This is THE class for EE/CPE majors. You'll find out if you actually have an interest in this field by taking this class. This class literally blew my mind and everything ties together in the end. It was very hard, but I managed to pass and learned a ton from it. A lot of people end up dropping this class the first time around and passing on their second try (something like 60% of the class dropped Spring 22? Don't quote me on that, though). The Summer version is literal insanity, so do not take it with any other hard classes. I took it with Data Structures and Algorithms; Despite being only 7 credits total, it was the hardest semester I've had so far.

This class is centered around working your way up to building a working CPU. You'll start small with basic digital logic (AND, NOT, NOR gates, etc.) and work your way up to Counters, State Machines, the Arithmetic Logic Unit, the Registered ALU, then learn some assembly language and machine coding techniques, and finally work on the Gator-CPU. When I took it, the class was based around 7 extremely important lab assignments/demos. You cannot miss more than one of these, and even for the one you do miss, you need a valid excuse. There's also 2 exams and 2 practicals. The Summer version is accelerated, so you'll typically have a Lab due every week/every other week. Some of these labs are harder than others, but on average they took anywhere between 10-20 hours to complete. Do not wait until...read more

Dr. Schwartz is a very intimidating figure at first. He pokes fun at his notorious status in the first lecture. He really isn't as a scary as some people on his RateMyProfessor make him out to be, but he is tough. Pros: This guy knows what he's talking about. He's been teaching the course for a long time, which means that he worked most of the hiccups out of the course structure. Cons: He's been teaching the course for such a long time, I personally think he starts to assume new students know just as much as he does. Sometimes he just breezes past slides. By far, the worst thing is his handwriting, akin to chicken scratch. Good luck copying what he writes, so you better keep an ear out for what he says. Try to sit near the front.

If you are even slightly unsure about any topic, I encourage you to go to the PI's office hours. Before this class, I never went to office hours because I was nervous or just arrogant. The Pi's were in your shoes only a semester or two before, so they really understand the struggle and want to help you pass. They can't just give you answers, but will do a good job at leading you along the path. Try to take this class with easier classes in a semester. Lastly, all my experiences in the class were with Dr. Schwartz over the summer of 22. The course format may change as he reverts back to in-person only, so take my words with a grain of salt. And if you take the course with the other professor, you may have an entirely different experience.

Very time consuming but if you have any interest in hardware, completely worth it. Schwartz is "harder" but the material you learn is more practical. All nighters were spent on this class.

This is a great course. Schwartz doesn't go easy on you, but the challenge prepares you for problem solving in future classes and begins to give you the grit you need to be an EE. It is essential to plan out time to complete labs early. There are a bunch of practice exams, so exam prep is manageable.

This course is very useful. You learn basic concepts and problem solving skills. Labs are where you learn the most.

He is tough but fair. TAs do most of the grading. You will learn more with him than Bobda.

Be prepared to spend most of your time on this class. The pain will be worth it afterwards.

I see how this class could be next to impossible with a tougher professor, as there is a lot of material and it can be very confusing. The labs make up a significant portion of the overall workload despite only being 25% of the grade, so make sure you do them, even if they’re late. The coursework is very daunting, but Bobda means it when he says he wants all of his students to succeed so he thankfully grades accordingly.

3 or 4 homework assignments, about 5 or 6 labs, a midterm, and a final.

Dr. Bobda made the class manageable despite the really tough material. Lectures were next to impossible to get anything from over the Zoom recordings (you may have a diff experience attending in person), but he gave very generous curves on the exams which make up 50% of your grade. Also gave some extra credit as well as allowing you to turn in labs/hw as late as you wanted with minimal penalty.

I was told this but didn’t listen, but make sure to start labs early, and ask TA’s for help as necessary. However, if you’re getting behind, don’t stress as it is okay to submit things late, just make sure they get done as correctly as possible, as that will help you be prepared for exams.

This is the introduction to all digital courses ECE has to offer. It is a fundamental course for the degree, so there is no avoiding it. When I took it, it was very lab-heavy, and you will go from knowing almost absolutely nothing to feeling like a little super-hero. I would be lying if I said I didn't learn a lot from this class or that I didn't think differently after taking the course.

The class has paper exams and lab exams. The paper exams are dense with information, so you need to do at least two practice exams before you can feel relatively confident going into that exam room. The lab exams, which are called "practicals," are for the most part pass/fail. They take up less of your grade than a paper exam, but they can be pretty intense. However, they are always based on the labs that have been previously done, so if you did your labs, you'll more than likely be fine. The labs are the center-piece of the class. Everything you learn will be from these assignments and the TAs who guide you. It's a good foundational course, and you will feel pretty powerful after taking the course. However, the knowledge gained does not come easily.

Dr. Schwartz taught the class as if you already know the material. It was almost built for someone who has failed the class once before in my opinion. He can go through a concept so fast, and honestly I don't think I learned much at all from him personally. Everything I learned in this class was from the labs, which are intense, but rewarding.

Start every lab as soon as you can. Ask questions, attend office hours, and (if you can) maybe try looking at lecture material ahead of class. Otherwise your head will be spinning.

Very important course. Labs can be time consuming.

Very relevant even if you are software or analog person.

Basically just reads off slides.

Start the labs early, don't get behind.

An intense but immensely important course. Dr. Schwartz doesn't go easy on students but provides refined coursework most similar to what is done in industry.

Don't expect the labs to be like other classes. Start early!