2014-2015
Academic Catalog

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Programs

Electrical Engineering

Today's technological world is driven by the electronics and electronic systems, developed and advanced by electrical engineers, that are found embedded in a large portion of today's commercial and consumer products. The electronic systems and subsystems (including both hardware and software components) are increasing exponentially in complexity and sophistication each year. The familiar expectation that next year's computer and communications products will be far more powerful than today's is common to all products incorporating electronics. The high (and increasing) complexity and sophistication of these electronic products may not be seen by the casual user, but they are understood, delivered, and advanced by electrical engineers. The field of electrical engineering encompasses areas such as telecommunications, data networks, signal processing, digital systems, embedded computing, intelligent systems, electronics, optoelectronics, solid state devices, and many others. The Department's program is designed to provide our electrical engineering graduates with the tools and skills necessary to understand and apply today's technologies and to become leaders in developing tomorrow's technologies and applications.

The principles and practices of electrical engineering rest upon the broad base of fundamental science and mathematics that defines the School of Engineering and Science's core program. A sequence of electrical engineering courses provides students with an understanding of the major themes defining contemporary electronic systems, as well as depth in the mathematics and principles of today's complex electronic systems. Students select elective courses to develop depth in areas of personal interest. In addition to electrical engineering elective courses, students can draw upon computer engineering and other Stevens courses to develop the skills appropriate for their career objectives. In the senior year, students complete a significant, team-based engineering design project through which they further develop their skills.

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Mission and Objectives

The mission of the undergraduate electrical engineering program in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) is to provide a balanced education in fundamental principles, design methodologies, and practical experiences in electrical engineering and in general engineering topics through which graduates can enter into and sustain lifelong professional careers of innovation and creativity.

The overriding objective of the electrical engineering program is to provide graduates with the skills and understanding needed to design and build innovative new products and services which balance the rival requirements of competitive performance/cost and practical constraints imposed by available technologies.

Graduates of the Electrical Engineering program will:

Understand the evolving electronic devices and systems from their underlying physical principles and properties.
Design electronic devices, circuits, and systems by applying underlying mathematical principles, software principles, and engineering models.
Perform effectively in team-based electronic engineering practice.
Be proficient in the systematic explorations of alternatives for electronic systems design.
Demonstrate compliance with professional ethics, for example, as stipulated in the IEEE Code of Ethics.
Be proficient in the use of communications (oral presentations and written reports) to articulate their ideas effectively.
Participate in continuing learning and self-improvement necessary for a productive career in computer engineering.
Play leadership roles in their professions.

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Graduation Requirements

The following are requirements for graduation of all engineering students and are not included for academic credit. They will appear on the student record as pass/fail.

Physical Education (P.E.) Requirements:

All students must complete a minimum of four semester credits of Physical Education (P.E.). A large number of activities are offered in lifetime, team, and wellness areas.
All PE courses must be completed by the end of the sixth semester. Students can enroll in more than the minimum required P.E. for graduation and are encouraged to do so.
Participation in varsity sports can be used to satisfy up to three credits of the P.E. requirement.
Participation in supervised, competitive club sports can be used to satisfy up to two credits of the P.E. requirement, with approval from the P.E. Coordinator.

English Language Proficiency:

All students must satisfy an English Language proficiency requirement.

PLEASE NOTE: A comprehensive Communications Program will be implemented for the Class of 2009. This may influence how the English Language Proficiency requirement is met. Details will be added when available.

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Computer Engineering

One of the most rapidly growing fields today is computer engineering. This includes the design, development, and application of digital and computer-based systems for the solution of modern engineering problems, as well as computer software development, data structures and algorithms, and computer communications and graphics. The department provides our computer engineering students with the tools and skills necessary to understand and apply today's technologies and to become leaders in developing tomorrow's technologies. The program prepares students to pursue professional careers in industry and government, and to continue their education in graduate school, if they choose.

Students in the computer engineering program begin by studying the scientific foundations that are the basis for all engineering. Specialized electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science courses follow, providing depth in the many issues related to computers, data networks, information systems, and related topics used in contemporary commercial and industrial applications. Students may direct their interests into areas such as computer and information systems, software/software engineering, and computer architectures and digital systems. In addition to computer engineering courses, students can draw upon electrical engineering and computer science courses to develop the skills appropriate for their career objectives. In the senior year, students have the opportunity to participate in an actual engineering design project which is taken directly from a current industrial or commercial application.

