Undergraduate Program

Baccalaureate Programs

Director of Undergraduate Studies
Associate Professor Ramiro Jordán

Introduction

The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department’s vision demonstrates its long-standing commitment to provide excellent, “world class” quality undergraduate and graduate programs in a vibrant academic environment. In doing this, we serve our varied constituents: our students; local, national and international industry; the federal research laboratories; local, national, and international graduate and professional schools; the state of New Mexico; and our alumni.

The ECE department offers two undergraduate degree programs, one in electrical engineering and one in computer engineering. The technology in both these fields changes very rapidly. For this reason the curriculum in both programs stresses fundamental concepts as well as current application methods. Students are advised to get the latest Advisement Brochure for either program for changes made after this catalog is printed.


Admission to Baccalaureate Programs

Students must be admitted for study at the University of New Mexico and must have completed approximately one year of the appropriate freshman year subjects before applications can be processed for admission to the Baccalaureate Programs in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Approval from the ECE department is required. Applicants must consult the appropriate departmental advisor for evaluation of academic work before admission can be completed.

The criteria for admission to Baccalaureate Programs in Electrical and Computer Engineering are specified in detail in the ECE Department Undergraduate Handbook, which may be obtained from www.ece.unm.edu. There are 18 semester hours of freshman year technical subjects required by the School of Engineering for admission and a minimum grade point average of 2.50 in those courses is required for admission to undergraduate study in either Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering. A total of 26 semester hours applicable to a degree is required for admission with a grade point average of at least 2.20. All applicants must have completed ENGL 101 or its equivalent before admission. All courses required in a Baccalaureate degree program in the ECE Department must have grades of C or better for satisfying both admission and graduation requirements.

Policy on Passing Grades

Students admitted or readmitted to the Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering degree programs may not apply a course toward the B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering if the grade earned in the course is not a C or better, regardless of where that grade was earned. In order to fulfill the requirements for the UNM Core Curriculum, which went into effect in the Fall of 1999, students must have a C or better on specific UNM core classes.

Course Prerequisites

No one may enroll in an undergraduate course in the ECE Department without first earning a grade of C or better in all prerequisites for the course.

Residence Policy

Students admitted to a B.S. degree program in the ECE Department must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of work applicable to the B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering after admission to the program.

Courses Numbered 300 or Above
(8-Hour Rule)

The policy on courses numbered 300 or above is defined by the School of Engineering policy in this catalog. This policy is commonly referred to as the 8-Hour Rule. Briefly, this policy states that a student may not enroll in courses in the junior year of the curriculum (300-level or above) unless the student is within 8 credit hours of meeting all requirements of the first two years and is enrolled in the remaining courses to satisfy those requirements, with the exception of MATH 314, 316 and CE 304.

ECE courses numbered 300 through 499 are designed primarily for B.S. majors in the ECE Department; courses numbered 500 and above are designed primarily for M.S. and Ph.D. students in the ECE department. Therefore, students who have not been admitted to one of the degree programs in the ECE department may take a maximum of four ECE courses numbered 300 or above. This restriction will not apply to students who are taking an approved minor in the ECE department or who are enrolled in an approved dual degree program. Non-degree students who already have a B.S. or M.S. degree and are making up deficiencies for entrance into the ECE graduate program or are engaged in continuing education will be given special consideration, but are expected to obtain advising from the ECE Graduate Director each semester.

Minor Studies Requirements

Minors in Electrical and Computer Engineering are offered to students majoring in Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science.

  1. For a minor in Electrical Engineering, Physics and Mathematics students must take 203, 213, 206L, 238L, 314, 321L and one of 340, 360, 371 and 445.
  2. For a minor in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science students must take 203, 206L, 213, 314, 321L and two of 322L, 340, 360, 371 and 445.
  3. For a minor in Computer Engineering, Physics and Mathematics students must take 203, 213, 238L, 331, 337 and 344L.
  4. For a minor in Computer Engineering, Computer Science students must take 203, 206L, 213, 321L, 322L, 338 and 438.

