ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

STUDENT FACULTY CONFERENCE

2013ThursdayFebruary 14, 2013Moore 070

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Students Jomya Lei (Chair) Demetris Drakos Chris Kolner Omar Mezenner Murtaza Saifee Jeff Sherman

Faculty Babak Hassibi Hyuck Choo Michelle Effros Azita Emami Glen George

COMMITTEE PURPOSE

Address reduced core Identify issues with the current

curriculum and propose possible solutions

Identify possible improvements to the curriculum

REDUCED CORE

For students entering in Fall 2013, Ma2ab will no longer be required for

general core Renamed Ma2 and Ma3

Ph2ab will no longer be required for general core

Ph2ab becomes Ph2abc Matches Ph12abc in topics

REDUCED CORE

For the EE major Ma2 and Ma3 will both be required Ph2abc or Ph12abc will be required

CURRENT CORRELATION

REVISED CORRELATION

CURRENT ISSUES

Curriculum/Proposed Schedule Heavily loaded sophomore and junior year Many courses 1st and 2nd term, but few

classes 3rd term Question of how prepared students are for

graduate school applications and/or job or internship searches

CURRENT SCHEDULE

PROPOSED SCHEDULE

EE40

Can switch based on interest or offered courses

CURRENT ISSUES

Perception of Inflexibility “Must take certain classes in certain

years/terms” “There’s no room to do anything else” “I won’t be ready for _____”

PERCEPTION OF INFLEXIBILITY SOLUTION Have a “binder” of possible schedules Based on interest Accessible online or from advisers Given as handout

EXAMPLE 1: EE W/ CS MINOR

EXAMPLE 2: INFORMATION THEORY

EXAMPLE 3: CIRCUITS/ANALOG

CURRENT ISSUES

APh9 18 out of 21 respondents were less than neutral

(unsatisfied) The course varies heavily depending on the TAs –

sometimes the homework is not well-defined The lecture, lab, and homework are all different

material Slides posted are different from the ones from

class It is taught assuming you are on pass/fail although

upperclassmen usually cannot pass/fail it

APH9 ISSUES CONTINUED

Would be much more useful if it was taught after or concurrently with EE40

Although a requirement, it is not written into the proposed schedules

 Some people who decide to become EEs 3rd term are technically late

Poor communication 2013/02/13 Dear All, contrary to previous reports (and my

apologies for that) there will be a midterm handedout in class tomorrow. It will be 1 hour, openbook and will be due on Friday (2/15/13) at 5pm.

APH9 POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS

Take APh9 after/with EE40  No room to take it elsewhere – especially over 2 terms   It is technically a freshman lab

Remove APh9b as a requirement – but keep the class Allow APh109 to satisfy the APh9ab requirement

APh109 is one 9 unit class that have similar labs to APh9ab, but in a better facility and with more organization

 It assumes the students have more understanding of the material Rewrite the material – form a group in charge of reorganizing

lectures and homework New class that focuses on the lab portion combining APh9ab

Can be added as 3 units to EE40 or as a standalone 9 unit class

APH9 QUICKEST SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENT

Allow APh109 to satisfy the APh9ab requirement APh department ok Opportunity to take it concurrently or after

EE40 One concern – you don’t make transistors 13 out of 19 students surveyed were ok

with this

CURRENT ISSUES

Repetitiveness of EE44 and EE111 EE44 began 2012 Prof. PPV and Prof. Hajimiri looking at what

could be changed now that EE44 is in place Changes underway

Increase difficulty of EE111 Require EE44 for EE111

CURRENT ISSUES

Relevancy of ACM116 Professor changes often Caters to wide variety of students

(EE, ACM, Grad, etc) Importance

Helps EE160 Current Suggested Improvement

See how Ma3 changes

CURRENT ISSUES

Rigor of EE90 Current assumption is people only know

EE45 Project difficulty has significantly

decreased Current Suggestion

Wait to see the effects of last SFC - EE113 is now sophomore year, there may be more familiarity with circuits

POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS

Team Based Classes PCB Making Project Funding

TEAM BASED CLASSES

Over half of the responses were yes to having a team-based class

Suggestions EE90 New class (similar to ME72)

PCB MAKING

17 out of 19 responses want to see PCB making taught

Possible ways Add to EE90 or EE91 Split EE5x into 3 terms Add a different class

PROJECT FUNDING

Brought up in previous SFCs Looked at other departments/classes

ME72 – industry funding E89 – trial

Difficult to find continuous funding

OPTION MENTORS

Provide EE guidance Course selection/requirements Guide undecided frosh Option fair

Sign Up! Sign up sheet Email ARC reps

QUESTIONS AND

DISCUSSION