Integrating system-on-chip in an undergraduate ECE curriculum

Abstract

System-on-Chip (SoC) is the major revolution taking place in the design of Integrated Circuits (IC). However, progress in this rapidly evolving area hinges critically on the availability of well-educated engineers able to bridge the architectural and physical gaps in SoC design. This work is an ambitious collaborative effort by the faculty of the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department at Rowan University and the Engineering Science (ES) department at Camden County College (CCC) to integrate Systemon-Chip (SoC) concepts across the curricula. More specifically, a curricular prototype is under development that cuts across the artificial course boundaries and introduces SoC knowledge through verticallyintegrated and problem-oriented laboratory experiments. Beginning with basic concepts, this approach immerses students in actual system-design projects through three specific engineering design flows (digital, analog, and signal processing) where experiences are formalized and encapsulated into reusable methods, libraries and tools. This paper focuses on the systematic and coherent experimental contents being conducted by students, their contributions to various SoC product designs, and how they fit seamlessly within the Rowan ECE and CCC ES curricula. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2009.