Mbarara University of Science &
Technology Institute of Computer Science
Proposed New Course:
Bachelors Degree in Computer Engineering
Proposed Start Date: August 2008
(Day Full Time Program)
Developed
By
MBARARA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Institute of Computer Science
Acting Director’s Office P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
Tel: 0485 - 21575, Fax: 0485 – 20782, Mobile: 0772-821 335 E-mail: [email protected] Website : http://www.must.ac.ug
In Collaboration with Professor Venansius Baryamureeba
Dean Institute of Computing and Information and Technology, Makerere University
Email: [email protected] Website : http://www.cit.mak.ac.ug And
Dr. Tom Wanyama Department of Networks, Institute of Computing and Information Technology
Makerere University of Science and Technology P.O. Box 7062, Kampala Uganda
Email: [email protected] Website : http://www.cit.mak.ac.ug
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Preface
Summary The Institute of Computer Science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology is set to begin a new Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering next Academic year 2008/2009. This document presents the detailed course content for the proposed course and specifies the budget costs for running this course.
P.S: The Institute of Computer Science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, which has prepared this document, would be grateful for any additional comments aimed at improving it.
Program: Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering
Purpose: The mission of the Computer Engineering program in this proposal is to enable the graduated students to make significant and substantive contributions to solving Computer Engineering problems throughout the students’ professional career. These students will be able to contribute to filling the existing gap in computing curricula most especially at workforce levels.
Therefore, the proposed Computer Engineering program is based on the following high-level features of the computing field:
• Hardware Engineering
• Software Engineering
• Networks and Data Communications Engineering
Benefits:
• The curriculum shall cover the entire field of Computer Engineering, while incorporating the important aspects of the other fields of the Computing field, namely: Information Technology, Information Systems, and Computer Science.
• The program shall cover appropriate knowledge areas in other disciplines, such as business, health, ethics and gender.
• The program shall be hands-on oriented, thus students shall be required to undertake a semester of internship in industry or in one of the incubation
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centers at the Institute of Computing and Information Technology, Makerere University
• Well trained graduates who will be availed for the ready market
• The Institute and the University will grow and expand
• The University will generate more income
Costs: Expected Revenue
Expected Expenditure
Expected Surplus
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Table of Contents
Preface ................................................................................................................................ 2 1.1 Background to the Institute of Computer Science ................................................ 9 1.2 Strategic Plan and Strategic Objectives ............................................................... 9 1.3 Proposed Overall Organisation Structure of the Institute of Computer ............ 11 Science .......................................................................................................................... 11 1.4 Academic Programs ........................................................................................... 13 1.5 Human Resource ................................................................................................ 13 1.6 Infrastructure ..................................................................................................... 14
Chapter TWO.................................................................................................................. 15
2.0 The B.Sc. in Computer Engineering Degree Programme .................................. 15 2.1 Background to Proposed Program .................................................................... 15 2.2 Program and Location Justification .................................................................. 17 2.3 Justification of the Joint Curriculum Collaboration between Institute of Computer Science, Mbarara University and Institute of Computing and Information Technology Makerere University . ................................................................................ 18 2.4 Justification, that the Proposed Program Meets Local and Regional Needs, and International Standards ................................................................................................ 19 2.5 Justification, the Professional Profile of BIT and Target Job Market ............... 19
CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................ 23
3.0 Administration of the Program .......................................................................... 23 3.1 Semester System ................................................................................................. 23 3.2 Teaching ............................................................................................................. 23 3.3 Credit Units, Core Courses, Elective Courses, Audited Courses ...................... 23 3.4 Semester Load .................................................................................................... 24 3.5 Course Identification System .............................................................................. 25 3.6 Time Limit for the Completion of the BCE Degree ............................................ 26
Chapter FOUR ................................................................................................................ 27
4.0 Qualification for the Degree .............................................................................. 27 4.1 Admission Requirements .................................................................................... 27 4.2 Registration ........................................................................................................ 28 4.3 Adding and Or Dropping Course (s).................................................................. 29 4.4 Change of the Academic Programme ................................................................. 30 4.5 Withdrawing from the Course ............................................................................ 30 4.6 Withdrawing from the Studies ............................................................................ 31
CHAPTER FIVE .............................................................................................................. 32
5.1 Payment of Fees ................................................................................................. 32 5.2 Time Frame Payment of Fees ............................................................................. 32
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5.3 Refund of Tuition When a Student has withdrawn from the Studies .................. 33 CHAPTER SIX ............................................................................................................... 34
6. O Examination Regulations, Assessment, Grading And Classification ............. 34 6.1 Institute Board of Examiners.............................................................................. 34 6.2 Assessment, Grading and Classification of the Diploma ................................... 34 6.3 Pass mark ........................................................................................................... 35 6.4 Students Absence from Examinations ................................................................ 35 6.6 Progression ........................................................................................................ 36 6.7 Certificate of Due Performance ......................................................................... 37 6.8 Appeals ............................................................................................................... 37 6.9 Re- Take Examinations ....................................................................................... 37 6.10 Classification of the Degree ........................................................................... 38 6.10 Repeat ............................................................................................................ 39 6.11 Discontinuation ............................................................................................. 39
CHAPTER SEVEN ......................................................................................................... 40
7.0 Academic Policies on Students Conduct and Participation ............................... 40 7.1 Academic Advice Procedures ............................................................................. 40 7.3 Student Conduct ................................................................................................. 40 7.4 Academic Integrity ............................................................................................. 41 7.5 Examination Malpractice ................................................................................... 41 7.6 Plagiarism .......................................................................................................... 41 7.7 Attendance .......................................................................................................... 41 7.8 Exceptions .......................................................................................................... 41
CHAPTER EIGHT ......................................................................................................... 43
8.0 Programme Objectives & Learning Outcomes .................................................. 43 8.1 Course Curriculum For Bachelor Of Science In Computer Engineering (BCE) ........ 45 YEAR ONE...................................................................................................................... 45
Semester One ................................................................................................................ 45 Semester Two ................................................................................................................ 46 YEAR I: RECESS TERM: ....................................................................................... 46
YEAR TWO .................................................................................................................... 47
Semester One ................................................................................................................ 47 Semester Two ................................................................................................................ 47 YEAR II: RECESS TERM: ..................................................................................... 48
Year 3 (Software Engineering) ...................................................................................... 50
Semester One ................................................................................................................ 50 Semester Two: .............................................................................................................. 51 YEAR THREE: RECESS TERM ........................................................................ 51
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Year 4 (Software Engineering) ...................................................................................... 53 Semester One: ............................................................................................................... 53 Semester Two: .............................................................................................................. 54
YEAR THREE (Data Communications Engineering) ................................................ 55
Semester One: ............................................................................................................... 55 Semester Two: .............................................................................................................. 56 YEAR THREE: RECESS TERM ........................................................................... 57
Year 4 (Data Communication Engineering) ................................................................. 57
Semester One: ............................................................................................................... 57 Semester Two: .............................................................................................................. 58
Year 3 (Hardware Engineering) .................................................................................... 59
Semester One ................................................................................................................ 59 Year 3 (Hardware Engineering) .................................................................................... 60
Semester Two ................................................................................................................ 60 YEAR THREE - RECESS TERM ............................................................................ 60
Year 4 (Hardware Engineering) .................................................................................... 61
Semester One ................................................................................................................ 61 Semester Two ................................................................................................................ 62
8.3 Detailed program Curriculum for Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BCE) ................................................................................................................................ 63 YEAR ONE 1ST SEMESTER ........................................................................................ 63
BCE 1100: Analytical Techniques I (3 CU) ............................................................. 63 BCE 1102: Electricity and Magnetism (3 CU)...................................................... 64 BCE 1106: Electronic Materials (3 CU) ............................................................... 68 BCE 1104 Computer Literacy (4 CU) ..................................................................... 69 CSC 1102 Introduction to Computer Programming – C (4 CU) .............................. 71 CSC 1103 Introduction to Computer Architecture (4 CU) ....................................... 73 DVS 1101 Development Studies I (3 CU) ................................................................ 74 COM 1101 Communication Skills & Report Writing (4 CU) ................................ 76 FSH 1101 Introduction to French ............................................................................. 77
YEAR ONE 2ND SEMESTER ........................................................................................ 77
BCE 1201: Analytical Techniques II (3 CU) ............................................................ 77 BCE 1202: Combinational and Sequential Logic (3 CU) ..................................... 78 BCE 1203: Communication Systems I (4 CU) ...................................................... 80 BCE 1204: Consumer Electronics (4 CU) ............................................................. 81 DVS 1201 Development Studies II (4 CU) ............................................................... 82 BIT 1200 Object Oriented Programming (4 CU) ................................................... 83
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YEAR TWO 1ST SEMESTER ...................................................................................... 84
BCE 2100: Analytical Techniques III (3 CU) ........................................................... 84 CSC 2105 Database Management Systems (4 CU) .................................................. 85 CSC 2102 Introduction to Operating Systems (4 CU) ............................................. 87 BCE 2101: Microelectronics Applications (3 CU) ............................................... 88 BCE 2102: Digital Systems (3 CU)....................................................................... 89 BCE 2103: Control Systems (4 CU) ..................................................................... 90 BIT 2104 Event-Driven Programming (3 CU) ........................................................ 91
YEAR TWO 2ND SEMESTER ....................................................................................... 92
BCE 2200: Embedded Systems Software (3 CU) ................................................. 92 CSC 2209 Ethical and Legal Issues in Computing (4 CU) ....................................... 93 BCE 2201: Numerical Methods and Applications (4 CU) .................................... 95 BCE 2202: Ethics for Professional Engineers (3 CU) ........................................... 96 CSC 2203 Systems Programming............................................................................. 98
YEAR THREE 1ST SEMESTER ................................................................................. 100
BCE 3101: Industrial Management (3 CU) ......................................................... 100 BCE 3104: Electronic Devices and Computer Interfacing (4 CU) ..................... 101 BCE 3105: Computer Modeling and Simulation (3 CU) .................................... 102
BCE 3106: Communication Systems II (4 CU) .............................................................. 104 BCE 3110: Analogue Electronics (3 CU) ........................................................... 104 BCE 3109: Computer Hardware Engineering (3 CU) ......................................... 106 BCE 3107: Communications Technology (3 CU)............................................... 107 BCE 3108: Programming Tools and Techniques (3 CU) .................................... 108 BCE 3100 Circuit Principles I (3 CU) ................................................................... 109 BCE 3102: Formal Methods in Software Engineering (3 CU) ........................... 110 BCE 3111: Project Planning and Management (3 CU) ........................................ 112 CSC 3105 Computer Graphics (3 CU) ................................................................... 113 CSC 3102 User Interface Design and Implementation (3 CU) .............................. 114 CSC 3101 Software Engineering I (4 CU) ............................................................. 116
YEAR THREE 2ND SEMESTER ............................................................................... 116
BIT 3202 Network Computing (4 CU) ................................................................. 116 BCE 3205: Embedded Systems Design (3 CU) ..................................................... 117 CSC 3201 Software Engineering II (4 CU) ........................................................... 118 BCE 3201: Business Law (3 CU) ........................................................................ 120 BCE 3206: Computer Communications Systems (3 CU) ................................... 121 BCE 3210: Optoelectronics (3 CU) ..................................................................... 122 BCE 3211: Radio Propagation and Antennas (3 CU) ......................................... 123 BCE 3212: Physics of Electronics (3 CU) .......................................................... 124 BCE 3213: Optical Fiber Technology (3 CU) ..................................................... 125 BIT 3206 Enterprise Network Management (3 CU) ............................................ 126 BIT 3207 Database (DP) Programming (4 CU) ................................................... 127
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YEAR FOUR 1ST SEMESTER .................................................................................... 127
BCE 4109: UNIX Shell Programming (3 CU) .................................................... 127 BCE 4104: Statistical Computations (3 CU) ....................................................... 128 BCE 4105: Silicon Technology (3 CU)................................................................ 129 BCE 4106: Circuit Principles II (3 CU) .............................................................. 130 BCE 4107: Optical Communication Systems (4 CU) ......................................... 131 BCE 4108: Electrical Circuits and Instrumentation (4 CU) ................................ 132 BCE 4100: Software Architecture (4 CU) ........................................................... 133 BCE 4101: Object-Oriented Software Engineering (4 CU) ................................ 134
YEAR FOUR 2ND SEMESTER ................................................................................... 135
BCE 4207: Network Programming (4 CU) ......................................................... 135 BCE 4200: Software Quality and Assurance (4 CU) .......................................... 136 BCE 4206: Digital Communications System Design (3 CU) ............................. 137 BCE 4205: Digital Signal Processing (4 CU) ..................................................... 138 BCE 4201: Logic Design and Implementation (4 CU) ..................................... 140 BCE 4202: Control Systems Design (3 CU) ....................................................... 141 BCE 4207: Circuits and Systems (4 CU) ............................................................ 143 BCE 4209: VLSI Design (3 CU) ......................................................................... 145
BCE 4203: Final Year Project ........................................................................................ 147 Software Engineering Project (4 CU) ......................................................................... 147 Data Communications Engineering Project (4 CU) .................................................... 147 Hardware Engineering Project (4 CU) ........................................................................ 148 BCE 4203: Systems Engineering (4 CU) ............................................................ 148 BCE 4204: Computer Game Design and Development (3 CU) .......................... 149
Appendix A - Staff Profiles .......................................................................................... 151 Appendix B - BACKGROUND TO SUPPORTING PROJECTS ........................ 154
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Chapter ONE
1.1 Background to the Institute of Computer Science The department of Computer science was established in 1997 under the Institute of Development studies to run courses in Computer Science to meet the increasing demand of ICT and statistics specialists in the country. It started running a Bachelor’s of Computer Science Course with a combination of Mathematics and statistics subjects.
In July 2006, the department of Computer Science was then elevated to the status of the Institute of Computer Science.
1.2 Strategic Plan and Strategic Objectives The Institute of Computer Science has developed a Strategic Plan for the next ten 10 (Ten) Years (2007 – 2017) below is a summary of the Institute’s Vision Mission and strategic objectives.
Vision
“To be a centre of excellence of teaching and research in applied and multi-disciplinary computing and Information Technology for community development.”
Mission
“To provide quality training and promote research in applied and multi-disciplinary computing and Information Technology with a focus on community development.”
During these ten years will focus on the Following Strategic Objectives;
- To Develop Teaching Courses that meet the Local Communities training needs in ICT - To Develop and Implement a Teaching and Learning Evaluation and Monitoring Mechanism - To Establish a Staff Development Plan up to PHD Level. - To Develop and Implement E-Learning Programs - To Develop a University-Wide (Academic and Non Academic Staff) Basic ICT Training Program - To Establish a Computer Technical Support Center. - To Develop a Gender Promotion and mainstreaming in teaching and learning strategy - To Develop a Research Plan, Coordination and evaluation Center within the Institute - To Develop an ICT Community Outreach Program or Plan
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- To develop and Implement an Organization, management and Human resource structure Plan to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the overall organization.
- To Increase and diversify the Institute’s financial base.
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1.3 Proposed Overall Organisation Structure of the Institute of Computer
Science
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University Council
University Senate
Vice Chancellor
Director
Administration Department
Computer Science
Department
Information Systems and Information Technology Department
Computer Engineering Department
Graduate Studies and Research Department
ICT Technical Support
Department
Software Development Department
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1.4 Academic Programs
The Institute of Computer Science runs the following Undergraduate programmes and ICT Short courses all aimed at building ICT human capacity for both the private and public sectors including Universities
Undergraduate Programmes
- Bachelor of Information technology(BIT) - Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS)
Short Courses
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA); - Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP); - Certificate in Computer Applications (CCA); - International Computer Driving License (ICDL) Certification;
Cisco Networking Academy Program (CNAP).
The Institute is a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Local Academy under the Makerere Institute of Computing and Information Technology Regional Academy.
1.5 Human Resource The Institute currently has 13 (Thirteen) masters holders and about 3 (Three) Bachelor’s Holders who are currently Assistant Lecturers. (See Appendix - A for Staff Profile). However the Institute is receiving support under NPT projects 1- “Building a Sustainable ICT Training Capacity in the Public Universities in Uganda” as well as NPT Project II – “Strengthening ICT Training and Research Capacity in the Four Public Universities in Uganda” funded Nuffic run under Makerere University in collaboration with other Public Universities (See Appendix - B For Projects Background). These projects have and will continue to have impact in staff development by providing 6 (Six) PHD Training Opportunities both in the Netherlands and Makerere University. 6 (Six) of the MSc Holders are currently pursuing their either Full-time or Part-time PHD Training. One of the members is also pursuing her PHD with support from the Commonwealth Scholarships Foundation.
Hence the Institute of Computer Science Mbarara University of Science and Technology has sufficient staff to kick-start the program with support from the Department of Physics (MUST) and with Financial and Collaborative Teaching Support from Makerere University Faculty of Computing and Information Technology it has sufficient Academic Staff to run this programme.
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The Institute of Computer Science is currently running a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Bachelor of Information Technology which programmes share a number of courses with BSc. Computer Engineering as shown in Figure 1.
1.6 Infrastructure The Institute of Computer Science is currently located on the main campus in a limited space. This space comprises of 2 computer laboratories one with an 80 (eighty)-seat capacity and the other with a 60 (Sixty) seat capacity. Further on it also has a computer laboratory in the Faculty of Development Studies. It has three staff offices and one server room.
With these programmes in place, there is need to ensure proper staffing requirements and even probably boost the numbers that are already undertaking training both at PhD and Masters levels. The demand for ICT programmes in the area is steadily increasing as evidenced by the increased number of students that have enrolled on the existing programmes. MUST has had a very positive impact on the surrounding communities especially in sensitization and training of women in ICT. MUST currently has 350 students (150 on B.CS, 200 on B.IT). It also has 4 qualified technicians to manage its ICT infrastructure and the student population is thus expected to grow by at least 200 per year for the next two years. Thus by September 2008, the Institute of Computer Science at MUST will have at least 700 students.
Despite all these efforts the Institute of Computer Science still critically needs support needs support for strengthening of the existing courses, curriculum development, quality assurance and enhancement works. It also needs support for staff development at PhD level, research development and infrastructural development among others so as to strengthen the institute in its mission to provide quality training and promote research in applied and multi-disciplinary computing and Information Technology with a focus on community development.”
The Students on the BSc. Computer Engineering degree programme will have access to Computer Laboratories at the Faculty of Computing Makerere University during their recess terms throughout their period of study at MUST
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Chapter TWO
2.0 The B.Sc. in Computer Engineering Degree Programme
2.1 Background to Proposed Program There are currently five major kinds of undergraduate degree programs (disciplines) in computing (i.e. Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, and Software Engineering), and each one focuses on a different perspective of the computing field (Computing Curricula, 2005). A student can undertake one of the disciplines thus becoming proficient in one specific discipline. It is however possible that one can become proficient in a number of the computing disciplines because of the inter-disciplinarily nature of the computing disciplines. Below is a brief description of each of the five disciplines of computing that have undergraduate programs running in various universities around the world:
• Computer Science spans from its theoretical and algorithmic foundations to cutting-edge developments in robotics, computer vision, intelligent systems, bioinformatics, and other areas.
• Information Systems specialists focus on integrating information technology solutions and business processes to meet the information needs of businesses and other enterprises, enabling them to achieve their objectives in an effective, efficient way.
• Information Technology programs prepare students to meet the computer technology needs of business, government, healthcare, schools, and other organizations. The focus of these programs is the technology, and not the information.
• Software Engineering is the systematic development and application of techniques which lead to the creation of correct and reliable computer software.
• Computer Engineering is concerned with the design and construction of computers and computer-based systems. Note that computers and computer based systems are made up of both software and hardware components. Therefore, Computer Engineering focuses on both types of components.
The shaded area in Figure 1 shows the knowledge areas that the proposed Computer Engineering program covers with respect to existing disciplines and knowledge areas.
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Figure 1: Relations between the Computing Disciples and Other Related or Important Knowledge
areas on one hand and the Proposed Program on the other
It should be noted that Busitema University has developed a Computer Engineering program that is going to be started running in September 2007 in the Department of Computing and Applied Informatics. The Institute of Computing Makerere University has also developed a similar program to be started in August 2008.
There is need to develop joint degree course curriculum’s and university programs such that students can study in any university (for short time, say a semester) and transfer their credits to their home universities, which would give students a wider exposure on the needs and challenges of Uganda.
2.1.1 Objectives
The objectives of the B.Sc. in Computer Engineering programme are: -
• To produce graduates that will be able to successfully practice computer engineering nationally and regionally.
• To produce graduates who are well-educated in the fundamental concepts of computer engineering and able to continue their professional development throughout their careers.
• To produce graduates with good communication skills capable of functioning responsibly in diverse environments and able to work in teams.
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• To build human resource capacity in the computer engineering discipline in both the public and private sectors;
• To generate a pool of highly qualified candidates for the M.Sc. in Computer Engineering programme and other related programmes;
2.2 Program and Location Justification The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering Degree Programme will be offered to give an opportunity to prospective students to undertake training in computer engineering at a bacehelor’s degree level within Uganda. With the growth of the ICT sector in Uganda, there is need to produce graduates who stimulate the ICT industry with special focus on hardware engineering, software engineering and data communications engineering. This in turn will stimulate the setting up of computer assembling/ manufacturing plants and software devlopment companies within the country. This will lead to job creation and socio-economic growth of the ICT sector. It is designed to give students a thorough knowledge of the field and to provide an enduring foundation for future professional growth. The programme blends theory and practice into a learning experience that develops skills applicable to complex real-world problems in the field of computer engineering.
Engineering is one of the major driving forces of development, and computerization is at the forefront of revolutionizing all aspects of life. Hence the need for a Computer Engineering program that is designed to offer training in a well balanced combination of hardware, software, and networks skills required to stimulate and sustain the ICT industry that involves the assembly/ manufacturing of computer-based systems, development of software, design and installation of optimum computer networks, and maintenance of both hardware and software. This proposal aims to support a four-year Undergraduate Bachelors degree Computer Engineering programs that shall be implemented at Mbarara University with a joint Curriculum running in the following public universities: Busitema University and Makerere University. The programs shall address the economic, developmental, and technical needs of Uganda and of the region, and shall produce graduates who have practical, technical and business skills they need to support the ICT industry, and/or start up their own ICT businesses. This will lead to job creation and socio-economic growth of the ICT sector. The Poverty Eradication Strategy of the Uganda’s Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) is based on an economic model that is driven by three factors, namely: Accumulation of skilled human resource, accumulation of capital, and shifting of labour from agriculture to manufacturing. Therefore, the program proposed in this proposal is in line with this strategy.
