Senior Electrical Engineering Design I

Instructor Information

• Instructor: Dr. Julien Pierce (Assistant Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering)
• Email: jpierce@university.alkimi.ai
• Office: Rowan Engineering Center 218
• Office Hours:
  • Monday & Friday: 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (In person, Rowan Engineering Center 218)
  • Wednesday: 3:00–4:00 p.m. (Virtual via Zoom; link posted in Canvas)
  • Also available by appointment.

Course Description

First semester of the capstone design sequence: requirements, system architecture, component selection, engineering standards, and a preliminary design review. EE 490 is the first course in the two-semester electrical and computer engineering capstone design sequence. Working in multidisciplinary teams under faculty and industrial sponsorship, students translate open-ended technical challenges into rigorous engineering requirements, architect multi-domain hardware and software systems, and conduct comprehensive component trade studies. The semester emphasizes standards compliance (IEEE, FCC, UL), design for testability, power and thermal budgets, and risk mitigation, culminating in a formal Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and comprehensive engineering package.

Prerequisites

EE 310, EE 330, and senior standing.

Measurable Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of EE 490, students will be able to:

1. Establish Engineering Requirements: Translate ambiguous client and stakeholder needs into measurable, verifiable engineering target specifications that satisfy technical, economic, and safety constraints.
2. Architect Electrical Systems: Partition complex electrical systems into modular functional subsystems, specifying electrical, thermal, mechanical, and software interface protocols.
3. Select Components and Perform Trade Studies: Conduct quantitative trade-off analyses, evaluate component datasheets, formulate power and timing budgets, and verify component availability and lead times.
4. Apply Standards and Ethical Codes: Integrate applicable engineering standards (IEEE, FCC Part 15, UL) and adhere to the IEEE Code of Ethics in engineering decision-making and public safety considerations.
5. Deliver Technical Design Reviews: Author professional preliminary design documentation and present defensible technical arguments during formal design review panels before faculty and industry practitioners.

Required Course Materials & Approximate Costs

1. Ford, Ralph M., and Chris S. Coulston. Design for Electrical and Computer Engineers: Theory, Concepts, and Practice. McGraw-Hill, 2007. Approx. $65 digital rental ($140 purchase; reserve copies available in Alkimi Library).
2. Altium Designer / KiCad EDA Suite and Project Management Software (Jira/GitHub). Free educational access provided through university engineering site licensing.
3. Total estimated cost: Approx. $0 (library reserve & campus tools) to $65 (textbook rental).

Generative AI Policy (AI Level 2: AI Permitted with Disclosure for Specified Tasks)

In accordance with Alkimi University Academic Policies (Student Handbook §5.8), EE 490 operates under AI Level 2.

• What is permitted: Students may utilize AI tools for technical writing refinement, requirement formatting, exploring electronic component alternatives, and generating draft Python or MATLAB testbench automation scripts.
• What is prohibited: AI models must not be used to fabricate schematic designs, generate unverified circuit simulations, synthesize client requirements without stakeholder engagement, or bypass rigorous engineering calculations. Using generative AI to author capstone deliverables without team oversight is strictly prohibited.
• Disclosure: Every formal capstone deliverable must contain a dedicated AI disclosure statement detailing any tools consulted, the precise prompts utilized, and the engineering validation methods employed to verify component specifications and safety constraints.

Grading Components and Weights

• Team Charter & Problem Definition Document: 10% (Due Friday, September 11 at 11:59 p.m.)
• System Requirements & Specifications Document: 15% (Due Friday, October 2 at 11:59 p.m.)
• System Architecture & Component Selection Report: 15% (Due Friday, October 23 at 11:59 p.m.)
• Preliminary Design Review (PDR) Presentation: 20% (In class, Thursday, December 3)
• Sprint Cadence, Standups & Peer Evaluation: 15% (Evaluated through biweekly team sprint logs, sponsor status reports, and confidential peer evaluations)
• Preliminary Design Package & Detailed Engineering Report: 25% (Due by the end of the final exam period, Thursday, December 17, 2026, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)

Grading Scale (Alkimi University Standard)

• A: 93–100% | A-: 90–92%
• B+: 87–89% | B: 83–86% | B-: 80–82%
• C+: 77–79% | C: 73–76% | C-: 70–72%
• D+: 67–69% | D: 60–66% | F: Below 60%
• Extra credit: No extra credit assignments are available in EE 490.

Course Schedule (Fall 2026)

Course Policies

Attendance Policy

Attendance at all senior design seminar sessions, team sprint standups, and sponsor meetings is mandatory. Senior capstone demands collaborative accountability and professional reliability. If an unavoidable absence arises due to illness or approved career interview travel, notify Dr. Pierce and your team at least 24 hours in advance. Students who miss the first two class meetings without notifying the instructor may be dropped. Students may miss class for religious observance without penalty if they notify the instructor in writing within the first two weeks of the semester (by Wednesday, September 9, 2026). Absences for university-sponsored activities (athletics, performances, conferences) are excused with a letter from the sponsoring office at least one week in advance.

Late Work Policy

Capstone milestone documents are subject to strict project deadlines. Late submissions will incur a 10% penalty per 24 hours up to 48 hours late, after which submissions are not accepted without prior written instructor consent. Preliminary Design Review presentation slots cannot be rescheduled.

Final Exam Policy

EE 490 has no final examination. The preliminary design package & detailed engineering report takes its place. Nothing is due on Reading Day (Thursday, December 10, 2026).