Programming for Electrical Engineers

Book excerpt: Programming for Electrical Engineers: MATLAB and Spice introduces beginning engineering students to programming in Matlab and Spice through engaged, problem-based learning and dedicated electrical and computer engineering content. The book draws its problems and examples specifically from electrical and computer engineering, covering such topics as circuit analysis, signal processing, and filter design. It teaches relevant computational techniques in the context of solving common problems in electrical and computer engineering, including mesh and nodal analysis, Fourier transforms, and phasor analysis. Programming for Electrical Engineers: MATLAB and Spice is unique among MATLAB textbooks for its dual focus on introductory-level learning and discipline-specific content in electrical and computer engineering. No other textbook on the market currently targets this audience with the same attention to discipline-specific content and engaged learning practices. Although it is primarily an introduction to programming in MATLAB, the book also has a chapter on circuit simulation using Spice, and it includes materials required by ABET Accreditation reviews, such as information on ethics, professional development, and lifelong learning. - Discipline-specific: Introduces Electrical and Computer Engineering-specific topics, such as phasor analysis and complex exponentials, that are not covered in generic engineering Matlab texts - Accessible: Pedagogically appropriate for freshmen and sophomores with little or no prior programming experience - Scaffolded content: Addresses both script and functions but emphasizes the use of functions since scripts with non-scoped variables are less-commonly encountered after introductory courses - Problem-centric: Introduces MATLAB commands as needed to solve progressively more complex EE/ECE-specific problems, and includes over 100 embedded, in-chapter questions to check comprehension in stages and support active learning exercises in the classroom - Enrichment callouts: "Pro Tip" callouts cover common ABET topics, such as ethics and professional development, and "Digging Deeper" callouts provide optional, more detailed material for interested students