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2.3 Justification of the Joint Curriculum Collaboration between Institute
of Computer Science, Mbarara University and Institute of Computing
and Information Technology Makerere University .
Computer Engineering is a knowledge and resource intensive program that needs to be taught by highly qualified staff. Therefore, this Proposed degree program should be viewed as an incubation program for building teaching capacity for Ugandan institution of higher learning in the field of Computer Engineering, while optimizing the use of the available human and physical resources as much as possible. The following reasons make supporting the collaboration between Makerere and Mbarara Universities the best option of kick starting the running of Computer Engineering Programs in Ugandan Universities:
• Institute of Computer Science is new and faces an uphill task of recruiting Computer engineering lecturers. This collaboration shall allow the Insitute of Computer Science, MUST to utilize the existing human resources available at Makerere University and at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, as it slowly builds its own capacity
• All the two Universities have limited equipment required to effectively train computer engineers. Therefore, instead of duplicating the equipment in each university, the three Universities shall explore the sharing of laboratory equipment through the concept of (Internet laboratories) ilabs (The Makerere University Institute of Computing and Information Technology has submitted a separate proposal to the Millennium Science Initiative for supporting the training of human resource in the development and deployment of ilabs) with a Strategy to develop its own Computer Engineering Laboratory equipment.
• MUST has well established Department of Physics from which the staff to teach some of the core Electronics based courses of the Computer Engineering programs and Makerere University has well established Department of Electrical Engineering, members of staff from there shall be co-opted to support the same initiative.
• The Makerere University Institute of Computing and Information Technology is currently putting up a building that shall house 6 computer laboratories each with a capacity of 1000 computers, 6 lecture theatres each with a capacity of 600 seats, and has space for other smaller laboratories, lecture theatres and offices. This building shall be completed by end
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of September 2007, and shall be available for used by the students. This collaboration shall result in sharing the resources in this building.
• The collaboration shall enable student-exchange programs that shall enrich the students’ learning experience. Note that students may be able to transfer credits earned from the visited university to their home university. Something which is currently impossible in Uganda.
2.4 Justification, that the Proposed Program Meets Local and Regional
Needs, and International Standards
To ensure that the proposed program meets international standards, it shall be developed based on the
internationally accepted generic computing curriculum, developed by a consortium of the Association
for Computing Machinery (ACM), the Association for Information Systems (AIS) and The Institution of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers – Computer Society (IEEE-CS). Emphasis shall be placed on
customising this curriculum to the needs of Uganda, while keeping an international outlook of the
Computer Engineering discipline. In addition, there shall be input from internationally and regionally
renowned academicians and the public and private sectors shall also participate in the program through
workshops and direct discussions. After developing a generic program, each of the three universities
shall have the opportunity to add specific courses and pedagogical conditions to reflect its strategy and
mission.
2.5 Justification, the Professional Profile of BIT and Target Job Market
2.5.1 Description of the Professional Profile
The mission of the Computer Engineering program in this proposal is to enable the graduated students to make significant and substantive contributions to solving Computer Engineering problems throughout the students’ professional career. These students will be able to contribute to filling the existing gap in computing curricula most especially at workforce levels. Therefore, the proposed Computer Engineering program is based on the following high-level features of the computing field:
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1. Practice, which involves the following: Problem identification and analysis; design, development, testing and evaluation; management and organization; professionalism and ethics; commercial and Industrial exploration, entrepreneurship, health and gender issue in the workplace.
2. Theory, which involves the following: algorithm design and analysis; formal methods and description techniques; modeling and frameworks; analysis, prediction and generalization; human behaviour and performance.
3. Hardware, which involves the following: Computer architecture and construction; processor architecture; device-level issues and fabrication technology.
4. Software, which involves the following: Programming languages; software tools and packages; computer applications; structuring of data and information.
5. Communication, which involves the following: Computer networks; distributed systems; human-computer interaction, involving communication between computers and people; operating systems: the control of computers, resources and interactions.
The first two features are general with respect to the Computer Engineering program, and the last three areas lead to three difference specialization areas of Computer Engineering, namely:
• Hardware Engineering
• Software Engineering
• Networks and Data Communications Engineering
Computer Engineering students shall specialize in any of three areas above, but all students shall study the general Computer Engineering courses that are associated with the first two areas of computing. Moreover, in order to address the economic situation in Uganda, the program shall be structured as follows:
• Students majoring in any of the three areas of Computer Engineering shall have minors in the other two areas. For example, one majoring in Hardware Engineering shall have minors in Software Engineering and in Networks and data Communications Engineering.
• The curriculum shall cover the entire field of Computer Engineering, while incorporating the important aspects of the other fields of the Computing field, namely: Information Technology, Information Systems, and Computer Science.
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• The program shall cover appropriate knowledge areas in other disciplines, such as business, health, ethics and gender.
• The program shall be hands-on oriented, thus students shall be required to undertake a full academic year of internship in industry or in one of the incubation centers that shall be set up as a result of this project.
2.5.2 Computer Engineering Careers and Target Job Market
Computer engineering careers cover a broad range of fields, jobs, responsibilities and future opportunities. Computer engineers are employed in almost every sector; academia, research, government and industry. Highly specialised computer engineers are utilized in the healthcare industry, transportation, academics, financial institutions, and service oriented businesses.
Computer engineering technology degree provides students with training in the technology used to build today’s computer systems, as well as that required to design such systems for practical use in the modern world. Computer engineers also work with the hardware and software aspects of systems design and development.
They usually apply the theories and principles of computer science and mathematics to design hardware, software, networks, and processes and to solve technical problems. Whereas their work emphasizes the application of theory, computer engineers are also involved in building prototypes. They often work as part of a team that designs new computing devices or computer related equipment, systems, or software.
Computer hardware engineers usually design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of computer hardware, such as chips or device controllers.
Software engineers, on the other hand, can be involved in the design and development of software systems for control and automation of manufacturing, business, and management processes. Computer engineering careers are for those who want to go a bit deeper into understanding how the computer itself works. They may research, design, and test operating system software, compilers, software that converts programs for faster processing and network distribution software. Software engineers or software developers working in applications development analyse users needs and design, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. These professionals also possess strong programming
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skills, but they are more concerned with analyzing and solving programming problems than with writing code for programs.
Computer engineering careers can lead to many types of jobs, including roles in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, information systems, telecommunication and computer Networks Engineering. Computer engineering is one of the fastest growing segments of the job market.
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CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Administration of the Program The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering will be administered under the semester system. The program shall have a duration of four (4) years, of which three (3) years shall be for covering the theoretical/lecture and practical (including laboratories) component of the program, and the fourth year shall be for industrial training and practical project, where students shall be attached to relevant industries and/or incubation centers to carry out projects from infancy to completion, and maintenance. The student is allowed a maximum of five (5) years to complete the Programme.
The degree programme will extend over a period of four (4) years. An academic year shall consist of two semesters of
17 weeks (15 weeks for classes and 2 weeks for examinations). The first, second and third years will in addition have a
recess term of 10 weeks. A full-time student shall not carry less than 15 credit units and not more than 21 credit units
per semester.
3.1 Semester System The Semester system is an academic calendar system in which the entire academic year is divided into two equal parts called semesters. The BSC. CE programme semester shall consist of seventeen (17) weeks of which, fifteen (15) weeks are for classes / Lectures and 2 Weeks for Examinations.
3.2 Teaching The Teaching of the various subjects will be conducted through Lectures, Practicals, seminars and tutorials. The Teaching time will be divided into Lecture Hours, Practical Hours and Tutorial Hours. The overall Contact Hours of the Lecturer will be equivalent to the Lecture Hours plus half the Practical and Tutorial Hours.
3.3 Credit Units, Core Courses, Elective Courses, Audited Courses
3.3.1 Credit Unit
A Credit Unit is a measure used to reflect the relative weight of a Course. Therefore a one (1) CU course is a course that is taught for one Contact hour per week per semester or a course that takes 15 fifteen Lecture hours for completion.
One contact hour can be defined as follows: -
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• 1 lecture hour is equivalent to 1 contact hour.
• 2 tutorial hours are equivalent to 1 contact hour.
• 2 practical hours are equivalent to 1 contact hour.
The BSC. CE programme has Two 4 CU courses as the lowest and five (5) CU Courses as the highest.
3.3.2 Courses
A Course is a unit of work in a particular field or area of study, normally covering a semester to complete and attracts credit towards the fulfillment of the requirements leading to the award of a BSC. CE Degree. Courses are either Core Courses, Elective Courses or they are Audited Courses.
3.3.3 Core Courses
The Core Course will be courses which are essential to the BSC. CE Programme and gives it unique characteristic features. The core courses MUST be offered and passed by all students registered for the programme.
3.3.4 Elective Courses
These are courses which will be offered and a Student will have to choose from and offer above the core courses. The number of electives a student has to choose varies from Semester to semester.
3.3.5 Audited Course
An audited Course shall be a course offered by a student for which a credit is not awarded and it cannot be converted into a regular course. Students will be encouraged to register for Audited Courses that they see are beneficial to them. However students are allowed to register for one (1) audited course. They are also required to sit for the examination of these courses. The Course will reflect in the transcript as AUD (Audited) if the student passed it. These will be taken during the recess term.
3.4 Semester Load
This is the distribution of Core and Elective Courses for all the students for the BSC. CE Programme
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3.4.1 Normal Semester Load
The normal semester load for the award of the BSC. CE programme is 28 (Twenty Eight) Credit units. This is a 46% (Forty Six Percent) of the total Programme credit units.
3.4.2 Maximum Semester Load
The Maximum semester load for the BSC. CE programme is 9 Courses. This should include all programme courses, retakes and audited courses.
3.4.3 Graduation Programme Load
The BSC. CE Graduation Programme Load is 15 Courses. This should also include all the core courses of the programme.
3.4.4 Content and Size of a Course
The Contents of a particular course matches the credit units allocated to them. The smallest course has two (4) credit units and the largest course has five (5) Credit units.
3.5 Course Identification System
The Courses are identified by a combination of letters and two sets of numbers. The Letters are BCE for all the courses except the service course DVS and a Voluntary French Courses.
(i) The first number indicates the level, (Year 1, Year 2, Year 3) (ii) the second number denotes the semester and (Either 1 or 2) (iii) the last number (s) denotes the serial number
The second set of numbers (written as 5-4:2) shall be used to denote the credit units of the course and the amount of time spent on the theory and practical sessions respectively.
(i) The First digit shall denote the credit value of the course (ii) The Second digit shall denote the clock hours per week (iii) The Third digit related to the number of hours devoted to Practical or tutorials
For Example
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BCE 1101 (4-4:2) is a course taught in the first year, first semester and is identified by the number 01. However it has a total of 4 Credit units, 4 Hours will be devoted to teaching and 2 Hours will be devoted to practical hours and Tutorials.
3.6 Time Limit for the Completion of the BCE Degree
A Student may fulfill the BSC. CE Degree requirements in the academic year in which at least 96 CU are earned as long as the CUs include all the core courses and a field of options within the maximum five years of the programme from the date of the first registration.
In this case is a student withdraws from his/ her programme officially, the years of withdrawal shall not be counted.
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Chapter FOUR
4.0 Qualification for the Degree The General University Regulations and Statutes, the special Institute regulations and the particular programme regulations shall govern the full-time program
(i) To qualify for the award of the Degree of Bachelor of Science of Computer Engineering the candidate shall be required to register for the degree course for a minimum of four academic years.
(ii) To qualify for a certificate of due performance which entitles a candidate to sit University examinations in each academic year, a candidate must attend with regularity all prescribed courses (including lectures, tutorials and practical work), do all assignments and pass all the prescribed progressive assessments.
(iii) A candidate who does not fulfill the conditions in 3 (ii) above, shall be denied a certificate of due performance on the recommendation of the Institute Board and by the approval of Senate unless there are special social or medical circumstances such as to convince the Institute Board that his/her attendance and/or performance was seriously hampered.
4.1 Admission Requirements The general Admission requirements shall be decided and revised periodically by senate and made available by the academic registrar’s office. The admission criteria of the BSC. CE shall consist of the following;
The proposed Computer Engineering program shall mainly target students who have completed Advanced Level, specifically in the area of physical sciences. It shall also target diploma holders in Computer Engineering and other related fields.
Admission to first year shall be through any one of the following avenues:
• Direct Entry Scheme
• Diploma Holders Scheme
.
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4.1.1 Admission by Direct Entry
The Direct Entry Scheme: For the direct entry scheme, an applicant shall be required to have two advanced level passes in Mathematics and in Physics, at the same sitting of the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education or its Equivalent. The advanced level subjects shall carry the following weights which shall always be used to compute the entry points:
• Essential Subjects: Physics, Mathematics – Weight 3
• Relevant Subjects: Chemistry, Economics, Geography, Technical Drawing, Computer Studies – Weight 2
• Desirable Subjects: General Paper – Weight 1
• Other Subjects: Any other subject – Weight 0.5
4.1.2 Diploma Holders Scheme
Diploma Holders Scheme: Diploma entry scheme shall be available for holders of at least second class (lower division) Diploma in Computer Engineering, or any other diploma that has both Mathematics and Physics as core components, from a recognized Institution. Consideration shall be given to transferring some of the credits earned at the diploma level.
Degree Holders: Degree holders shall be allowed to join and transfer credits earned in any relevant courses.
4.2 Registration
Students shall be registered in two stages; The Academic Registrar’s office and the Institute Administrator’s office
4.2.1 Central Registration and Orientation for freshmen and women
The Academic Registrar’s office will organize central registration for all students at the beginning of each academic year before they are registered with the Institute.
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General orientation will also be carried out by the Dean of students and the Academic Registrar’s office during orientation period. The Orientation period will be one week and this will not be included in the 15 Weeks of classes and two (2) of exams.
4.2.2 Evidence of Enrollment
At the end of the central registration, students shall be issued with registration certificates by the Academic Registrar’s office. The first registration certificate will be provided free of charge. However, duplicate registration certificates shall be available at a fee if a student loses his/ her Registration Certificate.
Students who complete central registration will be issued with a registration card which will provide further evidence of enrollment.
4.2.3 Institute Registration
The Institute administrator will organize registration with the Institute, of all students admitted for the BSC. CE Programme and will arrange orientation of the students
Institute registration will be done by providing students with Students Registration Forms that will contain all the courses available in the Institute and the students are permitted to register for only courses ascribed for the BSC. CE Programe. Any other courses will be an audited course and will be treated as such.
The Students registration forms will be duly filled and signed by the Director. The Completed Forms will be submitted in time to the Office of the Institute administrator.
You will be provided with an Institute Registration / Lab Identity / Assessment Card. You will be required to present every time you are using the Laboratory as well as going for any Assessment.
4.3 Adding and Or Dropping Course (s)
Students may add or drop course(s) during the first two weeks of the semester, a period known as “Course ADD/DROP Period”
The ADD/DROP process is started by obtaining the “Course ADD/DROP Frorms” from the Institute Administrator’s office.
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The Completed forms shall be dully endorsed by the Head of Department as well as by the Lecturer(s) of the Course (s) they wish to add/ drop.
The adding and or dropping of course(s) is not official until the Completed ADD/DROP form has been received and approved by the Institute Director.
However students are not allowed to drop any of the core courses of the BSC. CE programme. The May
add/drop audited Courses and electives.
4.4 Change of the Academic Programme
A student may be permitted to change from the BSC. CE Academic Programme to another or from another to the BSC. CE Programme provided;
• He/ She has satisfied the admission requirements for the Academic Programme Applied for.
• He/She should not have been attending Lectures and other academic activities of the Academic Programme
• He/she would want to change to for more than half of the duration of the programme.
• He/She had not been previously dismissed on disciplinary grounds from the University
A student permitted to change his/her programme may be allowed to transfer the credits earned from the previous Academic Programme to the new Academic Programme, provided that the credits being transferred are relevant to the new academic Programme.
4.5 Withdraw ing from the Course
After the second Week (i.e. after the Course add/drop period) of the semester and under exceptional circumstances, students may be permitted to withdraw from the course (s).
Students may withdraw from the Course)s) before half of the Course(s) is completed. This will be dome with the approval of the course Lecturer(s), Heads Of Department and the Dean of the Institute.
Student(s) will only be allowed to withdraw from the course(s) if the student(s) still has/ have the programme Course courses.
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4.6 Withdraw ing from the Studies
A student can apply to the Institute Dean for permission to withdraw from his/her studies at any time of the semester. The Institute Dean shall recommend the application to the Academic Registrar’s office for action.
A student shall be allowed only a maximum of two withdrawals on an Academic Programme unless compelling circumstances necessitate additional withdrawals
Each withdrawal shall be a maximum of one academic Year only.
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CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Payment of Fees
Privately sponsored students shall pay all the required fees to the University as determined by the senate and approved by council periodically. However the Academic Year Tuition fees for October 2006 are;
(i) UGSHS. 1,400,000 Per Academic Year for Ugandans (ii) USD 1,400 Per Academic Year for Foreign students
In the event that council does not change these fees they will hold for the subsequent Years.
In order to be registered promptly and be issued with a University Identity Card, privately sponsored students shall pay their registration fees within the first two (2) weeks of an Academic year. These fees are determined by the University Council periodically but for the year October 2004 they are ;
Ugandan Foreign Students
Application Fee Shs. 10,000 $40
Registration / Examination Fee Shs. 200,000=p.a. $400=p.a.
Residential Fee Shs. 714,000=p.a. $714=p.a.
Guild/Sports Shs. 20,000=p.a. $40=p.a.
Residential fees will only be payable if places are available
In the event that council does not change these fees they will hold for the subsequent Years.
5.2 Time Frame Payment of Fees
Privately sponsored fresh students who fail to pay their registration fees at the end of the second week of the beginning of an academic year shall forfeit their place in the University. In the case of continuing students, they shall be de-registered from the University.
Full tuition fees are due on the First week of the Academic Year.
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Privately sponsored students who cannot pay full tuition fees during the first week of the Academic Year are required to pay at 40% of the fees by the end of the eighth (8th) week of the semester and to complete payment of all the tuition fees by the end of the twelfth (12th) week of a semester.
A privately sponsored student who shall not have paid at least 40% of the fees by the end of the 8th week shall be deregistered from the University.
A privately sponsored student who shall not have completed paying fees by the end of the twelvefth (12th) week shall not be allowed to sit for the University Examinations.
5.3 Refund of Tuition When a Student has w ithdrawn from the
Studies
A student who has been permitted to withdraw from the Programme shall be refunded the tuition fees already paid according to the following schedules
Time of Withdrawal in a Semester
Percentage of Tuition Fees already Paid to be refunded to the student
By the End of the First week of a Semester 80%
By the End of the Second Week of a Semester 60%
By the End of the Third Week of the Semester 40%
By the End of the Fourth Week of a Semester 20%
After the Fourth Week 0%
Statutory fees such as Application fees, registration fees, examination fees, Library fees, Identity Card, Guild Charges and others prescribed by University Council are non-refundable.
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CHAPTER SIX
6. O Examination Regulations, Assessment, Grading And Classification
6.1 Institute Board of Examiners There shall be a Institute Board of Examiners consisting of internal examiners and External Examiners, as may be present who will receive, consider and recommend to Senate the final examination results of each candidate. However the Institute Board of Examiners shall publish “provisional results” as soon as it considers them
The board of examiners will be chaired by the Dean of the Institute. All decisions of the board of the examiners shall be subject to ratification by the Senate.
6.2 Assessment, Grading and Classification of the Diploma
6.2.1 Assessment
Students shall be assessed through coursework and Examinations.
Each course unit shall be assessed on the basis of 100% total marks allocated as follows:
Assignments and Course Unit Tests 30%
Final Examinations 70%
6.2.2 Coursework
In each Course there will be a Minimum of one Test and one Assignment. The same will be averaged out at 30% of the Total Marks.
Tests and Assignments will be administered throughout the semesters. Students will have a minimum of one test per course unit and a minimum of one assignment.
6.2.3 Examination
Students shall be required to sit an examination in each of the course units offered.
The Examinations will contribute 70% of the total mark. Courses offered for credit will be examined at the end of the semester (Last two weeks) during which the course is offered. Examinations will be administered
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according to an approved examination timetable. The Dean must approve exceptions in advance and the letter of approval must be copied to the Academic Registrar.
6.3 Pass mark
A credit is earned when a Course is Passed and the pass mark in each course-unit shall be 50%.
6.4 Students Absence from Examinations
Absence from any examination (s) without justifiable reason(s) will lead to a Fail (F) grade for the course(s) he/she had not sat the examination (s) in.
The course(s) in which the Fail (F) grade is awarded will be included in the calculation of the CGPA.
If the student was absent from the Final examination(s) due to satisfactorily justifiable reason(s), then a course grade of ABS (Absent) will be assigned to the course(s). In this case the student will be permitted to take the final examination when next offered or at the next examination season if the Lecturer concerned can make appropriate arrangements for the examination(s).
6.5 Grading
The grading system to be used for the BSC. CE programme courses will follow the University Semester Format. Each Course will be graded out of a maximum of 100 Marks and assigned letter Grades and grade points as follows.
The range of marks on the academic transcript shall be as follows:
Marks (%) Letter Grade Grade Points
90-100 A 5.0
80-89.9 A- 4.75
75-79.9 B+ 4.5
70-74.9 B 4.0
65-69.9 B- 3.5
60-64.9 C+ 3.0
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55-59.9 C 2.5
50-54.9 C- 2.0
Below 49.9 D+ 1.5
6.5.1 Additional Grades
The Following Letter Grades will be used when appropriate;
W = Withdrawn from the Course
I = Incomplete
AUD = Audited
ABS = Absent with Approval
6.5.2 Approval of Examination Results
Examination results shall be processed by the Department and Forwarded for Approval by the Institute Board of Examiners. At this stage, the results will be considered provisional. These provisional results will be displayed with the Grade Point Averages at this point.
The provisional results shall be forwarded for approval and confirmation by senate.
6.5.3 Publication of Examination Results
The Institute shall publish the Provisional Examination results (which will include raw marks and Grade Points) in every examination after the meeting of the Institute Board of Examiners. However this format of publication may change from time to time on recommendation of senate.
