Note: See Bottom for New Information

 

Overview:

 

The new institute-level Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) calls for each school to develop a set of requirements that undergraduate students must complete in order to have a "Research Option" designation on their transcript.

The goal of this Research Option is to identify our ECE undergraduate students who have participated in a concentrated research effort that results in an undergraduate thesis. One key feature of this program is to have a very open evaluation of a student's research capabilities that will be viewable to the public via a required web-based research portfolio. To increase flexibility for faculty and students participating in this program, there are two possible tracks (i.e. junior or senior track) that an ECE student can follow to complete this research thesis option in ECE.  These tracks and the specific requirements are outlined in the accompanying documents.

I would like to request that the ECE UCC consider approval of this new research option for ECE at your earliest convenience (preferably before the Oct. 18 Faculty Meeting). I would be more than willing to give a presentation and answer questions for the UCC at your next schedule meeting.

Key points to consider in your decision:

1)       The student will be required to complete a total of 9 hours of ECE research credit (taken from ECE3951/52, ECE2699, ECE4699)

2)        The student will be required to take LCC4700 (2-0-2) "Writing an Undergraduate Thesis"

3)       The student can use 6 hours of ECE2699 and/or ECE4699 as approved elective credit ONLY if they complete all requirements for the option.

4)       The faculty research advisors will decide which students can participate in this program. There is a recommendation of the student has at least a 3.0 GPA, but the faculty research advisor can overrule this recommendation.

 

 Undergraduate Research Option

The School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

 

GOAL OF OPTION: To identify our ECE undergraduate students who have participated in a concentrated research effort that results in an undergraduate thesis. This designation will appear on a student's transcript.

JUNIOR & SENIOR TRACK: To increase flexibility for faculty and students participating in this program, there are two possible tracks that an ECE student could follow to complete this research thesis option.   These tracks are outlined in the following pages.

EVALUATION: The intent is to have a very open evaluation of a student's research capabilities that will be viewable to the pubic via a required web-based research portfolio.

 

 

 

Junior Research Track

This track will take the student 4 semesters to complete and is intended to reflect a 2-year research project. Students will be able to use ECE3951/ECE3952 as 3 hours of ECE technical elective.  The remaining 6 hours of ECE4699 will be counted as approved electives only if the student completes the undergraduate research thesis option.  ECE4698 will count toward the Undergraduate Research Option; however, it will NOT count toward credit hours for graduation because it is audit only.

 

Semester 1

ECE3951 (1-0-1 P/F) UROP

 

Semester 2

ECE3952 (2-0-2 L/G) UROP

 

Semester 3

ECE4699(3-0-3 L/G) UNDERGRAD RESEARCH CREDIT

OR

ECE4698 (3-0-3 Audit) UNDERGRAD RESEARCH FOR PAY (9 hours per week work)

Semester 4

LCC4700 (2-0-2 L/G) WRITING AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

 

ECE4699(3-0-3 L/G) UNDERGRAD RESEARCH CREDIT

OR

ECE4698 (3-0-3 Audit) UNDERGRAD RESEARCH FOR PAY (9 hours per week work)

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Research Track

This track will take the student 3 semesters to complete and is intended to reflect an intensive 1-year research project. Students will be able to use ECE3951/ECE3952 as 3 hours of ECE technical elective.  The remaining 6 hours of ECE4699 will be counted as approved electives only if the student completes the undergraduate research thesis option.  ECE4698 will count toward the Undergraduate Research Option; however, it will NOT count toward credit hours for graduation because it is audit only.

