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2016 ASEE Rocky Mountain Section Conference
each subsystem in Figure 5. After establishing a market need in this growing field, the student
performed simulations using Matlab/Simulink software and detailed hardware components. The
student investigated the system from a variety of perspectives, including: affordability, reliability
and technical feasibility. In addition, the student provided a thorough presentation of his
investigation, including: hardware analysis and selection criteria, data-path analysis, and
detailed circuit schematics. Using both Matlab/Simulink simulations and inexpensive hardware,
the student highlighted the degradation of performance under certain scenarios with noisy
environments resulting in a loss of communication link or synchronization.
Conclusion
The engineering department successfully incorporated system engineering concepts into a
graduate capstone course in both electrical engineering and computer engineering. The approach
expands the student experience by providing them with a more holistic view of engineering.
Based on the student deliverables from the course, this was accomplished by having the student
think more at the system level and from a variety of perspectives before coming up with a
technical solution. The system-level thinking builds upon the specialized technical skills from
other courses found in CTU’s graduate engineering programs. The capstone course attempts to
provide a right mix of technical merit, system engineering thinking, and improved
communication skills.
References
1. Blanchard, S. Benjamin, Wolter Frabrycky, System engineering and Analysis (Fifth Edition), Prentice Hall, New
Jersey, 2011, pg. 37 (Vee-Model)
2. Buede, Dennis, The Engineering Design of Systems – Models and Methods (Second Edition), Wiley, 2009, pg.
10-12
3. Sage, Andrew P. James E. Armstrong, Jr., Introduction to System engineering, Wiley, 2009, pg. 78.
4. SPCA, "Shelter Intake and Surrender," 2015. [Online]. Available: https://www.aspca.org/animal-
homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics. [Accessed 23 October 2015 by student]
Biographical Information
Professor John Santiago teaches courses in electrical, computer and system engineering after
retiring from the USAF with 26 years of service in 2003. He began teaching at CTU the
following year. His interests include: interactive multimedia for e-books, interactive video
learning, and 3D/2D animation. Professor Santiago recently published a book entitled, “Circuit
Analysis for Dummies” in 2013 after being discovered on YouTube. Professor Santiago
received several teaching awards from the United States Air Force Academy and CTU. In 2015,
he was awarded CTU’s Faculty of the Year for Teaching Innovations. Professor Santiago has
been a 12-time invited speaker in celebration of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month.
Dr. Jing Guo is a Professor in Engineering College at Colorado Technical University. She is the
course director in circuits and electronics area. She taught variety of underrated and graduate
courses including capstone design in Electrical and Computer Engineering area. She worked as
Subject Matter Expert (SME) of “EE110 Introduction to Engineering” Online Course
Development.
© American Society for Engineering Education, 2016
each subsystem in Figure 5. After establishing a market need in this growing field, the student
performed simulations using Matlab/Simulink software and detailed hardware components. The
student investigated the system from a variety of perspectives, including: affordability, reliability
and technical feasibility. In addition, the student provided a thorough presentation of his
investigation, including: hardware analysis and selection criteria, data-path analysis, and
detailed circuit schematics. Using both Matlab/Simulink simulations and inexpensive hardware,
the student highlighted the degradation of performance under certain scenarios with noisy
environments resulting in a loss of communication link or synchronization.
Conclusion
The engineering department successfully incorporated system engineering concepts into a
graduate capstone course in both electrical engineering and computer engineering. The approach
expands the student experience by providing them with a more holistic view of engineering.
Based on the student deliverables from the course, this was accomplished by having the student
think more at the system level and from a variety of perspectives before coming up with a
technical solution. The system-level thinking builds upon the specialized technical skills from
other courses found in CTU’s graduate engineering programs. The capstone course attempts to
provide a right mix of technical merit, system engineering thinking, and improved
communication skills.
References
1. Blanchard, S. Benjamin, Wolter Frabrycky, System engineering and Analysis (Fifth Edition), Prentice Hall, New
Jersey, 2011, pg. 37 (Vee-Model)
2. Buede, Dennis, The Engineering Design of Systems – Models and Methods (Second Edition), Wiley, 2009, pg.
10-12
3. Sage, Andrew P. James E. Armstrong, Jr., Introduction to System engineering, Wiley, 2009, pg. 78.
4. SPCA, "Shelter Intake and Surrender," 2015. [Online]. Available: https://www.aspca.org/animal-
homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics. [Accessed 23 October 2015 by student]
Biographical Information
Professor John Santiago teaches courses in electrical, computer and system engineering after
retiring from the USAF with 26 years of service in 2003. He began teaching at CTU the
following year. His interests include: interactive multimedia for e-books, interactive video
learning, and 3D/2D animation. Professor Santiago recently published a book entitled, “Circuit
Analysis for Dummies” in 2013 after being discovered on YouTube. Professor Santiago
received several teaching awards from the United States Air Force Academy and CTU. In 2015,
he was awarded CTU’s Faculty of the Year for Teaching Innovations. Professor Santiago has
been a 12-time invited speaker in celebration of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month.
Dr. Jing Guo is a Professor in Engineering College at Colorado Technical University. She is the
course director in circuits and electronics area. She taught variety of underrated and graduate
courses including capstone design in Electrical and Computer Engineering area. She worked as
Subject Matter Expert (SME) of “EE110 Introduction to Engineering” Online Course
Development.
© American Society for Engineering Education, 2016