6.6 Progression
The Progression of a student on the BSC. CE programme over a period of time is termed as his / her progression. There are two types of progression: Normal Progression and Probationary Progression.
6.6.1 Normal Progression
Normal Progression will occur when a student has passed the assessments in all courses he/she had registered for in particular semester with a GP of at least 2.0.
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6.6.2 Probationary Progression
A student who has obtained Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of less than 2.0 or if the GP for any course is less than 2.0 he/she will be placed under probation.
He/she will be allowed to progress to the next semester or Academic Year but will have to re-take the course(s) he/ she had failed to obtain at least the grade point 2.0
6.7 Certificate of Due Performance
Certificate of due Performance will be issued to students who will satisfy all the coursework requirements. It is a qualification to sit University Examinations. A student who does not have course work marks or has not attended 75% of any course lecture, seminar or tutorials will be denied a Certificate of Due Performance and will not be allowed to sit that particular examination.
6.8 Appeals
Students who are aggrieved by the decision of the Board of Examiners at the Institute Level may appeal to senate for reversal or moderation of the decision by the Institute Board of Examiners.
These appeals will be channeled through the Head of Department to the Institute Dean, who will advise the senate on the grounds of the appeal, as well as inform the student that the comments on the Department and the Institute are forwarded to the senate.
6.9 Re- Take Examinations
If a student fails a course or courses, in order to obtain at least the grade point of 2.0, he or she shall be allowed to re-take the failed courses during the re-take examinations period before the commencement of the next academic year.
A student who fails at most 25% of the units done will be required to do supplementary examinations in the respective failed course units, normally in September before entering the next academic year. A student will earn 50% when he or she passes a re-take examination as a contribution to the final mark. While re-taking a course(s) a student shall:
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a) Satisfy all the requirements for the course work component in the course(s) re-taken b) A student who fails to obtain a grade point of at least 2.0 during the second assessment in
the same course(s) he/she has re-taken will repeat the academic year.
A final year BSC. CE student whose final examination Results have already been classified by the Institute board and has qualified for the award of a BSC. CE shall not be permitted to re-take any course(s).
6.10 Classification of the Degree
6.10.1 GRADE POINT AVERAGE
The Grade Point Average shall be achieved by weighing each course, i.e. multiplying the grade point of the course by the number of its credit unit’s value. The total of the grade points shall be divided by the Total Credit unit value.
Example
CGPA = P n
i=1(GPi × CUi)
P n
i=1 CUi
Where GPi is the Grade Point score of a particular course i;
CUi is the number of Credit Units of course i;
n is the number of courses so far done.
6.10.2 Grievances Related to Grades
Course Lecturers retain the Primary responsibility for assigning grades. The Lecturer’s judgment remains final unless compelling evidence shows discrimination, differential treatment or procedural irregularities.
It is the obligation of the aggrieved student to report the grievance first to the Head of the Department, who will request the Lecturer concerned to resolve the matter.
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If evidence warrants appeal, the following procedures will be followed Academic Advisor, HOD, Institute Dean, Academic Registrar and Vice Chancellor before it is reported formally to senate.
Grade appeals must be submitted in writing not later than the second week of the next regular semester
6.10.3 Classification of the Degrees
CLASS CPGA
First Class (Honours) 4.40 – 5.00
Second Class (Upper Division) 3.60 – 4.39
Second Class (Lower Division) 2.80 – 3.59
Pass 2.00 – 2.79
6.10 Repeat A student who fails more than 50% and less than 75% of all the course units done in the same academic year shall fail and will be required to repeat the academic year.
6.11 Discontinuation
A candidate shall be discontinued if: i) He/she fails more than 75% of all examinations done. ii) He/she has previously obtained 2 probations on the same course.
A student will not be allowed more than five (5) years in the BSC. CE Programme.
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CHAPTER SEVEN
7.0 Academic Policies on Students Conduct and Participation
7.1 Academic Advice Procedures
The Department will ensure that each student has an Academic Adviser. Each Postgraduate student will receive academic advice through the Institute Dean’s Office from the Academic Adviser. Such Advice will assist students in;
(i) Preparing a Degree Plan (ii) Approving Course schedules for each enrollment period (iii) Assisting students with any academic problems that may occur
Although students are expected to avail themselves for academic advice whenever needed each student shall individually assume the final responsibility for the selection of courses in meeting the BSC. CE degree. The Students are also bound to know and internalize the courses offered in each academic year, the minimum CGPA for normal progress and choosing options and the consequences of re-takes and repeats; and what all this means to their final Diploma.
Approvals of the HOD and the Director are required for Course registration, adding courses, dropping courses, changing courses, withdrawing from courses, taking courses from other faculties and for requesting exemptions from academic regulations.
Regular consultations with the Academic Advisor, HOD and the Institute Dean are recommended for all students, especially those placed in the Probation progress.
7.1.1 Academic Adviser The Academic Adviser will be a Member of Staff of the Department of Computer Science charged with advising a student. Each Member of staff will be assigned a number of students from every class. His/her roles will be as highlighted above.
7.2 Degree Plan
The students Degree plan may never supersede the requirements of the academic year as specified by the BSC. CE Programme. Students shall prepare their Diploma plan with the advice sought from the relevant lecturer’s of the Department.
7.3 Student Conduct
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Students registered at MUST are governed by the University Rules and regulations on students conduct. These rules are available from the office of the Dean of Students
7.4 Academic Integrity
Preservation of the Academic Integrity is one of the major Academic virtues, which the MUST aims to foster and sustain.
Any student who presents as their own, any work which they have not honestly performed is regarded by the University as a grave offence and it attracts discontinuation from the University.
The Lecturer of a Course shall be responsible for investigating cases of dishonesty or plagiarism, which occurs in his/her class. If convincing evidence is unveiled, the University regulations shall prevail.
7.5 Examination Malpractice
Cheating shall include dishonesty in examinations, test or written assignments; illegal possession of materials relevant to examinations; information relevant to the examinations which may be coded or otherwise, obtained through phones, programmable scientific calculators, friends or any other means illegal to the occasion; collusion; alterations of grades; and any other practices which may directly or indirectly contribute to cheating.
7.6 Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the practice of offering work of another person as one’s own without proper acknowledgements. Therefore any student who fails to give credit for quotations or essentially identical expression of material taken from books, encyclopedia, magazines and other reference works or from the themes, reports or other writing of a fellow student is guilty of plagiarism.
7.7 Attendance
Lecture and Tutorial attendance is compulsory for all registered students. Lectures shall maintain a routing record of class attendance by making use of Institute Class attendance lists. If a student has not met 75% of attendance he/she will not be issued a Certificate of Due Performance that allows the student to sit for the final Examinations.
7.8 Exceptions
Students may be excused from classes if;
(i) They are participating in a recognized University Activity
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(ii) Illness that is properly certified by a recognized medical Practitioner (iii) Emergencies caused by circumstances over which the student has no immediate
control
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CHAPTER EIGHT
8.0 Programme Objectives & Learning Outcomes
Program Objectives
The proposed program shall have the following objectives: (1) to stimulate knowledge in the Computer Engineering field; (2) to develop and strengthen engineering abilities; (3) to instill and nurture social awareness, (4) to develop and strengthen management, procurement, and entrepreneurship abilities of students; (5) to inculcate into the student the culture of appreciating and taking into account gender, health and environmental issues while carrying out their duties; (6) to build human resource capacity in the computer engineering discipline in both the public and private sectors.
Learning Outcomes
The above objectives shall lead to the following learning outcomes:
• The graduated students shall comprehend the following concepts: Engineering and basic science fundamentals including mathematics, probability, statistics, physical sciences and information technology; design and manufacturing processes; the fundamentals of business, including entrepreneurship, and cost/revenue streams.
• The graduated students shall be able to carry out the following activities: Identify and solve engineering problems; analyze and design computer, software, data communications and multidisciplinary systems; design and conduct experiments, and analyze the resulting data; use modern engineering hardware and software tools, and instrumentation.
• The graduated students shall have the following abilities: Desire to engage in lifelong learning, and expect and embrace change; able to function effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team, to communicate effectively, and to think critically and creatively both independently and with others; apply standards of professional conduct in view of the value of science and technology in a global/societal context.; organizational management; procurement of computing facilities; setting up of profitable businesses.
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• The graduated students shall have the ability to provide and work in gender, health, and environmentally friendly environment.
• The graduated students shall be aware of their responsibility to support ICT development in the private and public sectors.
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8.1 Course Curriculum for Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BCE)
LH Lecture Hours
TH Tutorial Hours
PH Practical Hours
CH Contact Hours
CU Credit Units
YEAR ONE
Semester One
Cores: 9 Core Courses Electives: No Elective Courses
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 1100 Analytical Techniques I 45 - - 45 3
COM 1101 Communication Skills and Report Writing 45 30 - 60 4
BCE 1102 Electricity and Magnetism 45 - - 45 3
CSC 1103 Introduction to Computer Architecture 45 30 - 60 4
BCE 1104 Computer Literacy 30 60 - 60 4
BCE 1105 Discrete Mathematics 45 - - 45 3
BCE 1106 Electronic Materials 30 30 - 45 3
CSC 1102 Introduction to Computer Programming –
C
30 30 30 60 4
DVS 1105 Development Studies 60 - - 45 3
FCH 1106 Introduction to French (AUDITED) 45 30 - 60 4
Total 36
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YEAR ONE
Semester Two
Cores: 8 Core Courses, Electives: No Elective Courses
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 1200 Programming Methodology 45 30 - 60 4
BIT 1200 Object Oriented Programming 45 - 30 60 4
BCE 1201 Analytical Techniques II 45 - - 45 3
BCE 1202 Combinational and Sequential Logic 45 - - 45 3
BCE 1203 Communication Systems I 30 30 30 60 4
BCE 1204 Consumer Electronics 45 - 30 60 4
DVS 1201 Development studies II 45 30 - 60 4
BBA 1209 Entrepreneur Development and
Business Ethics
45 30 - 60 4
FCH 1201 Introduction to French (Audited) 45 30 - 60 4
Total 34
YEAR I: RECESS TERM: Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
CCNA Semester I & II (Audited) 45 30 - 60 -
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YEAR TWO
Semester One
Cores: 7 Core Courses Electives: No Elective Course
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
CSC 2102 Introduction to Operating Systems 45 30 - 60 4
CSC 2105 Database Management Systems 45 - 30 60 4
BIT 2104 Event Driven Programming 45 - - 45 3
BCE 2100 Analytical Techniques III 45 - - 45 3
BCE 2101 Microelectronic Applications 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 2102 Digital Systems 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 2103 Control Systems 45 - 30 60 4
FCH 2101 Intermediate French (AUDITED) 45 30 - 60 4
Total 32
YEAR TWO
Semester Two
Cores: 7 Core Courses Electives: No Elective Courses
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
CSC 2203 Systems Programming 45 30 - 60 4
CSC 2207 Advanced Computer Architecture 45 - - 45 3
CSC 2209 Ethics and Legal Issues in
Computing
45 30 - 60 4
CSC 2203 Networking Technologies 45 15 15 60 4
BCE 2200 Embedded Systems Software 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 2201 Numerical Methods and Applications 45 - 30 60 4
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BCE 2202 Ethics for Professional Engineers 45 - - 60 3
Total 25
YEAR II: RECESS TERM:
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 2204 Industrial Training 120 60 4
CCNA Semester III & IV (Audited) 45 30 - 60 -
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8.2. Computer Engineering Options
8.2.1 Software Engineering
Software engineering will focus on areas such as programming languages,
software development environments, and structuring of data and information.
8.2.2 Data Communications Engineering
Data communications engineering will focus on areas such as computer
networks, distributed systems, human computer interaction and operating
systems.
8.2.3 Hardware Engineering
Hardware engineering will focus on areas such as computer architecture and
construction, processor architecture, device level issues and fabrication.
Note: The first two years of the BSc. CE course should be exactly the same for all
three options, Software, Data Communications and Hardware Engineering. There
are thus no electives offered for the first two years.
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Year 3 (Software Engineering)
Semester One
Cores: 7 Core Courses
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 3100 Circuit Principles I 30 - 30 45 3
CSC 3100 User Interface Design &
Implementation
30 30 - 45 3
BCE 3101 Industrial Management 30 30 - 45 3
BCE 3102 Formal Methods in Programming 30 - 30 45 3
CSC 3101 Software Engineering I 45 30 - 60 4
BCE 3111 Project Planning and Management 45 - - 60 3
Total 22
Electives: Choose at most 1 Elective Course
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
CSC 3105 Computer Graphics 45 30 - 60 4
BCE 3110 Analogue Electronics 30 - 30 45 3
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YEAR 3 (Software Engineering)
Semester Two:
Cores: 5 Core Courses
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BIT 3202 Network Computing 30 30 - 45 3
BIT 3207 Database Programming 45 30 - 60 4
CSC 3201 Software Engineering – II 45 30 - 60 4
BCE 3206 Computer Communications Systems 30 30 - 45 3
BCE 3204 Software Engineering Project - - 120 60 4
Total 18
Notes
Software Engineering II is a Combination of Requirements engineering and
Object-Oriented Software Engineering
Electives: Choose at least 1 Elective Course
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 3202 Computer Networks & Data
Communication
45 - 30 60 4
BCE 3202 Business Law 45 - - 60 3
YEAR THREE: RECESS TERM
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 3203 Industrial Training - - 120 60 4
BCE 3204 IT Essentials I and II (Audited Course) 30 90 - 60 -
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Year 4 (Software Engineering)
Semester One:
Cores: 4 Core Courses
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 4100 Software Architecture 45 30 - 60 4
BCE 4101 Object Oriented Software Engineering 45 - 30 60 4
BCE 4109 Unix Shell Programming 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4110 Programming Tools & Techniques 30 - 30 45 3
Total 14
Electives: Choose at most 1 Elective Course
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 4104 Statistical Computations 30 30 - 45 3
BCE 4106 Circuit Principles II 30 - 30 45 3
BCE Curriculum Page 54
YEAR 4 (Software Engineering)
Semester Two:
Cores: 4 Core Courses
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 4200 Software Quality and Assurance 45 - 30 60 4
BCE 4203 Systems Engineering 45 - 30 60 4
BCE 4204 Computer Game Design and
Development
30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4203 Final Year Project - - 120 60 5
Total 16
Electives: Choose at most 1 Elective Course
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 4205 Digital Signal Processing 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4202 Control Systems and Design 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4201 Logic Design and Implementation 45 - 30 60 4
BCE Curriculum Page 55
YEAR THREE (Data Communications Engineering)
Semester One:
Cores: 7 Core Courses
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 3101 Industrial Management 30 30 - 45 3
BCE 3104 Electronic Devices and Computer
Interfacing
30 - 30 45 3
BCE 3106 Communication Systems II 45 30 - 60 4
BCE 3107 Communications Technology 30 30 - 45 3
BCE 3100 Circuit Principles I 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 3111 Project Planning and Management 45 - - 60 3
Total 22
Electives: Choose at most 1 Elective Course
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
CSC 3105 Computer Graphics 30 30 - 45 3
BCE 3105 Computer Modeling and Simulation 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 3110 Analogue Electronics 30 - 30 45 3
BCE Curriculum Page 56
YEAR 3 (Data Communication Engineering)
Semester Two:
Cores: 6 Core Courses
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH C
H
CU
BCE 3205 Embedded System Design 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 3211 Radio Propagation and Antennas 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 3210 Optoelectronics 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 3206 Computer Communications Systems 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 3207 Computer Networks & Data
Communication
45 30 60 4
BCE 3208 Data Communications Engineering
Project
- - 120 60 4
Total 20
Electives: Choose at most 1 Elective Course
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BIT 3202 Network Computing 30 30 - 45 3
BIT 3206 Enterprise Network Management 30 15 15 45 3
BCE 3201 Business Law 45 - - 60 3
BIT 3207 Database Programming 30 30 - 45 3
BCE Curriculum Page 57
YEAR THREE: RECESS TERM
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 3203 Industrial Training 45 - 30 60 4
BCE 3204 IT Essentials I and II (Audited
Course)
30 90 - 60 -
Year 4 (Data Communication Engineering)
Semester One:
Cores: 4 Core Courses
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 4106 Circuit Principles II 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4107 Optical Communication Systems 45 30 - 60 4
BCE 4102 Mobile Networks & Computing 30 30 - 45 3
BCE 4108 Electrical Circuits and Instrumentation 45 - 30 60 4
Total 14
Electives: Choose at most 1 Elective Course
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 4105 Silicon Technology 30 30 - 45 3
BCE 4109 Unix Shell Programming 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4104 Statistical Computations 30 30 - 45 3
BCE Curriculum Page 58
Year 4 (Data Communication Engineering)
Semester Two:
Cores: 4 Core Courses
BCE 4207 Network Programming 45 - 30 60 4
BCE 4206 Digital Communications System Design 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4205 Digital Signal Processing 45 - 30 60 4
BCE 4203 Final Year Project - - 120 60 5
Total 16
Electives: Choose at most 1 Elective Course
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 4207 Circuits and Systems 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4201 Logic Design and Implementation 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4209 VLSI Design 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4211 Control Systems Design 30 - 30 45 3
BCE Curriculum Page 59
Year 3 (Hardware Engineering)
Semester One
Cores: 6 Core Courses
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 3100 Circuit Principles I 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 3101 Industrial Management 30 30 - 45 3
BCE 3104 Electronic Devices and Computer
Interfacing
45 - 30 60 4
BCE 3109 Computer Hardware Engineering 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 3110 Analogue Electronics 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 3111 Project Planning and Management 30 30 - 45 3
Total 22
Electives: Choose at most 1 Elective Course
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 3107 Communications Technology 30 30 - 45 3
BCE 3105 Computer Modeling and Simulation 30 - 30 45 3
CSC 3105 Computer Graphics 30 30 - 45 3
BCE Curriculum Page 60
Year 3 (Hardware Engineering)
Semester Two
Cores: 6 Core Courses
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BIT 3202 Network Computing 45 30 - 60 4
BCE 3206 Computer Communications Systems 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 3211 Radio Propagation and Antennas 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 3205 Embedded System Design 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 3213 Optical Fiber Technology 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 3208 Hardware Engineering Project - - 120 60 4
Total 20
Electives: Choose at most 1 elective Course
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BIT 3206 Enterprise Network Management 30 15 15 45 3
BCE 3201 Business Law 45 - - 60 3
BCE 3212 Physics of Electronics 30 - 30 45 3
YEAR THREE - RECESS TERM
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 3203 Industrial Training 45 - 30 60 4
BCE 3204 IT Essentials I and II (Audited Course) 30 90 - 60 -
BCE Curriculum Page 61
Year 4 (Hardware Engineering)
Semester One
Cores: 4 Core Courses
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 4105 Silicon Technology 30 30 - 45 3
BCE 4106 Circuit Principles II 45 - 30 60 4
BCE 4108 Electrical Circuits and
Instrumentation
45 - 30 60 4
BCE 4107 Optical Communication Systems 30 30 - 45 3
Total 14
Electives: Choose at most 1 Elective Course
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 4109 Unix Shell Programming 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4110 Object Oriented Software Engineering 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4104 Statistical Computations 30 30 - 45 3
BCE Curriculum Page 62
Year 3 (Hardware Engineering)
Semester Two
Cores: 4 Core Courses
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 4206 Digital Communications System Design 45 - 30 60 4
BCE 4207 Circuits and Systems 45 - 30 60 4
BCE 4209 VLSI Design 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4203 Final Year Project - - 120 60 5
Total 16
Electives: Choose at most 1 Elective Course
Course Code Course Title LH TH PH CH CU
BCE 4205 Digital Signal Processing 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4201 Logic Design and Implementation 30 - 30 45 3
BCE 4211 Control Systems Design 30 - 30 45 3
BCE Curriculum Page 63
8.3 Detailed program Curriculum for Bachelor of Science in
Computer Engineering (BCE)
YEAR ONE 1ST SEMESTER
BCE 1100: Analytical Techniques I (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module students should be able to:- (i) Sketch
trigonometric, exponential, natural log and polynomial functions; (ii) Describe a
function made up of a combination of other functions; (iii) Understand the range
and domain of a function; (iv) Find the inverse of a one-to- one function. (v)
Know how to determine whether a function is even/odd; (vi) Understand the
connection between derivative and slope and quote the derivatives of basic
functions; (vii) Know and apply the product rule, the quotient rule and the rule
for the derivative of a function; (viii) Know what is meant by a stationary point
and be able to classify the stationary points of simple functions; (ix) Quote the
general form of the Maclaurin and Taylor series, and determine the series of
simple functions; (x) Distinguish between definite and indefinite integrals, and be
able to quote the indefinite integrals of basic functions; (xi) Integrate by parts,
and use substitutions to evaluate integrals; (xii) Carry out a simple partial
fraction expansion of a function and use it to integrate; (xiii) Understand the
need for complex numbers and their graphical interpretation using the Argand
Diagram; (xiv) Add, subtract, multiply and divide complex numbers; (xv) apply
De Moivre’s theorem; (xvi) Understand the natural logarithm of a complex
number and apply it; (xvii) Appreciate the extension of circular functions and
hyperbolic functions of a real variable to that of a complex variable; (xviii)
Differentiate and integrate hyperbolic functions; (xix) Add and subtract 2-D and
3-D vectors; (xx) Calculate scalar and vector products.
BCE Curriculum Page 64
Course Content
Properties of exponential and trigonometric functions. Graph sketching.
Differentiation and determination of maxima and minima. Series representation
of exponential and trigonometric functions. Methods of integration: substitutions,
by parts and partial fractions. The trapezoidal rule – interpretation as a discrete
system. Complex numbers: Arithmetic of complex numbers, polar form, de
Moivre’s theorem. Polynomials and roots. Exponential, trigonometric and
hyperbolic functions of complex z. The natural logarithm. Vectors:Complex
numbers interpreted as 2-d vectors. Algebra and geometry of 3-d vectors
expressed in (i, j, k) notation. Scalar product. Vector product. Scalar triple
product.
