Graduate Certificate Programs

The department offers the following Graduate Certificate programs, which are tailored for those who wish to improve their current skillset and knowledge or wish to take a different path in their career without committing to a full Masters Degree program. Graduate Certificates generally require completion of four advanced courses. Admission requirements for the Certificate programs are the same as those for the Masters degree, and many of the Graduate Certificates are available on-line through Stevens WebCampus.

Students completing undergraduate or graduate degrees can use courses counting towards a Graduate Certificate as credits within their regular degree program. Several undergraduates use their technical elective options to complete a Graduate Certificate, adding depth in a specific certificate topic to their Bachelor's degree.

Autonomous Robotics

Choose four of the following:

• CPE 521 Autonomous Mobile Robotic Systems

  This course will offer the students an overview of the technology of autonomous mobile robotic systems the mechanisms that allow a mobile robot to move through a real-world environment to perform its tasks. Since the design of any successful mobile robot involves the integration of many different disciplines -- among them kinematics, signal analysis, information theory, artificial intelligence, and probability theory -- the course will discuss all facets of mobile robotic system, including hardware design, wheel design, kinematics analysis, sensors and perception, localization, mapping, motionplanning, navigation, and robot control architectures. Multi-robot systems will also be introduced due to their broader applications, such as search and rescue tasks, and exploring tasks.

• CPE 555 Real-Time and Embedded Systems

  The miniaturization of electronics and increasingly sophisticated software environments has enabled the realization of systems that embed intelligence within a wide variety of systems interacting in real time with the environment. Such systems are characterized by hardware/software integration along with integration of both analog and digital electronics. Representative topics include specification of the overall system, real-time operating system, embedded network protocols, tradeoffs between hardware and software, etc. The lectures will be complemented by projects related to design of such systems.

• EE 575 Introduction to Control Theory

  An introduction to classic and modern feedback control that does not presume an undergraduate background in control. Transfer function and state space modeling of linear dynamic systems, closed-loop response, root locus, proportional, integral, and derivative control,  compensators, controllability, observability, pole placement, linear–quadratic cost controllers, and Lyapunov stability. MATLAB simulations in control system design.

• EE 621 Nonlinear Control

  Methods for analysis and design of nonlinear control systems emphasizing Lyapunov theory. Second order systems, phase plane descriptions of ononlinerar phenomena, limit cycles, stability, direct and indirect method of Lyapunov, linearization, feedback linearization, Lyapunov-based design, and backstepping.

• EE 631 Cooperating Autonomous Mobile Robots

  Advanced topics in autonomous and intelligent mobile robots, with emphasis on planning algorithms and cooperative control. Robot kinematics, path and motion planning, formation strategies, cooperative rules, and behaviors. The application of cooperative control spans from natural phenomena of groupings, such as fish schools, bird flocks, and deer herds, to engineering systems such as mobile sensing networks and vehicle platoon.

Real-Time & Embedded Systems

Choose four of the following:

• CPE 517 Digital and Computer Systems Architecture

  This course covers the design and architecture of computer and digital systems in the system design region starting from the transistor/logic gate level to below the device driver level/system monitor level.  The systems considered in the course will go beyond the computer chips or CPUs discussed in a typical computer architecture course, but will include complex logic devices such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), the core-designs for field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), system-on-a-chip (SoC) designs, ARM, and other application-specific architectures.  Printed circuit board-level architectural considerations for multiple complex digital circuits will also be discussed.

• CPE 545 Communication Software and Middleware

  Communications in computer networks are not only enabled by physical links and hardware, but are also enabled by software and middleware. This course provides an understanding of software techniques in communications. It explores development models that address a broad range of issues in the design of communication software, including hardware and software partitioning, layering, and protocol stacks. Other topics are configuration techniques, buffer and timer management, task and table managements, and multi-board communications software design. Communication middleware and agent technologies as enabling technology in networking will also be covered.

