ECE
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Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison
GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.
Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.
Historical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Grade sorting prioritizes courses with at least 100 letter grades.
Electronic Circuits I covers modeling and application of semiconductor devices and integrated circuits.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Some reviewers characterize the course as one of the most unnecessarily difficult they have taken, citing dense lectures, illegible handwriting, and exams that are heavily weighted and unrealistic compared to teaching.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ECE 342 covers advanced modeling and design of semiconductor devices, analog amplifiers, and CMOS digital circuits.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Christopher Demarco, Giri Venkataramanan: Reviews describe high effort and difficult exams. Some note that success requires significant independent textbook reading, particularly under instructors like Christopher Demarco.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to microprocessor systems covering architecture, programming, timing, I/O, and memory interfacing.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course involves significant coding and project work, with some reviews noting a heavy reliance on self-learning from datasheets. Exams can be tough, and the workload demands consistent effort and attention to detail.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ECE 370 is an advanced laboratory course focusing on experiments related to core ECE material.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The sensor lab is difficult to complete on time due to equipment failures and heavy reliance on oscilloscopes, with session 2 students facing issues caused by session 1.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ECE 399 is an independent study course where students engage in directed projects arranged with an instructor.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to electric drive systems, emphasizing system analysis, machine control, and power electronics applications.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course requires six homeworks, three exams, and a final project, with exams noted as difficult but offering test corrections and extra credit.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025Study of power electronic circuits, including semiconductor device characteristics and converter design fundamentals.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
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Spring 2022–Fall 2025ECE 427 covers electric power systems, including load flow, fault calculations, and economic dispatch.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Steven Fredette: Students should complete textbook problems to prepare, as exams feature changed values from those examples.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025ECE 432 is a Digital Signal Processing Laboratory focusing on implementing DSP algorithms like filters and FFT on hardware using assembly and high-level languages.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleCommunication Systems I covers modulation, noise analysis, synchronization, and sampling techniques.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The final project and required Java DSP software are frequently cited as confusing and difficult to navigate.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025ECE 447 covers the analysis and design of electronic communications circuits, focusing on nonlinear large-signal effects and complete RF circuit design.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Daniel van der Weide: The course features dense microwave engineering material requiring significant textbook reading, though exams are 24-hour take-home with fair difficulty.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Fall 2025 · limited sampleCovers hardware and software design for embedded systems, the design process, and a major team project.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course is hard but rewarding, requiring students to work early and often, and to order components immediately due to potential payment delays.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Teaches project management, teamwork, and disciplined development for mobile systems.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Xinyu Zhang: Reviewers note that the course expects students to maintain high standards and work hard, though grading is considered reasonable.
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Spring 2023–Fall 2025ECE 455 is a capstone course where students apply ECE knowledge to real-world design projects.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
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Spring 2025–Spring 2026ECE 489 is an undergraduate honors research course where students conduct projects supervised by faculty members.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
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Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sampleECE 512 is a laboratory introducing measurement and simulation of power electronic circuits and semiconductor device characteristics.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course is rated as very difficult by the historical reviewer.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleCovers semiconductor characteristics, device modeling, and integrated optoelectronics.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Luke Mawst: Reviews indicate moderate to high difficulty, with ratings of 3 and 4 out of 5, suggesting the course requires significant effort and preparation.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleStudy of communication networks with a focus on performance analysis, protocol functions, and wireless/mobile networks.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau: Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau's course had a moderate difficulty rating of 3, with exams noted for their interesting themes.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleIntroduction to MEMS technology, devices, and systems, covering fabrication, process integration, material mechanics, and applications in sensors, actuators, and specialized MEMS types.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Homework sets are described as fun and creative, while projects are noted as helpful for learning the material.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Fall 2023 · limited sampleCovers bipolar and MOS devices, device physics, fabrication technology, and IC design for linear and nonlinear circuitry.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The workload includes a handful of homeworks, three challenging but fair exams, and a significant final project.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleIntroduction to hardware description languages, automated synthesis, and advanced digital design principles.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Anthony Gregerson, Mikko Lipasti, Younghyun Kim: The semester project requires significant effort and early planning. Workload varies widely, with some noting overwhelming weekly assignments or challenging midterm coding exams.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ECE 553 covers fault modeling, test generation, simulation, and design for testability in digital systems.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Workload is manageable, but tests are incredibly long and slightly difficult, with tricky midterm questions.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2025 · limited sampleECE 555 covers principles, characterization, and design of digital logic circuits and components.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Homework and projects are described as easy but time-consuming, with one reviewer noting significant hours required for the project component.
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Fall 2022–Fall 2025ECE 610 surveys foundational electrical and computer engineering topics and develops technical communication and project management skills.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
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Fall 2023–Fall 2025ECE 699 is an advanced independent study course where students engage in directed study projects arranged with an instructor.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Kangwook Lee's independent study is rated as difficult, requiring significant effort to achieve substantial learning outcomes in machine learning.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Fall 2023 · limited sampleECE 702 is a graduate cooperative education program providing work experience that combines theory with practical operations for MS students.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
ECE 714 covers the application of power electronics to utility systems, including HVDC transmission, energy storage, and renewable sources.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleECE 717 covers linear system analysis, stability, and control design techniques including pole placement and observers.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
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Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleECE 740 covers electromagnetic theory, focusing on time harmonic fields, waves, radiation, and guiding in linear media.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
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Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleECE 745 covers the physical principles of semiconductor devices, including band structure, transport theory, and optical effects.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleNo released grades for this term.
Offering snapshots currently cover Fall 2026. Earlier grade records do not provide a complete offering history.