2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This article highlights an ongoing funded project that provides the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at a minority-serving institution with the resources to: (i) purchase equipment and software licenses to establish a Very Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) Design Laboratory, (ii) train faculty and staff in cutting-edge VLSI techniques, (iii) support graduate students in actively participating in VLSI teaching and research, and (iv) enable tapeout projects in undergraduate and graduate courses.

The project focuses on developing new courses and enhancing existing ones to equip students with the knowledge and skills required for VLSI design and manufacturing. Both undergraduate and graduate courses are involved. At the undergraduate level, “Digital Logic Circuit Laboratory,” “Introduction to Digital Design,” and “Computer Organization and Design” are core courses for the Computer Engineering degree. Previously, these courses lacked VLSI design content. By integrating VLSI concepts through lectures, labs, and class projects, students can now connect digital theory to chip tapeout across three consecutive semesters. In addition to the undergraduate curriculum enhancements, the graduate-level course “VLSI and ULSI Design” has been revamped to include chip tapeout projects, and a new course, “VLSI Testing and Characterization,” has been introduced. This comprehensive training prepares them for careers in the semiconductor industry. Class surveys are used to assess the project's effectiveness.

After two years of implementation, the project team is confident that this initiative will: (i) strengthen the Computer Engineering program at this minority-serving institution, (ii) provide undergraduate and graduate students with valuable hands-on experience in VLSI design, and (iii) support students in securing employment with high-tech companies. In summary, this project will enhance the institution’s curricula and contribute to building a more diverse and skilled workforce in the semiconductor industry.