• CPE 555 Real-Time and Embedded Systems

  The miniaturization of electronics and increasingly sophisticated software environments has enabled the realization of systems that embed intelligence within a wide variety of systems interacting in real time with the environment. Such systems are characterized by hardware/software integration along with integration of both analog and digital electronics. Representative topics include specification of the overall system, real-time operating system, embedded network protocols, tradeoffs between hardware and software, etc. The lectures will be complemented by projects related to design of such systems.

• CPE 556 Computing Principles for Embedded Systems

  Embedded systems have emerged as a primary application area, highlighting the co-integration of application-specific hardware components with programmable, flexible, adaptable, and versatile software components. Such systems have been one of the drivers of important new computing principles that play an important role in achieving optimal performance of the overall system. This course will provide the student with a background in these new computing principles and their application to embedded systems. Representative topics include emerging computing paradigms in the areas of context-aware pervasive systems, spatio-temporal access control with distributed software agents, vehicular computing, information systems cryptography, trust and privacy in mobile environments, location-aware services, RFID systems, wireless medical networks, and urban sensing.

• CPE 690 Introduction to VLSI Design

  This course introduces students to the principles and design techniques of very large scale integrated circuits (VLSI). Topics include: MOS transistor characteristics, DC analysis, resistance, capacitance models, transient analysis, propagation delay, power dissipation, CMOS logic design, transistor sizing, layout methodologies, clocking schemes, case studies. Students will use VLSI CAD tools for layout and simulation. Selected class projects may be sent for fabrication.

Digital Signal Processing

Choose four of the following:

• EE 548 Digital Signal Processing

  Review of mathematics of signals and systems including sampling theorem, Fourier transform, z-transform, Hilbert transform; algorithms for fast computation: DFT, DCT computation, convolution; filter design techniques: FIR and IIR filter design, time and frequency domain methods, window method and other approximation theory based methods; structures for realization of discrete time systems: direct form, parallel form, lattice structure and other state-space canonical forms (e.g., orthogonal filters and related structures); roundoff and quantization effects in digital filters: analysis of sensitivity to coefficient quantization, limit cycle in IIR filters, scaling to prevent overflow, role of special structures.

• EE 613 Digital Signal Processing for Communications

  This course teaches digital signal processing techniques for wireless communications. It consists of two parts. Part 1 covers basic DSP fundamentals, such as DFT, FFT, IIR and FIR filters and DSP algorithms (ZF, ML, MMSE). Part 2 covers DSP applications in wireless communications. Various physical layer issues in wireless communications are addressed, including channel estimation, adaptive equalization, synchronization, interference cancellation, OFDM, multi-user detection and rake receiver in CDMA, space-time coding and smart antennae.

• EE 616 Signal Detection and Estimation for Communications

  Introduction to signal detection and estimation principles with applications in wireless communication systems. Topics include optimum signal detection rules for simple and composite hypothesis tests, Chernoff bound and asymptotic relative efficiency, sequential detection and nonparametric detection; optimum estimation including Bayesian estimation and maximum likelihood, Fisher information and Cramer-Rao bound, linear estimation, least squares and weight least squares.

• EE 664 Advanced Digital Signal Processing

   Implementation of digital filters in high speed   architectures; multirate  signal processing: Linear periodically time varying   systems, decimators and  expanders, filter banks, interfacing digital systems   operating at multiple  rates, elements of subband coding and wavelet transforms;   signal recovery from  partial data: from zero crossing, level crossing, phase   only, magnitude only  data; elements of spectral estimation: MA, R & ARMA   models.  lattice, Burg  methods, MEM.

• EE 666 Multidimensional Signal Processing

  Mathematics of multidimensional (MD) signals and systems; frequency and state space description of MD systems; multidimensional FFT; MD recursive and nonrecursive filters, velocity and isotropic filters, their stability and design; MD spectral estimation with applications in array processing; MD signal recovery from partial information such as magnitude, phase, level crossing etc.; MD subband coding for image compression; selected topics from computer aided tomography and synthetic aperture radar.