Substitutions for the above required courses may be made with the approval of the designated ECE advisor for the appropriate minor.


Additional Information

Advisement

Students are required to consult a departmental undergraduate faculty advisor and obtain approval for registration each semester. At this time, faculty advisors review the program requirements, including scholarship, course requirements, prerequisites and progress toward degree goals. A computer hold on the student’s academic record is removed only after this advisement. The department has an Undergraduate Academic Advisor who is available to answer questions students have concerning the undergraduate programs, and to assist students in arranging for consultation with faculty advisors.


Engineering Design

Design is at the heart of engineering. Thus, design is integrated throughout the courses offered in the two ECE undergraduate programs, beginning with the very first courses, and culminating in a year-long team-based senior design project. Specifically, in ECE 419 and 420, students from the computer and electrical engineering programs work together in order to create specifications for designing, managing and building a high technology product.


Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering has been and continues to be a very dynamic field that provides exciting and excellent career opportunities. Electrical engineers use mathematics, physics and other sciences, together with computers, electronic instrumentation and other tools to create a wide range of systems such as integrated circuits, telecommunication networks, wireless personal communication systems, diagnostic medical equipment, robots, radar systems and electrical power distribution networks. Their involvement has changed the way we live and work.

The continuous need to improve and discover new systems makes the electrical engineering profession more sought after than ever before. The Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering is the first degree offered at the University of New Mexico and provides the student with the necessary skills to compete in such a rapidly changing discipline.

Program Educational Objectives
Electrical Engineering Degree

The principal goal of this program is to provide students with the fundamentals of electrical engineering, thereby providing an excellent base for a successful engineering career. This includes building a sufficient knowledge and analytical capability so that the graduates can continue to expand their knowledge as their fields of interest and the scope of electrical engineering changes. Our core courses are intended to provide a broad base so that those who terminate their formal education with the Bachelor’s degree can continue to grow. Likewise, the base provides insight into fields that students may choose to study at the graduate level. This goal is met by a curriculum in which there is a progression in course work and in which fundamental knowledge of earlier years is applied in later engineering courses.

The educational objectives of the electrical engineering program are to educate students to become resourceful practitioners of engineering who:

  • Are capable of utilizing their engineering skills in industry, nonprofit organizations, and national laboratories, or in pursuit of graduate education;
  • Are knowledgeable of the professional responsibilities and social context associated with being an engineer; can work in teams and effectively communicate the results of their work;
  • Will develop their knowledge and skills throughout their careers; and,
  • Function well in a diverse environment.

Scholarships

In addition to the scholarships available through the University of New Mexico and the School of Engineering, the ECE department has scholarships available for highly qualified students.

Curriculum in Electrical Engineering

The Bachelor of Science Program in Electrical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Hours required for graduation: 129

First Year First Semester
Cr. Hrs.
MATH 162 Calculus I 4
ECE 101 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering 1
PHYC 160 General Physics 3
ECE 131 Programming Fundamentals 3
ENGL 101
Composition I: Exposition 3
ECON 105 or 106
Introductory Macroeconomics/Microeconomics (1)
3
    17
  Second Semester  
MATH 163 Calculus II 4
CHEM 121 General Chemistry I 3
CHEM 123L General Chemistry I Lab 1
PHYC 161 General Physics 3
PHYC 161L General Physics Lab 1
ENGL 102 Composition II: Analysis and Argument 3
Humanities Core Elective (1) 3
    18
Second Year
First  Semester
 
