What is Electrical and Computer Engineering?

1. What is Electrical and Computer Engineering? Professor Charles Kime, ECE Associate Chair for Undergraduate Activities

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Computer Sciences Electrical Engineering EE, Comp Sci, or CMPE? Relationships: Software ++++++++++++++++++ Hardware Computer Engineering

9. 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 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

10. 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 digitally-oriented courses in hardware, software or both

11. 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?

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Advancement Opportunities • Advancement in industrial jobs is based on performance • Excellent opportunities to advance • Many engineers end up in management roles

18. 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

19. 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.

20. +’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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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