The Subdisciplines of
Electrical and Computer Engineering

Communication Systems

The field of communications encompasses all aspects of the transmission, processing, storage, and utilization of information. Application areas include fixed and mobile wireline communication systems for voice and data such as cellular telephone systems, narrowband wireline systems for voice, fax, and data transmission via telephone lines as well as broadband transmission systems for Internet applications, optical communication systems, satellite communication systems including direct-broadcast satellites, radar, ranging and tracking systems, and navigation and position location systems such as the Global Positioning System. Optical data storage systems (e.g., compact discs and CD-ROMUs, laser disks, digital video disks) and magnetic data storage systems (e.g., high-density magnetic disks and tapes) all use modern communication systems techniques to achieve high performance. The design, manufacture, installation, and operation of modern communication systems involves a wide spectrum of technologies. Thus, employment in the rapidly growing communications sector of the electronics industry is not restricted only to the specialists in communication systems, but is available to engineers with expertise in almost every area of electrical and computer engineering, as well as in computer science, mechanical and industrial engineering, materials science, and civil engineering. Conversely, because of the widespread use of communication systems, specialists in communication systems often find employment in companies whose products or services seemingly have little to do with communications.

Recommended courses
for students with primary interests in other areas

ECE 459 and ECE 438, both offered each semester, are the first courses in communication systems analysis and communication networks, respectively. Also, COMM 462 and COMM 468, which discuss management, legal, and policy issues in large-scale telecommunication systems, and which are on the list of College of Engineering Approved Social Science Electives, may be of interest.

Recommended courses
for students with primary interests in communication systems

Students interested in a career in communication systems should acquire a strong background in systems engineering and applied mathematics. Thus, undergraduate studies should include courses that stress basic concepts, fundamental principles, and analytical techniques. In particular, a solid understanding of probability theory is essential for work in communication systems. Hence, it is recommended that ECE 313 be taken as early as possible (preferably no later than the first semester of the junior year) so that the course sequence ECE 459 Communications I and ECE 461 Communications II can be completed before graduation. Math 415 and Math 446 are strongly recommended. Students planning on graduate studies should consider taking the more advanced course Math 418 in place of Math 415, as well as either Math 444 or Math 447 in addition to Math 446.

Many other courses are relevant to a career in communication systems, and, depending on the student's interests, a variety of selections can be made to satisfy the curricular requirements. Some suggestions for electives are given below. Taking these courses satisfies the Elective ECE Laboratory Requirementand most of the ECE Technical Electives Requirement for Electrical Engineering majors, as well as most of the ECE/CS Technical Elective Requirement for Computer Engineering majors.

Students interested in communication systems analysis and design should take ECE 410, ECE 442, ECE 443, ECE 450, ECE 459, ECE 461, and either ECE 420 or ECE 463 (19 hours). In addition, one or more of ECE 418, ECE 438, ECE 453, ECE 486, and ECE 490 are recommended.

Students interested in RF engineering, circuitry, and hardware should take ECE 410, ECE 442, ECE 443, ECE 450, ECE 453, and ECE 459 (18 hours). In addition, one or more of ECE 420, ECE 452, ECE 454, ECE 461, and ECE 463 are recommended.

Students interested in computer communication networks should take ECE 391, ECE 428, ECE 438, ECE 442, ECE 443, ECE 450, and ECE 459 (19 hours). In addition, ECE 410, ECE 418, ECE 435, ECE 439, and ECE 461 are recommended.

In planning programs of studies, keep in mind that some of rhe courses listed above are offered only once each year.

COMM 462 and COMM 468 which discuss management, legal, and policy issues in large-scale telecommunication systems and which are also on the College of Engineering list of Approved Social Science Electives, may be of interest.

For further information or advice, contact any of the following faculty members:

Tangül Basar tangul@uiuc.edu Bruce Hajek b-hajek@uiuc.edu
Richard Blahut blahut@uiuc.edu Ada Poon poon@ad.uiuc.edu
Steven Franke s-franke@uiuc.edu Dilip Sarwate sarwate@uiuc.edu
Chester Gardner cgardner@uiuc.edu Pramod Visvanath pramodv@uiuc.edu