Mission and Objectives

The mission of the undergraduate computer engineering program in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is to provide a balanced education in fundamental principles, design methodologies, and practical experiences in computer engineering, general engineering, and physical and mathematical sciences topics through which graduates can enter into and sustain lifelong professional careers of engineering innovation and creativity. Computer engineering integrates those elements of electrical engineering and computer science that underlie the hardware-software interface in computing and information systems.

The overriding objective of the computer engineering program is to provide graduates with the skills and understanding needed to design and build innovative new products and services. They balance the rival requirements of competitive performance/cost and practical constraints imposed by available technologies.

Graduates of the computer engineering program will:

Apply the underlying principles and practices of digital circuits and systems, including design techniques, engineering design tools, mathematical methods, and physical technologies.
Participate effectively in team-based approaches to design, verification, and realization tasks.
Be proficient in the systematic exploration of the design space to achieve optimized designs.
Demonstrate compliance with professional ethics (for example, as stipulated in the IEEE Code of Ethics).
Be proficient in the use of communications (oral presentations and written reports) to articulate their ideas effectively.
Participate in continuing learning and self-improvement necessary for productive careers in computer engineering.
Play leadership roles in their professions.

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Graduation Requirements

The following are requirements for graduation of all engineering students and are not included for academic credit. They will appear on the student record as pass/fail.

Physical Education

All engineering students must complete a minimum of three semester credits of Physical Education (P.E.). A large number of activities are offered in lifetime, team, and wellness areas. Students must complete at least one course in their first semester at Stevens; the other two can be completed at any time, although it is recommended that this be done within the first half of the students' program of study. Students can enroll in more than the minimum required P.E. for graduation and are encouraged to do so.
Participation in varsity sports can be used to satisfy the full P.E. requirement.
Participation in supervised, competitive club sports can be used to satisfy up to two credits of the P.E. requirement with approval from the P.E. Coordinator.

English Language Proficiency

All students must satisfy an English Language proficiency requirement.

Electives

"Technical electives" are generally selected from among the courses (EE or CPE) listed among the ECE course descriptions. Under special circumstances, students may be allowed to use courses from other departments to satisfy the technical elective requirement. Approval by the course instructor, the student's advisor, and the ECE Director is required.

"General Electives" are free electives, and can be selected from among any courses (including ECE courses) at Stevens Institute of Technology. Students can use 500-level ECE courses to satisfy an elective requirement, with the permission of the course instructor and the students' advisor. If a student satisfies the conditions established by the Stevens Graduate School for admission into 600-level graduate courses, ECE 600-level courses may also be used as electives or technical electives. Students interested in using a 500-level or 600-level course from other departments as a free elective must satisfy the conditions for admission into the course by the offering department.

"Special Topics" graduate courses offered by other departments may not be taken for credit towards the B.E. in Electrical Engineering.

Areas of Concentration

Electrical and computer engineering students can select their elective courses among four technical electives and three general electives in various ways. Some of them may wish to cluster those electives in ways that would help them gain expertise in an area of specialization within electrical and computer engineering. The following groupings are possible specialty (concentration) areas that students can select from within the electrical and computer engineering program:

Autonomous Robotics

CPE 521 Autonomous Mobile Robotic Systems
CPE 555 Real-Time and Embedded Systems
CPE 556 Computing Principles of Embedded Systems

Control Systems

EE 478 Control Systems
EE 575 Introduction to Control Theory

Data Communications and Networks

EE 475 Advanced Communication Systems
CPE 493 Data and Computer Communications
CPE 560 Introduction to Networked Information Systems
CPE 565 Management of Local Area Networks

Image Processing and Multimedia

CPE 536 Integrated Services - Multimedia
CPE 537 Interactive Computer Graphics I
CPE 558 Computer Vision
CPE 591 Introduction to Multimedia Networking
CPE 592 Computer and Multimedia Network Security

