As a sophomore, I’ve only experienced about a third of the total classes I’ll take at USC as an Electrical and Computer Engineering major. Yet, I’m almost certain I’ve already found my favorite class: EE 109 – Introduction to Embedded Systems. EE 109 is essential for all ECE students, as it serves as the foundation for most EE courses. It also happens to be incredibly engaging and felt like my first real foray into the world of ECE. In 109, I was introduced to key ECE concepts, terms, and topics. I even enjoyed the class so much that I applied to work as a Lab Assistant (LA) for its lab section! You can check out @viterbiadmission on Instagram to see my reel about what it’s like to be an LA.
Now that I’ve shared why EE 109 is my favorite, let’s dive into what makes it so special.
Labs:
In EE 109, each week I had the chance to apply classroom concepts to hands-on lab projects. From building physical timers to coding complex state machines and converting analog signals to digital, I found it easier to grasp difficult topics by seeing them come to life in practical applications. The labs, though challenging, were supported by an incredible array of resources, including open lab hours, LAs, TAs, and professor office hours. I never felt stuck for long. Completing the final project, which brought together everything we learned in previous labs, was especially rewarding. Below are some photos of my lab work!
Lighting up an LED (left), Digital Combination Lock (middle), Analog to Digital Conversion (right)
Exams:
Weirdly enough, I often felt excited to take the exams in EE 109. They were fair, well-structured, and allowed me to truly assess my understanding. After taking the first “Quiz” exam, I felt confident that my score reflected my effort and knowledge, helping me gauge my performance for the rest of the course. The fill-in-the-blank style of our class notes also made it easier to study and review the material. I really enjoyed learning in 109.
In short, EE 109 was the perfect introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering, and now, in EE 354 – Digital Circuits, I’m building on that foundation with even more exciting material.