Multimedia Technology

Choose four of the following:

• CPE 592 Computer and Multimedia Network Security

  The objective of this course is to introduce current techniques in securing IP and multimedia networks. Topics under IP security will include classic cryptography, Diffie-Hellman, RSA, end-to-end authentication, Kerberos, viruses, worms and intrusion detection. Topics from multimedia will include steganography, digital watermarking, covert channels, hacking, jamming, security features in MPEG-4, secure media streaming, wireless multimedia, copy control and other mechanisms for secure storage and transfer of audio, image and video data.

• CPE 612 Principles of Multimedia Compression

  Modeling of image signals; 2D prediction theory and application to DPCM/ADM coding of images; subband coding of images; filters for subband coding; transform coding of images; comparison of various transforms like KLT, DCT, LOT; vector quantizing theory, vector quantizing algorithms like the LBG algorithm; VQ for image coding.

• CPE 636 Integrated Services - Multimedia

  Types of multimedia information: voice, data video   facsimile, graphics and their characterization; modeling techniques to represent   multimedia
   information; analysis and comparative performances of   different models;
   detection techniques for multimedia signals; specification   of multimedia
   representation based on service requirements; evaluation   of different
   multimedia representations to satisfy user applications   and for generating test scenarios for standardization.
  

• CPE 645 Image Processing and Computer Vision

  The goal is to acquaint the students with the fundamental techniques of image processing. Specific topics include: Digital imaging fundamentals; neighborhood operators; clustering, region growing; split and merge, segmentation; edge and line linking; degradation model, restoration, inverse filtering; zero-crossing methods, gradient edge detectors; gray level co-occurrence, texture analysis; morphological operations; image registration and enhancement; scale space filtering; motion estimation; 3D image recognition and estimation.

• EE 666 Multidimensional Signal Processing

  Mathematics of multidimensional (MD) signals and systems; frequency and state space description of MD systems; multidimensional FFT; MD recursive and nonrecursive filters, velocity and isotropic filters, their stability and design; MD spectral estimation with applications in array processing; MD signal recovery from partial information such as magnitude, phase, level crossing etc.; MD subband coding for image compression; selected topics from computer aided tomography and synthetic aperture radar.

Wireless Communications

Choose four of the following:

• EE 583 Wireless communications

   This courses serves as a broad introduction to the several   technologies and applications of wireless communications systems.  The   emphasis is on providing a reasonable mixture of information leading to a broad   understanding of the technical issues involved, with modest depth in each of   the topics.  As an integrating course, the topics range from the physics of   wave generation/propagation/reception through the   circuit/component issues, to the signal processing concepts, to the techniques used to   impress the information (voice or data) on a wireless channel, to overviews of   representative applications including current generation systems and next   generation systems. Upon completion of this course, the student shall   understand the manner in which the more detailed information in the other three   courses is integrated to create a complete system.
  

• EE 584 Wireless Systems Security

  Wireless systems and their unique vulnerabilities to attack; system security issues in the context of wireless systems, including satellite, terrestrial microwave, military tactical communications, public safety, cellular and wireless LAN networks; security topics: confidentiality/privacy, integrity, availability and control of fraudulent usage of networks. Issues addressed include jamming, interception and means to avoid them. Case studies and student projects are important components of the course.

• EE 585 Physical Design of Wireless Systems

  Physical design of wireless communication systems, emphasizing present and next generation architectures. Impact of non-linear components on performance; noise sources and effects; interference; optimization of receiver and transmitter architectures; individual components (LNAs, power amplifiers, mixers, filters, VCOs, phase-locked loops, frequency synthesizers, etc.); digital signal processing for adaptable architectures; analog-digital converters; new component technologies (SiGe, MEMS, etc.); specifications of component performance; reconfigurability and the role of digital signal processing in future generation architectures; direct conversion; RF packaging; minimization of power dissipation in receivers.