Information Systems Security

EE/CPE 440 Introduction to Security Systems and Engineering
CPE 579 Foundations of Cryptography
EE 584 Wireless Systems Security
CPE 592 Computer and Multimedia Network Security

Real-Time and Embedded Systems

CPE 450 Embedded Systems for Real-Time Applications
CPE 555 Real-Time and Embedded Systems
CPE 556 Computing Principles of Embedded Systems

Software Engineering

CPE 442 Database Management Systems
CPE 492 Computer and Operating Systems
EE 545 Communication Software and Middleware
CPE 593 Applied Data Structure and Algorithm

Wireless Communications

EE/CPE 441 Introduction to Wireless Systems
EE 568 Software Defined Radio
EE 583 Wireless Communications
EE 584 Wireless Systems Security
EE 585 Physical Design of Wireless Systems
EE 586 Wireless Networking: Architectures, Protocols, and Standards

Engineering with a Concentration in Information Systems Engineering

The SSE and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) of the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science jointly offer an Information Systems Engineering (ISE) concentration under the Engineering Program in the undergraduate curriculum.

The goal of the ISE concentration is to produce graduates with a broad engineering foundation who can be effective in the analysis, design, construction, implementation, and management of information systems. A student can choose either a focus area in information systems management or networked information systems (NIS). Students taking the NIS focus will, in general, take their senior design sequence with students in the Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering (CPE) program. Whereas, those students taking the ISM focus will take their senior design sequence with students in the Bachelor of Engineering in Engineering Management (BEEM) program. The following lists typical electives within each focus. Other appropriate electives can be chosen with the approval of a faculty advisor.

Network Information Systems (NIS): Electives for the NIS focus can be selected from any ECE undergraduate or 500-level courses consistent with the themes of networks, information, and networked information systems. When appropriate, courses from other academic programs can also be used, with a maximum of 2 courses from other academic programs. The Director of the ECE Department serves as advisor to students in this focus area and electives must be approved by the ECE Director.

Information Systems Management (ISM): Rapid advancements in technology and dynamic markets and the changing business environment have created increased demand for professionals who can manage and deliver information systems. This demand has been accelerated by new competition, shorter product life cycles, and more complex and specialized markets.

EM 301 Accounting and Business Analysis (Fall of junior year)
EM 385 Innovative System Design (Spring of junior year)
EM 360 Total Quality Management (Spring of senior year)

The mission of the Bachelor of Engineering in ISE (BEISE) Program is to provide an education based on a strong engineering core, complemented by studies in business, computer engineering, systems, and management, to provide systems professionals who can develop, lead, and evolve information resources partnering with corporate management. ISE graduates are prepared to work at the interface between engineering and management to design and build innovative new products and services which balance the rival requirements of competitive performance/cost and practical constraints imposed by available technologies.

The objectives of the BEISE program can be summarized as follows:

ISE graduates have a strong general engineering foundation and are able to use modern technological tools while working on complex multidisciplinary problems.
ISE graduates will have assumed leadership positions in their chosen areas of work using knowledge gained from their information systems education.
ISE graduates effectively work in teams on projects to solve real-world problems. This effort can involve information research, the use of project management tools and techniques, and the economic justification of the solution that is effectively communicated in a written or oral project report/business proposal that is presented to the client.
ISE graduates will be proficient in the systematic exploration of the design space to achieve optimized designs.
ISE graduates possess the ethics, knowledge, skills, and attributes to define, design, develop, and manage resources, processes, and complex systems needed to work in a multidisciplinary team environment.
ISE graduates will apply engineering and management skills and the tools to continue sustained intellectual growth in the corporate or academic world.

Minors

A student may qualify for a minor in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering by taking the required courses indicated below. Completion of a minor indicates a proficiency beyond that provided by the Stevens curriculum in the basic material of the selected area. Enrollment in a minor program means that the student must also meet Stevens' requirements for minor programs.

