, fiber optical

communication, satellite communication, microwave oven

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Areas - EE (cont.)

• Photonics– lasers, fiber optics, optical communication

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Areas - EE (cont.)

• Plasmas & Controlled Fusion– nuclear fusion energy, machine tool

hardening, integrated circuit manufacturing

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Areas - EE (cont.)

• Power Systems– electric generators, power transmission

lines, transmission system control

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

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

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Summary

• Electrical and computer engineering provide excellent opportunities for a rewarding career

• Job functions and areas of study are diverse

• Careers in these areas share many pluses and minuses (characteristic of engineering in general)