ECE Curriculum Committee Meeting Minutes for 13 Oct, 2006

1. The Curriculum Committee approved the minutes of the Oct 6, 2006 meeting with corrections.
2. The Committee welcomed Stefan Robert, a faculty visitor from ETH-Zurich, to join the meeting.
3. The Curriculum Committee approved the proposal to cross-list CS 460.
4. Tangul Basar reported that the ECE Student Advisory Committee would be an appropriate body from which the Curriculum Committee could seek advice, information, or student opinion, and that in fact the ECESAC desires input on the curricula.
5. An open-format discussion of curricular concerns and issues produced a partial list:
   • The Chair expressed the opinion that curricula usually have a 20-25 year lifespan, with a major mid-life adjustment, and our Electrical Engineering Curriculum needs this now.
   • Our required and advanced-core ("3-of-5") courses target students specializing in these areas, rather than the majority who will not.
   • There's a gap between the material and level in the 200/300-level required courses and the advanced core.
   • Our advanced core, ECE 413, and ECE 440 tend to be targeted at seniors.
   • The material in the various classes may not mesh together well.
   • Too much material is covered in each class.
   • Some required courses require far too much time (e.g.,ECE 391).
   • Our courses may not be efficient, in terms of useful knowledge gained per hour of study; efficiency, or rate of learning, should be an important goal.
   • More flexibility for students to learn fundamentals in other areas (biology, mechanics, sciences, etc.) is needed.
   • Students lack "big-picture" understanding and general EE knowledge.
   • Students tend to take a formula-oriented view to learning.
   • A sizable lower end of the student body exists that haven't mastered the basics.
   • Are we educating the specialist, rather than "leaders"?
   • Should our students learn a bit of business, patent law, or other professional or business topics?
6. The Committee adjourned at 11:50 AM.