ECE 203 Circuit Analysis I 3
MATH 264 Calculus III 4
MATH 316 Applied Ordinary Differential Equations 3
PHYC 262
General Physics
3
Foreign Language Core (1) 3
    16
  Second Semester  
ECE 206L Instrumentation 2
ECE 213 Circuit Analysis II 3
ECE 238L Computer Logic Design 4
ENGL 219 Technical and Professional Writing 3
MATH 314 Linear Algebra with Applications 3
    15
Third Year First Semester  
ECE 314 Signals and Systems (4)
3
ECE 321L Electronics I (4)
4
  Humanities Core Elective (1)
3
ECE Completeness Course (4)(6) 3
ECE Completeness Course (4)(6) 3
    16
  Second Semester  
ECE 340 Probabilistic Methods in Electrical Engineering (5)
3
ECE 344L
Microprocessors
4
ECE Completeness Course (5)(7) 3 or 4
ECE Completeness Course (5)(7) 3

Senior Technical Elective (3)
3
    16 or 17
Fourth Year First Semester (3)
 
ECE 419 Senior Design I (4)
3

Fine Arts Core Elective (1)
3
  ECE Completeness Course (4)(6) 3
ECE Track Elective (2) 3
  Senior Technical Elective (3)
3
    15
  Second Semester  
ECE 420 Senior Design II (5)
3
Senior Technical Elective (3) 3

Social/Behavioral Sciences Core Elective (1)
3
  ECE Completeness Course (5)(7)
3 or 4

ECE Track Elective (2)
3
    15 or 16

Notes:

  1. See Electrical Engineering Advisement Brochure for list of approved UNM core electives.
  2. ECE Track consists of: 6 hours (two courses) from a listed track.
  3. Senior Technical Electives must be approved by advisor, and must be 300-, 400-, or 500-level courses.
  4. Course offered only during Fall semesters.
  5. Course offered only during Spring semesters.
  6. Fall Completeness courses:  ECE 345, 371, and 381.
  7. Spring Completeness courses:  ECE 322L, 341, and 360.

Computer Engineering

Computer Engineering is an exciting, rapidly growing and changing field with high-paying jobs in industry, government and education. Computers pervade society, from microprocessors in electronic devices, to personal computers, laptops and workstations, to large parallel and distributed computers for solving complex problems. Computer engineers design computers and computer systems and write software for a wide variety of applications. Some specific areas are robotics, spacecraft and space applications, medical applications, navigation systems, information systems, entertainment systems, virtual reality, telecommunications, computer networks, computer graphics, the World Wide Web, embedded systems and digital systems in general.

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering is intended to prepare students for work in industry as well as for graduate school. The ECE Department offers both M.S. and Ph.D. graduate programs in Computer Engineering.

Program Educational Objectives Computer Engineering Degree

Computer engineering degree programs vary from institution to institution, so it is important to understand the goals of this program. One important goal of the program is to integrate computer hardware (design), computer software (programming) and electrical engineering into a broad and cohesive program within the framework of an engineering degree. This goal includes providing a core set of courses which lays a firm foundation for specialization in all significant areas of Computer Engineering. Other goals are: 1) to stress fundamental and advanced principles to prepare the student to become a practicing engineer, obtain an advanced degree or engage in continuing education; 2) to provide opportunities for specialization and for hands-on experience through laboratories at all levels; 3) to maintain modern and up-to-date laboratories; and 4) to take advantage of resources within electrical engineering and computer science.

The educational objectives of the electrical engineering program are to educate students to become resourceful practitioners of engineering who:

  • Are capable of utilizing their engineering skills in industry, nonprofit organizations, and national laboratories, or in pursuit of graduate education;
  • Are knowledgeable of the professional responsibilities and social context associated with being an engineer; can work in teams and effectively communicate the results of their work;
  • Will develop their knowledge and skills throughout their careers; and,
  • Function well in a diverse environment.

The Computer Engineering degree program can be looked at as consisting of three major threads that are intertwined: computer hardware, computer software and electrical engineering. The hardware sequence consists of ECE 238L, 337, 338, 438 and 440, all of which include at least some hardware design. The software sequence consists of CS 151L and ECE 231, 344L, 330, 331, and 435; all of these include some software design. Finally, the electrical engineering sequence includes ECE 203, 206L, 213, 314 and 321L.

Scholarships

In addition to the scholarships available through the University of New Mexico and the School of Engineering, the ECE department has scholarships available for highly qualified students.

