Overview
If you like building, testing and in general tinkering with electronic circuits then this track may be for you. As the name suggests, this track will prepare you to design, test and build circuits across the frequency range: from audio to THz frequencies. This track draws heavily on various application areas, such as electromagnetics, acoustics, signal processing, and communications to provide students with breadth of learning experience. Similarly, students can explore related areas that influence Analog/RF/microwave circuit design, such as semiconductor devices, packaging, and digital IC design. Many local companies look for this kind of talent: Tektronix, Intel, Qorvo, Maxim, Analog Devices, to name a few. What is most important, however, is that you will be well prepared for the ever-changing electronics industry and learn how to learn and be a successful circuit designer.
More formally, you are expected to be able to
- Design “classical” analog circuits and high-frequency (microwave) circuits, in various technologies.
- Characterize and measure low- and high-frequency components and systems
- Design, manufacture and test analog/RF/microwave systems for realistic problems
- Understand wave propagation, reflection and transmission.
- Apply numerical techniques to solve complex circuit and wave propagation problems
- Read and critique published literature
- Present research projects orally and in writing
Prerequisites
Students who begin this track should have a solid understanding of undergraduate level analog and high-frequency circuit design. Students should have the equivalent of PSU ECE 323, ECE332, and one or more senior-level circuits courses in the analog, RF/microwave or digital areas. Fluency in simulation and computational methods, including MATLAB is expected.
Core
ECE 521 Analog Integrated Circuit Design I
ECE 522 Analog Integrated Circuit Design II
ECE 531 Microwave Integrated Circuit Design I
ECE 532 Microwave Integrated Circuit Design II
Depth and Breadth Course list
EE 517 Instrumentation and Sensing
ECE 515 Fundamentals of Semiconductor Devices
ECE 516 Integrated Circuit Technologies
ECE 525 Digital Integrated Circuit Design I
ECE 526 Digital Integrated Circuit Design II
ECE 528 VLSI Computer-Aided Design
ECE 533 Advanced Electromagnetics
ECE 545 Power Electronics Systems Design I
ECE 546 Power Electronics Systems Design II
ECE 561 Communications Systems I
ECE 562 Communications Systems II
Track Completion Forms
Program Completion Form
Thesis Program Completion Form
Track Director