Requirements for a Minor in Electrical Engineering

CPE 390 Microprocessor Systems
E 250 Math for Electrical Engineers
EE 348 Systems Theory
EE 448 Digital Signal Processing
EE 465 Introduction to Communications
EE 359 Electronic Circuits

Requirements for a Minor in Computer Engineering

CPE 360 Computational Data Structures and Algorithms
CPE 390 Microprocessor Systems
CPE 462 Image Processing and Coding
CPE 487 Digital Systems Design
CPE 490 Information Systems Eng. I
MA 134 Discrete Math

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Graduate Programs

The mission of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is to provide students with the tools and skills necessary to understand and apply today's technologies and to become leaders in developing tomorrow's technologies and applications. To this end, programs have been developed to ensure that students receive both fundamental knowledge in basic concepts and an understanding of current and emerging/future technologies and applications.

The Electrical and Computer Engineering department offers the degrees of Master of Engineering - Electrical Engineering, Master of Science - Electrical Engineering, Master of Engineering - Computer Engineering, Master of Science - Computer Engineering, Master of Engineering - Information and Data Engineering, Master of Science - Information and Data Engineering, the degree of Electrical Engineer, and the degree of Computer Engineer. In addition, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy is offered in Electrical Engineering and in Computer Engineering.

The faculty engage in a variety of research efforts, such as telecommunications; data networks; information systems; wireless networks; including architectures and principles; signal processing; including communications applications; channel/signal estimation and detection; image processing and coding for images and video; multimedia systems and environments; computational system architectures, reconfigurable systems; secure data communications; network analysis and modeling; optical communication systems; and low-power mobile systems.

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Master of Engineering - Electrical Engineering

In general, a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for graduate study in electrical engineering. Outstanding applicants with degrees in other engineering disciplines, physics, or mathematics may be conditionally admitted subject to the completion of appropriate ramp courses or their equivalents with a grade of "B" or better. The specific requirements will be determined on an individual basis depending on the student's background. Submission of GRE scores is recommended, but not required.

The master's degree requires completion of a total of 30 hours of credit. Each student must complete the three core courses and must complete the course requirements for one of the electrical engineering concentrations. Elective courses are to be chosen from among the EE, CPE, and NIS numbered graduate courses in this catalog. An elective course not in the CPE, EE, or NIS numbered courses may be taken, with the approval of the student's academic advisor. A maximum of two elective courses not listed in the ECE program may be taken with the approval of the academic advisor.

Master of Science - Electrical Engineering

The Master of Science degree requires completion of a Master's Thesis. In the Master of Engineering degree, the completion of a Master's Thesis is optional. All other requirements are the same for the Master of Science and Master of Engineering degrees.

Electrical Engineering Core Courses:

EE 602 Analytical Methods in Electrical Engineering
EE 603 Linear Systems Theory
EE 605 Probability and Stochastic Processes I

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Electrical Engineering Concentrations:

Those students selecting one of the departmental concentration areas must complete a three-course concentration sequence appropriate for any one of the following concentration areas. Recommended courses are listed with each concentration. (Approval by the student's advisor is required to substitute another course for a listed course.)

Autonomous Robotics

Required:

CPE 521 Autonomous Mobile Robotic Systems
EE 631 Cooperating Autonomous Mobile Robots

Choose two from the following list with approval from an ECE advisor:

CPE 555 Real-Time and Embedded Systems
CPE 645 Image Processing and Computer Vision
EE 583 Wireless Communications
EE 621 Nonlinear Control

Computer Architectures and Digital Systems

CPE 514 Computer Architecture
CPE 643 Logic Design of Digital Systems I
CPE 690 Introduction to VLSI Design

Embedded Systems

CPE 555 Real-Time and Embedded Systems
CPE 621 Analysis and Design of Real-Time Systems
CPE 690 Introduction to VLSI Design
EE 627 Data Acquisition and Processing I
EE 623 Applied Machine Learning

Microelectronic Devices and Systems

CPE 690 Introduction to VLSI Design
EE 503 Introduction to Solid State Physics
EE 619 Solid State Devices

Signal Processing for Communications

EE 613 Digital Signal Processing for Communications
EE 615 Multicarrier Communications
EE 616 Signal Detection and Estimation for Communications
EE 663 Digital Signal Processing I
EE 664 Digital Signal Processing II

Telecommunications Systems Engineering

CPE 655 Queuing Systems with Computer Applications I
EE 606 Probability and Stochastic Processes II
EE 609 Communication Theory
EE 610 Error Control Coding for Networks
EE 670 Information Theory and Coding

Wireless Communications

EE 583 Wireless Communications
EE 584 Wireless Systems Security
EE 585 Physical Design of Wireless Systems
EE 586 Wireless Networking: Architectures, Protocols, and Standards
EE 651 Spread Spectrum and CDMA
EE 653 Cross-Layer Design for Wireless Networks

Interdepartmental Concentration in Microelectronics and Photonics Science and Technology:

Students selecting this concentration must complete the core course and three of the concentration's allowed elective courses listed below (see asterisk note).

