An Embedded Systems Curriculum Based on the IEEE/ACM Model Curriculum

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, has recently completed a major restructuring of its computer engineering curriculum. The main goal of this reform is to integrate a broad set of embedded systems concepts into the course sequence thereby creating an embedded systems focus throughout the curriculum. Breadth of embedded systems concepts is addressed by using the embedded systems component of the 2004 IEEE/ACM computer engineering model curriculum as the basis for the new curriculum content. Depth is attained by overlapping coverage of most topics using multiple courses and integrating forward and reverse references to these concepts among the courses. This paper presents the rationale behind the curriculum reform, the revised curriculum, lessons learned, and the results of a comprehensive assessment of its effectiveness.