Senior Design Project – Electronic Engineering Technology

Course Description

EET4950 – Senior Design Project is a 3-credit-hour capstone course in the Electronic Engineering Technology baccalaureate program. In this course, students integrate and apply all previously acquired knowledge and skills to plan, design, build, and present a comprehensive engineering project related to electronic engineering technology. The project must be approved by a faculty advisor and culminates in a formal written report and oral presentation. The course is typically taken in the final semester of the baccalaureate program and is designed to simulate professional engineering practice.

This course falls under the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) taxonomy: Engineering Technologies > Electronic Engineering Technology (EET), Level 4 (upper-division baccalaureate). A grade of C or higher is required to satisfy program graduation requirements.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply engineering design methodology—including problem formulation, specifications development, feasibility analysis, and alternative solution evaluation—to a real-world electronics project.
• Plan and manage a complete project lifecycle, including scheduling, milestones, material selection, and budgeting.
• Produce a formal technical design report documenting all phases of the project, from concept through implementation.
• Deliver a formal oral presentation defending design decisions, methodology, and results to faculty, peers, and industry evaluators.
• Demonstrate professional and ethical responsibility in engineering practice, including adherence to applicable codes and standards (e.g., IEEE Code of Ethics).
• Work effectively as part of a design team, demonstrating communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on institutional emphasis and project scope, students may also demonstrate:

• Analysis of environmental, societal, health, and safety impacts of the proposed design.
• Integration of reliability, maintainability, and manufacturability considerations into the design process.
• Use of simulation software (e.g., MATLAB, Multisim, LTspice) to model and validate design performance prior to physical implementation.
• Application of economic analysis, including cost-benefit or return-on-investment considerations.
• Preparation of a project proposal suitable for industry or research sponsorship review.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Project Selection & Proposal Development – Problem identification, scope definition, faculty advisor approval process, and written project proposal.
• Engineering Design Process – Design methodology, system requirements specification, concept generation, and evaluation of alternative solutions.
• Project Planning & Management – Work breakdown structures, Gantt charts, milestone tracking, resource allocation, and budget development.
• Design Implementation – Circuit/system design, component and material selection, structural or functional analysis, prototype development, and testing.
• Technical Documentation – Engineering notebooks, design reports, schematics, test plans, and final written reports following professional standards.
• Oral Presentation & Defense – Formal presentation of project design, methodology, results, and conclusions to an evaluation committee.
• Professional & Ethical Responsibilities – Engineering codes of ethics, intellectual property, safety standards, and professional conduct in team environments.

Optional Topics

• ABET Student Outcomes Integration – Explicit mapping of project work to ABET criteria including teamwork, communication, and lifelong learning outcomes.
• Simulation & Modeling – Use of EDA or simulation tools to validate design before hardware build.
• Industry Standards Compliance – Application of relevant IEEE, IPC, or ANSI standards to design and documentation.
• Environmental & Societal Impact Analysis – Assessment of how the design affects sustainability, public health, and community needs.
• Senior Design Showcase / Capstone Expo – Public exhibition of completed project for industry, faculty, and community stakeholders.
• Entrepreneurship & Commercialization – Elevator pitch development, market analysis, and intellectual property considerations for project viability.

Resources & Tools

• Electronic Design Automation (EDA): Multisim, LTspice, Eagle PCB, KiCad, or Altium Designer for circuit design and simulation.
• Microcontroller/Embedded Platforms: Arduino, Raspberry Pi, STM32, or similar platforms commonly used in prototype development.
• Test & Measurement Equipment: Oscilloscopes, function generators, digital multimeters, logic analyzers, and spectrum analyzers.
• Project Management Tools: Microsoft Project, Trello, Asana, or equivalent tools for scheduling and milestone tracking.
• Documentation Standards: IEEE citation style; technical report templates aligned with program and accreditation requirements.
• Collaboration Platforms: Canvas LMS, Microsoft Teams, or Google Workspace for team coordination and document sharing.
• Reference Standards: IEEE Code of Ethics; IPC-A-610 Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies; ANSI/EIA standards as applicable.

Career Pathways

Successful completion of EET4950 and the Electronic Engineering Technology baccalaureate program prepares graduates for careers including:

• Electronics Design Engineer / Technologist – Design, test, and troubleshoot electronic circuits and embedded systems for product development firms.
• Systems Integration Engineer – Integrate electronic subsystems into larger platforms for aerospace, defense, medical, or industrial applications.
• Field Applications Engineer – Provide technical support and application design assistance for semiconductor or test equipment manufacturers.
• Quality & Reliability Engineer – Ensure electronics manufacturing processes meet industry and regulatory standards.
• Product Development Engineer – Lead the full lifecycle of new electronic product design from concept to market.
• Graduate Study – The capstone experience supports admission to M.S. programs in Electrical Engineering Technology, Engineering Management, or related fields.

Special Information

ABET Accreditation Alignment: EET4950 is a key assessment vehicle for ABET Technology Accreditation Commission (TAC) student outcomes, particularly those related to team function, communication, design under realistic constraints, and professional ethics. Institutions offering this course under accredited programs must document student performance on these outcomes.

Graduation Requirement: This course is typically a required capstone for the Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering Technology (or equivalent baccalaureate designation). A minimum grade of C is generally required for program completion.

Faculty Advisor Requirement: All projects must receive faculty approval before work commences. Students are responsible for coordinating regularly with their assigned faculty advisor throughout the semester.

SCNS Transfer Note: As a capstone course in the X950 series, EET4950 is not automatically transferable between institutions and must be evaluated individually by the receiving institution per Florida SCNS policy.