Concentration Core Course:

EE 507 Introduction to Microelectronics and Photonics

Allowed Concentration Electives:

CPE 690 Introduction to VLSI Design*
EE 585 Physical Design of Wireless Systems*
EE 626 Optical Communication Systems*
MT 562 Solid State Electronics II
MT 595 Reliability and Failure of Solid State Devices
MT 596 Microfabrication Techniques
PEP 503 Introduction to Solid State Physics
PEP 515 Photonics I
PEP 516 Photonics II
PEP 561 Solid State Electronics I

* These courses do not count towards the Microelectronics and Photonics concentration for ECE students (they do count as electives for the full master's program).

For further information on recommended elective courses under each concentration, refer to the Computer Engineering graduate program brochure, the ECE Web page, or consult with an academic advisor.

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Master of Engineering - Computer Engineering

In general, a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for graduate study in computer engineering. Outstanding applicants in other areas may be conditionally admitted subject to the completion of appropriate ramp courses or their equivalents with a grade of "B" or better. The specific requirements will be determined on an individual basis depending upon the student's background. Submission of GRE scores is recommended, but not required.

The master's degree requires completion of a total of 30 hours of credit. Each student must complete the three core courses and must complete the course requirements for one of the computer engineering concentrations. Elective courses are to be chosen from among the CPE, EE, and NIS numbered graduate courses in this catalog. An elective course not in the CPE, EE, or NIS numbered courses may be taken, with the approval of the student's academic advisor. A maximum of two elective courses not listed in the ECE program may be taken with the approval of the academic advisor.

Master of Science - Computer Engineering

Computer Engineering Core Courses:

CPE 517 Computer and Digital Systems Architecture
CPE 593 Applied Data Structures and Algorithms
CPE 602 Applied Discrete Mathematics

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Computer Engineering Concentrations:

Each student must complete a three-course concentration sequence appropriate for any one of the following concentration areas. Recommended courses are listed with each concentration. A course used as a core course cannot be used also to satisfy the requirement for three courses in a concentration. (Approval by the student's advisor is required to substitute another course for a listed course.)

Computer Systems

CPE 540 Fundamentals of Quantitative Software Engineering I
CPE 644 Logical Design of Digital Systems II
CPE 654 Design and Analysis of Network Systems
EE 653 Cross-Layer Design for Wireless Networks

Data Communications and Networks

CPE 565 Management of Local Area Networks
CPE 654 Design and Analysis of Network Systems
CPE 678 Information Networks I
CPE 655 Queuing Systems with Computer Applications I
EE 653 Cross-Layer Design for Wireless Networks
NIS 584 Wireless Systems Security

Digital Systems Design

CPE 621 Analysis and Design of Real-Time Systems
CPE 644 Logical Design of Digital Systems II
CPE 690 Introduction to VLSI Systems Design

Image Processing and Multimedia

CPE 536 Integrated Services - Multimedia
CPE 558 Computer Vision
CPE 591 Introduction to Multimedia Networking
CPE 645 Image Processing and Computer Vision
EE 612 Principles of Multimedia Compression

Information Systems

CPE 536 Integrated Services - Multimedia
CPE 563 Networked Applications Engineering
CPE 591 Introduction to Multimedia Networking
CPE 645 Image Processing and Computer Vision
NIS 584 Wireless Systems Security

Information Systems Security

CPE 591 Introduction to Multimedia Networking
CPE 668 Foundations of Cryptography
CPE 678 Information Networks I
CPE 691 Information Systems Security
EE 584 Wireless Systems Security

