CSE 121Embedded System Design
The design and use of microprocessor-based embedded systems. Covers microprocessor and microcontroller architecture, programming techniques, bus and memory organization, DMA, timing issues, interrupts, peripheral devices, serial and parallel communication, and interfacing to analog and digital systems. (Formerly Microprocessor System Design, and formerly offered as two courses, CMPE 121 and CMPE 121L.)
Prerequisite(s): CSE 100, and CSE 100L; and CSE 13E or CSE 13S or ECE 13.
- Enrollment restricted to Computer Engineering majors during First Pass and Second Pass enrollment.
Find a section and add it to your scheduleLive seat counts, time-conflict checks and the walk from your previous class.
When it runs
Winter 2027Open Winter 2027
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Tue Thu 8:00am–9:35am | Merrill Acad 102 | C. Westphal | Open 0/90 |
Fall 2026Open Fall 2026
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Mon Wed Fri 8:00am–9:05am | Thim Lecture 001 | C. Westphal | Wait List 82/0 |
Spring 2026Open Spring 2026
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Tue Thu 7:10pm–8:45pm | Steven Acad 150 | M. Siero | Closed 124/115 |
Fall 2025Open Fall 2025
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Mon Wed Fri 9:20am–10:25am | Steven Acad 175 | C. Westphal | Closed 90/0 |
Who teaches it
| Instructor | Rating | Difficulty | Would take again | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedric Westphal | 2.3 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 | 30% | 36 |
| Marcelo Siero | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 | 54% | 78 |
From RateMyProfessors, which is student-submitted and not a survey. Small review counts move a long way on one bad quarter.
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