Curriculum in Computer Engineering

The Bachelor of Science Program in Computer Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), http://www.abet.org.

Hours required for graduation: 128

First Year First Semester Cr. Hrs.
MATH 162 Calculus I 4
ECE 101 Intro to ECE 1
PHYC 160 General Physics 3
ECE 131 Programming Fundamentals 3
ENGL 101 Composition I: Exposition 3
ECON 105 or 106 Introductory Macroeconomics/Microeconomics (1) 3


17

Second Semester
MATH 163 Calculus II 4
ECE 231 Intermediate Programming and Engineering Problem Solving 3
PHYC 161 General Physics 3
PHYC 161L General Physics Laboratory 1
ENGL 102 Composition II: Analysis and Argument 3
Core Humanities Elective (1) 3


17
Second Year First Semester
ECE 203 Circuit Analysis I 3
ECE 238L Computer Logic Design 4
ENGL 219 Technical and Professional Writing 3
Basic Science with Laboratory 4
MATH 316 Applied Ordinary Differential Equations 3


17

Second Semester
ECE 206L Instrumentation 2
ECE 213 Circuit Analysis II 3
MATH 314, 321 or 375 3
MATH 264 Calculus III 4
ECE 330 Software Design (5) 3

15
Third Year First Semester
ECE 321L Electronics I (4) 4
MATH 327 Discrete Structures 3
ECE 314 Signals and Systems (4) 3
ECE 337 Introduction to Computer Architecture and Organization 3
Foreign Language Core (1) 3


16

Second Semester
ECE 331 Data Structures & Algorithms (5) 3
ECE 340 Probabilistic Methods in Engineering  (5) 3
ECE 344L Microprocessors 4
Social/Behavioral Sciences Core Elective (1) 3
ECE Track Elective (2) 3


16
Fourth Year First Semester
ECE 419 Senior Design I (4) 3
ECE 437 Computer Operating Systems (4) 3
Senior Technical Elective (3) 3
Senior Technical Elective (3) 3
ECE Track Elective (2) 3
15



Second Semester
ECE 420 Senior Design II (5) 3
ECE 440 Computer Networks (5) 3
Senior Technical Elective (3)
3
Humanities Core Elective (1) 3
Fine Arts Core Elective (1) 3


15

Notes:

  1. See approved list of core electives in the ECE Undergraduate Handbook.
  2. ECE Track consists of: ECE 338 and 438, or ECE 335 and 435.
  3. Senior Technical Electives must be approved by your faculty advisor and must be 300-, 400-, or 500-level courses.
  4. Course only offered during Fall Semesters.
  5. Course only offered during Spring Semesters.

Cooperative Education and Part-Time Study

Electrical and Computer Engineering students may participate in a cooperative education program. In this program, students gain engineering experience with full-time employment during part of the year and full-time study for the remainder of the year. It is also possible to participate in programs in which the student has a mixture of part-time engineering employment and part-time study. Because almost all courses required for both degree programs are offered in each of the fall and spring semesters, the department offers a firm base for both cooperative education and part-time study. Both the Electrical and Computer Engineering programs require a minimum grade point average of 2.50 to participate in the co-op program. See appropriate entry in this catalog in the School of Engineering, Co-op section.

Honors Program

Students with a B+ average (3.20 degree GPA) in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering are encouraged to enroll in the University Honors Program. Students in their junior year who have a degree grade point average of 3.5 or above are invited by letter to apply for departmental honors. If the student wishes to complete the two courses required for departmental honors--ECE 493 and ECE 494--he/she should obtain the application from the undergraduate academic advisor. The student completes both courses with the same professor in two consecutive terms, and the project is determined by the professor and the student. ECE students may graduate with General Honors (honors in general studies) or with Departmental Honors or with both. Information is available from University College advisors, departmental advisors and the University Honors Program.