Recommended books
• Handbook of Analytical Techniques In Concrete Science And Technology
Principles, Techniques, And Applications Edited By V. S. Ramachandran
And James J. Beaudoin
BCE 1102: Electricity and Magnetism (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will: (i) be able to use
Coulomb’s Law to find the resultant electric force on a charged particle. (ii) be
able to sketch the electric field lines due to a charged particle or particles. (iii) be
able to calculate the vector electric field E at a point due to a collection of
discrete charges. (iv) be able to calculate E at a point due to symmetric charge
distribution, using integration. (v) be able to describe the motion of charged
particles in an electric field. (vi) be able to calculate E, using Gauss’s Law for a
symmetrical charge distribution. (vii) be able to calculate the voltage difference
BCE Curriculum Page 65
of V, given E, from the line of intergral definition. (viii) be able to sketch the
electric field lines and the equipotential surfaces for charged electrodes. (ix) be
able to calculate kinetic energy changes from electrical potential energy changes.
(x) be able to calculate the potential energy of a group of charges. (xi) be able to
calculate capacitance for various geometries. (xii) be able to calculate
capacitance in series and in parallel. (xiii) be able to calculate the energy stored
in a capacitor. (xiv) be able to calculate resistance from resistivity or conductivity
and the temperature coefficient of resistivity. (xv) be able to use the concepts of
carrier concentration, drift velocity and mobility to calculate current density and
current. (xvi) be able to calculate current and power for resistors in series and in
parallel. (xvii) be able to sketch voltage and current waveforms in an RC circuit
and to be able to use the RC time constant to solve RC circuit problems. (xviii)
be able to use the vector cross product definition for magnetic force on a
charged particle or on a current carrying wire. (xix)be able to describe the torque
on a current carrying wire due to a magnetic field calculated by Ampere’s
Law/Biot-Savart Law. (xx) be able to calculate the vector magnetic field B for
current distributions. (xxi) be able to calculate the force between two current-
carrying wires. (xxii) be able to use magnetic and electric forces to calculate the
Hall Effect. (xxiii) be able to use Lenz’s Law and Faraday’s Law to calculate the
electromotive force induced in a coil due to a changing magnetic flux.
Course Content:
The purpose of this subject is to acquaint computer engineering students with
the fundamental laws and physical theories of electricity and magnetism.
Particular topics include; Electrostatic vector fields, scalar potential, capacitance
and dielectrics, energy and force in electrostatic systems, current, resistance and
electromotive force, and magnetic fields and forces. The associated laboratory
correlates theory with experimental investigations. Electric forces between
charges; Electric vector fields and distributed charges; Gauss’s Law and
BCE Curriculum Page 66
symmetric charge distributions and electric fields; Electric potential and potential
energy; Concepts of capacitance; Current and resistance; Electromotive force
and Kirchhoff’s Laws; Magnetic forces; Magnetic fields; Electromagnetic
induction.
Recommended text books
• A text-book of physics: Electricity and Magnetism, Pts. 1 & II. Static
Electricity and Magnetism (1914) by Poynting, John Henry, 1852 – 1914
• Introduction to Electrodynamics International Edition 3rd Edition by David
Griffiths
• Foundations of Electromagnetic Theory 4th Edition by John Reitz,
Frederick Milford, Robert Christy
• Electromagnetism by Gerald Pollack, Daniel Stump
• http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=380908
BCE 1105: Discrete Mathematics (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will: (i) Be familiar with
the terminology, operations, and symbols of set theory, and with formal logic. (ii)
Be able to use logic to determine the validity of an argument. (iii) Be able to
construct the proof of a theorem directly, by the contrapositive, by cases, by
contradiction, by truth table, by counter-example, and by mathematical
induction. (iv) Be able to identify a relation; specifically, a partial order,
equivalence relation, or total order. (v) Be able to identify a function; specifically,
surjective, injective, and bijective functions. (vi) Be able to perform operations
on matrices. (vii) Be familiar with the terminology for graphs and trees. (viii) Be
BCE Curriculum Page 67
able to trace Euler and Hamiltonian paths. (ix) Be able to construct minimal
spanning trees and adjacency matrices for graphs.
(x) Have begun to develop a logical mode of thought that will be applicable to
computer design, both hardware and software. (xi) Be able tounderstand
sequential logic (xii) Be able to understand sets and relations (xiii) Be able to
represent information using zeros and ones.
Course Content:
This course provides an introduction to several topics fundamental to computer
science. Topics discussed include; Set algebra, logic, relations and functions,
recursion, matrices, graph theory, and methods of proof. Emphasis is on an
algorithmic approach. Set theory; Methods of proof; Recursion; Matrix algebra;
Graphs and trees. Application to data structure and graph representations, partial
ordered sets, trees, algebraic structures, lattices and Boolean algebra, semi
groups, groups, introduction to Grammars and machines and languages, error
correcting codes. Representation of information, two’s complement arithmetic.
Combinational logic: switching algebra, canonical forms, Karnaugh maps,
combinational network analysis and design, MSI modules. Sequential logic: latch,
flip-flop and logic design, state diagram, sequential network analysis and
synthesis, register, counter, memory organization.
Recommended Text Books
• Discrete Mathematics by Richard Johnsonbaugh
• Discrete Differential Geometry: An Applied Introduction by M. Desbrun, P.
Schroeder, M. Wardetzky - Columbia University , 2008
• Discrete Mathematics by W W L Chen - Macquarie University , 2008
• Introduction To Finite Mathematics by J. G. Kemeny, J. L. Snell, G. L.
Thompson - Prentice-Hall , 1974
BCE Curriculum Page 68
• Lecture Notes in Discrete Mathematics by Marcel B. Finan - Arkansas Tech
University , 2001
• Mathematics for Algorithm and Systems Analysis by Edward A. Bender, S.
Gill Williamson - Dover Publications , 2005
• Mathematics for Computer Science by Srini Devadas, Eric Lehman - MIT
OpenCourseWare , 2005
• Notes on Discrete Mathematics by Miguel A. Lerma , 2005
BCE 1106: Electronic Materials (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module students should be able to:- (i) Explain the
relationship between electric fields, charges and currents, potential difference
and work done on a charge; (ii) Know what the inside of a crystal looks like to an
electron i.e. understand the concept of energy bands as deduced from optical
spectra, atomic structure and chemical bonds; (iii) Explain the differences in the
conducting properties of insulators, semiconductors and metals in terms of
overlapping energy bands, forbidden energy gaps and the Exclusion Principle;
(iv) Explain how the conductivity in semiconductors can be engineered by adding
controlled amounts of impurities. (v) Understand the various types of mechanism
giving rise to dielectric effects; (vi) Appreciate the nature and importance of
frequency effects in dielectrics; (vii) Account for the mechanisms of dielectric
breakdown in solids; (viii) Understand the terms used to characterise magnetic
materials; (ix) Appreciate the differences amongst magnetic materials
(paramagnetic, diamagnetic etc.); (x) Be able to draw and understand a
hysteresis curve for a ferromagnet; (xi) Describe applications of ferromagnetic
materials.
BCE Curriculum Page 69
Course Content:
Conducting Materials: Conductivity and Ohm’s Law. Crystal structure. Band
structure; metals, semiconductors and insulators. Carrier transport: electrons and
concept of holes. Semiconductor band-structures. Intrinsic carrier concentration;
Doping; Carriers in doped semiconductors. Scattering and mobility; Drift
transport. Materials for Insulation: Dielectrics. Polarisation, susceptibility.
Microscopic origins of dielectric behaviour. Frequency effects in dielectrics.
Dielectric breakdown. Ferro electrics, Piezo electrics, Pyro electrics. Magnetic
Materials: Magnetic moment, magnetisation, field intensity. Magnetic
susceptibility. Diamagnetic, paramagnetic and ferromanetic materials.
Ferromagnetism and hysteresis. Applications of ferromagnetism.
Recommended text-books
• Principles of electronic materials and devices , Volume 1 by Safa O. Kasap
• Principles of electrical engineering materials and devices by Safa O. Kasap
• Optoelectronics and photonics by Safa O. Kasap
• Electronic properties of engineering materials by James D. Livingston
• Introduction to the electronic properties of materials by David Jiles
• Principles of electronic materials and devices, Volume 1 Author Safa O.
Kasap
• Journal of Electronic Materials Editor-in-Chief: Suzanne Mohney ISSN:
0361-5235 (print version) Journal no. 11664
BCE 1104 Computer Literacy (4 CU)
(a) Description
In this course, students are to learn the evolution and development of the
electronic computer, basic organization, concepts and terminologies in a
computerized environment., hardware and software component, capabilities and
BCE Curriculum Page 70
limitations They are also to get an in-depth understanding of basic computer
applications.
(b) Aims
The aims of the course unit are to
• Equip students with basic knowledge about computer organization
• Expose students to different operating systems,
• basic operating system interface skills,
• Equip students with the use of common office applications including
word-processing, spreadsheet, and presentation graphics. Use of
Internet capabilities like the Web and email.
(c) Learning Outcomes
By the End of this Course Unit, the students should be able to;
• Describe the Historical Evolution of Computers
• Describe the different parts of the Computer
• Competently use the common office applications in at least two
different Operating systems
(d) Teaching and Learning Pattern
• Lectures
• Practical Sessions
• Tutorials
(e) Indicative Content
• Evolution of Computers
• Basic Computer Terminologies and Basic Computer Organization
• Introduction to Operating Systems
• Common Microsoft Office Packages
BCE Curriculum Page 71
• Office Packages in Linux
• Text Editors
• Using the Web
(f) Assessment Method
Mid Semester Test (10%), Assignments (20%) and Final Written Examination
70%
(g) Recommended text books:
• Computer Literacy by John Preston, Robert Ferret and Shelly
Gaskin 2007
• Practical Computer Literacy by Jelne Janrich and Dan Oja 2001
• Kress, G. (2004). Literacy in the New Media Age. Cromwell Press
CSC 1102 Introduction to Computer Programming – C (4 CU)
(a) Aim and Description
This aim of this course is to create a fundamental base in the principles and
practice of functional programming. Students will be able to Design, code,
compile, run, debug and document programs using a high language like C or
Java. Students are to cover both theoretical principles and hands on practical
skills. The Concepts covered include Program structure, data structures,
syntactical and semantic correctness, planning and segmentation in
programming as well as working with files
(b) Learning Outcomes
By the End of this Course Unit, the students should be able to;
• Have Comprehensive knowledge about structured oriented
programming
BCE Curriculum Page 72
• Have Knowledge in planning and organization of programming projects
• Have Knowledge and techniques of evaluating syntactic and semantic
correctness of a computer program
• Strong practical base in programming
(d) Teaching and Learning Pattern
• Lectures
• Practical Session Exercise after Every Lecturer Hour
• Assignment after Every Concept
• Tutorial Hours to support Practical Session Exercises
(e) Indicative Content
• Program Structure
• Data types, Variables and Operators
• Conditional Statements
• Looping Statements
• Arrays and Strings
• Functions
• Advanced Data types
• Pointers
• Dynamic Memory allocation and dynamic Structures
• Working with Files
(f) Assessment Method
Course Work (30%) and Final Written Examination 70%
(g) Recommended text books:
• Moffat, A., (2003) Programming, Problem Solving, and
Abstraction, Pearson
BCE Curriculum Page 73
• Kenneth C. Louden,(1993) Programming Languages: Principles
and Practice, 2nd Edition, Thomson Brooks/Cole
CSC 1103 Introduction to Computer Architecture (4 CU)
(a) Description
This course introduces the Logical architecture and organization of
computer systems. It highlights the lower end operations in a typical
computer as well as the way computers manage their resources during
operation.
(b) Aims
The aims of the course unit are to
• To introduce students the concepts of computer organization
• To help students understand the way computers process and store
data
• To help students understand the internal management issues in
computer systems
(c) Learning Outcomes
By the End of this Course Unit, the students should be able to;
• To learn the design of logic circuits and simplification using Boolean
algebra and Karnaugh maps.
• To design of combinational logic building blocks such as multiplexers,
demultiplexers, encoders, decoders, comparators, adders, ALUs.
• To learn the analysis and design of sequential logic circuits such as
storage registers, shift registers and counters.
BCE Curriculum Page 74
(h) Teaching and Learning Pattern
• Lectures
• Tutorials
Indicative Content
• Data Representation
• Basic Digital Circuits
• Micro Computer Architecture
• The Processing Elements
(i) Assessment Method
Mid Semester Test (20%), Assignments (10%) and Final Written
Examination 70%
(j) Recommended text books:
• Structured Computer Organization by Andrew S Tanebaum, Prentice
Hall, 1984
• Computer Systems Architecture by M Morris Mano, Prentice Hall
1993
• Sivarama Dandamudi(2003) Fundamentals of Computer
Organization and Design Springer –Verlag New York
• John Hennessy and David Patterson.(2003) Computer Architecture A
quantitative Approach 3rd Edition China Machine Press
• Computer Organization and Architecture by William Stallings Prentice
Hall 2003
DVS 1101 Development Studies I (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
• Understand the introduction to development studies
• Provide an introduction to development in Africa
BCE Curriculum Page 75
• Give a clear understanding of Human Development
• Learn Research skills
• Develop ethical understanding of their communities.
Course Outline:
This service course in Development Studies offer students a broad understanding
of the problems of development from a multidisciplinary perspective.
The topics covered in semester one are
• Politics of Development
• Sociology of Development
• Political Transformation In Uganda
Recommended text books:
• Allen T and Thomas (1992), Poverty and development in the 1990’s,
Oxford University AlinRus (2004) “Rural development verses
Traditionalism and Synergy versus Poverty in Rural Romania” East
countryside.
• Caroline A. and Simon M., (2001)”Rethinking Rural development”,
Development Policy Review.
• Commonwealth (1993), Action to Reduce Rural Poverty, London,
Commonwealth Secretariat.
• Cusworth, J. and Franks T. (1993), Managing Projects in developing
Countries, Addison Wesley Longman.
BCE Curriculum Page 76
COM 1101 Communication Skills & Report Writing (4 CU)
(a) Description
This course provides students with skills of effective communication.
These include verbal, written and gestural. The course aims at
facilitating students appropriately and clearly communicate with others
(b) Aims
• Improve the communication competencies of the students
• Improve problem solving strategies of the students
• Improve the art of critical thinking within the student
• Improve the ability of the students ability to collect and synthesize
information
(c) Teaching and Learning Methods
• Lectures
• Demonstrations
• Student practical project
(d) Indicative Content
• Writing Skills
• Reading Skills
• Speaking and Listening Skills
• Writing Curriculum Vitae
• Attending Interviews
• Presentation Skills
• Examination Skills
Recommended Textbooks
• 101 Ways to Improve Your Communicati... by Bennie Bough
BCE Curriculum Page 77
• Communication by William J. Seiler,..
• How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Li... by Adele Faber, Elain
• Conversational Style by Deborah Tannen
FSH 1101 Introduction to French
This is a Voluntary Course Unit and will be considered as
Course Content:
i. Understanding of the verbs
ii. Masculine and Feminine
iii. Determinant
iv. Definite and Indefinite verbs
YEAR ONE 2ND SEMESTER
BCE 1201: Analytical Techniques II (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module, the students should be able to: - (i) Formulate
differential equations corresponding to 2nd order linear systems; (ii) Solve 2nd
order differential equations with constant coefficients; (iii) Derive the Laplace
Transforms of basic mathematical functions; (iv) Use Laplace Transformation to
derive the s-domain equivalents of circuits containing L, C and R; (v) Predict
system response based on the location of the system poles; (vi) Derive and use
Laplace Transforms of piecewise continuous and periodic functions; (vii) Add,
subtract and multiply simple matrices; (viii) Perform spatial transformations using
matrices; (ix) Express and solve simultaneous linear algebraic equations in matrix
form; (x) Calculate the inverse of a square matrix, and use the inverse to solve
simultaneous linear quations; (xi) Calculate the determinant of a square matrix;
BCE Curriculum Page 78
(xii) Find the eigen values and eigen vectors of a square matrix; (xiii) Diagonilise
a square matrix; (xiv) Solve systems of coupled equations 9including those
derived from coupled electrical and mechanical systems) using diagonalisation.
Course Content:
Differential Equations: 1st and 2nd order linear differential equations with
constant coefficients, solution via the auxiliary equation, nonhomogenous
equations, application to mechanical and electrical systems. Laplace Transforms:
Introduction to transforms and operators, Laplace transforms of basic functions;
unit step function, Transforms of 1st and 2nd derivatives, Application to electric
circuits; transfer functions, Inverse Laplace transforms, derivation using partial
fractions Direct (s-domain) analysis of electrical circuits, Interpretation of s-
domain functions; system poles and their effect on system response, Initial &
final value theorems, Transforms of piecewise continuous functions. Matrices:
Basic matrix algebra & properties, Matrix solution of simultaneous linear
equations; row reduction methods, Gaussian & Gauss Jordan elimination,
Consistency of simultaneous linear equations, Transpose and inverse of a matrix;
use of inverse to solve simultaneous linear equations, Determinants; properties,
Eigenvalues and eigenvectors; diagonalisation, coupled linear systems.
BCE 1202: Combinational and Sequential Logic (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will: (i) Convert number
from one number system to another. (ii) Perform basic binary arithmetic. (iii)
Evaluate and simplify a Boolean and logic functions. (iv) Analyze a combinational
logic circuit to obtain its switching functions. (v) Design a combinational logic
circuit, simplify the design, implement the design using SSI, MSI, and
BCE Curriculum Page 79
programmable logic devices/EVB. (vi) Analyze synchronous sequential logic
circuits. (vii) Design synchronous logic circuits using state diagram and ASM
chart, simplify the design circuits, and implement the design circuits using SSI,
MSI, and programmable logic devices/EVB. (viii) Simulate the design circuits
using CAD software and VHDL editor.
Course Content:
The goal of this course is to develop the ability to design both combinational and
sequential logic circuits used to construct digital systems. The first part of the
course covers number systems, codes, Boolean algebra, and the analysis and
design of combinational logic circuits. The second part of the course deals with
the analysis and design of sequential logic circuits with an introduction of the
ASM chart. SSI, MSI and programmable logic devices are used to implement the
design circuits. Commercially available software is used for CAD. Experiments,
design problems and projects in lecture and laboratory sessions support material
discussed in the course. Number systems, number representations and codes;
Boolean algebra and standard Boolean functions; Analysis of combinational
circuits, minimization techniques; Design of combinational logic circuit and
mplementation of the design with SSI devices; Implementing logic functions
using MSI devices (such as multiplexers, decoders, adders) and programmable
logic devicesEVB; Analysis of sequential logic circuits; Design of synchronous
sequential logic circuit; Memory devices.
Recommended text books
• Combinational and sequential logic: a hands-on approach using
programmable logic by Martin Rice
• Combinatorics of symmetric designs by Yury J. Ionin, Moh
• Combinatorial and global optimization by Panos M. Pardalos
• Combinatorial number theory revisited by Bruce Landman,
BCE Curriculum Page 80
BCE 1203: Communication Systems I (4 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module, students should be able to:- (i) Explain the
principles of operation and application of a representative range of
communication system types and be able to show the advantages and
disadvantages of each type; (ii) Understand basic analogue and digital, and time
and frequency domain signal concepts and identify the principal signal types; (iii)
Calculate mean and mean square values and perform simple processes such as
amplitude and time scaling; (iv) Understand analogue sampling and definition of
the discrete time signal; (v) Explain the advantages of digital signals and why
errorless transmission is possible; (vi) Calculate the channel capacity, understand
the concept of digital code modulation and time distribution multiplexing; (vii)
Know the mathematical basis of Fourier Series and analyse simple periodic
functions of time; (viii) Understand frequency domain concepts of magnitude
Spectrum, phase spectrum and bandwidth and know the function of lowpass,
highpass and bandpass filters.
Course Content:
Systems: The principles of operation and applications of: UMTS, LANs, optical
systems, satellite systems, GPS/GLONASS; advantages/disadvantages of digital
communications. Channel capacity, entropy, digital source encoding considering
bit rate reduction, quantization, waveshaping, and intersymbol interference.
Analysis and design of digital modulators and detectors. Matched filters.
Probability of error analysis. Laboratory covers modulation, detection, sampling,
analog-to-digital conversion, error detection.
Representation of Signals and Systems; Analog Modulation Schemes; Random
Processes; Noise in Analog Modulation; Digital Communications. Signals and
systems: Review of PSK and QPSK; Baseband and pass band waveforms, Nyquist
BCE Curriculum Page 81
pulses; Complex baseband representation. Signal Processing: Basic concepts
associated with signal and spectra; continuous and discrete systems, leading to
an initial discussion of sampling and quantization; trigonometric Fourier series.
Recommended text books
• Communication systems by A. Bruce Carlson, Paul Crilly
• Communication systems by Simon S. Haykin
• Communication systems engineering by John G. Proakis, Mas
• Communication systems by A. Bruce Carlson
BCE 1204: Consumer Electronics (4 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module, students should have an overview of the design
and manufacture of consumer electronic products. This module will enable
students to appreciate the complexity of many everyday items from systems
design aspects to semiconductor device technology. The course will demonstrate
the importance of the fundamentals of Physics in a range of technology areas
and will put many of the other modules into a practical context.
Course Content:
The content will focus on how key products work and how they form part of
larger systems for: Telecommunications Computing and the internet Digital TV
and Radio Audio Automotive electronics White goods and Photography The
course will also describe aspects of manufacturing, recycling, sustainability and
the environment. Detailed design case studies in tutorial work will include the CD
player and mobile phone.
Recommended Text Books
• Consumer electronics for engineers by Philip Hoff, Philip Herbert Hoff
BCE Curriculum Page 82
• Consumer Electronics by Bali
• How electronic things work-- and what to do when they don't by Robert L.
Goodman
• Consumer Electronics by J.S.Chitode
• The circuit designer's companion by Tim Williams
• Irresistible! Markets, Models, and Meta-Value in Consumer Electronics by
George Bailey and Hagen Wenzek (Aug 9, 2010)
DVS 1201 Development Studies II (4 CU)
(a) Description
This course provides students with an introduction to topic areas of
development in the areas of Health, Education, Gender, and Environment
(b) Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course students should be able to;
• Understand the introduction to development studies
• Provide an introduction to development in Africa
• Give a clear understanding of Human Development
• Learn Research skills
• Develop ethical understanding of their communities.
(c) Indicative Content:
The topics covered in semester two are:
o Rural Development
o Ethics and Development
o Environment and Development
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o Health Education and Development
o Globalization Issues
o Gender Issues
o Development in Africa
Recommended Text books:
• Department for International Development, Better Livelihood for poor
people
• Robert, C. (1983), Rural Development: Principles, Policies and
management Sage publications, London
• Tadoro P. Michael, Economic Development 8th edition.
