Curriculum 

 

Through our Curricula Advisory Board, Synopsys works closely with a team of academic experts to develop microelectronic design curriculum for Synopsys University Program members. Each full-semester course contains 15 weeks of material including syllabus, lectures, labs, home work and exams. Synopsys tools are used and applied in each lab for a thorough and practical understanding of theoretical concepts introduced in each of these courses. This courseware can be used as a new course or to supplement content in an existing course as needed.

Synopsys also offers curriculum support modules which vary in length and include more lectures and Synopsys tool training materials than the full-semester courseware.

All courseware described below may be downloaded from the Synopsys University Program Member Only website (requires SolvNet ID and password). If you are not yet a member of the Synopsys University Program, but want to know more, please contact the program administrator for your region.

 Full Semester Courseware
VLSI Design Curriculum

Digital System Architecture and Design:    
Bachelor Degree Courses:
  • Digital ASIC Design
  • Digital Integrated Circuits
  • IC Design
  • IC Design Flow (RAU)
  • IC Design Introduction
  • IC Simulation Theory
  • IC Testing (EPFL)
  • IC Testing (SEUA) - Updated!
  • Introduction to Circuits
  • Introduction to Electronic Circuits
  • Introduction to Logic Design
  • Introduction to VLSI Design (UT)
  • I/O Design
  • Logic Design
  • Synthesis of Digital Circuits
   Master's Degree Courses:
  • Advanced Digital Integrated Circuits
  • Advanced IC Physical Design
  • Crosstalk and Noise
  • Design for Test - Updated!
  • Design of Special I/Os - Updated!
  • Digital Signal Processing
  • Digital VLSI Design
  • Low Power Design
  • Low Power Design with SAED 90nm EDK
  • Low Power Methodology
  • Modeling and Optimization of VLSI Interconnects
  • Nano-Scale Circuits and Systems (SFSU)
  • System-on-Chip Architecture Design
  • VLSI Design - Updated!
  • VLSI Design Verification and Testing

IC/Semiconductor Fabrication:
   Bachelor Degree Courses:
  • IC Fabrication
  • Introduction to Semiconductor Devices
  • Principles of Semiconductor Devices
  • Semiconductor Devices (SAED)
  • Semiconductor Technology
  • VLSI Device and Process Simulation
   Master's Degree Courses:
  • Semiconductor Transport Theory and Monte Carlo Device Simulation (ETH)
Analog/RF Design:
   Bachelor Degree Courses:
  • Analog Integrated Circuits
  • Analog Integrated Circuit Design
  • Introduction to RF Communication - Updated!
  • RF Circuits
  • RF Circuits and Systems based on Custom Designer
   Master's Degree Courses:
  • Advanced Analog Integrated Circuits
  • Mixed-Signal IC Design
  • RF IC Design

Other:
   Bachelor Degree Courses:
  • Computer Architecture
  • Introduction to Communication, Control, and Signal Processing
  • Linear Algebra
  • Methods of Mathematical Physics
  • Microprocessor Systems
  • Nanoscale Electronic Materials - New!
  • Numerical Methods
  • Physical-Chemical Bases of Micro- and Nanoelectronics
  • Quantum Theory and Statistical Physics
  • Scripting Languages
  • Signals and Systems - New!
  • System Level Design
  • Technical Writing - Updated!
  • Theoretical Bases of Microcircuitry
   Master's Degree Courses:
  • Advanced IC Processing and Layout
  • Advanced Integrated Circuits for Communications
  • Advanced Methods in Logic Synthesis and Equivalence Checking - New!
  • Advanced Topics in Solid State Devices - New!
  • Complex Functions
  • Data Compression - New!
  • Design Techniques for Digital Systems
  • Digital Communication
  • EDA Tools
  • Embedded Systems Design
  • Fourier Transformations
  • FPGA Prototyping - New!
  • Fuzzy Logic - Updated!
  • Introduction to Optical Communication Systems and Networks
  • Principles of Digital and Wireless Communications - New!
  • Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics
  • Rad-hard IC Design
  • Senior Design Project
  • Solar Cell Physics (SVTI)
  • Thermal and Electro-Thermal Simulation
EDA Curriculum

Digital System Architecture and Design:
   Bachelor Degree Courses:
  • Hardware Description Languages
  • IC Design Introduction
   Master's Degree Courses:
  • Low Power Design
  • Modeling and Optimization of VLSI Interconnects
  • Semiconductor Devices and Technology
  • VLSI Design
  • VLSI Design Algorithms - Updated!
  • VLSI Physical Design Algorithms

