Integrating Sensing and Information Processing in an Electrical and Computer Engineering undergraduate curriculum

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University has completed a full-scale redesign of its undergraduate program based on the theme of integrated sensing and information processing. This theme provides a coherent, overarching framework that links principles of ECE to each other and to real-world engineering problems. The cornerstone of the new ECE curriculum, Fundamentals of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been designed to provide students with a holistic view of ECE and as a roadmap for the remainder of the curriculum. Each of four follow-on core courses integrates lateral and vertical connections to other courses through the use of thematic examples. Following the five core courses are seven ECE technical electives that include a theme-based culminating design course. Early and pervasive experiences with open-ended design and project-based learning are primary objectives of the curriculum redesign. Regression analyses of course/instructor evaluation data and descriptions of student design project complexity after the curriculum redesign are presented indicating a positive impact of the curriculum redesign on student learning.