Intelligent Systems

CPE 645 Image Processing and Computer Vision
CPE 646 Pattern Recognition and Classification
EE 568 Software Defined Radio
EE 647 Analog and Digital Control Theory
CPE 623 Applied Machine Learning

Real-Time and Embedded Systems

Required:

CPE 555 Real-Time and Embedded Systems
CPE 690 Introduction to VLSI Design

Choose two from the following list:

CPE 621 Analysis and Design of Real-Time Systems
CPE 623 Applied Machine Learning
CPE 643 Logical Design of Digital Systems
CPE 645 Image Processing and Computer Vision

For further information on recommended elective courses under each concentration, refer to the Computer Engineering graduate program brochure, the ECE Web page, or consult with an academic advisor.

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Master of Engineering - Information and Data Engineering

In general, a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering (or a closely related discipline) with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for graduate study in Networked Information Systems. Outstanding applicants with degrees in other disciplines such as computer science, management, or mathematics may be admitted subject to demonstration of the technical background expected (perhaps with the requirement for completion of appropriate ramp courses or their equivalents with a grade of "B" or better). Such applicants, as well as applicants with significant career experiences but not satisfying the primary requirements, will be admitted on an individual basis depending on the student's background. Submission of GRE scores is recommended, but not required.

The master's degree requires completion of a total of 30 hours of credit. Each student must complete NIS 560 and two of the other five listed core courses and must complete the course requirements for one of the networked information systems concentrations. Elective courses are to be chosen from among the NIS, CPE, and EE numbered graduate courses in this catalog. Under special circumstances, an elective course not in the CPE, EE, or NIS numbered courses may be taken, with the approval of the student's academic advisor. A maximum of two elective courses not listed in the ECE program may be used for the master's degree with approval of the academic advisor.

Master of Science - Information and Data Engineering

Information and Data Engineering Core Courses:

NIS 560 Introduction to Networked Information Systems
NIS 565 Management of Local Area Networks
NIS 604 Analytical Methods for Networks

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Information and Data Engineering Concentrations:

Each student must complete a three-course concentration ;ration sequence appropriate for any one of the following concentration areas. Recommended courses are listed with each concentration. A course used as a core course cannot be used also to satisfy the requirement for three courses in a concentration. (Approval by the student's advisor is required to substitute another course for a listed course.)

Data Communications and Networks

NIS 611 Digital Communications Engineering I
NIS 653 Cross-Layer Design for Wireless Networks
NIS 654 Design and Analysis of Network Systems
NIS 655 Queuing Systems with Communications Applications I
NIS 678 Information Networks I

Information Networks

NIS 654 Design and Analysis of Network Systems
NIS 563 Networked Applications Engineering
NIS 678 Information Networks I
NIS 679 Information Networks II
NIS 584 Wireless Systems Security

Multimedia Information Systems

NIS 536 Integrated Services - Multimedia
NIS 561 Database Management Systems I
NIS 583 Wireless Communications
NIS 591 Introduction to Multimedia Networking
NIS 645 Image Processing and Computer Vision

Multimedia Technologies

NIS 536 Integrated Services - Multimedia
NIS 582 Multimedia Network Security
NIS 612 Principles of Multimedia Compression
NIS 645 Image Processing and Computer Vision

Networked Information Systems: Business Practices

NIS 630 Enterprise Systems Management
NIS 631 Management of Information Technology Organizations
NIS 632 Strategic Management of Information Technology
NIS 633 Integrating IS Technologies

Network Systems Technologies

NIS 586 Wireless Communications: Architectures, Protocols, and Standards
NIS 626 Optical Communication Systems
NIS 674 Satellite Communications

Secure Network Systems Design

NIS 560 Introduction to Networked Information Systems
NIS 584 Wireless Systems Security
NIS 592 Multimedia Network Security
NIS 654 Design and Analysis of Network Systems
NIS 691 Information Systems Security

For further information on recommended elective courses under each concentration, refer to the Networked Information Systems graduate program brochure, the ECE Web page, or consult with an academic advisor.

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Degree of Electrical Engineer and Degree of Computer Engineer

These programs provide opportunities for the student to proceed with professional development beyond the master's level. The course work may be directed toward depth in the area of the master's degree or toward depth in a new area related to that of the master's degree. A design project of significance is required.