 

Semester 1

ECE2699(3-0-3 L/G) UNDERGRAD RESEARCH CREDIT

OR

ECE2698 (3-0-3 Audit) UNDERGRAD RESEARCH FOR PAY (9 hours per week work)

 

 

Semester 2

ECE4699(3-0-3 L/G) UNDERGRAD RESEARCH CREDIT

OR

ECE4698 (3-0-3 Audit) UNDERGRAD RESEARCH FOR PAY (9 hours per week work)

 

Semester 3

LCC4700 (2-0-2 L/G) WRITING AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

 

ECE4699(3-0-3 L/G) UNDERGRAD RESEARCH CREDIT

OR

ECE4698 (3-0-3 Audit) UNDERGRAD RESEARCH FOR PAY (9 hours per week work)

 

 

 

 

8 Semester Course of Study

Undergraduate Research Option

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

 

Semester 1                                                                                         Hours

MATH1501  CALCULUS I                                                                4

ENGL1101 ENGLISH COMPOSITION                                            3

CHEM1301 GENERAL CHEMISTRY                                               4

CS1321 or CS1371 INTRO TO COMPUTING                                 3

WELLNESS REQUIREMENT                                                           2

Total Semester Hours                                                                         16

 

Semester 2                                                                                         Hours

MATH1502 CALCULUS II                                                                4         

ENGL1102 ENGLISH COMPOSITION II                                        3

PHYS2211 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSIC I                                    4

CS1322 OBJECT ORIENTED PROGRAMMING                             3

ECE 2030 INTRODUCTION OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING     3

Total Semester Hours                                                                         17

 

Semester 3                                                                                         Hours

ECE 2025 INTRODUCTION TO SIGNAL PROCESSING              4

LCC3401 TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION                                  2

MATH2401 CALCULUS III                                                               4

PHYS2212 INTRODUCTION OF PHYSIC II                                   4

HIST2111 or 2112 or POL1101 or PUB3000 or INTA1200              3

Total Semester Hours                                                                         17

 

Semester 4                                                                                         Hours

ECE2031 DIGITAL DESIGN LAB                                                     2

ECE2040 CIRCUIT ANALYSIS                                                        3

MATH2403 DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS                                     4

SCIENCE ELECTIVE (CHEM, PHYS,BIOL, EAS)                           3

SOCIAL SCIENCE ELECTIVE                                                         3

HUMANITIES ELECTIVE                                                                 3

Total Semester Hours                                                                         18

 

Semester 5                                                                                         Hours

ECE3025 ELECTROMAGNETICS                                                    3

ECE3040 MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS                                    4

ECE3041 INSTRUMENT & CIRCUIT LAB                                      2

ECON2100 or 2105 or 2106                                                               3

APPROVED ELECTIVE                                                                     3

ECE3951  UROP I                                                                              1 (P/F)

Total Semester Hours                                                                         16

 

Semester 6                                                                                         Hours

ECE3042 MICROELECTRONICS LAB                                            2

ECE BREADTH ELECTIVES                                                             9

ECE3952 UROP II                                                                              2

ENGINEERING ELECTIVE                                                               3

Total Semester Hours                                                                         16

 

Semester 7                                                                                         Hours

ECE4000 PROJ. ENG & PROF. PRAC                                             3

ECE ELECTIVE                                                                                  3

APPROVED ELECTIVE                                                                     3

ENGINEERING ELECTIVE                                                               3

ECE4699 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FOR CREDIT             3

SOCIAL SCIENCE ELECTIVE                                                         3

Total Semester Hours                                                                         18

 

Semester 8                                                                                         Hours

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN ELECTIVE                       3

ECE ELECTIVE                                                                                  3

ENGINEERING ELECTIVE                                                               3

HUMANITIES ELECTIVE                                                                 3

ECE4699 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FOR CREDIT             3

LCC4700 WRITING AN UNDERGRAD THESIS                             2

Total Semester Hours                                                                         17

8 Semester Course of Study

Undergraduate Research Option

Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering

 

Semester 1                                                                                         Hours

MATH1501  CALCULUS I                                                                4

ENGL1101 ENGLISH COMPOSITION                                            3

CHEM1301 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I                                             4

CS1321 or CS1371 INTRO TO COMPUTING                                 3

WELLNESS REQUIREMENT                                                           2

Total Semester Hours                                                                         16