• Allen T and Thomas (1992), Poverty and development in the 1990’s,
Oxford University AlinRus (2004) “Rural development verses
Traditionalism and Synergy versus Poverty in Rural Romania” East
countryside.
• Caroline A. and Simon M., (2001)”Rethinking Rural development”,
Development Policy Review.
• Commonwealth (1993), Action to Reduce Rural Poverty, London,
Commonwealth Secretariat.
• Cusworth, J. and Franks T.(1993), Managing Projects in developing
Countries, Addison Wesley Longman.
BIT 1200 Object Oriented Programming (4 CU)
Course content:
This course enhances the student's experience in object-oriented design and
software development by performing and discussing OO design for re-use of
general-purpose applications and small Java applets, including appropriately
using the Java API and Abstract Windowing Toolkit. Other topics covered include
BCE Curriculum Page 84
the use of Java as an object-oriented programming language including
encapsulation, simple inheritance, and polymorphism; design of Java classes
using Java interfaces and packages; implement design patterns in working Java
code, and demonstrate use of Java Base Classes, including AWT. Java foundation
classes including Swing and Java Beans will be discussed briefly, along with the
selection and application of current design and development tools.
YEAR TWO 1ST SEMESTER
BCE 2100: Analytical Techniques III (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module students should be able to: (Vector Differential and
Integral Calculus) (I) Understand the significance of partial derivatives and
obtain them for simple functions. (ii) obtain triple scalar and vector products in
Cartesian co-ordinates and interpret the results. (iii Explain what is meant by the
derivative of a vector and perform simple calculations in Cartesian co-ordinates.
(iv) Explain the relationship between Cartesian and cylindrical co-ordinates. (v)
explain the difference between scalar and vector fields; explain the physical
significance of the gradient field and derive it from it from a scalar field. (vi)
understand what is meant by a conservative field. (vii) explain the significance of
line, surface and volume integrals; carry out simple multiple integrals in
Cartesian or cylindrical co-ordinates. (viii) understand the significance of the
Jacobian and use the transformation to simplify multiple integrals. (ix) explain
the physical significance of grad, Div and Curl. (x) Know the definitions in
Cartesian co-ordinates and be able to apply them in problems with simple
geometry. (Probability) (I) Recognise when a physical situation can be modelled
interms of events which can be assigned probabilities, and to calculate
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probabilities in simple situations, (ii) describe the axioms of probability in terms
of a Venn diagram. (iii) interpret Baye’s rule using a Venn diagram. (iv) apply the
concept of repeated trials to calculate probabilities. (v) understand the concept
of a random variable and distinguish between discrete and continuous random
variables. (vi) understand how to use probability density functions (PDF) and
cumulative distribution functions. (vii) be able to calculate means and variance
from a PDF. (viii) be familiar with uniform, Gaussian and Poisson PDF’s and
understand examples of where they arise in practice. (ix) appreciate the
application of probability theory to examples from communication theory.
Course Content:
Vector Differential and Integral Calculus: Functions of two or three variables,
partial derivative chain rule. The gradient vector. Multiple integrals, change of
variables, the Jacobian. Vector fields, line integrals, divergence and Gauss’
theorem. Surface integrals, Curl and Stoke’s theorem. Probability: Examples of
random events and assignment of probability. Axioms of probability; Venn
diagrams. ndependence. Conditional probability and Bayes rule. Bernoulli trials.
Discrete and continuous random variables. Probability density (PDF) and
cumulative distribution (CDF) functions. Mean and variance. Uniform, Gaussian
and Poisson PDF’s. Examples: SNR of a PCM signal, bit error rate for binary data
with Gaussian noise.
CSC 2105 Database Management Systems (4 CU)
(a) Description
This course gives students advanced knowledge in the operation of
database management systems. Operational aspects like the speed and
security are to be extensively addressed. Internal operations of database
management systems like indexing, query processing and transactions are
BCE Curriculum Page 86
to be covered. These are to be a basis of strong advance studies and
research
(b) Aim
The aims of this course is to equip students with fundamental knowledge of
the operation of database systems and how they interact with the operating
system.
(c) Indicative Content
• Enhanced ER modeling
• Tuning
• Advanced scripting
• Data Validation
• Relational algebra and relational calculus
• Low level output representation using relational calculus
• Query Processing
• Transactions Management
• Indexing and Hashing
(d) Assessment
Mid Semester Test (20%), Assignments (10%) and Final Written Examination
70%
(e) Recommended Reading List
• Thomas Connolly and Carolyn Begg: Database Systems A Practical
Approach to design and Implementation and Management, Addison
Wesley
• Silberschatz, Korth, Sudarshan, Database Systems Concepts, 5th
Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2006, ISBN 0072958863
BCE Curriculum Page 87
CSC 2102 Introduction to Operating Systems (4 CU)
(a) Description
Operating systems course introduces students to software that controls
hardware and makes the hardware usable. Its interaction with other
computer devices and how it controls other compute processes is explored
(b) Aim
The aims of this course are;
• To provide students with a detailed understanding of how operating
systems work
• To provide students with skills to write basic programs to utilize
underlying operating system infrastructure
(c) Learning Outcomes
By the End of this Course Unit, the students should be able to;
• Have a proper understanding of the differences between the
dominant categories of operating systems which are Windows and
UNIX (Linux, Mac OS, Solaris )
• Understand the design principles for operating systems and
• Understand the various software tools that make the operating
system usable
(d) Indicative Content
• Basic operating system principles, job control languages and operating
system internals. The hardware/software interface; file systems;
resource management; command languages; segmentation, paging
and virtual memory; other virtual resources.
• Concepts and issues of operating system principles; procedure
activation, storage allocation, system structure, performance
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evaluation, memory management, process management, security, and
recovery procedures.
• An introduction to distributed operating systems; communication,
synchronization and system structure in distributed systems.
• Detailed examination of two or more current operating systems, such
as, Windows, UNIX or Linux.
(e) Assessment
Mid Semester Test (20%), Assignments (10%) and Final Written Examination
70%
(f) Recommended Reading List
1. Galvin P B and Gagne G (2001).Operating Systems Concepts 6th Edition
Silberschatz
2. Tanenbaum, A. S.(1992) Distributed Modern Operating Systems,
BCE 2101: Microelectronics Applications (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
(i) Understand the principles and applicability of microcontroller and FPGA
devices; (ii) Design and program microcontroller and FPGA applications; (iii)
Appreciate the scale and capacity of current technologies.
Course Content:
Comparison of ASIC Technologies and economics (including FPGAs). Design flow
and implementation methods routeing and I/O. Hardware definition languages:
examples in VHDL and Handel C’; Introduction to co-design and the development
of codesign tools. FPGA implementation case study; computability; stored
program controlled machines; Interfacing and bus timing; Microprocessor
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architectures: von Neumann, Harvard and Princeton; RISC and CISC processors;
Register-controlled I/O: serial, parallel and analogue. Compilation; assembly;
linkage; downloading.
BCE 2102: Digital Systems (3 CU)
Course objectives:
At the end of the course students will be able to: (i) use computer-aided digital
design software and actual hardware to design and verify a modern digital
system; (ii) analyse, construct and test an electromechanical system such as a
robot.
Course content:
This course introduces basic issues in design and verification of modern digital
systems. Students will use computer-aided digital design software and actual
hardware implementation laboratories to learn about real digital systems. Topics
include: Boolean algebra and gate networks, digital number systems and
computer arithmetic, combinational logic design and simplification, sequential
logic design and optimization, register-transfer design of digital systems, basic
processor organization and instruction set issues, assembly language
programming and debugging, and a hardware description language. Switching
devices, discrete and integrated digital circuits, analysis and design of
combinational logic circuits. Counters and registers. Analysis and design of
synchronous sequential circuits. Analysis, construction and testing of an
electromechanical system (e.g., a robot): system decomposition, ideal and real
sources, Kirchhoff’s Current and Voltage Laws, Ohm’s Law, piecewise linear
modeling of nonlinear circuit elements, Ideal Op-Amp characteristics,
combinational logic circuits, Karnaugh Maps, Flip-Flops, sequential logic circuits,
BCE Curriculum Page 90
and finite state machines. Emphasis is on the fundamentals: the levels of
abstraction and hardware description language methods that allow designers to
cope with hugely complex systems, and connections to practical hardware
implementation problems; principles and techniques of machine-level
programming.
BCE 2103: Control Systems (4 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module, students should be able to: (i) Explain what a
transfer function is and derive transfer functions of simple systems; (ii) Obtain
impulse and step responses; (iii) Combine systems in series and in parallel; ( iv)
Explain the significance of the system’s characteristic quation and how the poles
of a system affect its transient response; (v) Draw block diagrams of simple
feedback systems from a verbal description, and derive closed-loop transfer
functions; (vi) Explain what is a ”good” control system, in terms of its
disturbance rejection properties, command-following accuracy (steady-state
errors), reduced sensitivity to parameter variations and dynamic performance;
(vii) Obtain steady-state responses by applying the final-value theorem and
frequency response methods; (viii) Explain the relationship between unity and
non-unity feedback systems and determine the type (class) of a feedback
system and relate it to the system’s steady-state error for standard reference
inputs; (ix) Explain how a system’s frequency response can be obtained from its
transfer function and sketch polar and Bode plots of systems which include
cascaded terms; (x) Explain the concept of stability in practical and mathematical
terms, and how the stability of a feedback system can be inferred from the roots
of its characteristic polynomial, and by the use of Nyquist’s criterion.
Course Content:
BCE Curriculum Page 91
Linear Systems: Revision of Laplace; derivation of transfer functions. Standard
form of first-order system. Cascaded and summed transfer functions.
Characteristic equation and significance of poles. Standard form of second-order
system and its step response. Introduction to Feedback: Effects of feedback: (a)
reduced parameter sensitivity, (b) steady-state error, (c) disturbance rejection
and (d) dynamic performance via transient response. System Classification:
Relationship between unity and non-unity feedback systems. System type (class)
and steady-state errors. Polar Frequency Response: Polar form of complex
quantities. Frequency-response from transfer function; cascaded terms. Bode
plots. Stability: Concept of stability via roots of characteristic equation. Nyquist’s
criterion.
Recommended books
• A Course in H-infinity Control Theory by Bruce A. Francis - Springer , 1987
• Adaptive Control by Kwanho You - InTech , 2009
• Adaptive Control: Stability, Convergence, and Robustness by Shankar Sastry, Marc Bodson - Prentice Hall , 1994
• Advanced Model Predictive Control by Tao Zheng - InTech , 2011
• An Introduction to Intelligent and Autonomous Control by P. J. Antsaklis, K. M. Passino - Springer , 1992
BIT 2104 Event-Driven Programming (3 CU)
Course content:
This course teaches the techniques of event-driven programming in a Microsoft
Windows programming environment. The software design and programming
must be responsive to asynchronous events from, for example, the timer,
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mouse, and keyboard. Microsoft Visual Basic is used for programming examples
and projects. Other products in addition to Microsoft Visual Basic maybe used.
YEAR TWO 2ND SEMESTER
BCE 2200: Embedded Systems Software (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will: (i) understand the
role of assembly language programming (ii) understand the instruction set of a
typical embedded processor 68HC11) (iii) be able to employ a modular approach
to assembly language programming with code reuse (iv) be able to use
embedded systems development tools (v) understand memory addressing and
use various addressing modes (vi) understand hardware interrupts and be able
to use them (vii) be able to integrate ssembly language subroutines into a high-
level language program
Course Content:
This course presents assembly language programming as the bridge between
hardware and high-level programming languages such as C++. Topics covered
include the addressing modes, register file, and instruction set of a
microcontroller; subsystems such as timers, handshaking input and output, and
analog to digital conversion; and interrupts. Software control of hardware is
stressed. In the laboratory, students design software to demonstrate proficiency
in these areas. Introduction to microcomputer/microcontroller structure from a
programmers perspective; 68hc11 addressing modes and memory types; Tool
usage (assembler, linker, downloader, simulator); 68hc11 instruction set (5
classes) Assembly language programs structure, including comparisons to high-
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level languages; Parallel I/O with handshaking; Analog I/O on the 68hc11 plus
background on A/D and D/A converters; Hardware interrupts.
Recommended text books
• Component-based software development for embedded systems: an
overview of ... By Colin Atkinson
• Embedded software: the works by Colin Walls
• Embedded systems and software validation By Abhik Roychoudhury
• Embedded systems architecture: a comprehensive guide for engineers and
... by Tammy Noergaard
• Embedded software by Jean J. Labrosse, Jack Ganssle, Robert Oshana,
Colin Walls
• Embedded Software Development with C By Kai Qian, David den Haring,
Li Cao
CSC 2209 Ethical and Legal Issues in Computing (4 CU)
(a) Description
The focus of this course is to study the impact of computers on society; Social
structures, their boundaries and development; Ethical issues (Basic honesty,
sincerity, etc.) relating to system development and its use; Systems security and
protection
(b) Aim
This course evaluates social and ethical issues in IT projects and trains students
on how to develop IT user policy for organizations.. It’s a Basic introduction to
Legal issues surrounding Computing and Information Technology Ranging from
Laws, Hacking, Virus and many other issues
(c) Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course unit students should be able;
BCE Curriculum Page 94
• To develop an understanding of the legal and ethical implications of
computing.
• To become familiar with types of personal and information privacy
involved in computing.
• To become familiar with types of computer crimes and laws.
• To develop an awareness of the global issues which affect our
profession.
• To develop an awareness of the ethical and professional concerns of
computer use.
• To provide a foundation and process for ethical decision making.
(d) Teaching and Learning Pattern
• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Seminars
(d) Indicative Content
• What is Ethics ?
• Ethical Issues in Computing
• Ethical Codes of Professional Organizations
• Intellectual Property
• Invasion of Privacy
• Governing and Regulating the Internet
• Other Global Issues
• Societal Impact of Computing and the Internet
• Computer Crime
• Legal Issues in Computing
BCE Curriculum Page 95
(e) Assessment
Mid Semester Test (20%), Assignment (20%) and Final Written Examination
70%
(e) Recommended Reading List
• Joseph, M.K (2002) Ethical and Social Issues in the Information
Age, Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
• Sara, B. A Gift of Fire (1996): Social, Legal and Ethical Issues in
Computing Pearson.
• Ethics in Information Technology by George Reynolds – Course
Technology
BCE 2201: Numerical Methods and Applications (4 CU)
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will: (i) be able to apply
numerical analysis methods in the analysis of engineering systems and the
design of systems. (ii) be able to design algorithms and programs for various
numerical analysis methods in solving engineering problems. (iii) be able to
evaluate, on the basis of errors and accuracy, numerical solutions of scientific
and engineering problems.
Course Content:
This course provides numerical methods for the solution of engineering
problems. Particular attention is devoted to algorithm development and error
analysis. Topics presented are roots of nonlinear equations, methods for the
solution of simultaneous linear equations, matrix inversion, interpolation, splines,
curve fitting, differentiation and numerical integration, ordinary and partial
BCE Curriculum Page 96
differential equations, and an introduction to Monte Carlo methods. Data
visualization and the design and analysis of parallel algorithms are discussed.
Applications to system stability criteria are also developed in this course.
Introduction; Algorithm; Error analysis; Solution of equations; Solution of system
of equations; Matrix inversion; Interpolation, spline and curve fitting; Numerical
differentiation; Numerical integration; Ordinary differential equation;
Mathematical modeling and simulation; Partial differential equation; Monte Carlo
method and simulation; Development of algorithms for parallel processing; Data
visualization; Advanced topics in applications of numerical analysis methods in
engineering systems analysis and design.
Recommended Text Books
• Numerical Methods and Applications [Hardcover] by Guri I. Marchuk
(Editor)
• Numerical methods for viscosity solutions and applications by Maurizio
Falcone, Charalampos Makridakis
• Optimal control and viscosity solutions of Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman
equations by Martino Bardi, Italo
• Numerical Methods and Applications 7th International Conference, NMA
2010, Borovets, Bulgaria, August 20-24, 2010, Revised Papers
BCE 2202: Ethics for Professional Engineers (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will: apply the ethical
concepts relevant to resolving moral issues in business, industry, and other
relevant areas of concern articulate and defend with good reasons his/her own
ethical point of view pertaining to specific problem areas in business, industry,
and related areas
BCE Curriculum Page 97
Course Content:
This course examines and evaluates the meaning of ethics and professional
conduct. A guiding theme is the human search or quest for values and ethical
direction in terms of professional conduct and our daily life relationships with
others. Students are expected to articulate and evaluate their own ethical
principles and values and their foundations. The first part of this course covers
the nature of ethics, ethical development, responsibilities and basic ethical
directions such as Aristotelian ethics, utilitarian ethics, Kantian ethics and rights,
and various views of justice. The second part of the course covers specific
business and engineering ethical issues such as the company’s and engineer’s
ethical obligation to the public, employer-employee ethical obligations including
such topics as the giving and receiving of gifts, employee theft, trade secrets,
computer ethics, fair wages, safety, working conditions, job satisfaction,
employee rights with special emphasis on whistle-blowing, the ethics of political
tactics to advance one’s career, and discrimination and affirmative action. Also,
emphasis is given to environmental ethics including such topics as pollution
control, the conservation of natural resources, various ethical positions on the
environment, as well as such topics as biomedical ethics, treatment of animals,
and the ethical assessment of new technologies. This course examines and
evaluates the meaning of ethics and professional conduct. A guiding theme is the
human search or quest for values and ethical direction in terms of professional
conduct and our daily life relationships with others. Students are expected to
articulate and evaluate their own ethical principles and values and their
foundations. The first part of this course covers the nature of ethics, ethical
development, responsibilities and basic ethical directions such as Aristotelian
ethics, utilitarian ethics, Kantian ethics and rights, and various views of justice.
The second part of the course covers specific business and engineering ethical
issues such as the company’s and engineer’s ethical obligation to the public,
BCE Curriculum Page 98
employer-employee ethical obligations including such topics as the giving and
receiving of gifts, employee theft, trade secrets, computer ethics, fair wages,
safety, working conditions, job satisfaction, employee rights with special
emphasis on whistle-blowing, the ethics of political tactics to advance one’s
career, and discrimination and affirmative action. Also, emphasis is given to
environmental ethics including such topics as pollution control, the conservation
of natural resources, various ethical positions on the environment, as well as
such topics as biomedical ethics, treatment of animals, and the ethical
assessment of new technologies. The nature of ethics (2 classes) Ethical
development and responsibility (2 classes) The search for ethical principles and
values (1 class) Divine command views (1 class) Human nature and values (1
class) tilitarianism (2 classes) Kantian ethics and rights (1 class) Justice (1 class)
Ethical obligations to the public (2 classes) Ethics - Employer and employee
relationships (6 classes) Job discrimination and affirmative action (3 classes)
Ethics - the environment and technology (6 classes)
Recommended reading
1. Armstrong, James et al. The Decision Makers: Ethics for Engineers.
London: Thomas Telford Publishing, 1999.
CSC 2203 Systems Programming (3 CU) (a) Description
Systems Programming is aimed at teaching students how to write programs
using system Level services.
BCE Curriculum Page 99
(b) Aims
The aims of the course unit are;
• To Enable students acquire skills in tools provided by systems, their
commands, systems calls and understanding of model computation
(c) Teaching and Learning Pattern
o Lectures
o Practical and Lab Session Assignments
o Tutorials
(d) Indicative Content
• Structure and design of programs whose inputs are programs.
• Assemblers, interpreters, compilers, loaders, supervisors.
• Introduction to formal programming languages, syntactic
descriptions, symbolic functions and manipulations.
(e) Assessment Method
Mid Semester Test (20%), Assignments (10%) and Final Written Examination
70%
(f) Recommended text books:
• Barry, K. Windows (1997) Assembly Language and Systems
Programming CMP Books CMP Media, Inc
BCE Curriculum Page 100
YEAR THREE 1ST SEMESTER
BCE 3101: Industrial Management (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module students will have gained an awareness of some of
the key issues involved with the management of an industrial company. Students
will benefit by being taught by practicing professional engineers from Industry.
Assessment will be the responsibility of academic staff.
Course Content:
Corporate structures; concepts and fashions, motivation, roles, leadership and
groups. Operational structures, early organisational theories, changes in business
environment, business processes, Demings 14 points, team working. Quality;
origins, systems, cultures comparison of East and West, Total Quality
Management Project Management Business Finance.
Recommended Books
• Industrial Engineering and Management by TR Banga.
• Industrial Engineering and Management by OP Khanna, Dhanpat
Rai Publications, Delhi.
• Industrial Management by VK Sharma, OP Harkut.
• Sharma BR, Environmental and Pollution Awareness: Satya
Prakashan, New Delhi.
• Thakur Kailash, Environment Protection Law & Policy in India: Deep
& Deep publication, New Delhi.
• Handbook of Small Scale Industry by P.M. Bhandari.
• Marketing Management by Philip Kotler, Prentice Hall of India, New
Delhi
• Principles of Management by Philip Kotler, TEE Publication.
BCE Curriculum Page 101
• Industrial Organisation and Management by Tara Chand, Nem
Chand and Brothers, Roorkee
BCE 3104: Electronic Devices and Computer Interfacing (4 CU)
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will: (i) be able to
describe the characteristics of semiconductor devices; (ii) be able to design basic
diode circuits; (iii) be able to design switching-mode BJT circuits; (iv) be able to
describe the different operating modes of a BJT; (v) be able to design switching-
mode MOSFET circuits; (vi) be able to design linear operational amplifier circuits;
(vii) be able to understand non-linear operational amplifier circuits; (viii) be able
to design three-terminal voltage regulator circuits; (ix) be able to describe the
operation of analog to digital and digital to analog converters; (x) be able to
describe the operation of S& H and analog multiplexers; (xi) be able to design
ADC and DAC circuits; (xii) be able to describe the operation of R/C and crystal
oscillators; (xiii) be able to design basic 555 timer circuits; (xiv) be able to
describe the operation of SCRs; (xv) be able to design basic Thyristor circuits.
Course Content:
This course covers the theory and application of various semiconductor devices.
