Electrical & Computer Engineering Senior Design

This page is currently under contruction as the VIP pathway is currently under review. Please meet with your ECE academic advisor for inquiries.

The School of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers three pathways for Senior Capstone Design:

ECE Senior
Design Pathway		 Before Senior Design Senior Design Part I Senior Design Part II Total
Traditional
Senior Design		 2 hours
Choose 1:
  • ECE 3872 (Jr Des)
  • ECE research
  • ECE 4xxx elective
 1 hour
Senior Design Part I (ECE 4871)		 2 hours
Senior Design Part II
(ECE 4872)		 5 credit hours
Flexible
Senior Design		   2 hours
Junior Design
(ECE 3872)		 3 hours
Choose 1 ECE 4723 option:
  • Single-semester ECE project
  • Multidisciplinary design project
  • CREATE-X
 5 credit hours
VIP
Senior Design

2 or more hours of VIP
(on the same team)

Meet with Chris Malbrue
before beginning Senior
Design Part I

Notify ECE Academic Advisor of the intent to use the VIP pathway

1-2 hours of VIP
(on the same team)

 2 hours of VIP*
(on the same team)
(VIP 4982**)		 5-8 credit hours

* The new Senior Design policy differs from the previous policy in the number of credits taken in the last semester. Students who need 3 VIP credits instead of 2 in their final semester can still take VIP for 3 credits, as under the old model.
** For Fall 2021, students should apply for the 3-credit Senior Design option. This will ensure they are flagged as VIP Senior Design students. Once approved, the appropriate sections will be created.
*** After the 5th credit, 1 to 3 additional credits can count as ECE electives, with a maximum total of 8 VIP credits.

Timeline

Students using VIP for ECE Senior Designs must follow the timeline below:

Timeframe Meetings* Forms &
Deliverables		 Details
2 Semesters before Senior Design Part II

Chris Malbrue (VIP)

ECE Academic Advisor

   Meet with Chris Malbrue to review VIP Senior Design process/requirements.
Senior Design Part I If the VIP Instructor is not from ECE, meet with Secondary Project Advisor

Senior Design Proposal
Form

 Due on the withdraw with a W day. Submit to Chris Malbrue. The form requires project advisor signatures:
  • If the student's VIP Instructor is not in ECE, the student will need to find a secondary advisor in ECE.
  • Professor Aaron Lanterman volunteered to review projects and to either serve as secondary advisor or recommend one.
Senior Design Part II 3 meetings with Secondary Project Advisor Midterm & Final Reports Midterm and final reports to be submitted to Chris Malbrue and your project advisor(s).
Final Presentation
  • Presentation requirements are set by your VIP instructor(s).
  • Notify Chris Malbrue of the presentation in advance.
  • If you have a Secondary Project Advisor, coordinate the presentation with them as well.
VIP Notebook, Other Deliverables Submit a PDF of your VIP Notebook & instructor-defined deliverables (write-ups, etc.) to Chris Malbrue.

* Meetings in addition to regular VIP team meetings