Courses

ECE 101. Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering. (1)



ECE 131. Programming Fundamentals. (3)



ECE 203. Circuit Analysis I. (3)



ECE 206L. Instrumentation. (2)



ECE 213. Circuit Analysis II. (3)



ECE 231. Intermediate Programming and Engineering Problem Solving. (3)



ECE 238L. Computer Logic Design. (4)



ECE **314. Signals and Systems. (3)



ECE **321L. Electronics I. (4)



ECE **322L. Electronics II. (4)



ECE 330. Software Design. (3)



ECE **331. Data Structures and Algorithms. (3)



ECE **335. Integrated Software Systems. (3)



ECE **337. Introduction to Computer Architecture and Organization. (3)



ECE **338. Intermediate Logic Design. (3)



ECE **340. Probabilistic Methods in Engineering. (3)



ECE 341 [*441]. Introduction to Communication Systems. (3)



ECE **344L. Microprocessors. (4)



ECE 345 . Introduction to Control Systems. (3)



ECE **360. Electromagnetic Fields and Waves. (3)



ECE **371. Materials and Devices. (3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



ECE 381. Introduction to Electric Power Systems. (3 )



ECE 412. Introduction to Computer Graphics: Scanline Algorithms. (3)



ECE 413. Introduction to Ray and Vector Graphics. (3)



ECE 419. Senior Design I. (3)



ECE 421 / 523. Analog Electronics. (3)



ECE *424. Digital VLSI Design. (3)



ECE *432. Introduction to Parallel Processing. (3)



ECE **435. Software Engineering. (3)



ECE *437. Computer Operating Systems. (3)



ECE *438. Design of Computers. (3)



ECE *439. Introduction to Digital Signal Processing. (3)



ECE *440. Introduction to Computer Networks. (3)



ECE *442. Introduction to Wireless Communications. (3)



ECE *443. Hardware Design with VHDL. (3)



ECE *446. Design of Feedback Control Systems. (3)



ECE 448 / 548. Fuzzy Logic with Applications. (3)



ECE 460 / 560. Introduction to Microwave Engineering. (3)



ECE *463. Advanced Optics I. (3)



ECE *464. Laser Physics . (3)



ECE 469 / 569. Antennas for Wireless Communication Systems. (3)



ECE *471. Materials and Devices II. (3)



ECE 474L / 574L. Microelectronics Processing. (3)



ECE *475. Introduction to Electro-Optics and Opto-Electronics. (3)



ECE 482 / 582. Electric Drives and Transformers. (3)



ECE 483/583. Power Electronics. (3)



ECE 484 / 584. Photovoltaics. (3)



ECE 486 / 586. Design for Manufacturability. (3)



ECE *487. Semiconductor Factory Design and Operations. (3)



ECE 488 / 588. Future Energy Systems. (3)



ECE 490. Internship. (3)



ECE 491. Undergraduate Problems. (1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



ECE 493. Honors Seminar. (1-3)



ECE 494. Honors Individual Study. (1-6)



ECE 495 / 595. Special Topics. (1-4 to a maximum of 9, 1-4 to a maximum of 15 Δ)



ECE 500. Theory of Linear Systems. (3)



ECE 506. Optimization Theory. (3)



ECE 509. Parallel Algorithms. (3)



ECE 510. Medical Imaging. (3)



ECE 511. Analysis Methods in Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. (3)



ECE 512. Advanced Image Synthesis. (3)



ECE 513. Real-Time Rendering and Graphics Hardware. (3)



ECE 514. Nonlinear and Adaptive Control. (3)



ECE 515. Scientific and Information Visualization. (3)



ECE 516. Computer Vision. (3)



ECE 517. Pattern Recognition. (3)



ECE 518. Synthesis of Nanostructures. (3)



ECE 519. Theory, Fabrication, and Characterization of Nano & Microelectromechanical Systems (NEMS/MEMS). (4 [3])



ECE 520. VLSI Design. (3)



ECE 522. Hardware Software Codesign with FPGAs. (3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



ECE 523 / 421. Analog Electronics. (3)



