Computer-Aided Analysis Tools for Engineers

Spring 2025

An introduction to computer aided analysis techniques necessary for the study of electrical engineering and the design of electrical systems. Concepts introduced through short lectures are examined thoroughly during computer workstation-based workshops. Among the topics studied are: functions of real variables and their graphs, complex numbers and phasors, linear algebra, difference equations with applications to signal processing, and an introduction to system analysis. (2 credits)

Prerequisites: Calculus I (MATH 20100), with a minimum grade of C.

Course instructor: Tushar Jois (Office hours: Tue 4:00 - 4:30p in Steinman 638)

Course text: William J. Palm III, MATLAB for Engineering Applications, 5th Edition (9781264926800).

Course Goals

1. Utilize the MATLAB environment to perform basic scalar and array manipulation tasks.
2. Develop programs using functions and control flow structures.
3. Visualize and analyze data through plotting, regression, model building, and statistical analysis.
4. Implement numerical and symbolic methods for linear algebra and calculus.
5. Apply MATLAB to problems across engineering and computer science.

Course Schedule

Take note of the midterm exam dates. I expect all students to take these exams in person; please let the course staff know of any issues at least two weeks before any potential absences.

If you are unable to keep up with the course, or expect to miss class due to extenuating circumstances, please inform the course staff as soon as possible.

Take my advice: don't fall behind!

Coursework and Grading

Formative assignments are designed to get you familiar with the material and try out concepts. As they are for practicing, formative assignments are graded only to ensure completion of assigned tasks. However, content from these assignments will appear on the exams. It is important to complete these assignments with full effort to truly comprehend all of the material; attending lectures is insufficient. Deadline extensions will not be provided for formative assignments. The following are this course's formative assignments:

• Labs. These are hands-on problems assigned text to help practice the concepts covered in lecture. A lab will be assigned during the class period immediately after a lecture, for 11 labs in total (one per lecture). Labs will be completed in pairs, with pairs being re-shuffled each unit. If you do not finish the lab by the end of class, you may complete it at home, up until the posted deadline. Detailed solutions will be posted to help students self-grade their submission. Attendance during lab sessions is mandatory.

Summative assessments on the other hand, are designed to evaluate your progress in the course. These form the majority of your final grade in the course. Content on these assessments will be derived from lecture material and assigned problems. The following summative assessments will be utilized in the course:

• Midterm exams. There will be three non-cumulative exams during the semester, to be completed synchronously in-class. Midterm Exam 1 will cover Unit 1, Midterm Exam 2 will cover Unit 2, and Midterm Exam 3 will cover Unit 3.

The course will be weighted as follows:

Extra credit will be awarded to the lab grade for each attendance at a Department Seminar. Details on this opportunity will be announced in class.

The following grade scales will apply to weighted scores, at a minimum:

The instructor may choose to curve all class grades up at the end of the course, and the above cutoffs could shift, which might improve your grade. Note that this is not guaranteed, and would occur at the instructor's sole discretion.

In accordance with college policy, note that 5 or more absences from lab sessions will result an automatic WU grade for the semester.

Warning

This course will include topics related computer security and privacy. As part of this investigation we may cover technologies whose abuse could infringe on the rights of others. As computer scientists and engineers, we rely on the ethical use of these technologies. Unethical use includes circumvention of an existing security or privacy mechanism for any purpose, or the dissemination, promotion, or exploitation of vulnerabilities of these services. Any activity outside the letter or spirit of these guidelines will be reported to the proper authorities and may result in dismissal from the class and possibly more severe academic and legal sanctions.

Acting lawfully and ethically is your responsibility. Carefully read the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), a federal statute that broadly criminalizes computer intrusion. This is one of several laws that govern "hacking." Understand what the law prohibits. If in doubt, we can refer you to an attorney.

In addition to the law, as members of the City College of New York and users of its computer systems, you are also bound by its policies on computer use.

Class Climate

If you ever have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, I invite you to share directly with me, the department, or university administration. We promise that we will take your communication seriously and seek mutually acceptable resolutions and accommodations. Reporting will never impact your course grade. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Accessibility

If you are struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, or other mental health-related concerns, please consider visiting the CCNY Counseling Center. If you are concerned about a friend, please encourage that person to seek out their services.

You are welcome to bring a family member to class on occasional days when your responsibilities require it (for example, if emergency childcare is unavailable, or for the health needs of a relative). Please be sensitive to the classroom environment, and if your family member becomes uncomfortably disruptive, you may leave the classroom and return as needed.

Academic Integrity

Academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York. Penalties for academic dishonesty include academic sanctions, such as failing or otherwise reduced grades, and/or disciplinary sanctions, including suspension or expulsion.

Academic integrity is at the core of a college or university education. Faculty assign essays, exams, quizzes, projects, and so on both to extend the learning done in the classroom and as a means of assessing that learning. When students violate the academic integrity policy (i.e., “cheat”), they are committing an act of theft that can cause real harm to themselves and others including, but not limited to, their classmates, their faculty, and the caregivers who may be funding their education. Academic dishonesty confers an unfair advantage over others, which undermines educational equity and fairness. Students who cheat place their college's accreditation and their own future prospects in jeopardy.

On every exam, you will sign the following pledge: “I agree to complete this exam without unauthorized assistance from any person, materials or device.”

Note on Generative AI: This course assumes that all work (i.e., formative assignments and summative assessments) and communications (i.e., messages and emails) have been created by the student or the student's group. The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and others) to complete this course is strictly prohibited, and will be treated as academic dishonesty. Please contact the instructor if you have questions.