 

Semester 2                                                                                         Hours

MATH1502 CALCULUS II                                                                4         

ENGL1102 ENGLISH COMPOSITION II                                        3

PHYS2211 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSIC I                                    4

CS1322 OBJECT ORIENTED PROGRAMMING                             3

ECE 2030 INTRODUCTION OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING     3

Total Semester Hours                                                                         17

 

Semester 3                                                                                         Hours

ECE 2025 INTRODUCTION TO SIGNAL PROCESSING              4

LCC3401 TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION                                  2

MATH2401 CALCULUS III                                                               4

PHYS2212 INTRODUCTION OF PHYSIC II                                   4

HIST2111 or 2112 or POL1101 or PUB3000 or INTA1200              3

Total Semester Hours                                                                         17

 

Semester 4                                                                                         Hours

ECE2031 DIGITAL DESIGN LAB                                                     2

ECE2040 CIRCUIT ANALYSIS                                                        3

MATH2403 DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS                                     4

SCIENCE ELECTIVE (CHEM, PHYS, BIOL, EAS)                          3

ADVANCED PROGRAMMING ELECTIVE                                     4

Total Semester Hours                                                                         16

 

Semester 5                                                                                         Hours

ECE3040 MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS                                    4

ECE3041 INSTRUMENT & CIRCUIT LAB                                      2

ECE3055 COMPUTER ARCH & OP. SYS                                       4

ECON2100 or 2105 or 2106                                                               3

DISCRETE MATH ELECTIVE                                                           3

ECE3951  UROP I                                                                              1 (P/F)

Total Semester Hours                                                                         17

 

Semester 6                                                                                         Hours

ECE3025 ELECTROMAGNETICS                                                    3

ECE3042 MICROELECTRONICS LAB                                            2

ECE3060 VLSI & ADVANCED DIGITAL DESIGN                         4

ENGINEERING ELECTIVE                                                               3

SOCIAL SCIENCE ELECTIVE                                                         3

ECE3952 UROP II                                                                              2

Total Semester Hours                                                                         17

 

Semester 7                                                                                         Hours

ECE4000 PROJ. ENG & PROF. PRAC                                             3

ECE/CS ELECTIVE                                                                            4

HUMANITIES ELECTIVE                                                                 3

ECE4699 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FOR CREDIT             3

ENGINEERING ELECTIVE                                                               3

Total Semester Hours                                                                         16

 

Semester 8                                                                                         Hours

COMPUTER ENGINEERING DESIGN COURSE                            3

ECE/CS ELECTIVE                                                                            4

SOCIAL SCIENCE ELECTIVE                                                         3

HUMANITIES ELECTIVE                                                                 3

ECE4699 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FOR CREDIT             3

LCC4700 WRITING AN UNDERGRAD THESIS                             2

Total Semester Hours                                                                         18

LCC 4700: Writing an Undergraduate Thesis

 

This course is intended to guide undergraduate students from all disciplines through the stages of writing their undergraduate theses. Topics include planning, research and documentation, prose style and editing, document design, ethics, summaries, and oral presentations.  Because the course will enroll from different disciplines, students will also become acquainted with research topics, ways of framing arguments, and making points outside their fields of study, which will help them develop a more interdisciplinary perspective.

 (100% attendance will be required)

 

Required Texts:

O’Connor, Patricia. Woe is I: The Grammarphobe’s Guide to Better English in Plain English (2nded.)

Tufte, Edward R. “The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint”

William, Joseph M. Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace (6th ed.) Longman Press.

On reserve:

Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams The Craft of Research; Colomb, Gregory G. and Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Argument; and Tufte, Edward R. Visual Explanations and The Visual Display of Quantitative Information

 

Course Objectives

·         Construct and follow a stringent but achievable project plan that is agreed upon by the research advisor, the student and the LCC 4697 instructor.

