Overview  |   Courses  |   Instructors  |   Advisory Board  |   How to Apply

Course Descriptions

The 2008-2009 program is underway and is no longer accepting applications Next program starts: Autumn 2009 Details will be posted in Spring Program location: Bellevue Sign up to receive e-mail updates >> Contact a program representative >>

Autumn Course

Fundamentals of Embedded and Real-Time Systems

Schedule: Mondays, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Sept. 29-Dec. 1, 2008; $660; 3 CEUs. Development kit cost $299.

Instructor: Mitch Ishihara

In this first course, students build foundation knowledge used throughout the program. Students learn basic computer architecture and concepts, how software interacts with hardware, assembly language, what an interrupt is, how to write an interrupt handler, debugging techniques, and how to utilize the development tools that will be used throughout this Certificate Program. Students begin the process of learning how to design, develop, test/debug and document software for embedded devices.

Programming with Embedded and Real-Time Operating Systems

Schedule: Mondays, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Jan. 5-Mar. 23, 2009 (no class Jan. 19 and Feb. 16); $660; 3 CEUs.

Instructor: Paul Lever

Students continue to learn how to design, develop, test/debug and document software for embedded devices, and how to get a simple embedded system up and running. In addition, they learn operating system principles, how to port and use a real-time operating system, how to build a firmware image, write device drivers, develop event-driven systems, deal with a multithreaded environment, and design/develop a software/hardware interface API.

Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Embedded and Real-Time Systems

Design and Optimization of Embedded and Real-Time Systems

Schedule: Mondays, 6:00-9:00 p.m., March 30-June 8, 2008 (no class May 25); $660; 3 CEUs.

Instructor: Andrew Sloss

Students continue to develop the skills learned in the first two courses, while learning to determine the limitations of hardware and software in an embedded system (real-time requirements, computation limits, etc.), analyze the different scheduling algorithms, and optimize the usage of memory. In addition, students learn how to develop and integrate optimizations within a system, and gain a detailed understanding of power management, reliability, safety critical and simulation. Upon completion of the program, students have a firm understanding of real world issues and design/optimization methods and techniques.

Each lesson will have an interactive portion where the students are grouped to solve a problem. This is a more advanced class in which design issues and concepts will be discussed.

Prerequisite: Programming with Embedded and Real-Time Operating Systems