To be admitted to the Electrical Engineer or Computer Engineer program, the student must have a master's degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and the agreement of at least one regular faculty member in the department who expresses a willingness to serve as project advisor. Outstanding applicants with degrees in other disciplines may be admitted subject to demonstration of the technical background expected (perhaps with the requirement for completion of appropriate ramp courses or their equivalents with a grade of "B" or better). Such applicants, as well as applicants with significant career experiences but not satisfying the primary requirements, will be determined on an individual basis depending on the student's background.

At least 30 credits beyond the master's degree are required for the Engineer Degree. At least eight, but not more than fifteen, credits must be in the design project. The project courses for EE and CPE are EE 950 and CPE 950, respectively. An ECE faculty advisor and at least two faculty members must supervise the project; one must be a regular member of the faculty in the ECE department. A written report and oral presentation are required.

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Graduate Certificate Programs

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers several graduate certificate programs to students meeting the regular admission requirements for the master's program. Each graduate certificate is self-contained and highly focused, carrying 12 or more graduate credits. All of the courses may be used toward the master's degree, as well as for the graduate certificate.

Autonomous Robotics

Required:

CPE 521 Autonomous Mobile Robotic Systems
EE 631 Cooperating Autonomous Mobile Robots

Choose two from the following list with approval from an ECE advisor:

CPE 555 Real-Time and Embedded Systems
CPE 645 Image Processing and Computer Vision
EE 583 Wireless Communications
EE 621 Nonlinear Control

Digital Signal Processing

EE 613 Digital Signal Processing for Communications
EE 616 Signal Detection and Estimation for Communications
EE 663 Digital Signal Processing I
EE 666 Multidimensional Signal Processing

Digital Systems and VLSI Design

CPE 514 Computer Architecture
CPE 621 Analysis and Design of Real-Time Systems
CPE 643 Logical Design of Digital Systems I
CPE 644 Logical Design of Digital Systems II
CPE 690 Introduction to VLSI Systems Design

Microelectronics

EE/MT/PEP 507 Introduction to Microelectronics and Photonics
EE/MT/PEP 561 Solid State Electronics I
EE/MT/PEP 562 Solid State Electronics II
CPE/MT/PEP 690 Introduction to VLSI Design

Photonics

EE/MT/PEP 507 Introduction to Microelectronics and Photonics
EE/MT/PEP 515 Photonics I
EE/MT/PEP 516 Photonics II
EE/MT/PEP 626 Optical Communication Systems

Multimedia Technology

CPE 536 Integrated Services - Multimedia
CPE 592 Multimedia Network Security
CPE 612 Principles of Multimedia Compression
CPE 645 Image Processing and Computer Vision

Networked Information Systems

Required:

NIS 560 Introduction to Networked Information Systems

Select three of the following courses:

CPE 563 Networked Applications Engineering
EE 584 Wireless Systems Security
NIS 565 Management of Local Area Networks
NIS 591 Introduction to Multimedia Networking
NIS 678 Information Networks I
NIS 691 Information Systems Security

Real-Time and Embedded Systems

Required:

CPE 555 Real-Time and Embedded Systems
CPE 690 Introduction to VLSI Design

Choose two from the following list:

CPE 621 Analysis and Design of Real-Time Systems
CPE 623 Applied Machine Learning
CPE 643 Logical Design of Digital Systems
CPE 645 Image Processing and Computer Vision

Secure Network Systems Design

Select four of the following courses:

CPE 560 Introduction to Networked Information
CPE 592 Multimedia Network Security
CPE 654 Design and Analysis of Network Systems
CPE 691 Information Systems Security
EE 584 Wireless Systems Security

Software Design for Embedded and Information Systems

CPE 545 Communication Software and Middleware
CPE 555 Real-Time and Embedded Systems
CPE 556 Computing Principles for Mobile and Embedded Systems
NIS 593 Applied Data Structures & Algorithms
CPE 640 Software Engineering I

Wireless Communications

EE 583 Wireless Communications (required)

(Select 3 of the following courses)

