UNCA Catalog: Courses of Instruction
UNCA Catalog: Table of Contents

Engineering (ENGR)

Joint Engineering Programs with North Carolina State University

Senior Lecturer Fahmy (Director); Lecturer Alderman (Associate Director); Professors Ruiz, Whatley (Physics); Professor Brock and Assistant Professor Bruce (Computer Science)

The University of North Carolina at Asheville and North Carolina State University, College of Engineering, cooperate in the offering of several collaborative programs. The intent of these programs is to broaden the base of educational opportunities to students in Western North Carolina and to integrate the engineering sciences within a liberal arts environment.

The Joint NCSU-UNC Asheville Bachelor of Science in Engineering-Mechatronics Concentration (BSE) degree allows students to complete an engineering degree while living and working in the Asheville area. Approximately half the courses in the degree are taught by UNC Asheville and the remaining half are taught by NCSU faculty live or by distance education technology. The degree is designed to be accessible to students employed in local industries as well as to traditional students. Students graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering-Mechatronics Concentration degree from NCSU and UNC Asheville.

The Two-Plus-Two Engineering Program allows students interested in 13 different engineering fields to complete their first two years of study at UNC Asheville and then transfer to NCSU for the remaining two years. Engineering courses offered during the first two years are taught by NCSU faculty or adjunct faculty. Students graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in a specific field of engineering from NCSU.

Courses offered at UNC Asheville under the E, ECE, EGM, ENG, MAE, or MSE prefixes are catalog engineering courses from N.C. State University provided as part of the Joint Engineering Programs and the Two-Plus-Two Program. These courses are subject to the transfer policies of UNC Asheville for UNC Asheville degree-seeking students, except for those students enrolled in the Joint Degree Program. Some engineering courses are approved components of particular UNC Asheville curricula, but others are not necessarily acceptable by UNC Asheville, unless approved beforehand by the appropriate UNC Asheville department chair or academic officer. UNC Asheville students are advised to consult the department chair of their major or the Registrar to ascertain the applicability of a given engineering course to a specific degree program.

Courses in Engineering are offered through North Carolina State University

Courses in Engineering

E 101 Introduction to Engineering and Problem Solving (1)

An introduction to engineering as a discipline and profession. Emphasis on engineering design, interdisciplinary teamwork, and problem solving from a general engineering perspective. Overview of academic policies affecting undergraduate engineering students. Exposure to the NCSU College of Engineering and the joint UNC Asheville-NCSU programs and services. Fall.

E 115 Introduction to Computing Environment (1)

Fundamentals of the EOS System. Software and services available on the system. Network hardware configuration, online help and communication, file and directory manipulation. Software applications such as e-mail, publishing packages, spreadsheets, mathematical packages, CAD packages. (Grading: S/U). Fall, Spring.

Courses in Electrical and Computer Engineering

ECE 200 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory (3)

Laboratory with experiments in six groups designed to provide an overview of electrical and computer engineering: Fundamental Concepts, Analog Electronic Circuits, Digital Circuits, Communications Systems, Signal Processing. Prerequisite: MATH 192. Corequisite: PHYS 222. Fall.

ECE 206 Introduction to Computer Organization (3)

Introduction to key concepts in computer organization. Number representations, switching circuits, logic design, microprocessor design, assembly language programming, input/output, interrupts and traps, direct memory access, structured program development. Corequisite: ECE 200. Fall.

ECE 211 Electric Circuits (4)

Introduction to theory, analysis and design of electric circuits. Voltage, current, power, energy, resistance, capacitance, inductance. Kirchoff's laws, node analysis, mesh analysis, Thevenin's theorem, steady state and transient analysis, AC, DC, phasors, operational amplifiers, transfer functions. Prerequisites: ECE 200; PHYS 222. Spring.

ECE 212 Fundamentals of Logic Design (3)

Introduction to digital logic design. Boolean algebra, switching functions, Karnaugh maps, modular combinational circuit design, flip-flops, latches, programmable logic and synchronous sequential circuit design. Use of several CAD tools for logic synthesis, state assignment and technology mapping. Prerequisite: ECE 206. Spring.

ECE 220 Analytical Foundations of Electrical and Computer Engineering (3)

The modeling, analysis and solution of circuit theory, control, communication, computer and other systems arising in electrical and computer engineering using various analytical techniques. Numerical solutions to ECE problems using MATLAB and SPICE. Prerequisite: MATH 291. Corequisite: ECE 211.

ECE 301 Linear Systems (4)

Representation and analysis of linear systems using differential equations: impulse response and convolution, Fourier series, and Fourier and Laplace transformations for discrete time and continuous time signals. Emphasis on interpreting system descriptions in terms of transient and steady-state response. Digital signal processing. Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in ECE 211 and ECE 220. Fall.

ECE 302 Microelectronics (4)

Introduction to the physics of semiconductors, PN Junctions, BJT and MOS field Effects Transistors: Physics of operation, IV characteristics, circuit models, SPICE analysis: simple diode circuits; Single Stage Transistor Amplifiers: Common Emitter and Common Source configurations, biasing, calculations of small signal voltage gain, current gain, input resistance and output resistance; Introduction to Differential Amplifiers, Operational Amplifiers. Prerequisite: ECE 211. Fall.

ECE 406 Design of Complex Digital Systems (3)

Design principles for complex digital systems: Iteration, top-down/bottomup, divide and conquer and decomposition. Descriptive techniques, including block diagrams, timing diagrams, register transfer and hardware-description languages. Consideration of transmission-line effects on digital systems. Prerequisites: CSCI 202; ECE 206. Spring.

