Addressing Embedded Programming Needs within an ECE Curriculum

In this paper, the typical electrical and computer engineering (ECE) curriculum is examined to determine its effectiveness at presenting embedded programming skills. The software concepts and programming techniques necessary for embedded systems are somewhat different than those seen in other engineering domains. Thus, it makes sense to specifically address embedded programming needs within the formal programming education ECE students receive. Several topical areas of concern are identified, and two possible ways to incorporate these areas into an ECE curriculum are presented. The experiences gained within the ECE curriculum at The University of Alabama are presented and are used to develop recommendations for incorporating these topics into typical ECE curricula.