Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - MSE 251 D100

Electronic Circuits (4)

Class Number: 3885

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Surrey

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Wed, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
    Surrey

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Mar 4, 2026
    Wed, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
    Surrey

    Apr 21, 2026
    Tue, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Surrey

  • Prerequisites:

    MSE 250 or ENSC 220 or SEE 230.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduces the basic electronic components, amplifiers, diodes, and oscillators. Fundamentals of logic design. Students with credit for SEE 231, ENSC 225 or ENSC 226 may not take MSE 251 for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

  1. Signals and amplifiers
  2. Diodes: Diode models, pn junctions as diodes, Diode applications
  3. Bipolar Junction Transistors: BJT operation, Current-voltage characteristics, BJT circuits at DC
  4. Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors: MOSFET operation, Current-voltage characteristics, MOSFET circuits at DC
  5. Transistor Amplifiers: Small-signal operation, Amplifier configurations, Biasing
  6. Operational amplifiers: Ideal OpAmp, OpAmp applications, Non-ideal OpAmps

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

It is expected that the students will:

  • Become familiar with analysis of nonlinear circuits
  • Understand the operation of rectifiers
  • Understand the concept of biasing
  • Realize the concept and applications of small-signal analysis
  • Be able to analyse basic analog amplifiers
  • Design simple amplifier stages
  • Learn how to use OpAmps as building blocks in analog circuit design

Grading

NOTES:

Final exam (NONE)

0%

5 Quizzes

60%

4 to 6 Assignments

15%

5 Laboratories (mandatory)

25%

REQUIREMENTS:

Knowledge of electric circuit theory

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Fundamentals of Microelectronics
  By Behzad Razavi
  Wiley; 3rd edition, 2021


ISBN: 978-1-119-69514-1

RECOMMENDED READING:

Microelectronic Circuits

  By A. Sedra and K. Smith
  Oxford University Press

  Any edition

 


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.