An emphasis is placed on how these devices are used to interface a digital
system to the analog world. Devices that are covered include: diodes, transistors,
operational amplifiers, opto-isolators, analog-to digital converters, digital-to-
analog converters, Thyristors, and SCRs. Students are required to complete a
number of design projects. The designs are prototyped and tested in the
laboratory and each student must submit a formal design report. Review of
circuit analysis; Diode theory and applications; Zener diode theory and
applications; LED, photodiode, and opto-coupler theory and applications; Three-
BCE Curriculum Page 102
terminal IC regulators; Bipolar transistor theory and applications; MOSFET theory
and applications; Operational amplifier theory and applications; Digital to analog
converters; Analog to digital converters; RC and crystal oscillators; 555 timer
theory and applications; Thyristors, SCRs; Thermistors, solar cells, phase locked
loop .
Recommended Reading
• Data Communications and Computer Networks: A Business User's
Approach By Curt White
BCE 3105: Computer Modeling and Simulation (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will: (i) understand
concepts and applications of computer simulations of real world processes; (ii)
be able to design and build a simulation model of communication and computer
networks; (iii) be able to perform a computer simulation of continuous and
discrete systems; (iv) be able to properly document a computer simulation and
the conclusions drawn from it; (v) be proficient in the use of computer simulation
tools; (vi) be aware of ethical issues in computer modeling and simulation.
Course Content:
This course introduces students to modeling and simulation of continuous and
discrete-event engineering systems. The course topics also include computer
simulation of communication and computer networks. Applications of artificial
intelligence methods such as expert systems, neural networks and fuzzy logic are
discussed, as is the use of parallel processing in computer simulation. In the
laboratory portion of this course, students develop computer models for
BCE Curriculum Page 103
engineering systems using higher-level general computer language and
commercially available simulation software such as OPNET. This course
introduces students to modeling and simulation of continuous and discrete-event
engineering systems. The course topics also include computer simulation of
communication and computer networks. Applications of artificial intelligence
methods such as expert systems, neural networks and fuzzy logic are discussed,
as is the use of parallel processing in computer simulation. In the laboratory
portion of this course, students develop computer models for engineering
systems using higher-level general computer language and commercially
available simulation software such as OPNET. Concept of computer simulation.
Applications of computer simulation. Advantages and disadvantages of computer
simulation. System and model classification. Simulation languages. Computer
modeling design cycle. Computer modeling and simulation of discrete event
systems. Parallel processing and computer simulation. Artificial Intelligence and
Computer Simulation. Ethics in Simulation. Advanced topics in computer
simulation.
Recommended books
• Computer Simulation Techniques - The Definitive Introduction by Harry
Perros , 2008
• Computational Modeling and Complexity Science by Allen Downey - Green
Tea Press , 2008
• Dynamic Modelling by Alisson V. Brito - InTech , 2010
• Modeling Simulation and Optimization: Focus on Applications by Shkelzen
Cakaj - InTech , 2010
• Modelling and Simulation by Giuseppe Petrone, Giuliano Cammarata -
InTech , 2008
BCE Curriculum Page 104
BCE 3106: Communication Systems II (4 CU) Course objectives:
At the end of this course students will be able to: (i) analyse and design
amplitude and frequency modulation systems; (ii) design a spectral efficiency
and crosstalk control.
Course content:
Power spectral density. Analysis and design of amplitude and frequency
modulation systems. Signal-to-noise ratio analysis. Frequency division
multiplexing: spectral design considerations. The sampling theorem. Analog and
digital pulse modulation systems. Time division multiplexing. Design for spectral
efficiency and crosstalk control. Introduction to information theory.
Recommended Books
• Communication systems engineering by John G. Proakis, Mas
• Communication systems by A. Bruce Carlson
• Digital communication by Edward A. Lee, David
• Communication systems By Marcelo S. Alencar, Valdemar C. da Rocha
• Communication System Design Using DSP Algorithms: With Laboratory
... By Steven A. Tretter
BCE 3110: Analogue Electronics (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module, students should be able to:- i) Appreciate the
importance of analogue amplification and other active circuit functions in modern
electronic systems;
BCE Curriculum Page 105
ii) Show a basic understanding of op-amps and simple op-amp circuits; iii)
Understand the characteristics and circuit operation of diodes and Bipolar
Junction Transistors; iv) Be able to analyse and design electronic circuits based
on diodes and Bipolar Junction Transistors.
Course Content:
Introduction to Analogue Electronics: Analogue and digital signals; advantages
and disadvantages. System functions required of modern analogue electronics,
and their application (e.g. in AM communications): rectification, amplification,
oscillation, mixing. Basic issues in electronic system such as specification and
design. Design cycle- specification design, circuit analysis, prototypes, revision.
Two-Terminal Devices and Circuit Applications: Diodes: Main features of typical
diode I-V characteristics. Application to half wave and full wave rectifiers.
Analogue Amplification: Amplifier Principles; signal amplification, explanation of
linearity distortion, preamplifier, power amplifier. Power and voltage gain:
introduction to dB and dBm. Amplifier saturation and operating points. Voltage,
current, transconductance and transimpedance amplifiers, small signal models.
Frequency response of amplifiers; bandwidth, classification of amplifiers. The
effect of feedback on amplifier gain, bandwidth and input, output impedance.
Operational Amplifiers (Ideal case only): The concept of a virtual short and
virtual earth. The concept of feedback. Basic characteristics, small signal model.
Standard configurations, unity gain, inverting, non-inverting, differential. Three-
Terminal Devices and circuit Applications: Bipolar Junction Transistors and Small-
signal amplifiers: Structure and operation of the BJT; current-voltage
characteristics. BJT circuits at DC. The BJT as a small-signal amplifier; DC bias
point and bias circuits. Small-signal equivalent circuit models. Basic amplifier
configurations; common emitter, common base, common collector.
BCE Curriculum Page 106
Recommended reading
• Beginning analog electronics through projects By Andrew Singmin
• Analog Electronics By U.A.Bakshi, A.P.Godse
• Analog Electronics By Balwinder Singh, Ashish Dixit
• An analog electronics companion: basic circuit design for engineers and ...
By Scott Hamilton
• Analog signal processing By Ramón Pallás-Areny, John G. Webste
BCE 3109: Computer Hardware Engineering (3 CU)
Course objectives:
On completion of this course students will be able to: (i) design computer
hardware devices (ii) carry out performance tests on computer hardware
devices.
Course content:
Covers the design and performance of computer hardware devices, including
direct memory access, priority arbitration, double buffering, and bus standards.
Specification, design (using electronic computer aided design (ECAD) and
hardware description languange), simulation, verification, construction and
testing of the hardware of computer systems using appropriate technologies for
logic, memory, storage and communication (with ussrs and other machines).
Understanding future technology trends and the requirements placed by
software sysstems on computer hardware.
Recommended books
• Advanced PC architecture by William Buchanan, Aus
• Advance Microprocessors by A.P.Godse, D.A.Godse
BCE Curriculum Page 107
• Hardware and computer organization: the software perspective, Volume 1
By Arnold S. Berger
• Computer and video game design By Ferguson
• Hardware, Troubleshooting And Maintenance (Book + Cd) By
Govindarajalu
• Computer engineering: hardware design by M. Morris Mano
BCE 3107: Communications Technology (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module students will be able to: i) employ the fundamental
knowledge and understanding of communication systems gained in Level 2 to a
set of current and eveloping technology exemplars; ii) develop a further
appreciation of limitations in practical systems; iii) understand basic mechanisms
for network flow control via the study of local area networks; iv) appreciate the
importance of routing and congestion control, e.g. in relation to wide area and
global networks; v) explain high level protocols and more advanced systems with
current and next generation technology.
Course Content:
Introduction: Reason for networking, Examples of networks, Introduction to
layers, protocols, interfaces etc. Data Links: Error detection /correction, ARQ,
Flow Control, Data line examples, e.g. PPP, ATM. Local Area Networks and
Medium Access Control: Medium Access Control, e.g. Aloha , Slotted Aloha,
CSMA, CSMA/CD, Token Bus/Ring, Wireless LAN technologies and protocols, High
Speed Lanes, e.g. FDDI, Fast Ethernet. Routing and Switching: Types of
switching, e.g. circuit, message, packet (datagram and virtual circuit), Basic
routing algorithms, Congestion control, Internetworking, Comparison of different
approaches e.g. IP vs ATM. The Transport Layer: Purpose of transport layer,
BCE Curriculum Page 108
Basic transport primitives, e.g. sockets, TCP and UDP, ATM Adaptation Layer.
ISO/OSI seven-layer protocol architecture, differences from TCP/IP
Recommended content
• Communication technology: the new media in society by Everett M.
Rogers
• Communication Technology Update and Fundamentals by August E.
Grant, Jennifer H. Meadows
• Communication Technology Update By August E. Grant, Jennifer H.
Meadows
• Communication technology and social change: theory and implications by
David J. Atkin
• Communication, technology and cultural change by Gary Krug
• Principles of modern communications technology By A. Michael Noll
• Communications Technology By Linda Bruce, John Hilvert
BCE 3108: Programming Tools and Techniques (3 CU)
Course Objective:
Students will learn to use programming tools other than programming languages
in the development of software systems.
Course Content:
Software management tools such as SCCS and make; Programming tools such as
Perl, Tcl/Tk; Programming in the windows environment; Document preparation
systems such as (La)Tex and metafont; Programming pearls.
BCE Curriculum Page 109
Recommended text books
• [share_ebook] AutoCAD VBA Programming Tools and Techniques:
Exploiting the Power of VBA in AutoCAD 2000 Author: Bill Kramer, John
Gibb
• AutoCAD VBA Programming Tools and Techniques : Exploiting the Power
of VBA in AutoCAD 2000 [Paperback] John Gibb (Author), Bill Kramer
(Author)
BCE 3100 Circuit Principles I (3 CU)
Course Objectives
• Understand the concepts of transient response and steady state
response
• Relate the transient response of first order circuits to the time
domain concepts.
• Solve second order circuits.
• Use Fourier series technique to analyze LC circuits with non-
periodic sources.
Course Content
Basic Circuit Concepts, DC/AC Circuit Analysis, State Response, AC Linear
Circuits, AC Power Analysis. Network Analysis Methods, Sinusoidal Periodic
Sources. Fourier series and Transforms, Natural & Forced Responses of 1st order
RL and RC Circuits. Damping Factor & damping Ratio
Recommended Text Books
• Electric Circuits 8th Edition by Nilsson Riedel
BCE Curriculum Page 110
• Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering and Electronics by B.L. Theraja
BCE 3102: Formal Methods in Software Engineering (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
The creation of new software is accomplished using a selected programming
language, and the programming language provides a highly organized, precisely
defined means for expression. This constitutes a rigorous basis for this ultimate
step in software construction. However, the creation of any piece of software
does not simply fall from one’s fingertips. Substantial essential thinking must
precede the act of generating the code itself. In the past, the phase of the
intellectual process preceding the actual writing of code has not had a supporting
formalism analogous to a programming language. Despite the fact that this
phase of the process is more abstract (i.e., lacking specificity) and so in some
ways more intellectually challenging, we have had to proceed informally with no
real guide for our intuition. While intuition will never lose its place, ”formal
methods” is intended to provide the means for greater precision in both thinking
and documenting this preliminary stage of the software creation process. When
done well, this can aid all aspects of software creation: user requirement
formulation, implementation, verification/testing, and the creation of
documentation. This course will be primarily concerned with the specification of
software, and directly related issues. That is, developing a precise statement of
what the software is to do, while avoiding explicit (or even implicit) constraints
on how it is to be done. We seek to provide a fully rigorous description of the
results a software item is to achieve while leaving the programmers with
undiminished flexibility to use their ingenuity to attain those results. Since these
descriptions of results are intended to precede the construction of the software
BCE Curriculum Page 111
and its execution by hardware, attaining precision and rigour necessitates the
use of Mathematical/logical formalisms.
Course Content:
Predicate Logic Specification: 1. Foundations 2. Basic concepts 3. Verification 4.
Z 5. Tools and systems: Z animation – Miranda and ZANS , Nitpick ,the Z
Notation. Algebraic Specification: 1. Foundations 2. Basic concepts 3.
Verification 4. Tools and systems; Miranda, The OBJ family of languages, LARCH.
Optional Topics (as time permits): 1. Statecharts 2. Integrated creation of a
program and its correctness proof 3. Automatic program synthesis, Scripting
Languages.
Recommended reading
• Formal methods in programming and their applications: international ...
By I. V. Pottosin
• Formal methods for industrial applications: specifying and ..., Volume 1 By
Jean-Raymond Abrial, Egon Börger, Hans Langmaack
• The way of Z: practical programming with formal methods By Jonathan
Jacky
• Multi-agent programming: languages, platforms, and applications By
Rafael H. Bordini
• Methods of programming: selected papers on the CIP-project By Martin
Wirsing
• Formal Methods and Software Engineering: 12th International Conference
on ... By Jin Song Dong
• Formal methods at the crossroads: from panacea to foundational support
... By Bernhard K. Aichernig, Thomas S. E. Maibaum, Int
BCE Curriculum Page 112
BCE 3111: Project Planning and Management (3 CU)
Course objectives:
At the end of the course, students will appreciate the range of practical project
management techniques available; be able to apply project management
principles and techniques within their organisations; and be able to confidently
undertake the management of a project and see it to a satisfactory conclusion on
time and within budget.
Course content:
Examples of Project Management-type activities: New product launches Plant
relocation Business or process restructuring. The material covered in the course
will be”state-of-the-art”’ project management practice and theory. The course
will cover project Planning and management theory using an interactive
approach including case studies, class discussion and worked examples. The
specific areas to be covered are: Project planning Techniques, Project
Scheduling, Integration Management. Scope Management. Work Break down
Structures. Time Management. Cost Management. Quality Management. Human
Resource Management. Communications Management. Risk Management.
Procurement Management. Project planning Tool, PERT/CPM, Gant Chart. Project
Implementation and Control
Recommended books
• Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and
Controlling By Harold Kerzner
• Project Management Metrics, KPIs, and Dashboards: A Guide to Measuring
and ... By Harold Kerzner
BCE Curriculum Page 113
• Advanced project management: best practices on implementation By
Harold Kerzner
• Project Management: Best Practices: Achieving Global Excellence By
Harold Kerzner
• Project management step-by-step By Larry Richman
• The Six Dimensions of Project Management By Michael Dobson, Michael
Singer Dobson, Heidi Feickert
• Project management for telecommunications managers By Celia Desmond
CSC 3105 Computer Graphics (3 CU)
(a) Description
The course covers general purpose graphic systems and their use. It gives a
thorough introduction to graphics and graphical user interfaces.
(b) Aim
The aims of the course are to
• Introduce students to the concepts of graphical representation on
computers
• Teach students the design of good graphical user interfaces
(c) Teaching and Learning Pattern
• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Lab work and Practical Sessions
BCE Curriculum Page 114
(d) Course Content
Introduction to graphics, Introduction to graphical user interface. Computer
graphics systems, Graphics system software. Data Structures for graphics
devices and display processors. Representational a logarithms and packaged
graphics software. Modeling: how to represent objectives. Animation: how to
control and represent motion, Rendering: how to create images. Open GL
graphics library
(e) Assessment
Mid Semester Test (20%), Assignment (10%) and Final Written Examination
70%
(f) Recommended Reading List
• Hearn, D. and Baker, M.P (2004). Computer Graphics with OpenGL, 3rd
Edition
• Edward, A. (2005) Interactive Computer Graphics: A top down
approach with OpenGL, 4th edition Addison-Wesley.
• James, D. Foley, A.V Steven, K. F., John F. H., Richard, L. P(1995)
Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice, 2nd Edition Addison-Wesley
Pub Co;
• Mason, W., Jackie, N., Tom, D., and Dave, S. (1993), The OpenGL
Programming Guide, 3rd Edition Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.
CSC 3102 User Interface Design and Implementation (3 CU)
(a) Description
The course introduces the principles of user interface development, focusing on
design implementation and evaluation
BCE Curriculum Page 115
(b) Aim
The course aims at providing the skills listed below to students;
• Developing efficient, flexible and interactive user interfaces
• Provide the ability to identifying system users, the tasks they want to
carry out and the environment in which they will be working
• Creating Conceptual designs
• Designing various kinds of user interfaces and websites
(c) Teaching and Learning Pattern
• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Group Project
(d) Indicative Content
Usability, User centered Design, UI Software Architecture, Human Capabilities,
and Output models, Conceptual Models and Metaphors, Input Models, Design
Principles. Paper Prototyping, Constraints and Layouts, Graphic Design.
Computer Prototyping, Heuristic Evaluation, User Testing. Experiment Design,
Experiment Analysis
(e) Assessment
Mid Semester Test (20%), Assignment (10%) and Final Written Examination
70%
Recommended text books:
• Joel S. User Interface Design for Programmers Wesley Addison, 2004
• Nielsen J, Usability Engineering MA Academic Press
BCE Curriculum Page 116
CSC 3101 Software Engineering I (4 CU)
Course Content:
Continued study of software techniques with special consideration of techniques
used to produce large software systems. Planning. Scheduling and managing
software projects configuration management. Formal methods in requirements
specification, design and testing. The course will include numerous individual and
team programming projects.
Recommended books
• Software engineering by Ian Sommerville
• Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software
[Hardcover] Erich Gamma (Author), Richard Helm (Author), Ralph
Johnson (Author), John Vlissides (Author)
YEAR THREE 2ND SEMESTER
BIT 3202 Network Computing (4 CU)
Course Content
This course introduces students to the basic principles of data communications and
computer networks. The topics include data transmission, multiplexing, error detection
and control, data link protocols, circuit and packet switching, flow control, and routing
algorithms. The ISO-OSI network layer model, local area networks, public telephone and
data networks, ISDN, ATM networks and the Internet are also introduced. Multimedia
communication principles and issues are discussed. Further it introduces the techniques
of how to develop networking software and distributed services based on the client-
server paradigm, especially on the development of various concurrent servers. The
network-programming environment is in the context of Internet TCP/IP protocols with
different systems such as UNIX, Windows and NT. Remote Procedure Call (RPC),
Network File System (NFS) and COBAR methodology will be also introduced. Students
BCE Curriculum Page 117
will gain practical experiences with the network programming in both of C and Java
languages.
Recommended text books
• Network computing architecture by Lisa Zahn
• Introduction to Data Communications (1999-2000) by Author Eugene
Blanchard
• Internetworking Technologies - An Engineering Perspective (2002) by Dr.
Rahul Banerjee
• Virtual Private Networks: Technologies and Solutions by Ruixi Yuan and
W. Timothy Straye
BCE 3205: Embedded Systems Design (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will: (i) be able to utilize
typical micro-controller systems such as timer/counter systems, A/D converters
and serial I/O; (ii) be able to interface memory and I/O to a micro-controller; (iii)
be able to design an embedded system for a specific application; (iv) be able to
use interrupts for real-time system control.
Course Content:
In this course, students construct a single-board microcomputer system to be
used in the control of an electromechanical device. Components needed for the
project are purchased by the students in kit form. The completed board is used
as an embedded control system for a mobile robot. The tasks the robot must
perform are specified by the instructor. Topics covered include a review of
assembly language programming, design of memory interfaces, the operation of
programmable I/O subsystems, interrupt driven I/O, A/D conversion and
BCE Curriculum Page 118
interfacing concepts. In addition, the operation of a variety of sensors is
presented. Board layout and other physical design considerations; 68HC11
architecture review; 68HC11 pin description; 68HC11 programming issues;
68HC11 interrupts; 68HC11 timer system; Parallel I/O and handshaking; Analog-
to-Digital conversion; Serial I/O, synchronous and asynchronous; Application
examples; Networking by way of SCI and SPI;
Recommended text books
• Embedded System Design: Embedded Systems Foundations of Cyber-
Physical Systems By Peter Marwedel
• Embedded System Design: Modeling, Synthesis and Verification by Daniel
D. Gajski, Samar Abdi, Andreas Gerstlauer, Gunar Schirner
• Pro Linux Embedded Systems by Gene Sally
• Embedded Microcomputer Systems: Real Time Interfacing By Jonathan W.
Valvano
• The art of programming embedded systems By Jack G. Ganssle
• Embedded Software Design and Programming of Multiprocessor System-
on-Chip ... By Katalin Popovici, Ahmed A. Jerraya, Fr
CSC 3201 Software Engineering II (4 CU)
(a) Description
Object-oriented (OO) analysis and design is the principal industry-proven method
for developing reliable, modular, testable programs and systems. This course
provides practical skills in the latest OO requirements gathering, analysis, design,
and testing methods. Intensive hands-on exercises offer you a working
knowledge that turns concepts into practice.
BCE Curriculum Page 119
(b) Learning Outcomes
By the End of the course unit students should be able to;
• Understand the concepts of Requirements Engineering
• Capture user requirements in use cases and transform them into
detailed designs
• Exploit the rich object-oriented modeling provided by the Unified
Modeling Language (UML)
• Adapt to changing requirements with iterative techniques and
component-based design
• Design agile solutions optimized for modern object-oriented languages
and platforms
• Refactor design models by applying proven design patterns
• Verify implemented designs with automated unit and system tests
(d) Indicative Content
Introduction to Requirements Engineering, Introduction to Functional and Non
Functional Requirements, Characteristics of Quality Requirements, Introductions
to E-Commerce,
Introduction and Overview
• Using UML notation, Review of object-oriented concepts, Establishing a
methodology, Producing Requirements Models, Capturing system
behavior in use cases, Creating the domain object model, Establishing
the Object Model, Refining classes and associations, Achieving
reusability, Generating the Behavioral Model, Use case realization,
Implementing sequential behavior, Analyzing object behavior, Object-
Oriented Design, Design at the object level, System design, Service-
BCE Curriculum Page 120
oriented architecture, Design Patterns, Purposes of design patterns,
Applying design patterns, Testing Object-Oriented Designs
(e) Assessment
Mid Semester Test (20%), Assignment (10%) and Final Written Examination
70%
(e) Recommended Reading List
• H.E. Eriksson and M. Penker, UML Toolkit. Wiley Computer Publishing,
1998. ISBN: 0-471-19161-2.
• M. Fowler, Analysis Patterns: reusable object models. Addison-Wesley,
1997. ISBN: 0-201-89542-0.
• M. Fowler, UML Distilled: Applying the standard object modeling language.
Addison-Wesley, 1997. ISBN: 0-201-32563-2.
• G. Booch, Object-Oriented Analysis and Design with Applications. Second
edition, Addison-Wesley, 1994. ISBN: 0-8053-5340-2.
• G. Booch, Object-Oriented Design. Benjamin Cummings, 1991.
