This course introduces students to the architecture and design of Microcontrollers (MCUs), which are small processors used in a myriad of products. The main MCU components of the processor, memory, I/O interfaces and their interconnections will be examined, with a focus on the processor. The process of optimizing performance, energy usage and cost will be explored in a project where students will begin the development of an MCU in a system context.

The course will go beyond basic architecture and design to explore real-world details involved in the design of actual hardware products. Although focused on MCUs, many of these topics are relevant to the architecture and design of all types of advance digital components. This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MS-EE) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The degree offers targeted courses, short 8-week sessions, and pay-as-you-go tuition. Admission is based on performance in three preliminary courses, not academic history. CU degrees on Coursera are ideal for recent graduates or working professionals. Learn more: MS in Electrical Engineering: https://www.coursera.org/degrees/msee-boulder