ECE 524. Collaborative Interdisciplinary Teaching. (3)



ECE 525. Hardware-Oriented Security and Trust. (3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



ECE 528. Embedded Systems Architecture. (3)



ECE 531. Error-Correcting Codes. (3)



ECE 533. Digital Image Processing. (3)



ECE 534. Plasma Physics I. (3)



ECE 536. Computer System Software. (3)



ECE 537. Foundations of Computing. (3)



ECE 538. Advanced Computer Architecture. (3)



ECE 539. Digital Signal Processing. (3)



ECE 540. Advanced Networking Topics. (3)



ECE 541. Probability Theory and Stochastic Processes. (3)



ECE 542. Digital Communication Theory. (3)



ECE 545. Digital Control Systems. (3)



ECE 546. Multivariable Control Theory. (3)



ECE 547. Neural Networks. (3)



ECE 548 / 448. Fuzzy Logic with Applications. (3)



ECE 549. Information Theory and Coding. (3)



ECE 550. Social and Ethical Issues in Nanotechnology. (1-3)



ECE 551. Problems. (1-6 to a maximum of 9 Δ)



ECE 554. Advanced Optics II. (3)



ECE 555. Foundations of Engineering Electromagnetics. (3)



ECE 557. Pulsed Power and Charged Particle Acceleration. (3)



ECE 558. Charged Particle Beams and High Power Microwaves. . (3)



ECE 559. Internship in Optical Science and Engineering. (3)



ECE 560 / 460. Introduction to Microwave Engineering. (3)



ECE 561. Engineering Electromagnetics . (3)



ECE 563. Computational Methods for Electromagnetics. (3)



ECE 564. Guided Wave Optics. (3)



ECE 565. Optical Communication Components and Subsystems. (3)



ECE 566. Advanced Optical Subsystems and Networks. (3)



ECE 569 / 469. Antennas for Wireless Communications Systems. (3)



ECE 570. Optoelectronic Semiconductor Materials and Devices. (3)



ECE 572. Semiconductor Physics. (3)



ECE 574L / 474L. Microelectronics Processing. (3)



ECE 575. Junction Devices. (3)



ECE 576. Modern VLSI Devices. (3)



ECE 577. Fundamentals of Semiconductor LEDs and Lasers. (3)



ECE 578. Advanced Semiconductor Lasers. (3)



ECE 580. Advanced Plasma Physics. (3)



ECE 581. Colloidal Nanocrystals for Biomedical Applications. (3)



ECE 582 / 482. Electric Drives and Transformers. (3)



ECE 583/483. Power Electronics. (3)



ECE 584 / 484. Photovoltaics. (3)



ECE 585. Modern Manufacturing Methods. (3)



ECE 586 / 486. Design for Manufacturability. (3)



ECE 588 / 488. Future Energy Systems. (3)



ECE 590. Graduate Seminar. (1 to a maximum of 2 Δ)



ECE 591. Integrating Nanotechnology with Cell Biology and Neuroscience Seminar. (1, no limit Δ)



ECE 594. Complex Systems Theory. (3)



ECE 595 / 495. Special Topics. (1-4 to a maximum of 15, 1-4 to a maximum of 9 Δ)



ECE 599. Master’s Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



ECE 609. Advanced Parallel Algorithms. (3)



ECE 620. Topics in Interdisciplinary Biological and Biomedical Sciences. (3, unlimited Δ)



ECE 633. Advanced Topics in Image Processing. (3 to a maximum of 9 Δ)



ECE 637. Topics in Algorithms. (3 to a maximum of 9 Δ)



ECE 638. Topics in Architecture and Systems. (3 to a maximum of 9 Δ)



ECE 642. Detection and Estimation Theory. (3)



ECE 649. Topics in Control Systems. (3 to a maximum of 9 Δ)



ECE 651. Problems. (1-6 to a maximum of 9 Δ)



ECE 661. Topics in Electromagnetics. (3)



ECE 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



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Office of the Registrar

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1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809