Embedded Systems
Overview
Embedded systems are computer systems dedicated to a particular functionality, rather than for a general purpose. Such systems typically are required to operate under stringent performance, power, cost, space, reliability, and real-time constraints. Embedded systems are increasingly dominating nearly every aspect of human life. They are used in both consumer and industrial applications, such as automobiles, TVs, cell phones, tablets, house appliances, house automation, and many other application domains. Embedded systems are composed of hardware, software (a.k.a firmware), and include often mechanical parts, sensors, and actuators.
Our embedded systems track provides an industry-focused educational pathway for students who wish to specialize in that growing area. Courses cover both hardware and software aspects. Students in this specialization will learn how to design, build, program, and test entire embedded systems.
A truly exciting area of growth for Embedded Systems is EdgeAI. In an EdgeAI application the data are processed locally on the embedded system where it is generated, such as a camera, car, or industrial sensor instead of in the Cloud.
Core Courses
Please note that these will be the Core courses beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year:
ECE 540 System on a Chip Design with FPGAs
ECE 544 Embedded System Design with FPGAs
ECE 558 Embedded Systems Programming
ECE 571 Introduction to System Verilog for Design and Verification
Course Planning
A suggested curriculum for the Embedded System Track's Core and Depth and Breadth courses can be found below. Some notes about course sequence order:
- All course pre-requisites need to be met.
- The courses below will not necessarily be taken in the order listed.
- ECE 571 should be taken in the first term if possible.
Primary Focus: Embedded Systems. Secondary Focus: Computer Architecture
Core courses of ECE 540, ECE 544, ECE 558, ECE 571
And Depth and Breadth course list of:
ECE 585 Microprocessors System Design
ECE 586 Computer Architecture
ECE 587 Advanced Computer Architecture I
ECE 582 Formal Verification of HW/SW Systems
One additional 4-credit ECE course:
ECE 581 ASIC Modeling and Synthesis
Primary Focus: Embedded Systems. Secondary Focus: Design Verification and Validation.
Core courses of ECE 540, ECE 544, ECE 558, ECE 571
And Depth and Breadth course list of:
ECE 550 Post-Silicon Functional Validation
ECE 560 Assertion Based Verification
ECE 582 Formal Verification of HW/SW Systems
ECE 593 Fundamentals of Pre-silicon Validation
One additional 4-credit ECE course:
ECE 595 Emulation and Functional Specification Verification
Primary Focus: Embedded Systems. Secondary Focus: Digital IC Design.
Core courses of ECE 540, ECE 544, ECE 558, ECE 571
And Depth and Breadth course list of:
ECE 525 Digital Integrated Circuit Design I
ECE 526 Digital Integrated Circuit Design II
ECE 530 Physical Design of Digital Integrated Circuits
ECE 581 ASIC Modeling and Synthesis
One additional 4-credit ECE course:
ECE 582 Formal Verification of HW/SW Systems
Primary Focus: Embedded Systems. Secondary Focus: Cyber-Physical Systems.
Core courses of ECE 540, ECE 544, ECE 558, ECE 571
Please note that the courses below may not be offered regularly.
And Depth and Breadth course list of:
ECE 578 Intelligent Robotics I
ECE 579 Intelligent Robotics II
ECE 584 Foundations of Cyber-physical Systems
EE 517 Instrumentation and Sensing
One additional 4-credit ECE course:
EE 513 Introduction to Image Processing
Suggested Schedule for Full-time ECE MS Students
The schedule below is for students beginning the ECE MS program in Fall term. Students that begin in Winter term will shift their schedule one term forward and can work with the department on advising for their course plans. This is subject to change and meant to be a general guide
First Year Plan
| Fall | Winter | Spring | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course | Credits | Course | Credits | Course | Credits |
| ECE 571 | 4 | ECE 540 | 4 | 5xx secondary focus area course | 4 |
| ECE 5xx secondary focus area course | 4 | ECE 5xx secondary focus area course | 4 | 5xx secondary focus area course | 4 |
| ECE 508, ETM 505, etc. | 1 | ECE 508, ETM 505, etc. | 1 | ECE 508, ETM 505, etc. | 1 |
| Total Credits | 9 | Total Credits | 9 | Total Credits | 9 |
Note: International Students on F-1 visas with internship offers will take 1 internship credit of ECE 504 the summer after their first year, if applicable.
Second Year Plan
| Fall | Winter | Spring | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course | Credits | Course | Credits | Course | Credits |
| ECE 544 | 4 | ECE 5xx secondary focus area course | 4 | ECE 504 or elective courses needed for 45 credits | 1-9 |
| ECE 558 + 1 credit course, or 504 below | 5 | ECE 5xx secondary focus area course | 4 | ||
| ECE 504 Internship * | 5 | ECE 504 Internship * | 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | Total Credits | 9 | Total Credits | 1-9 |
*Students who are not participating in internships can replace ECE 504 in the above table with elective courses
Possible Careers in Embedded Systems
Please see our Careers in Electrical and Computer Engineering page to find out more information about the types of careers that may be available for graduates of the ECE MS program.
Track Director
Roy Kravitz, Senior Instructor, Westside Program Director
Roy is a Senior instructor and the director of the ECE Westside program. He has created and co-taught courses in FPGA design, digital systems design, embedded systems, and computer architecture for more than 25 years....
Supporting Faculty
Mark Faust, Assistant Professor
Professor Faust has been with the ECE Department at PSU since 2004. Prior to that he worked in the high performance workstation, EDA, software, and ATE industries as an engineer, Vice-President of Engineering, and GM...
Garrison Greenwood, Associate Professor
Garrison Greenwood received a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He spent over a decade in industry designing multi-processor embedded systems and computer models for...
Marek Perkowski, Professor
Professor Perkowski received his M.S. degree in electronics in 1970 and his Ph.D. degree in automatic control in 1980 He has been on the faculty of Warsaw Technical University, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis,...
Xiaoyu Song, Professor
Professor Song received his PhD degree from the University of Pisa, Italy, in 1991. From 1992 to 1998, he was on the faculty at the University of Montreal, Canada. He joined the Department of Electrical and Computer...