Analog/RF Design:
   Bachelor Degree Courses:
  • Analog Integrated Circuits

Other:
   Bachelor Degree Courses:
  • Advanced Operating Systems
  • Algorithms & Structural Programming
  • Computer Networks
  • Data Structures
  • Discrete Mathematics
  • EDA Introduction
  • EDA Mathematical Methods - Updated!
  • Elements of Software Construction - New!
  • Information Security
  • Introduction to Algorithms
  • Linear Algebra
  • Mathematical Modeling - New!
  • Numerical Methods
  • Optimization Methods - Updated!
  • Operating Systems and System Programming
  • Programming Languages & Compilers
  • Technical Writing
  • Theory of Algorithms
  • Unix System Administration
   Master's Degree Courses:
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Compilers Design
  • Compiler Optimization and Code Generation - New!
  • Complex Functions
  • Computational Geometry
  • Contemporary Software Development Kits - New!
  • Databases
  • Design of Programming Languages - New!
  • Discrete Mathematics and Probability
  • Equations of Mathematical Physics - New!
  • Fourier Transformations - Updated!
  • Fuzzy Logic
  • Networked Computing
  • Object-Oriented Programming - Updated!
  • Operational Research
  • Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics
  • Programming C++ - New!
  • Software Development Technology
  • Software Verification and Validation - Updated!
  • Symbolic Programming
  • Synthesis and Optimization of Digital Integrated Circuits - New!
  • User/Interface Design - New!
  • VLSI Schematic Design Algorithms
  • VLSI Verification Algorithms

 Curriculum Support Modules: Workshops and Lectures

Verification:
  • SystemVerilog/Verification Methodology Manual (VMM)
  • SystemVerilog Verification Tutorial (SFSU) - New!
  • Universal Verification Methodology - New!
  • Verilog HDL Basics

TCAD:
  • TCAD Course
  • TCAD for VLSI Design
  • TCAD Short Course
  • TCAD Quick Start Guide

Other:
  • Project Management

Implementation:
  • 90nm Digital Design Workshop
  • ASIC Design Flow Tutorial Using Synopsys Tools
  • Digital Design Flow Based on PowerPC 405 Processor
  • Full Custom IC Design Flow Using Synopsys Custom Tools (SFSU)
  • IC Synthesis Based on ARM Cortex-MO DesignStart Processor - New!
  • Software Methodology Using Custom Designer
  • Synopsys Design Flow Tutorial
  • Synopsys IC Design Flow Based on 90nm Generic Library (SAED 90nm EDK)
  • Synthesis Basics - New!
  • UPF Workshop

 Short Lectures/Labs

Circuit Simulation:
  • Circuit Simulation: Transient Analysis
  • Techniques for Circuit Simulation
  • Thermal and Electro-Thermal Simulation: Achievements and Trends

Low Power Design:
  • Low Power Methodology Manual for 90nm
  • Low Power Methodology Manual for 32/28nm - New!
  • Subthreshold Design and Implementation (RIT)
  • Verification Methodology Manual for Low Power (VMM-LP)

OpenSPARC:
  • Multi-threaded SPARC core verification using SystemVerilog Testbench
  • Synthesizing 64-bit OpenSPARC multi-threaded core on FPGA with Synopsys Synplify tool chain
  • Synthesizing a Design Using the 90nm Technology Library

Other:
  • Addressing Process Variations and Patterning Issues in VLSI Designs (UCLA)
  • Advanced RTL Verification Techniques
  • Basic Perl Programming
  • Design Methods of Nanoscale Memories
  • Design Methods of Nanoscale Sigma-Delta Modulators
  • Embedded Systems Design
  • How to Create an Interoperable PDK
  • Introduction to Verilog HDL - Updated!
  • Logic Simulation with Consideration of Destabilizing Factors
  • Nanoscale Low Power Digital Standard Cell Library Tutorial
  • Physical Verification Runset Development
  • Power-Performance Optimization of Digital Circuits and Systems
  • Process Variation Aware Design
  • Sequential Elements - Updated!
  • Signal and Power Integrity: Current State and New Approaches
  • Statistical Techniques for Timing Analysis: Current State and Trends
  • TCAD Microelectronic Labs (IIT)

 Tool Training

* FPGA:
  • Advanced FPGA Synthesis using Synplify Pro and Synplify Premier
  • Advanced FPGA Debugging with the Identify Tool

* ASIC Prototyping:
  • ASIC Prototyping with the Certify® Tool

* Synphony Model Compiler:
  • Advanced Algorithm Implementation with Synphony Model Compiler
* Requires SolvNet ID and password.

Training Kits: (Purchase required)
  • Synplicity IEEE-1364 Verilog University Kit
  • Synplicity IEEE-1076 VHDL University Kit


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