Virginia Tech® home

ECE 5805 - Graduate Design Project and Report (3C)

Course Description

Industry-like two-semester, team-based design experience. Design and implement solutions to meet multiple realistic constraints; design to incorporate appropriate engineering standards. A specific, complex engineering design problem taken from problem definition to product realization and testing. Written and oral communication, professional development, project management, and working within a team. 5805: Determine and formulate an engineering problem with multiple realistic constraints. Generate and select design alternatives. Apply design and analysis methods to develop, evaluate, and communicate a detailed project design.

Why take this course?

Providing realistic solutions to open-ended design problems to meet customer needs within realistic constraints is the primary function of all engineering. This course sequence provides a graduate design experience in a team-based project. Within the context of a practical design experience, the course includes further development and application of professional engineering skills. This integrative, practical experience prepares graduate students to succeed as professional engineers. Due to interaction with a specified customer and the long-term design team premise, this sequence must be taken in a consecutive two semester sequence.

Learning Objectives

  • 1. Determine and formulate an engineering problem with multiple realistic constraints applying the engineering design process
  • 2. Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors
  • 3. Prepare and present oral and written technical reports and presentations for a range of audiences
  • 4. Review and revise written and oral communication with peer and instructor critique
  • 5. Participate effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish technical goals, plan technical tasks, and meet technical objectives
  • 6. Apply appropriate learning strategies for establishing the state-of-the-art in the project area by performing patent searches and other research, including an evaluation of the accuracy and trustworthiness of this information