The best aspects of this course included the easy-to-follow lectures, the basic knowledge acquired of Cadence, and the instructor’s enthusiasm for the material. One student felt that the exams were graded too harshly. Another student felt it was too easy to fal behind in the lectures. Suggestions included having all the software and material ready before the start of the semester and incorporating small assignments on layouts. Prospective students should know DSF and have a basic understanding of circuits.

The best aspects of this course were learning about chip design, getting some experience with CADENCE, and an available and engaged TA. Many students particularly liked learning how a transistor works down to a microscopic scale. The worst aspects of this course were the disorganization of the instructor, the constantly shifting requirements for the project, and the difficulty of CADENCE. Suggestions for improving this course were better organized lectures, assignments, and expectations, having a syllabus the first day of class, and more time with CADENCE. Prospective students should know that based on this semester, the course is an easy A, but very unstructured and many found it a waste of time. This course is not recommended.

The best aspects of this course included the skil s gained concerning circuit design, the hands-on experience with software, the manageable workload, and interesting assignments. Many students felt that the course was disorganized with unclear expectations and no clear focus. Suggestions for improvement included replacing the assigned text, having the professor write homework questions relevant to the coursework, and organizing the class so that expectations and assignments are clear. Prospective students should be aware that a significant amount of self-teaching outside of class is necessary to understand concepts.