·         Compile a literature review that reflects studies that are relevant to the student’s thesis, and document these sources in the field-specific format.

·         Write and revise drafts to achieve clear and direct prose style, and employ standard editing practices for self- and peer-reviews.

·         Design usable documents, including graphic elements.

·         Discuss ethical issues ranging from plagiarism and intellectual property to human subjects protocols and public responsibility.

·         Produce a summarized version of thesis appropriate to field, audience and purpose.

·         Communicate thesis research in an oral presentation.

 

Topics

Week 1.   Introduction to the structure of a research Thesis—different approaches for different disciplines

Week 2.   Literature Review—before & after with revision in MSWord “track changes”

Week 3.   Work Plan—Hypothesis/Goal—Timeline (followed by conference with research advisor/writing teacher/student)

Week 4.   Clear and Direct Prose Style—in-class activity

Week 5.   Basic Principles of Document Design-use of headings, subheadings, lists, white space, etc.—in-class activity

Week 6.   Integrating Graphical Elements—Standard Practices and Standards of Excellence (maps, figures, tables, referencing in text, labeling)

Week 7.   Documenting Sources (formats)—Plagiarism Issues—Intellectual Property & Ethics (lecture/discussion)

Week 8.   Ethics: human subjects, animal rights, public responsibility

Week 9.   Self Editing and Peer Review

Week 10.            Editing Practicum

Week 11.            Abstracts, Executive Summaries, Summaries, and White Papers—Distinctions

Week 12.            Workshop on Summarizing

Week 13.            Oral Presentation Techniques

Week 14.            Creating and Delivering Discipline-specific Oral Presentations

Week 15.            Describing and Explaining Visuals Orally (+ use Tufte’s article on limitations)

Portfolio Analysis

Final Exam: Oral Presentations + Peer Evaluations

 

 

New Information  11/13/06

 

Thesis/Research Report Standards & Evaluation Criteria 

A thesis/report of research should be at least 8 pages in length in IEEE journal format. (click to download template)  The background/literature review section should typically be somewhat more detailed, to demonstrate the student’s understanding of the field.  Undergraduate research should show substantial thought on the part of the student, and may not merely restate results obtained by others.  However, an undergraduate research project does not need to be entirely novel in the same way required of an actual journal publication or PhD thesis.

 

Theses/reports will be evaluated on the following set of criteria:

 

1. Originality

An undergraduate thesis does not need to be wholly original.  However, the student must have put significant thought into the work conducted, and not simply retell results found elsewhere.

 

2. Literature Review

Through the literature review, the student must demonstrate an understanding of the research area, at a level appropriate for an undergraduate.

 

3. Writing

The document must be in correct English, and describe the research conducted in sufficient detail that someone else could replicate it.

 

4. Technical/Experimental/Theoretical Achievement

The work must show an appropriate level of technical/experimental/theoretical achievement, as appropriate to the specific research area.

 

5. Completeness

Was the research described in the proposal completed, at least to the level of the "low target"?

 

 

Note that a negative result can make an excellent thesis.  For example, an algorithm developed can prove to be less efficient than its predecessors.  A new user interface developed can turn out to be harder to use.  This does not mean the research is a failure.  The reasons for the unanticipated result should be clearly explained, drawing broader lessons as appropriate.

 

 

Evaluation of Theses/Research Reports

 

In each of these five areas, the student will receive a.letter grade.  For a thesis to be deemed acceptable, it must have an average grade of no less than 2.8 (on a 4-point scale where A is 4.0), and all marks of at least C or above.  

 

 

 

 

 

PROPOSAL CRITERIA

 

A proposal for a thesis/report of research must include:

 

1) Literature Review

The literature review should show that the student understands the research area, and situate the research to be conducted within that area.

 

2) Description of Research Problem and its Importance

 

3) Work Plan & Schedule

Describe the work to be performed.  The description should be structured in three layers:

 

  1. Low Target
  1. Ideal Target
  1. High Target