BCE 3201: Business Law (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will: (i) Understand the
basic nature of the legal system including the court structure and the role of
lawyers (ii) Understand the different types of torts and crimes (iii) Be familiar
with contract law including all the elements of a contract under the common law
as well as the Uniform Commercial Code (iv) Understand the basic theories of
products liability law (v) Be familiar with the creation of security inerests and the
rules that secured creditors must follow (vi) Understand the basic features of
bankruptcy law (vii) Understand the general nature of an agency relationship
BCE Curriculum Page 121
Course Content:
This subject acquaints the student with legal concepts and their application to
business and personal situations. Attention is paid to problems arising under the
following topical headings: basic nature of the legal system; tort law; contract
law, including both common law principles and the provisions of the Uniform
Commercial Code; products liability law; debtor/creditor relations; bankruptcy
law; and agency law. Introduction to Legal System; Tort and Criminal law;
Contract Law; Uniform Commercial Code; Products Liability Law; Secured
Transactions; Bankruptcy; Agency.
BCE 3206: Computer Communications Systems (3 CU)
Course objectives:
Upon completion of this course students will be able to: (i) have a clear
understanding of Personal Communication Services (PCS) networks and
Broadband Networks. (ii) Have a clear understanding of bridges and routers. (iii)
have proper understanding of computer communication systems
Course content:
The ISO-OSI layered architecture, packet switching and circuit switching, error
detection and recovery (ARQ) protocols, bridges and routers, basic queueing
theory, telephone switches, Erlang-B and Erlang-C blocking formulae, TCP/IP,
X.25, signaling (Signaling System 7), Personal Communication Services (PCS)
networks, Broadband Networks
BCE Curriculum Page 122
BCE 3210: Optoelectronics (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module, students should have a solid understanding of
modern optoelectronic components, and know how these components are
applied to light wave systems such as optical fibre communications.
Course Content:
Applications of the optical part of the spectrum. - Material systems and
fabrication techniques for optoelectronic devices. - Optical properties of
compound semiconductors. - Radiative and nonradiative recombination, optical
absorption. - Photodiodes: PIN and avalanche-based; responsivity, quantum
efficiency, and noise meachanisms. - Light emitting diodes: structure, operation
and performance issues. - Laser diodes: structure (Fabry-Perot, distributed
feedback and VCSEL), basic operating principles, and static performance
Semiconductor optical amplifiers. - MNodulators (basic operating principles and
background theory design and use) Optoelectronics Laboratory. - Introduction to
measurement of optoelectronic devices, including LEDs, laser diodes and
photodiodes. - Design of a single-wavelength multimode fibre-optic link
Recommended Text Books
• Optoelectronics and Photonics: Principles and Practices by S. O. Kasap
(Feb 2, 2001)
• Optoelectronics by Emmanuel Rosencher, Borge Vinter and P. G. Piva
(May 30, 2002)
• Optoelectronic Devices: Design, Modeling, and Simulation by Dr. Xun Li
(Jul 27, 2009)
• Semiconductor Optoelectronic Devices (2nd Edition) by Pallab
Bhattacharya (Nov 29, 1996)
BCE Curriculum Page 123
• Physics of Optoelectronics (Optical Science and Engineering) by Michael A.
Parker (May 23, 2005)
• Timer, Op Amp, and Optoelectronic Circuits & Projects by Forrest M. Mims
III (Feb 2004)
• High-Speed Electronics and Optoelectronics: Devices and Circuits by Sheila
Prasad, Hermann Schumacher and Anand Gopinath (Jul 27, 2009)
BCE 3211: Radio Propagation and Antennas (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
The following describes briefly what a student should be able to do as a result of
attending this module. The student should have understood the derivation and
significance of Maxwell?s equations and be able to apply them to wave
propagation in free space; gained a general appreciation of the nature of
electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and its practical importance; understood and
be able to apply the principles of EM screening, as used to enhance EMC, and
carry out performance calculations; gained a general appreciation of the
principles of operation of EM antennas and their practical applications;
understood the important parameters associated with the operation of both
single antennas and antenna arrays, and be able to carry out basic performance
calculations.
Course Content:
Revision of basic laws. Maxwell?s equations and electromagnetic waves in free
space. Waves in conductors. Skin depth. Reflection of electromagnetic waves.
Electromagnetic compatibility and screening effectiveness. Electromagnetic
radiation and electric and magnetic dipole radiation. Near and far fields. Antenna
parameters and definitions. Phased array principles. Simple guided wave
BCE Curriculum Page 124
solutions. TEM, TE and TM modes. Wave Polarisation. Poynting vector and
energy propagation.
Recommended Text Books
• Radio propagation and adaptive antennas for wireless communication
links ... By Nathan Blaunstein, Christos G. Christodoulou
• Radio Antennas and Propagation: Radio Engineering Fundamentals
[Paperback] William Gosling (Author)
BCE 3212: Physics of Electronics (3 CU)
Course Objectives Upon successful completion of this course, the student will:
(i) be able to understand the geometry of the crystal structures of the important
semiconductor materials. (ii) be able to understand the use of Miller indices to
describe crystal planes. (iii) be able to understand the band theory description of
metals, semiconductors and insulators. (iv) be able to calculate carrier density
and local electric field given the doping distribution. (v) be able to understand
the concepts of thermal velocity, drift velocity and diffusion as it pertains to both
electrons and holes. (vi) be able to understand and use the concept of the Fermi
level to describe carrier density and use the Fermi level to describe currents and
applied voltages. (vii) be able to have knowledge of the origin drift, diffusion,
generation and recombination currents in a forward and reverse biased pn
junction diode. (viii) be able to have knowledge of the origin of depletion and
stored charge capacitance in a pn junction diode. (ix) be able to have knowledge
of ”transistor action” in a bipolar junction transistor. (x) be able to understand
the charge control model in a bipolar junction transistor and use it to explain the
mechanism of switching the transistor on and off. (xi) be able to understand the
mechanism of gate voltage control of drain current in a JFET. (xii) be able to
understand the mechanisms leading to charge accumulation, depletion, and
inversion in a MOSFET capacitor. (xiii) be able to understand the concepts of
BCE Curriculum Page 125
electron affinity, Fermi level, and charge distributions in the MOSFET capacitor
and how they contribute to the threshold voltage. (xiv) be able to understand the
derivation of drain current as function of the drain and gate voltages in a
MOSFET.
Course Content:
This subject provides students with the fundamentals of semiconductor physics.
The concept of band theory is developed and applied to the p-n junction to
explain its behavior. Devices discussed include rectifier diodes, zener diodes,
varactor diodes, solar cells, light-emitting diodes, bipolar junction transistors,
unijunction transistors and field-effect transistors. Laboratory experiments
include projects associated with the fundamental properties of semiconductor
materials and with the characteristics and properties of a variety of
semiconductor devices. This course cannot be taken for credit by students who
have credit for PH-361 Crystal Structure. Band Theory. Solid State Theory.
Electrical Conduction in Metals and Semiconductors. Fermi Statistics - Distribution
Functions. Photo Devices. p-n Junction Devices. FET, MOSFET, UJT, Tunnel
Diodes, SCR, Hall Effect, BJT, etc.
BCE 3213: Optical Fiber Technology (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module, students should be able to understand how light
propagates in integrated optics and optical fibre structures, and how such
structures are fabricated and connected into systems. The impact of optical
fibres and optical fibre amplifiers on communication system performance should
be understood.
BCE Curriculum Page 126
Course Content:
Optical fibre and optical waveguides; Ray theory treatment, Electromagnetic
mode theory in optical fibre and optical waveguides, Transmission characteristics
of optical fibres; Attenuation, Dispersion and dispersion management,
Polarisation, Optical fibre connectors and coupling to sources/detectors;
Fabrication of optical fibres and waveguides, Flame hydrolysis deposition, Silica-
on-silicon waveguides. Optical amplifiers; Rare-earth doped fibre amplifiers,
Raman and Brillouin fibre amplifiers. Integrated optics; Planar waveguides,
Couplers, beam splitters, arrayedwaveguide gratings, Mach-Zehnder modulators.
Recommended Text Books
• Fiber Optic Installer's Field Manual 2000 Chomycz, Bob
• Industrial Fiber Optics Networks 1995 John C Huber
• Coherent Optical Communications Systems 1995 Silvello Betti
• Optical Interconnection: Foundations & Applications 1994 H Caulfield
• Optical Fiber Communication Systems, Kazovski 1996 Kazovski L.
• Optical FDM Network Technologies 1997 K.Nosu
BIT 3206 Enterprise Network Management (3 CU)
Course Content:
The infrastructure for network management. The Internet and ISO models.
SNMP, ASN.1. Structure of management information and MIB. Events and
managed objects. EMS vs. NMS. NOC, remote and Web-based management tool.
OAM\&P Focus: Operation, maintenance, performance monitoring. Introduction
of traffic engineering and load balancing.
BCE Curriculum Page 127
BIT 3207 Database (DP) Programming (4 CU)
Course content:
PL/SQL: In this course you will design, critique, and develop database
applications using SQL with fourth generation languages and SQL embedded in
third generation languages such as C. Topics include modular design and
development, module development, and compiling and linking. They also include
use of triggers, embedded procedures, dynamic SQL preparation, and database
cursors. Finally, exception and error handling, and development within a local
and distributed application environment will be discussed.
Recommended books
• Defensive Database Programming with SQL Server Author(s) Alex
Kuznetsov
• Database Programming with JDBC & Java, Second Edition By George
Reese Publisher: O'Reilly Media
• ASP.NET in a Nutshell by O'Reilly book
YEAR FOUR 1ST SEMESTER
BCE 4109: UNIX Shell Programming (3 CU)
Course objectives:
At the end of the course students should be able to: (i) use the unix operating
system to develop for information handling and software development; (ii)
develop engineering applications using c language in a unix environment.
BCE Curriculum Page 128
Course content:
This course introduces the UNIX operating system as a basic environment for
information handling and software development. It covers the UNIX file system,
job control, and processes using both the C shell and Korn shell, common UNIX
utilities (sed, awk, grep), UNIX networking utilities, piping and redirection, and
an introduction to shell programming. Computer engineering applications
programming using the C language in a UNIX environment. Use of UNIX tools
including filters and shell scripts. Overview of UNIX software design practices
using tools such as Make and SCCS. The UNIX system interface. Software design
projects. Other topics include advanced programming in both the C shell and the
Korn shell using project management tools (SCCS or RCS), using software
development tools (make), and an introduction to system administration.
Recommended Text Books
• Learning the bash Shell: Unix Shell Programming (In a Nutshell (O'Rei…
• Unix Shell Programming (3rd Edition) [Paperback] Stephen G. Kochan
(Author), Patrick Wood (Author)
• Teach Yourself Shell Programming in 24 Hours (S. Veeraraghavan)
• UNIX Shell programming by Stephen G. Kochan, Patrick H. Wood
• Classic Shell Scripting Hidden Commands that Unlock the Power of Unix
By Arnold Robbins, Nelson H. F. Beebe, Publisher: O'Reilly Media
BCE 4104: Statistical Computations (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
At the end of this course students should be able to: (i) conduct statistical
inference; (ii) carry out estimations and tests of significance; (iii) predict and
BCE Curriculum Page 129
model statistical problems; (iv) have a clear understanding of discrete and
continuous randam variables.
Course Content:
Statistical ideas. Frequency distributions and their properties. Sampling. Logic of
statistical inference. Estimation and tests of significance. Prediction and
modeling. Introduction to probability. Finite sample spaces. Conditional
probability and independence. One dimensional random variables. Functions of
random variables. Discrete random variables. Continuous random variables.
Random sample and statistics. Clustering and Classification.
Recommended Text Books
• Statistical computation for environmental sciences in R: lab manual for
models for ecological data
• Statistical Optimization for Geometric Computation: Theory and Practice
BCE 4105: Silicon Technology (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this course the student should have a basic knowledge of
silicon device processing for batch production. They will also appreciate the
consequences of the fabrication rocess on yield, reliability and testing.
Course Content:
Silicon Technology: Crystal growth and wafer preparation, oxidation,
photolithography, doping by diffusion and ion implantation, metalisation,
glassover. Layout and Design rules. Yield. Reliability. Testing. Design Laboratory.
BCE Curriculum Page 130
Inverter Design using ”Chipwise” to illustrate and provide practice in layout and
design rules.
Recommended Text Books
• Silicon VLSI Technology: Fundamentals, Practice, and Modeling
[Paperback] by James D. Plummer (Author), Michael Deal (Author), Peter
D. Griffin (Author)
• Handbook of Semiconductor Silicon Technology By William C. O'Mara
Robert B. Haber Lee P. Hunt
• Silicon VLSI Technology: Fundamentals, Practice, and Modeling by James
D. Plummer
BCE 4106: Circuit Principles II (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module students should be able to:- (i) Analyse the
steady-state response of arbitrary RLC circuits subject to sinusoid excitations
using j notation; (ii) Use phasor diagrams to find the relationships of voltages
and currents in simple AC circuits; (iii) Explain the concepts of complex
impedance/ admittance, complex power and resonance, and apply them to the
solution of simple problems; (iv) Explain the behaviour of RLC circuits as
frequency varies; (v) Analyze and synthesise low, high and Band-pass filters.
Understand and analyze circuits exhibiting resonance.
Course Content:
Constant Frequency AC circuits: LCR circuits with constant frequency sinusodial
excitation; steady-state response. Nodal and loop analysis. Phasor diagrams;
complex notation. Impedance and admittance. Rms value and complex power,
power factor. Power matching in AC circuits. Coupled coils, mutual inductance,
BCE Curriculum Page 131
the ideal transformer. Variable Frequency A.C. Circuits: Resonance in RLC
circuits. Q factor; bandwidth. Frequency response, and introduction of simple low
pass, high pass and bandpass filters.
Recommended Reading
• Circuits: Principles, Analysis and Simulation (ISBN: 0030009332 ) by
Yatsko, Frank P; Hata, David M.
• Principles of asynchronous circuit design: a systems perspective by Jens
Sparsø, Stephen Bo Furber
• Electric circuits: principles, applications, and computer analysis by David
A. Bell
• Advanced AC Electronics: Principles and Applications (Herrick & Jacob…
• Electronic Principles [Hardcover] by Albert Malvino (Author)
BCE 4107: Optical Communication Systems (4 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module, students should be able to analyse and design a
basic optical communications link employing either direct detection or coherent
detection techniques. They should also be able to perform the basic design of
WDM topologies, and appreciate the impact of optical amplifiers and soliton
techniques.
Course Content:
Digital optical communications Link power budget and system rise-time budget;
Physical limitations imposed by fibre: attenuation and dispersion-limited
distances; Receiver characteristics: noise, quantum limit on receiver sensitivity.
Analogue optical communication; Subcarrier multiplexing. Coherent systems:
Homodyne and heterodyne systems; Comparison of sensitivities for modulation
BCE Curriculum Page 132
schemes (ASK,FSK,DPSK). Optical amplifiers: Application to communications
Wavelength division multiplexing: Enabling technologies: WDM couplers,
tuneable lasers, add/drop multiplexers, wavelength converters; Topologies and
architectures; Dense WDM. Solitons: Advantages of solitons for long distance
transmission; Derivation of soliton characteristics; The Gordon-Haus limit; WDM
and solitons.
Recommended Reading
• Optical communication systems by John Gowar
• Fiber-Optic Communication Systems (Wiley Series in Microwave and Opti…
• Fiber-Optic Communication Systems by Govind P. Agrawal (Author)
• Optical Fiber Communications Systems: Theory and Practice with
MATLAB(R) and Simulink(R) Models (Hardback) By (author) Le Nguyen
Binh
• OFDM for Optical Communications By William Shieh Ivan Djordjevic,
Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of
Arizona, Tucson.
BCE 4108: Electrical Circuits and Instrumentation (4 CU)
Course Objectives:
At the end of this course the students will be able to: (i) take measurements and
analyse errors with electrical instruments; (ii) have a thorough understanding of
circuit theorems.
Course Content:
Measurements and Errors. Units and Standards. Analog Meters. Potentiometers.
DC and AC Bridges. Instruments. Transformers. Electronic Measuring
Instruments. Frequency and Phase Measurements. Transducers. Introduction
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(voltage, current, resistance, sources, power, series and parallel connections),
circuit theorems (superposition, Norton equivalent circuit, Thevenin equivalent
circuit, Millman’s theorem, delta-y connection), node voltage; Mesh current,
branch current methods, waveforms (root mean square and average values, unit
step, unit ramp), capacitors, inductors, first order circuits, second order circuits.
Recommended Text Books
• Fundamentals of Electric Circuits by Charles Alexander, Matthew Sadiku
• Circuits for Electronic Instrumentation by Thomas Henry O'Dell, Imperial
College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London
• Principles of electrical engineering by V.K. Mehta
• Millman’s electronic devices and circuits by millman and halkias
• Principles of electrical engineering: electric circuits, electronics,
instrumentation, energy conversion, control systems, computers
• Instrumentation reference book By Walt Boyes
BCE 4100: Software Architecture (4 CU)
Course Objective:
Students will learn about the specification of software designs using
architectures. Software architectures will be studies with a view to understanding
structure in software systems, and the consequences of using a specific
architecture.
Course Content:
Introduction: What is software architecture, Software design levels, architectural
views, current and emerging status of software architecture. Architectural Styles:
pipes and filters, object oriented, event-based, layered systems, repositories,
interpreters, process control, other familiar architectures like client-server.
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Architectural design guidance: Design spaces and rules, user interface design
guidance, domain specific design guidance. Formal models and specifications:
the value of architecture formalism, formalizing the architecture for a specific
system, examples of formal notations e.g. Z Linguistic Issues: Requirements for
architecture description languages, notations for components connectors-
constraints, tools for architecture descriptions
Recommended Text Books
• Software Architecture Action Guide, by Ruth Malan and Dana Bredemeyer.
• The Art of Software Architecture: Design Methods and Techniques, by
Wiley, 2003.
• Software Architecture in Practice. 2nd ed. By Prentice-Hall, 2003.
• Designing Hard Software: The Essential Tasks, by Prentice-Hall, 1997.
• Evaluating Software Architectures: Methods and Case Studies, by Addison-
Wesley, 2001. (recommended)
• Documenting Software Architectures: Views and Beyond, by Addison-
Wesley, 2002.
BCE 4101: Object-Oriented Software Engineering (4 CU)
Course Objectives:
At the end of the course students will be able to: (i) understand the object-
oriented view of software engineering; (ii) carry out software life-cycle activities
using object-oriented tools; (iii) understanding and articulate the merits of an
object view of software development.
Course Content:
Software engineering paradigms. Object oriented analysis and design. Design
and constuction of modular,reusable and portable softawre. OO Modeling
BCE Curriculum Page 135
Techniques e.g. UML (the Unified Modeling Language). Design patterns.
Software development process models e.g. ”Rational Unified Process”, Extreme
”Programming.”
Recommended Reading
• Object-oriented software engineering: using UML, patterns, and Java by
Bernd Bruegge, Allen H. Dutoit
• Object Oriented Software Engineering: A Use Case Driven Approach by
Ivar Jacobson
• Object-oriented Software Engineering: Practical Software Development
using UML and Java by Timothy Lethbridg & Robert Laganiere
YEAR FOUR 2ND SEMESTER
BCE 4207: Network Programming (4 CU)
Course Objectives:
At the end of the course students will be able to: (i) understand the client server
model; (ii) use tools for networking programming; (iii) have a general overview
of networking programming.
Course content:
The client server model; byte manipulation and other utility functions; useful
tools in network programming; the socket interface, socket, connect,bind, listen
and accept function calls; Concurrent servers; forking a process; Process
relationships and signals; Daemon processes; Issues in client/ server software
design; the select function call; I/O multiplexing. Pretty Good Privacy (PGP); IP
security (IPSec); Firewalls; Filter-based firewalls and Proxy-based Firewalls.
Domain Name Service: Domain hierarchy; Name servers; Name resolution;
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History of DNS management. HTTP; Request and Response messages;
Persistence; Pipelining;Web caching. STMP and MIME; Network Management
(SNMP); Presentation formatting; Compression technologies: MPEG, JPEG and
MP3. Multimedia Applications; Real-Time Protocol; H.323. Linking multiple
networks, an intranet, and the Internet and different transport will be considered
to carry data, voice, and video traffic. Network operations and management,
disaster, help-desk, and training issues will be introduced.
Recommended Text Books
• UNIX Network Programming: The sockets networking API by W. Richard
Stevens, Bill Fenner, Andrew M. Rudoff
• C++ Network Programming, Vol 1 Systematic Reuse with ACE and
Frameworks (D. Schmidt, et al)Vol 1
• C++ Network Programming, Vol 2 Systematic Reuse with ACE and
Frameworks (D. Schmidt, et al)Vol 2
BCE 4200: Software Quality and Assurance (4 CU)
Course Objectives:
At the end of this course students should be able to conduct software quality
assurance reviews; implement systems reviews; test software; conduct user
acceptance tests; conduct walkthroughs and desk checking.
Course content:
This course covers topics that deal with software development and use, quality
assurance and control issues, implementing system reviews, software testing
organization and planning, black box versus white box testing, unit and system
testing, and user acceptance testing. Structured walkthroughs, desk checking,
and data flow analysis will also be covered. Software quality. Quality planning.
BCE Curriculum Page 137
Risk analysis and resolution. Software testing, Test techniques, Test Strategies,
Software metrics, CMM, CMMI, ISO standards.
Recommended Text Books
• Software quality engineering: testing, quality assurance, and quantifiable
... By Jeff Tian
• Software quality assurance: from theory to implementation Daniel Galin
BCE 4206: Digital Communications System Design (3 CU)
At the end of this course students will be able to: (i) explore the details of digital
communications system design. (ii) to carry out communications system design
following a top-down approach. (iii) gain a thorough understanding of and
modeling and design of an end-to-end digital communications system and the
impacts due to changes in parameters of devices and components along the
communications chain. (iv) enhance their knowledge in algorithms such as FFT
and simulation skills.