ECE 455 Computer Control of Robots (3)

Techniques of computer control of industrial robots. Interfacing with synchronous hardware including analog/digital and digital/analog converters, interfacing noise problems, control of electric and hydraulic actuators, kinematics and kinetics of robots, path control, force control, sensing including vision. Major design project. Prerequisite: MAE 435. Spring.

ECE 460 Digital Systems Interfacing (3)

Concepts of microcomputer system architecture and applications to fundamental computer hardware. Theoretical and practical aspects of interfacing and a variety of microprocessor peripheral chips with specific microprocessor/microcomputer systems from both hardware and software points of view. Prerequisite: ECE 406. Fall.

ECE 480 Senior Design Project in Electrical Engineering (4)

Applications of engineering and basic sciences to the total design of electrical engineering circuits and systems. Consideration of the design process including feasibility study, preliminary design detail, cost effectiveness, along with development and evaluation of a prototype accomplished through design-team project activity. Complete written and oral engineering report required. Prerequisite: Senior Standing. Spring.

Courses in Engineering/General Mechatronics

EGM 180 Introduction to Mechatronics Laboratory (2)

An introduction to the mechatronics engineering discipline as a synergistic combination of mechanical and electrical engineering, computer science, control and information technology. Foundational concepts in mechatronics are addressed including analog and digital electronics, sensors, actuators, microprocessors, and microprocessor interfacing to electromechanical systems through hands-on laboratory exercises. Spring.

EGM 360 Advanced Mechatronics Design Laboratory (1)

An introduction to the design and construction or microprocessor-controlled electromechanical systems. This course builds on fundamental mechatronics concepts and is project and design oriented. It provides hands-on working knowledge of real time software, real time programming, computer interfacing, mechanical design, fabrication and control system design and the integration of these areas. Prerequisite: EGM 180. Spring.

EGM 171-4, 271-4, 371-4, 471-4 Special Topics in Engineering (1-4)

Courses not otherwise included in the catalog listing but for which there may be special needs. May be repeated for credit as often as permitted and as subject matter changes. See program director.

 

Course in English

This course is offered through North Carolina State University for Engineering majors only.

ENG 331 Communication for Engineering and Technology (3)

Web-based course, for students enrolled in the Two-Plus-Two or NCSU BSE programs. Written communication in industrial and technical organizations, emphasizing internal communication with managers and technical personnel and including external communication with regulators, vendors and clients. Intensive practice in writing; relationship of writing to oral and visual communication. For students in engineering and other primarily technological curricula. Prerequisite: junior standing. Every other year.

 

Courses in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

MAE 206 Engineering Statics (3)

Basic concepts of forces in equilibrium. Distributed forces, frictional forces. Inertial properties. Application to machines, structures and systems. Prerequisite: PHYS 221. Corequisite: MATH 291. Fall.

MAE 208 Engineering Dynamics (3)

Kinematics and kinetics of particles in rectangular, cylindrical and curvilinear coordinate systems; energy and momentum methods for particles; kinetics of systems of particles; kinematics and kinetics of rigid bodies in two and three dimensions; motion relative to rotating coordinate systems. Prerequisite: MAE 206; MATH 291. Spring.

MAE 301 Engineering Thermodynamics (3)

Introduction to the concept of energy and the laws governing the transfers and transformations of energy. Emphasis on thermodynamic properties and the First and Second Law analysis of systems and control volumes. Integration of these concepts into the analysis of basic power cycles is introduced. Prerequisites: MATH 291; PHYS 222. Fall.

MAE 310 Heat Transfer Fundamentals (3)

Analysis of steady state and transient one and multidimensional heat transfer by conduction, employing both analytical methods and numerical techniques. Heat transfer by the mechanism of radiation. Prerequisites: MAE 301; ECE 220 or MATH 394. Fall.

MAE 314 Solid Mechanics (3)

Concepts and theories of internal force, stress, strain and strength of structural element under static loading conditions. Constitutive behavior for linear elastic structures. Deflection and stress analysis procedures for bars, beams and shafts. Introduction to matrix analysis of structures. Prerequisites: MAE 206, MATH 291. Spring.

MAE 315 Dynamics of Machines (3)

Application of dynamics to the analysis and design of machine and mechanical components. Motions resulting from applied loads, and the forces required to produce specified motions. Introduction to mechanical vibration, free and forced response of discrete and continuous systems. Prerequisite: MAE 208. Corequisite: ECE 220 or MATH 394. Fall.

MAE 316 Strength of Mechanical Components (3)

Analysis and design of mechanical components based on deflection, material, static strength and fatigue requirements. Typical components include beams, shafts, pressure vessels and bolted and welded joints. Classical and modern analysis and design techniques. Computer analysis using the finite element method. Material and manufacturing considerations in design. Prerequisite: MAE 314. Corequisite: ECE 220 or MATH 394. Spring.

MAE 435 Principles of Automatic Control (3)

Study of linear feedback control systems using transfer functions. Transient and steady state responses. Stability and dynamic analyses using time response and frequency response techniques. Compensation methods. Classical control theory techniques for determination and modification of the dynamic response of a system. Synthesis and design applications to typical mechanical engineering control systems. Introduction to modern control theory. Prerequisites: ECE 302; ECE 220 or MATH 394. Spring.

Course in Material Science and Engineering

MSE 201 Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials (3)

Introduction to the fundamental physical principles governing the structure and constitution of metallic and nonmetallic materials and the relationships among these principles and the mechanical, physical and chemical properties of engineering materials. Prerequisite: CHEM 132. Fall.

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