Course Description and Prerequisites
This course introduces the analysis and design of electronic circuits using pn diodes, bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), and MOS field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), with emphasis on both large-signal and small-signal behavior and applications in analog and digital circuits. Prerequisite: EE 223 (grade C or better) and engineering standing.
Modality: In-person lectures. Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
Required textbook: Fundamentals of Microelectronics, 3rd Edition, Behzad Razavi, ISBN: 978-1-119-69514-1 (April 2021). Additional resources and handouts posted on the course LMS as needed. Course Topics
Homework will be assigned approximately weekly and will include a mix of textbook-style analysis and design problems and circuit simulations using SPICE. For all simulation-based problems, students must submit SPICE-compatible netlist files suitable for use with command-line SPICE tools. A brief written design report involving a circuit design tested using SPICE will be due near the end of the term. Grading Scale
Final percentage scores are formed by accumulating and scaling exam, homework, and final scores relative to the class maximum. Letter grades are assigned such that roughly the top 1/4 to 1/3 of the class receives an A, the next 1/4 to 1/3 receives a B, and so on. Archived Course Materials
This course has been taught since Fall 2005, with archived materials spanning nearly two decades.
This course introduces the analysis and design of electronic circuits using pn diodes, bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), and MOS field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), with emphasis on both large-signal and small-signal behavior and applications in analog and digital circuits. Prerequisite: EE 223 (grade C or better) and engineering standing.
Modality: In-person lectures. Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the structures, symbols, DC characteristics, and DC models of diodes, BJTs, and MOSFETs, and perform load-line analysis.
- Analyze and design diode-based circuits such as clipping, limiting, and rectifier circuits.
- Analyze transistor circuits such as inverters and voltage followers for both analog and digital operation.
- Understand DC biasing techniques and small-signal modeling of analog circuits using BJTs and MOSFETs.
- Use SPICE-based tools to analyze and design electronic circuits.
Required textbook: Fundamentals of Microelectronics, 3rd Edition, Behzad Razavi, ISBN: 978-1-119-69514-1 (April 2021). Additional resources and handouts posted on the course LMS as needed. Course Topics
- Large-signal models and analysis: pn diodes, BJTs, MOSFETs
- Small-signal models and analysis: BJTs, MOSFETs
- Digital transistor circuits: BJTs, NMOS, CMOS
- Single-transistor amplifiers: BJTs, MOSFETs
- Multiple-transistor circuits: current mirrors, active resistors, differential amplifiers
- Three semester exams: 15% each (total 45%)
- Final exam: 25%
- Homework assignments: 20%
- Written design report: 10%
- Exams will be closed book.
- Students are allowed to use only an NCEES-approved calculator.
- Students may bring one composition-style notebook with only handwritten notes; pages may not be added, taped in, stapled in, or contain any pasted/printed documents.
- The composition notebook must remain intact as purchased and may be used on all semester exams and the final exam.
- Notebooks will be collected with the exams and returned with graded exams.
- Exams will include an equation sheet.
Homework will be assigned approximately weekly and will include a mix of textbook-style analysis and design problems and circuit simulations using SPICE. For all simulation-based problems, students must submit SPICE-compatible netlist files suitable for use with command-line SPICE tools. A brief written design report involving a circuit design tested using SPICE will be due near the end of the term. Grading Scale
Final percentage scores are formed by accumulating and scaling exam, homework, and final scores relative to the class maximum. Letter grades are assigned such that roughly the top 1/4 to 1/3 of the class receives an A, the next 1/4 to 1/3 receives a B, and so on. Archived Course Materials
This course has been taught since Fall 2005, with archived materials spanning nearly two decades.
| Semester | Materials |
|---|---|
| Fall 2005 | Syllabus, four exams, three quizzes, equation sheets |
| Spring 2006 | Syllabus, three exams |
| Fall 2006 | Syllabus, four exams, three quizzes, circuit diagrams (BJT/FET diff. amps) |
| Spring 2007 | Two exams (Exam 3, Final) |
| Fall 2007 | Four exams (with PDF solutions), two quizzes |
| Spring 2008 | Syllabus, three exams, quiz, circuit diagrams, course calendar |
| Recent (2016+) | Homework solutions (HW 1–4), mid-term review problems with solutions, homework problem sets, assignment descriptions |
| Spring 2025 | Exam 01 (original + makeup) with solutions PDF, beamer-based solution slides for 27 problems, ngspice netlists and simulation data, Python-generated circuit diagrams and plots, Exam 03 makeup, equation sheet, lecture section mapping document |
