ECEN 4613 and ECEN 5613 are taught concurrently, so students in both classes fit into the same lecture room and lab, with a total enrollment limit of about 24-28 students. Registration for ECEN 5613 is done through normal CU channels as well as through CAETE (formerly through Continuing Education), with separate wait lists for each registration channel. Due to limits on the lecture room size, limits on the lab space, limits on lab equipment, and limits on the time available for the TA and instructor to help each enrolled student, the total enrollment limit of the course is typically not increased. Each semester, it is common for a couple of enrolled students to drop the course either before the semester starts or within the first three weeks of the semester; however, one cannot predict the exact number of students who will drop each semester. Therefore, it is likely that at least some of the students on the wait list will be able to enroll in the course. If you are on the wait list, the best advice is to wait until the beginning of the semester to see whether space opens up. Putting your name on the wait list, attending class, and showing interest can increase your chances of being enrolled.

Note: Please check with the ECE Department for the most recent policy regarding this matter, as it may change from time to time. The answer below is from November 2004.

As you may know, getting into ECEN 5613, Embedded System Design and ECEN 5623, Real-Time Embedded Systems is quite a challenge. The ECE Department is doing its best to rectify this situation. Unfortunately, it will not be rectified for spring 2005. This means that there will be 6 spaces each in ECEN 5613 and ECEN 5623 for graduate students. Below is the way that enrollment in these courses will be handled in spring 2005.

When you try to register for either 5613 or 5623 you will see that the enrollment limit has been changed to "0". You will be able to add your name to the wait list only.

After graduate students have registered on Friday, November 5, the wait list will be reviewed for each course. Students needing one of the above courses to graduate in May, 2005 will be given first priority.

Second priority will be given to students who were still on the wait list for the course as of September 10, 2004. If a student has two or more semesters left to complete before he/she expects to graduate, that student's chances of getting into the course from the wait list are minimal.

ECEN 5613 and ECEN 5623 will also be offered via CAETE in spring 2006. This is a cost effective way for non-Colorado resident students to take these courses. Cost for each Embedded System Course taken through CAETE is $1,995.00. If you are interested in registering via the CAETE program you can get registration information at: http://caete.colorado.edu/registration/default.aspx

Students will not be allowed to wait list for ECEN 5613 and ECEN 5623 on campus and enroll for the course via CAETE. You must choose one or the other.

CAETE registration typically starts about a month before the start of the semester.

To make a case for your getting into either ECEN 5613 or ECEN 5623 feel free to email:

Valerie Matthews, Coordinator for Undergraduate Studies, ECE Dept., University of Colorado, 425 UCB

[Note: Please verify this answer with the ECE Department if you are in this situation.]

The CAETE version of ECEN 5613 is exactly the same as the CU version of ECEN 5613. The 3-course transfer limit applies to courses taken through Continuing Education, but not through CAETE. Credits from courses taken through CAETE automatically show up on the student's transcript, without any transfer request needing to be made.

The CU administration has decided to let ECEN 5613 count towards degree programs without regard to the normal 3-course transfer limit. A student who has already transferred three courses from Continuing Education or CAETE to their degree program may still take ECEN 5613 through CAETE and have the course count toward their degree.

Unless there is some administrative error that needs to be corrected or some policy that gives a certain classification of student priority for taking the course, adjustments to the wait list are not generally made. Other people on the wait list also really want to take the course, so putting you ahead of them would not be fair. Your best bet is to let the administration know that you're very interested in taking the course this semester, and then stay on the wait list. Attending class while on the wait list can increase your chances of being enrolled.

No, there are reasons why students may not sit in on the class. First, since the course usually has a wait list, it would not be fair to those students on the wait list to allow other students to sit in on the class. If any space becomes available, it should go to students on the wait list. Second, since a great deal of the course learning comes from doing all the labs, the educational objectives of the course would not be met if students were allowed to sit in on the class but not complete the lab work.

Yes, there is often a wait list. If you really want to take this class, enroll as early as possible. If you get on the wait list, stay on the wait list and attend class, since seats in the class sometimes/often open after the first week or two. Even if you are not near the top of the wait list, you may still get into the course, since students ahead of you on the wait list may sign up for other courses and will therefore drop off the wait list. If you don't get into the course, being on the wait list may give you priority in a future semester when you want to take the course.