525.801.21 - Special Project I

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Summer 2026

Description

Special Project I and II are intended to foster in-depth technical exploration and the development of professional research and communication skills. Each course offers students the opportunity to engage in an individually tailored, faculty-supervised project on a topic relevant to electrical and computer engineering. Students will identify a topic of interest and work closely with an ECE faculty advisor to define the scope and objectives of the project. A key objective of Special Project I and II is the production of a tangible deliverable in the form of a research paper or technical presentation. Students must prepare a formal paper that conforms to the formatting and submission guidelines of a peer-reviewed technical conference or journal relevant to the field of electrical and computer engineering. The paper must meet the technical rigor and quality standards expected of such venues. Submission to an actual conference or journal is encouraged but not required. Projects may involve original research, a novel application or design, or a detailed literature survey with critical analysis and synthesis elements. In all cases, the final submission must demonstrate clear technical contributions and sound engineering practices. The independent study advisor will assess whether the work satisfies the academic and scholarly expectations of the course. Students may take Special Project I, or both Special Project I and II toward the M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Students must complete at least half of their degree program before registering for this course. A completed independent study proposal form, detailing the scope of work and deliverables, must be approved by the student’s advisor and the ECE program chair prior to enrollment. Students should rely on knowledge gained from previous EP ECE coursework to inform and support their independent study.

Expanded Course Description

Designing a Two Stage Power Amplifier using a MMIC Foundry Library
Special Project

Instructor

John Penn

ProfPenn@gmail.com

Course Structure

Flexible Schedule, typically weekly meetings through zoom and email contact in addition.

Course Goals

Design, Layout, and Simulation of a Two Stage Power Amplifier (MMIC).

Textbooks

NA

Grading Policy

90-100 A
80-89 B

Course Evaluation

Final Report

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar. Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students. This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Our courses are designed with a proactive approach to accessibility to minimize the need for disability disclosure and accommodation requests, but we recognize that you may need additional support. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions, and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements. For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact EP Student Disability Services at ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. For a full description of the code please visit the Student Conduct Code website.

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team (EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu) in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.