Education

Nanyang Technological University (NTU): Engineering: Electrical & Electronic Engineering

Category Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, Undergraduate
Tags Electrical, Electronic, Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, NTU

n the new knowledge-based economy, engineering has become increasingly multi-disciplinary in nature. To better prepare students for this new environment, a new broad-based curriculum has been implemented in AY 2004-05. The aim is to produce engineers who are flexible across disciplines and able to apply their knowledge and skills to lead multi-disciplinary teams to solve increasingly complex problems. It also aims to produce thinking engineers who know how to apply existing technologies in novel ways and to create new technologies for the future.

Overview

The new EEE curriculum focuses on broad-based training to provide flexibility of career choices and nurture lifelong learning. It strikes a balance between breadth and depth to provide a solid foundation in physical sciences and broad coverage of non-technical areas on one hand, and comprehensive training in electrical & electronic engineering on the other.

In particular, the broadening courses in art, humanities and social sciences (AHSS), business and management (BM), science, technology and society (STS). Together with other essential courses in communication skills, Human Resource Management, and Engineers and Society, the non-engineering courses contribute about 23% of the overall curriculum workload. These courses are taken throughout the 4-year course of study, and are referred to as General Education Requirement Prescribed Electives (GER-PE).

Year 1

The first year curriculum covers fundamentals in the physical sciences such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computing and Materials Science, to provide a strong foundation for the specialisation years of studies. It also includes one communication-related course and one or more GER-PE modules to provide broadening in non-technical areas that are beneficial for professional careers and lifelong learning.

Year 2

In the second year, further courses on Engineering Mathematics are included to strengthen the foundation for more advanced study in electrical & electronic engineering. Other core fundamental electrical & electronic engineering courses such as Circuit Analysis, Semiconductor Fundamentals, Electronics, Data Structures and Algorithms, Signals & Systems and AC Circuits & Machines are introduced to provide a broad background for all areas of electrical & electronic engineering. In addition, students undertake 2 modules of laboratory experiments and a Design & Innovation Project to provide the necessary grounding in the practical skills required of engineers.

For Polytechnic Diploma holders who are directly admitted to the programme, courses on Basic Engineering Mathematics and Foundation Physics are provided to ease their transition into the degree programme. They are also required to read Engineering Physics to better prepare them for the other courses in electrical & electronic engineering.

Year 3

In the third year, basic principles which underpin a broad spectrum of technologies encompassed by the area of electrical and electronic engineering are taught. These include core courses on Engineering Electromagnetics, Integrated Electronics and Microprocessors. In addition students will select 2 electives from a list of more specialized courses in preparation for more in-depth specialization in their final year. The elective courses are Modelling & Control, Communication Principles, Semiconductor Devices & Processing, Digital Signal Processing, Power Systems & Conversion, Introduction to Photonics and Computer Communications.

Year 4

In the final year, students are given the flexibility to select their prescribed elective courses under 3 broad groups, namely Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering and Infocommunication Engineering. They may select any 2 design elective courses and at least 3 technical elective courses from one of the groups and one more technical elective course from any group.

However, students who prefer a more in-depth study can select the courses from one of 11 areas of specialization, namely, Biomedical Electronics, Communication Engineering, Computer Engineering, Intelligent Systems Engineering, Digital Media Processing, Electronics, Integrated Circuits Design, Information Communications Technology, Microelectronics, Photonics and Power and Clean Energy.

In addition to the elective technical courses, all students are required to take a compulsory course in Human Resource Management, and Engineers & Society.