EE 584 Wireless Systems Security
EE 585 Physical Design of Wireless Systems
EE 586 Wireless Networking: Architectures, Protocols and Standards
EE 651 CDMA and Spread Spectrum
EE 653 Cross-Layer Design for Wireless Networks

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Interdisciplinary Programs

Integrated Product Development

The Integrated Product Development degree is an integrated Master of Engineering degree program. The core courses emphasize the design, manufacture, implementation, and life-cycle issues of engineering systems. The remaining courses provide a disciplinary focus. The program embraces and balances qualitative, as well as quantitative, aspects and utilizes state-of-the-art tools and methodologies. It aims to educate students in problem-solving methodologies, modeling, analysis, simulation, and technical management. The program trains engineers in relevant software applications and their productive deployment and integration in the workplace. For a detailed description of this program, please see the Interdisciplinary Programs section of this catalog.

Electrical and Computer Engineering Track

The track in Electrical and Computer Engineering emphasizes the major themes intrinsic to design, manufacture, and implementation of electronic systems, as well as the transmission of signals and information in a digital format, emergent hardware principles, software integration, and data manipulation algorithms. Mathematical principles underlie all aspects of engineered systems, and a solid background in such principles is emphasized. Today's systems also reflect an integration of several means of manipulating signals, ranging from traditional analog filters to advanced digital signal processing techniques. The three courses that are common to Electrical and Computer Engineering emphasize the above. The remaining three courses can be either in Electrical Engineering, which emphasizes core principles guiding the design, manufacture, and implementation of today's diverse set of electronic systems, or in Computer Engineering, which provides a background in the principles and practices related to data/information systems design and implementation.

CPE 514 Computer Architectures
CPE 643 Logical Design of Digital Systems I
EE 585 Physical Design of Wireless Systems
EE 605 Probability and Stochastic Processes I
EE 602 Analytical Methods in Electrical Engineering
EE 603 Linear Systems Theory

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Doctoral Programs

Admission requirements to the Ph.D. program are naturally more stringent than those for the lesser degrees. More attention is paid to the student's background and potential to perform independent research. All applications are considered individually. In general, admissions are granted to students with a master's degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering who have achieved a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Exceptional students may be accepted after receiving the bachelor's degree. Submission of GRE scores is recommended, but not required.

The Ph.D. degree requires 84 credits. A maximum of 30 credits can be applied toward the 84-credit requirement of the Ph.D. from a previous master's degree or from any other graduate courses subject to the approval of the advisor. All Ph.D. candidates must take at least 30 credits of thesis work and at least 20 credits of course work at Stevens beyond the master's degree. Courses counting towards the Ph.D. degree are expected to be taken from the ECE catalog courses (approval by the student's advisor is required to apply courses outside the ECE program to the Ph.D. degree).

All Ph.D. candidates must pass the written Ph.D. qualifying examination. Students may take the qualifying examination only twice. Failure to pass the qualifying examination in the second attempt will result in dismissal from the Ph.D. program.

After the student has successfully completed the qualifying examination, (s)he must arrange for an advisor to assist in the development of a thesis proposal. The advisor must be a full-time ECE professor or professor emeritus. Once a suitable topic has been found and agreed upon with the advisor, the student must prepare a thesis proposal. This thesis proposal should be completed and defended within one year of passing the Ph.D. qualifying examination. The proposal must indicate the direction that the thesis will take and procedures that will be used to initiate the research. Ordinarily, some preliminary results are included in the proposal. In addition, the proposal must indicate that the student is familiar with the research literature in his/her area. To this end, the proposal must include the results of a thorough literature search. A committee of at least three faculty members must accept the written thesis proposal. The committee chairperson is the thesis advisor. The other two members should be ECE department faculty. After the written proposal has been accepted, the examination committee conducts an oral defense. At this defense, the student presents his/her proposal.

All Ph.D. candidates who are working on a thesis must have a thesis committee chaired by the thesis advisor and consisting of at least four members. The thesis advisor and at least two other members must be full-time faculty members or professors emeritus of the ECE department. In addition, there must be one member who is a regular faculty member within another department at Stevens. It is permissible and desirable to have as a committee member a highly-qualified person from outside of Stevens. The committee must approve the completed thesis unanimously. After the thesis has been completed, it must be publicly defended.

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