• EE 586 Wireless Networking: Architecture, Protocols and Standards

  This course addresses the fundamentals of wireless networking, including architectures, protocols and standards. It describes concepts, technology and applications of wireless networking as used in current and next-generation wireless networks. It explains the engineering aspects of network functions and designs. Issues such as mobility management, wireless enterprise networks, GSM, network signaling, WAP, mobile IP and 3G systems are covered.

• EE 651 Spread Spectrum and CDMA

  Basic concepts, models and techniques; direct sequence frequency hopping, time hopping, chirp and hybrid systems, jamming game, anti-jam systems, analysis of coherent and non-coherent systems; synchronization and demodulation; multiple access systems; ranging and tracking; pseudo-noise generators.

• EE 653 Cross-Layer Design for Wireless Networks

  Introduction to wireless networks and layered architecture, principles of cross-layer design, impact of cross-layer interactions for different architectures: cellular and ad hoc networks, model abstractions for layers in cross-layer design for different architectures (cellular and ad hoc networks), quality of service (QoS) provisioning at different layers of the protocol stack with emphasis on physical layer, medium access control (MAC) and network layers, examples of cross-layer design in the literature: joint optimizations involving beamforming, interference cancellation techniques, MAC protocols, admission control, power control, routing and adaptive modulation.

Networked Information Systems

Choose four of the following:

• NIS 560 Introduction to Networked Information Systems

  An overview of the technical and application topics encountered in contemporary networked information systems including the overall architecture of such systems, data network architectures, secure transmission of information, data representations including visual representations, information coding/compression for storage and transmission, management of complex heterogeneous networks and integration of next-generation systems with legacy systems.

• NIS 565 Management of Local Area Networks

  Principles and practices of managing local area networks are presented from the perspective of a network systems engineer, including hands-on projects working with a real local area network (Cisco routers, switches, firewalls, etc.). The SNMP protocols and network management using SNMP are presented in terms of the general organization of information regarding network components and from the perspective of creating basic network management functions using SNMP. Techniques for troubleshooting practical networks, along with setting up and maintaining an IP network are covered. The course includes a project-based learning experience.

• NIS 604 Analytical Methods for Networks

   This course is an introduction on modern information networks with an emphasis on providing the student with the mathematical background and required analytical skills for performance analysis of information networks protocols. The material concentrates mostly on the bottom three layers of the protocol stack, focusing on delay and throughput analysis.Topics covered include an overview of the OSI layering model, data link layer issues, medium access control, queueing analysis, mathematical models for routing in broadcast and point-to-point networks, and flow and congestion control.

• NIS 654 Design and Analysis of Network Systems

  Analysis of current networks, including classic telephone, ISDN, IP, and ATM. Attributes and characteristics of high-speed networks. Principles of network design, including user-network interface, traffic modeling, buffer architectures, buffer management techniques, call processing, routing algorithms, switching fabric, distributed resource management, computational intelligence, distributed network management, measures of network performance, quality of service, self-healing algorithms, and hardware and software issues in future network design.

• NIS 679 Information Networks II

  Learn the technologies that make the Internet work.  You will understand the IP and TCP protocols and their interaction.  You will
  study TCP slow start in low noise and high noise environments, the use of proxy servers, web caching and gain understanding of the technologies used to make routers perform well under load.  These include shortest path routing, new routing algorithms, TCP congestion control, leaky bucket and token bucket admission Control, weighted fair queuing and random early detection of congestion. Networks are described in terms of their architecture, transport, routing, and their management. Quality of Service issues (QoS) are integrated with communication models.  The course requires problem solving and extensive reading on network technology. After an introduction to bridges, gigabit Ethernet, routing and the Internet Protocol, a fundamental understanding of shortest path and distance vector routing is taught.  A 'problem/solution' approach is used to develop how and why the technology evolved to keep engineering tradeoffs in focus.       Continuation of Information Networks I with a focus on the
  network and  transport layers of the OSI layers.  Protocol definitions
  for distributed networks and performance analysis of various routing
  protocols including Bellman-Ford, BGP, and OSPF.  TCP over IP is discussed Other topics include pipelining, broadcast routing, congestion control and reservations, Leaky andToken Bucket algorithms, weighted fair queuing, tunneling, firewalls, Ipv4 and IPv6.  Network layers in SAN including the different service categories are  discussed.  The TCP and UDP transport protocols are discussed in depth along with network security, DNS, SAN, SLIP, firewalls and naming.

