Power electronics is a key enabling technology in essentially all electronic systems ranging from wireless communication devices, portable and desktop computers, to telecommunication infrastructure systems and industrial systems. The necessity for power electronics technology in these rapidly expanding areas creates a rising need for design engineers equipped with knowledge and skills to follow sound engineering principles and actively participate in multidisciplinary teams. The power electronics field has evolved rapidly with the advances in technology and introduction of many new application areas. As a result, it is likely that the required knowledge and skills were not in the curricula when many of today's professionals were in colleges. This creates a strong ongoing demand for continuing education of the workforce in the area of power electronics. The intention of the certificate program is to address the onging demand for skilled power electronics design engineers.
Switching power supplies, dc-dc converters, power factor correction converters, and electronic ballasts are examples of power electronic circuits that employ high-frequency switching circuits to convert and condition electrical power. Power electronics is an integral part of most electronic systems, yet most engineers have little of the background required to understand and design these circuits, including their control systems and their magnetics. This certificate program provides a knowledge of fundamentals of the power electronics field, including: basic operation of pulse-width modulated converter circuits, modeling and design of their feedback systems, current-mode control, simulation, input EMI filter design, modeling and design of high-frequency power magnetic elements, low-harmonic rectifiers, resonant converters and soft switching. Design-oriented analysis is also emphasized. The program enables a working electrical engineer to gain the foundation needed for the practice of power electronics.
The certification program was initiated by the Colorado Power Electronics Center (CoPEC), and is operated through the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and through CAETE.
This program offers an opportunity for electrical engineers to obtain the specialized knowledge required to practice power electronics. It is intended for students and engineers having a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
The program faculty are
Professors Erickson and Maksimovic are authors of the textbook Fundamentals of Power Electronics.
Courses are delivered through CAETE, the Center for Advanced Engineering and Technology Education. CAETE provides a convenient and flexible video education alternative for working professionals.
Courses can be delivered directly to companies along Colorado's Front Range by live microwave TV broadcast, which included two-way audio for interaction while the class occurs. If you do not have access to a live broadcast site of if you are outside the broadcast area, you can watch classes on videotape. Courses are now also available via web-based streaming video. The course web sites provide a fast and convenient way to obtain supplementary materials and assignments.
It is also possible to enroll in these courses, or to review them without earning credit, through the CAETE course library program.
To qualify for admission to this certificate program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
Students must complete the following sequence of three courses:
Each semester-long course requires completion of 10 to 12 homework assignments, a midterm exam, and a final exam. The graduates of this program will have successfully demonstrated their abilities in the subjects of all three courses listed above, to the satisfaction of the faculty of the Colorado Power Electronics Center.
Please note that transfer credit is not accepted in lieu of the above requirements.
Contact the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department directly about certificate requirements:
Students may sign up for the courses as (1) regular on-campus degree students, or (2) CAETE students.
Upon completion of the three required graduate courses, students may obtain the certificate by submitting a request to Adam Sadoff, at the address listed above.
This program has been formally approved by the Graduate School of the University of Colorado.