Embedded Systems
Building the internet of things
Certificate Description
Build your knowledge of universal connectivity
Our hardware professional students learn to design function-specific computer and communication systems, including mobile devices, the Internet of Things, networking equipment, industrial controllers, and military electronics.
Four hardware design tracks
- System Design
- FPGA Design
- Embedded Linux
- Embedded Software
Apply your knowledge of microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and microcontrollers and design and test hardware and software innovations of the future.
Embedded Systems certificate program objectives
- Design, debug, and synthesize digital logic for ASICs, PGAs, and IP cores
- Understand the basics of embedded hardware design
- Differentiate between types of jitter
- Decode IO technologies, including PCI Express, Ethernet and Fibre Channel
- Use analog and digital switch-mode power supplies
Cost: $5,700 or 5,770
Required Credits: Total Required: 5–10 courses/14 units—1 of the core courses (2–3 units) and 3–9 elective credit courses (12–16.5 units)
Duration: A full-time student can complete the certificate in 9–12 months.
Courses
| Course | Units | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. CORE COURSES (Choose One) | |||||
| Embedded Firmware Essentials | 2.0 | Fall Classroom | Spring Classroom | ||
| Embedded Linux Design and Programming | 3.0 | Fall Classroom | Winter Classroom | Spring Classroom | |
| Embedded System Hardware Architectures, Introduction | 3.0 | Fall Classroom | Spring Classroom | ||
| Practical Design with Xilinx FPGAs | 3.0 | Winter Classroom | Summer Classroom | ||
| Real-Time Embedded Systems Programming, Introduction | 3.0 | Winter Classroom | Summer Classroom | ||
| 2. ELECTIVE COURSES: System Design | |||||
| Comprehensive Signal and Power Integrity for High-Speed Digital Systems | 3.0 | Winter Classroom | Summer Classroom | ||
| Design and Analysis of High-Performance Memory Systems | 3.0 | Spring Classroom | |||
| Embedded System Hardware Architectures, Introduction | 3.0 | Fall Classroom | Spring Classroom | ||
| High Efficiency Switch-mode Power Supply, Design Overview | 3.0 | Winter Classroom | Summer Classroom | ||
| Introduction to Robotics | 2.0 | Fall Classroom | Summer Classroom | ||
| IO Concepts and Protocols: PCI Express, Ethernet, and Fibre Channel | 3.0 | Spring Classroom | |||
| IO Design Fundamentals | 3.0 | Winter Classroom | Summer Classroom | ||
| Jitter Essentials | 1.5 | Winter Classroom | Summer Classroom | ||
| Practical Design & Implementation of High Efficiency Switch-mode Power Supplies | 3.0 | Fall Classroom | Spring Classroom | ||
| Printed Circuit Board Design for Signal Integrity and EMC Compliance | 1.5 | Spring Classroom | |||
| Wireless Communications and Mobile Antenna Design, Introduction | 3.0 | Fall Classroom | Spring Classroom | ||
| 3. ELECTIVE COURSES: FPGA Design | |||||
| Digital Design with FPGA | 3.0 | Winter Classroom | Summer Classroom | ||
| Embedded Design with Xilinx FPGAs | 3.0 | Fall Classroom | Spring Classroom | ||
| Practical Design with Xilinx FPGAs | 3.0 | Winter Classroom | Summer Classroom | ||
| 4. ELECTIVE COURSES: Embedded Linux | |||||
| Embedded Linux Design and Programming | 3.0 | Fall Classroom | Winter Classroom | Spring Classroom | |
| Linux Device Drivers | 3.0 | Fall Classroom | Winter Classroom | Spring Classroom | Summer Classroom |
| Linux Device Drivers, Advanced | 3.0 | Winter Classroom | Summer Classroom | ||
| 5. ELECTIVE COURSES: Embedded Software | |||||
| C Programming, Advanced | 3.0 | Fall Classroom | Winter Classroom Winter Online | Spring Classroom Spring Online | Summer Classroom Summer Online |
| C Programming for Beginners | 2.0 | Fall Classroom Fall Online | Winter Classroom Winter Online | Spring Classroom Spring Online | Summer Classroom Summer Online |
| Embedded Firmware Essentials | 2.0 | Fall Classroom | Spring Classroom | ||
| Real-Time Embedded Systems Programming, Introduction | 3.0 | Winter Classroom | Summer Classroom | ||
| The Internet of Things: Big Data Processing and Analytics | 3.0 | Fall Classroom | Spring Classroom | ||
| The Internet of Things: Sensors, Platforms, Communications, and Applications | 3.0 | Fall Classroom | Winter Classroom | Summer Classroom | |
| 6. ELECTIVE COURSES: Related Electives | |||||
| Digital Logic Design Using Verilog | 3.0 | Fall Classroom | Spring Classroom | ||
| SystemVerilog Essentials: Functional Verification and Simulation | 1.5 | Fall Classroom | Spring Classroom | ||
| 7. REQUIRED CERTIFICATE REVIEW | |||||
| Embedded Systems Certificate Completion Fee | None | Fall Online | Winter Online | Spring Online | Summer Online |
Requisite Knowledge
Technical aptitude
You need a degree in a technical field or equivalent knowledge acquired through training and experience in system design and development.
We recommended you have experience in C programming.
Please review course descriptions
Make sure you have taken necessary prerequisites or meet the requirements through job experience or previous education before registering for a course.
Recommended Course Sequence
For the certificate program, please begin with one of the five core* courses. After the core requirement is met, courses may be taken in any order provided the prerequisites are met.
These are the 4 tracks of study:
- System Design
- FPGA Design
- Embedded Linux
- Embedded Software
Substitutions
To receive your certificate
Professional Development
Earn credit toward an M.S. in Engineering
We have a transfer agreement with the University of Wisconsin–Platteville that assists graduates of our Embedded Systems and Software Engineering and Quality certificate programs pursue an online Master of Science degree in engineering. Applicants to this master’s program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and fulfill the school’s admissions requirements.
Program Chair
BENJAMIN TING, M.S.E.E., is a principal engineer at Micron Technology. He is responsible for developing block-to-SOC UVM methodology, architecting Coverage-Driven Verification solutions, and developing re-usable plug-and-play verification components. Prior to joining Micron, Ting was an applications consultant at Synopsys, specializing in design verification using SystemVerilog and Universal Verification Methodology (UVM). He has over 20 years’ experience in the semiconductor and electronic design automation (EDA) industries, including technical and/or leadership roles at Xilinx, AMD, and Cadence Design Systems. His experience encompasses multi-gigabit networking designs, graphics and processors, as well as FPGAs and mixed-signal programmable SOCs. He has experience with chip design for a range of real-world applications, including networking, graphics, processors and FPGAs. Ben has taught at UCSC Extension since 2008.