Secure Network Systems Design

Choose four of the following:

• CPE 560 Introduction to Networked Information Systems

  An overview of the technical and application topics encountered in contemporary networked information systems including the overall architecture of such systems, data networked architectures, secure transmission of information, data representations including visual representations, information coding/compression for storage and transmission, management of complex heterogeneous networks, and integration of next-generation systems with legacy systems.

• CPE 592 Computer and Multimedia Network Security

  The objective of this course is to introduce current techniques in securing IP and multimedia networks. Topics under IP security will include classic cryptography, Diffie-Hellman, RSA, end-to-end authentication, Kerberos, viruses, worms and intrusion detection. Topics from multimedia will include steganography, digital watermarking, covert channels, hacking, jamming, security features in MPEG-4, secure media streaming, wireless multimedia, copy control and other mechanisms for secure storage and transfer of audio, image and video data.

• CPE 654 Design and Analysis of Network Systems

  Analysis of current networks including classic telephone, ISDN, IP and ATM. Attributes and characteristics of high-speed networks. Principles of network design including user-network interface, traffic modeling, buffer architectures, buffer management techniques, call processing, routing algorithms, switching fabric, distributed resource management, computational intelligence, distributed network management, measures of network performance, quality of service, self-healing algorithms, hardware and software issues in future network design.

• CPE 691 Information Systems Security

  History of network security; classical information security; cryptosecurity; kerberos for IP networks; private and public keys; nature of network security; fundamental framework for network security; analysis and performance impact of network topology; vulnerabilities and security attack models in ATM, IP, and mobile wireless networks; security services, policies, and models; trustworthy systems; intrusion detection techniques - centralized and distributed; emulation of attack models and performance assessment through behavior modeling and asynchronous distributed simulation; principles of secure network design in the future; and projects in network security and student seminar presentations.

• EE 584 Wireless Systems Security

  Wireless systems and their unique vulnerabilities to attack; system security issues in the context of wireless systems, including satellite, terrestrial microwave, military tactical communications, public safety, cellular and wireless LAN networks; security topics: confidentiality/privacy, integrity, availability and control of fraudulent usage of networks. Issues addressed include jamming, interception and means to avoid them. Case studies and student projects are important components of the course.

Microelectronics and Photonics

Choose four of the following:

• CPE 690 Introduction to VLSI Design

  This course introduces students to the principles and design techniques of very large scale integrated circuits (VLSI). Topics include: MOS transistor characteristics, DC analysis, resistance, capacitance models, transient analysis, propagation delay, power dissipation, CMOS logic design, transistor sizing, layout methodologies, clocking schemes, case studies. Students will use VLSI CAD tools for layout and simulation. Selected class projects may be sent for fabrication.

• EE 507 Introduction to Microelectronics and Photonics

  An overview of microelectronics and photonics science and technology. It provides the student who wishes to specialize in their application, physics or fabrication with the necessary knowledge of how the different aspects are interrelated. It is taught in three modules: design and applications, taught by EE faculty; operation of electronic and photonic devices, taught by Physics faculty; fabrication and reliability, taught by the materials faculty.

• EE 585 Physical Design of Wireless Systems

  Physical design of wireless communication systems, emphasizing present and next generation architectures. Impact of non-linear components on performance; noise sources and effects; interference; optimization of receiver and transmitter architectures; individual components (LNAs, power amplifiers, mixers, filters, VCOs, phase-locked loops, frequency synthesizers, etc.); digital signal processing for adaptable architectures; analog-digital converters; new component technologies (SiGe, MEMS, etc.); specifications of component performance; reconfigurability and the role of digital signal processing in future generation architectures; direct conversion; RF packaging; minimization of power dissipation in receivers.