Course content:
We will explore the details of digital communications system design. We will use
the example, QPSK Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) transmitter and
receiver in a time-varying flat Rayleigh fading channel, to explain the modeling
and design of a digital communications system. A top-down approach to the
communications system design will be adopted. We will start from the overall
system architecture and performance specifications (bit rate and target BER) and
then progressively probe into the block-level details and create mathematical
models for each element. Typical metrics for the system performance are bit
error rate (BER), end-to-end delay, and delay jitter. After modeling the system
and components, we will examine the system BER performance. We will also
explore the design trade-off and parameter tuning (BER vs. A/D bits, pulse
BCE Curriculum Page 138
shaping and receiving filters) to optimize (e.g., by observing eye diagrams,
waveform quality, BER) the system-level performance. Matlab and Simulink will
be used as our simulation tools. Upon completion of this course, students will
gain a thorough understanding of and modeling and design of an end-to-end
digital communications system and the impacts due to changes in parameters of
devices and components along the communications chain. Students will also
enhance their knowledge in algorithms such as FFT and simulation skills.
Recommended Text Books
• Digital Communication Third Edition Barry, John R., Lee, Edward A.,
Messerschmitt, David G. Originally published under
Leww,E.A.;Messerschmitt,D.G. 3rd ed., 2003, 856 p.
• Fundamentals of digital communication by Upamanyu Madhow
BCE 4205: Digital Signal Processing (4 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module, students should be able to:- (i) Describe the basic
building blocks of a DSP system; (ii) Describe the fundamental principles of some
typical DSP applications in communications; (iii) Compare and contrast the
various methods (e.g. DSP chip, FPFA, etc.) to both implement DSP algorithms
and realise their different structures (e.g. different FFT structures, direct form
structures, etc.); (iv) Manipulate discrete-time sequences; (v) Calculate time-
domain outputs of LTI systems; (vi) Evaluate the frequency response of digital
filters (including minimum-phase and all-pass); (vii) Design second-order notch
filters; (viii) Use, and derive the properties of, the z-transform, DTFT, DFT and
FFT; (ix) Derive the DIT radix-2 FFT algorithm; (x) Describe, and analyse, the
effects of finite wordlength in DSP algorithm implementation; (xi) Understand the
principles of 2-D filters for image processing - implementation and frequency
BCE Curriculum Page 139
response; (xii) Reproduce all aspects of both the design procedure, and
subsequent analysis, for one of the communication case studies.
Course Content:
Overview of Digital Signal Processing: Why DSP – advantages and limitations?
Basic building blocks of a DSP system. Applications of DSP in communications -
to include speech synthesis/recognition, electronic music, speech coding for
cellular mobile, image compression (including MPEG standards), adaptive echo
cancellation in telephony, equalisation of cellular mobile channels, antenna array
beam forming, adaptive noise cancellation, spectral estimation, spread spectrum
and the CD audio system. Implementation considerations - software, hardware,
ASIC, DSP chip, or FPGA? Discrete-Time Signals: Review of the sampling
theorem. Some typical discrete-time sequences. Causality. Periodicity.
Deterministic and random signals. Discrete-Time Systems: LTI
systems/properties. Impulse response. Convolution. Linear difference equations.
Z-transforms/properties (including poles and zeros). Stability. Frequency
response of LTI systems and evaluation from pole/zero plot. Digital filters -
including notch, all-pass and minimum phase. Transform Analysis of Discrete-
Time Signals and LTI Systems: Discrete- Time Fourier Transform
(DTFT)/relationship to z-transform. Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT). Fast
Fourier Transform (FFT) and applications to convolution and correlation. Digital
Filters: Design. Structures for implementation. Finite wordlength effects.
Multirate DSP structures and decimators/interpolators. 2-D filters.
Introduction to adaptive filters. Case Studies: To be taken from: Digital spectrum
analyser; Oversampling ADC’s and DAC’s, including the audio CD; Channel
estimation and Viterbi equalisation in GSM cellular mobile; Pulse shaping in
CDMA cellular mobile; CODEC and MODEM implementation. DSP for speech and
image coding in multimedia; DSP simulation of musical instruments.
BCE Curriculum Page 140
Recommended Text Books
• Digital signal processing: a practical guide for engineers and scientists By
Steven W. Smith
• Digital Signal Processing: System Analysis and Design By Paulo S. R. Diniz,
Eduardo A. B. da Silva, Sergio L. Netto
• Digital signal processing Alan V. Oppenheim, Ronald W. Schafer
• Digital signal processing By S. Salivahanan, A. Vallavaraj
• Digital signal processing fundamentals By Ashfaq A. Khan
BCE 4201: Logic Design and Implementation (4 CU)
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course students should be able to: (i) Design and
implementation of complex digital systems under practical design constraints. (ii)
Undetake Digital system design using Algorithmic State Machine (ASM) diagrams.
(iii) Design with modern logic families, programmable logic, and application-
specific integrated circuits (ASICs). (iV) Design-oriented laboratory stressing the
use of programmable logic devices.
Course content:
Design and implementation of complex digital systems under practical design
constraints. Timing and electrical considerations in combinational and sequential
logic design. Digital system design using Algorithmic State Machine (ASM)
diagrams. Design with modern logic families, programmable logic, and
application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Design-oriented laboratory
stressing the use of programmable logic devices.
BCE Curriculum Page 141
Recommended Readings
• Field-programmable logic and applications: the roadmap to reconfigurable
... By Reiner Hartenstein, H. Grünbacher
• Digital logic design By Brian Holdsworth, R. Clive Woods
BCE 4202: Control Systems Design (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
System Modeling: a) Derive mathematical descriptions of basic electric,
mechnical and electro-mechanical systems; b) Understand the basic
characteristics and dominant factors of the systems. Design Specifications in s-
Plane: a) Explain how the transient response of a system is related to the
location of its closed loop poles; b) Explain the main objectives of control design,
including stability, performance and robustness objectives; c) Derive design
specifications to satisfy rise-time, overshoot and settling-time specifications,
using second-order system approximations. Root Locus Design Methods in s-
Plane: a) Understand the concept of the root locus and relations between open
loop and closed-loop zeros and poles; b) Explain phase and gain conditions and
describe the main properties used for constructing root locus diagram; c) Use the
root locus to select control gains and calculate stability margins. Frequency
Domain Design in s-Plane: a) Know the definition of phase margin, gain margin
and crossover frequency of a system and obtain these from Bode and Nyquist
plots; b) Understand the relationship between crossover frequency and closed
loop bandwidth and between phase margin and closed loop transient response;
c) Know the characteristics and circuit realisation of phase lead and phase lag
compensators; d) Design phase lead and phase lag compensators; e)Understand
the use of other compensators (PD, PID etc) for control design. Introduction to
Digital Control: a) Describe the structure of a computercontrol system; b)
Understand the major differences between discret and continuous time
BCE Curriculum Page 142
controllers in terms of the recuisive algorithms, the ZOH, the sampler,
implementation and tuning issues. Discrete Signals and z-Transforms: a)
Understand the sampling of continuous signals; b) state the definition of the z-
transform and its main properties; c) Derive z-transforms of simple signals such
as step, ramp, exponential signals and perform inverse z-transforms via partial-
fraction expansions; Discrete Linear Systems: a) Explain the properties of
discrete Linear Time- Invariant (LTI) systems, their unit-pulse response and
transfer function, their stability and the property of convolution/multiplication
duality; b) Understand the difference equation and transfer function of digital
controller; c) Describe the relationship between s-plane and z-plane; d)
Understand the frequency response of a discrete system and how it can be used
to obtain the steady-state output of stable systems driven by sinusoidal
excitations.; e) Sketch the magnitude and phase plots of simple systems. Design
by Emulation: a) Define the Nyquist frequency, explain the phenomena of
aliasing and hidden oscillations, and describe how the sampling frequency of a
digital control system should be selected; b) Use Tustin’s method and matched
zero-pole method to obtain a digital controller; c) Understand evalution methods
to assess the performance.
Course Content:
Continuous systems: System modelling; Nyquist stability criterion; Design
specifications; Gain and phase margins; relationship between gain and phase
margins and closed loop response; Root locus methods; Control design using
Bode and Nyquist plots; Phase lead and phase lag compensators;. Discrete
systems: Sampled signals, the z-transform and relation between the s and z-
planes; Discrete-time transfer functions and the unit pulse response; Frequency
response; The zero order hold; Stability analysis; Design by emulation
BCE Curriculum Page 143
Recommended Text books
• Control system design by Graham Clifford Goodwin, Stefan F. Graebe,
Mario E. Salgado
• Control systems design: a new framework By Vladimir Zakian
• HVAC control system design diagrams By John I. Levenhagen
• Control system design guide: a practical guide By George H. Ellis
• Control system design: an introduction to state-space methods Bernard
Friedland
BCE 4207: Circuits and Systems (4 CU)
Course Objectives:
On completion of this module, students should be able to: (i) Appreciate the
difficulties in solving distributed circuits, (ii) Explain why lumped circuit theory is
a particular case of distributed circuit theory, (iii) Explain the TEM circuit model
and the physical significance of the resulting wave solution for a lossy line; (iv)
Calculate impedance and reflection coefficient at the input of a line with any
termination, (v) Know how to specialize and apply the results at high frequencies
and to short lengths of lines so that the effects of interconnections can be
calculated and distributed elements designed, (vi) Calculate the power delivered
to an arbitrary load from an arbitrary source, (vii) Know the basic equations for
z, y, h, g and ABCD parameters and derive expressions for the parameters of
both simple circuits and those which need to be reduced to constituent parts,
(viii) Calculate the characteristics of loaded twoports including insertion loss, (ix)
Understand the limitations of using twoport parameters in practice and why S
parameters are employed, (x) Calculate the S parameters of simple lumped and
distributed networks and their loaded input and output reflection coefficients, xi)
Understand the specification of a filter in terms of insertion loss and return loss
and know how to analyse 1st-order filters using the ABCD matrix, (xii) know the
BCE Curriculum Page 144
properties of the scattering matrix of a lossless twoport network and know how
to analyse symmetrical twoport networks using even-odd mode analysis, (xiii)
Know the mathematical form of the transmission coefficient of a lowpass LC
ladder network and understand how specifying its magnitude enables the
element values of the network to be obtained, (xiv) Determine, for Butterworth
and Chebyshev responses, the order of the filter required to satisfy a given
lowpass specification, (xv) Understand impedance and bandwidth scaling and
know how to design highpass, bandpass and bandstop filters using lowpass
prototypes, (xvi) Appreciate the effect of loss on the response of a 1st-order
bandpass filter.
Course Content:
Distributed circuits and components. Analysis of uniform, lossy TEM transmission
lines; the concept of characteristic impedance and reflection coefficient;
impedance transformation. Application of transmission lines to power
transmission and communication systems. Circuits as two-ports; parameters and
network models; loaded two-ports and insertion loss; limitations in practice;
scattering parameters. Filter design by insertion loss method; maximally flat low-
pass prototype normalised design as an example of the method; impedance and
frequency scaling; transformation of low-pass designs to obtain high-pass, band-
pass and band-stop characteristics.
Recommended Text Books
• Silicon-on-sapphire circuits and systems: sensor and biosensor
interfaces By Eugenio Culurciello
• Robot brains: circuits and systems for conscious machines By Pentti O.
Haikonen
• Control of chaos in nonlinear circuits and systems By Bingo Wing-Kuen
Ling, Herbert Ho-Ching Iu, Hak-Keung Lam
BCE Curriculum Page 145
• Secure Integrated Circuits and Systems By Ingrid M. R. Verbauwhede
BCE 4209: VLSI Design (3 CU)
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will: (i) Implement
various logic gates and circuits using MOS transistors. (ii) Design a digital circuit
with specific performance requirements. (iii) Perform the layout of the masks
used in the fabrication of logic gates adhering to design rules. (iv) Extract circuit
parameters such as resistance and capacitance from the layout. (v) Use a
simulator to predict or verify the operation and performance of a circuit. (vi) Be
able to write clear and concise lab reports
Course Content:
This course introduces students to the design and fabrication of custom-made
integrated circuits. The course draws on students’ knowledge of electronic circuit
theory, semiconductor device physics and digital logic design to perform the
design of an integrated circuit. Topics covered include review of semiconductor
physics, CMOS static combinational logic implementation, MOS transistor theory,
clocked CMOS logic, device parameter and performance estimation, integrated
circuit mask layout design rules and integrated circuit fabrication techniques.
Review of semi-conductor physics. Review of the physics of MOS transistors.
Introduction to implementation of CMOS logic gates. Choosing transistor
geometries to enhance performance. Physical representation of CMOS gates.
Integrated circuit fabrication process. Integrated circuit layout and design rules.
Electrical parameter estimation from the layout. Circuit performance estimation.
Transistor parameter adjustment to allow the driving of large capacitive loads.
Alternative CMOS forms. Device scaling. VLSI system design.
BCE Curriculum Page 146
Recommended Text Books
• Analysis and Design of Digital Integrated Circuits, Third Edition, David A.
Hodges, Horace G. Jackson, and Resve A. Saleh, McGraw-Hill, 2004.
• Digital Integrated Circuits, Second Edition, Jan M. Rabaey, Anantha P.
Chandrakasan, and Borivoje Nikolic, Prentice-Hall, 2002.
• Principles of CMOS VLSI Design, Second Edition, Neil H. E. Weste and
Kamran Eshraghian, Addison Wesley, 1993.
• Principles of CMOS VLSI Design, Third Edition, Neil H. E. Weste and David
Harris, Addison Wesley, 2004.
• CMOS Digital Integrated Circuits Analysis and Design, Third Edition, Sung-
Mo (Steve) Kang and Yusuf Leblebici, McGraw-Hill, 2002.
• Analog Integrated Circuit Design, David A. Johns and Ken Martin, Wiley,
1997.
• Introduction to CMOS Op-Amps and Comparators, Roubik Gregorian,
Wiley, 1999.
• CMOS: Circuit Design, Layout, and Simulation, Third Edition, R. Jacob
Baker, Wiley-IEEE Press, 2010.
• CMOS Mixed-Signal Circuit Design, Second Edition, R. Jacob Baker, Wiley-
IEEE Press, 2009.
• Microelectronic Circuits, Fifth Edition, Adel S. Sedra, Kenneth C. Smith,
Oxford University Press, 2003.
• VLSI Design Techniques for Analog and Digital Circuits, R. L. Geiger, P. E.
Allen, and N. R. Strader, McGraw-Hill, 1990.
• Physical Design of CMOS Integrated Circuits Using L-Edit, John P.
Uyemura, Brooks/Cole, 1995.
• CMOS IC Layout, Dan Clein, Newnes, 2000.
BCE Curriculum Page 147
BCE 4203: Final Year Project
1. Software Engineering Project (4 CU)
Course Objective:
The objective is to give the students experience in doing non-trivial
Research Projects in the area of Software Engineering.
Content:
The student develops a framework within which research will be
conducted and offers evidence of qualifications to pursue the research.
Concepts and theories underlying the student’s Project research are
articulated, the problem is clearly stated, and specific, measurable goals
are specified, a literature review is presented, the methods of conducting
research are delineated, and strategy to achieve the goal is given.
2. Data Communications Engineering Project (4 CU)
Course Objective:
The objective is to give the students experience in doing non-trivial
Research Projects in the area of Communications Engineering.
Course Content:
The objective is to give the students experience in doing non-trivial
Research Projects in the area of Communications Engineering. The
student develops a framework within which research will be conducted
and offers evidence of qualifications to pursue the research. Concepts and
theories underlying the student’s Project research are articulated, the
problem is clearly stated, and specific, measurable goals are specified, a
BCE Curriculum Page 148
literature review is presented, the methods of conducting research are
delineated, and strategy to achieve the goal is given.
3. Hardware Engineering Project (4 CU)
Course Objective:
The objective is to give the students experience in doing non-trivial
Research Projects in the area of Hardware Engineering.
Course Content:
The objective is to give the students experience in doing non-trivial
Research Projects in the area of Hardware Engineering. The student
develops a framework within which research will be conducted and offers
evidence of qualifications to pursue the research. Concepts and theories
underlying the student’s Project research are articulated, the problem is
clearly stated, and specific, measurable goals are specified, a literature
review is presented, the methods of conducting research are delineated,
and strategy to achieve the goal is given.
BCE 4203: Systems Engineering (4 CU)
Course Objective:
This course is about understanding systems in general, with a view to
understanding the role of software within general systems. We view a software
system as a component system in generalized systems.
Course Content:
Characteristics of systems engineering. Challenges in a systems engineering
project. Scope of a systems engineering problem. Identify the stakeholders and
other factors that shape the system requirements. Emergent system properties.
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Identifying the real problem which the system is intended to solve.
Technological, operational and economic considerations in the design process.
Interactions between a system and its environment. Integrating the system with
existing systems.
Recommended Text Books
• Systems Engineering Principles and Practice By Alexander Kossiakoff,
William N. Sweet, Sam Seymour, Steven M. Biemer
• Systems engineering: a 21st century systems methodology By Derek K.
Hitchins
• Fuzzy systems engineering: toward human-centric computing By Witold
Pedrycz, Fernando Gomide
• Essentials of project and systems engineering management By Howard
Eisner
BCE 4204: Computer Game Design and Development (3 CU)
Course Objective:
Games development being a source of revenue in the software industry, this
course provides a simple platform for the students to acquire the knowledge and
skills of computer game design and development. The basic principles and
aesthetics of game design will be covered. It also touches on the game
production process from initial planning through design, production, testing and
distribution. Students are expected to go through the whole process with the use
of commercial game engine.
Course Content:
Topics include: history of games, graphics, multimedia, visualization, animation,
game design, software engineering, interactive fiction, game development
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environments, and commercialization of game systems. Understanding the art
and science of game design, the development of complex virtual reality
simulations, and the evaluation of human play environments are incorporated
into the course.
Recommended Text Books
• Fundamentals of game design By Ernest Adams
• Introduction to video game design and development by Joseph Saulter
• Game design: theory & practice By Richard Rouse, Steve Ogden
• Designing Arcade Computer Game Graphics by Ari Feldman
• Game design course: principles, practice, and techniques--the ultimate
guide ... By Jim Thompson, Barnaby Berbank-Green, Nic Cusworth
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Appendix A - Staff Profiles
1. Mrs. Theodora Mwebesa Twongeirwe Mondo (MSc. Comp Science –
University of Birmingham (UK), B.Eng. Management with Mechanical and
Manufacturing Eng. – University of Leeds (UK)): Ag. Director / Lecturer
Information Systems
2. Mr. Nabasa Evarist (M.Eng. Comp Eng. Hunan University China, B.Sc.
Comp Science -Mak): Ag. Deputy Director / Lecturer Object Oriented
Programming
3. Mr. Okare Tom (MSc. Data Com – Mak, BSc. Educ - Mak): Industrial
Training Coordinator / Lecturer Discrete Mathematics, Numerical Methods
& applications
4. Mr. Nyanzi Abubaker (MSc. Software Eng. – Mak, BSc. Comp Science -
Mak): Lecturer Software Engineering I & II
5. Mrs. Annabella Habinka Ejiri (MSc. Management Information Systems –
Mak, B. Comp Science - MUST); HOD Computer Science / Lecturer
6. Mr. Martin A. Ngobye (M.Eng. Comp Science & Technology – Hunan
University (China), BSc. Educ – Mak, PGD. Comp Science – Mak); Lecturer
Formal Methods in Software Engineering
7. Mr. Aggrey Obbo (MSc. Data Communications and Software Eng. – Mak,
BSc. Mathematics and Statistics – MAK, CCNA – Cisco Systems CCAI –
Cisco Systems); Lecturer Network Technologies, CCNA, CCNP
8. Prof. Ogao Senior Lecturer Computer Graphics
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9. Mr. Vicent Rutagangibwa (B.Eng. Telecommunications Eng. – KYU, CCNA
- KYU): Ag. HOD Computer Engineering / Assistant Lecturer Embedded
Systems Design, Circuit Principles I & II
10. Mr. Kato Richard Ssembatya (BSc. Telecommunications Eng. - Mak):
Assistant Lecturer Hardware Engineering, Control Systems, Electrical
Circuits & Instrumentation, Embedded Systems Software
11. Mrs. Swagia Nakanwagi (B.Eng. Telecommunications Eng. - KYU):
Teaching Assistant Analogue Electronics, Electronic Materials,
Combinational & Sequential Logic.
12. Mr. John Kigozi (BSc. Electrical Eng. - Mak): Assistant Lecturer Digital
systems
13. Mr. Ziine John (BSc. Telecommunications Eng. - Mak): Assistant Lecturer
Unix Shell Programming, Software Architecture, Analytical Techniques III
14. Mrs. Irene Magara (B.Eng. Telecommunications Eng. – KYU, Dip. Electrical
Eng. - KYU): Assistant Lecturer Communication Systems, Optical
Communications Systems, Silicon Technology
15. Mr. Robert Mugonza (B. Comp Science - MUST): Teaching Assistant User
Interface Design & Implementation / In charge of Quality Assurance
16. Ms. Kabarungi Moreen (B. Information Technology - MUST): Teaching
Assistant Systems Development, Communication Skills
17. Mr. Baguma Daniel (BSc. Educ. - MUST): Teaching Assistant Statistical
Computations, Analytical Techniques I & II
18. Ms. Tezira Wanyana (B. Comp Science - MUST): Teaching Assistant
Database management / In charge of Examinations
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19. Mrs. Mugunci Gloria (B. Information Technology): Teaching Assistant
Communications Technology
20. Mr. Baguma Kenneth (BSc. Information Technology - UCU): Teaching
Assistant Industrial Management
21. Mr. Kamuganga Francis (B. Comp Science - MUST): Teaching Assistant
introduction to Programming / In charge of the Time table and results
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Appendix B - BACKGROUND TO SUPPORTING PROJECTS
Background to the NPT “Project on Strengthening ICT Training and Research
Capacity in the Four Public Universities in Uganda”
Overall Objective
The overall objective of the Project is to strengthen the Capacity of Makerere
University Institute of Computing and IT, the Institute of Computer Science at
Mbarara University of Science and Technology, the Departments of Computer
Science at Kyambogo and Gulu Universities to develop, implement and manage
relevant educational and research programmes for poverty alleviation, rural and
economic development.
Specific Objectives
• To build a sustainable ICT human resource capacity at all the four Public
Universities;
• To strengthen ICT educational programmes at the four Public Universities;
• To strengthen a joint (for all Public Universities) research programme;
• To improve the ICT and Teaching Infrastructure at the four Public
Universities;
• To strengthen the Centre of Excellence in Computing and ICT at Makerere
University;
• To promote gender-balance in both the number of academic staff as in
the number of students and to contribute to the Uganda government’s
plans to increase the number of women participating in ICT/ Science and
Technology
• To strengthen relations and collaboration among the Universities, ICT
Industry and the Government