• EE 626 Optical Communication Systems

  Components for and design of optical communication systems; propagation of optical signals in single mode and multimode optical fibers; optical sources and photodetectors; optical modulators and multiplexers; optical communication systems: coherent modulators, optical fiber amplifiers and repeaters; transcontinental and transoceanic optical telecommunication system design; optical fiber LANs.

• MT 562 Solid State Electronics for Engineeing II

  This course introduces operating principles and develops models of modern semiconductor devices that are useful in the analysis and design of integrated circuits. Topics covered include: charge carrier transport in semiconductors; diffusion and drift, injection and lifetime of carriers; p-n junction devices; bipolar junction transistors; metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors; metal-semiconductor field effect transistors and high electron mobility transistors; microwave devices; light emitting diodes, semiconductor lasers and photodetectors; integrated devices.

• MT 595 Reliability and Failure of Solid State Devices

  This course deals with the electrical, chemical, environmental and mechanical driving forces that compromise the integrity and lead to the failure of electronic materials and devices. Both chip and packaging level failures will be modeled physically and quantified statistically in terms of standard reliability mathematics. On the packaging level, thermal stresses, solder creep, fatigue and fracture, contact relaxation, corrosion and environmental degradation will be treated.

• MT 596 Microfabrication Techniques

  Deals with aspects of the technology of processing procedures involved in the fabrication of microelectronic devices and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Students will become familiar with various fabrication techniques used for discrete devices, as well as large-scale integrated thin film circuits. Students will also learn that MEMS are sensors and actuators that are designed using different areas of engineering disciplines, and they are constructed using a microlithographically-based manufacturing process in conjunction with both semiconductor and micro-machining microfabrication technologies.

• PEP 503 Introduction to Solid State Physics

  Description of simple physical models which account for electrical conductivity and thermal properties of solids. Basic crystal lattice structures, X-ray diffraction and dispersion curves for phonons and electrons in reciprocal space. Energy bands, Fermi surfaces, metals, insulators, semiconductors, superconductivity and ferromagnetism. Fall semester. Typical text: Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics.

• PEP 515 Photonics I

  This course will cover topics encompassing the fundamental subject matter for the design of optical systems. Topics will include optical system analysis, optical instrument analysis, applications of thin-film coatings and opto-mechanical system design in the first term. The second term will cover the subjects of photometry and radiometry, spectrographic and spectrophotometric systems, infrared radiation measurement and instrumentation, lasers in optical systems and photon-electron conversion. Typical texts: Military Handbook 141 (U.S. Govt. Printing Office); S.P.I.E Reprint Series (Selected Issues); W.J. Smith, Modern Optical Engineering .

• PEP 516 Photonics II

  This course will cover topics encompassing the fundamental subject matter for the design of optical systems. Topics will include optical system analysis, optical instrument analysis, applications of thin-film coatings and opto-mechanical system design in the first term. The second term will cover the subjects of photometry and radiometry, spectrographic and spectrophotometric systems, infrared radiation measurement and instrumentation, lasers in optical systems and photon-electron conversion. Typical texts: Military Handbook 141 (U.S. Govt. Printing Office); S.P.I.E Reprint Series (Selected Issues); W.J. Smith, Modern Optical Engineering .

• PEP 561 Solid State Electronics for Engineering I

  This course introduces fundamentals of semiconductors and basic building blocks of semiconductor devices that are necessary for understanding semiconductor device operations. It is for first-year graduate students and upper-class undergraduate students in electrical engineering, applied physics, engineering physics, optical engineering and materials engineering, who have no previous exposure to solid state physics and semiconductor devices. Topics covered will include description of crystal structures and bonding; introduction to statistical description of electron gas; free-electron theory of metals; motion of electrons in periodic lattice-energy bands; Fermi levels; semiconductors and insulators; electrons and holes in semiconductors; impurity effects; generation and recombination; mobility and other electrical properties of semiconductors; thermal and optical properties; p-n junctions; metal-semiconductor contacts.