Outline

Overview

Modern Electronics has come to be known as microelectronics which refers to the Integrated Circuits (ICs) containing millions of discrete devices. This course introduces some of the basic electronic devices like diodes and different types of transistors. It also aims to introduce students the analysis and design techniques of circuits involving these discrete devices as well as the integrated circuits. Completion of this course is essential to specialise in Electrical, Telecommunication or Computer Engineering stream.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	ELEC1103 or ELEC2100. Ohm's Law and Kirchoff's Laws; action of Current and Voltage sources; network analysis and the superposition theorem; Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits; inductors and capacitors, transient response of RL, RC and RLC circuits; the ability to use power supplies, oscilloscopes, function generators, meters, etc
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Alex Y. Song, alex.song@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 August 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written exam	Final exam Supervised final exam.	55%	Formal exam period	2 hours	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
In-person practical, skills, or performance task or test	Lab engagement Lab demonstrators will assess lab engagement and practical skills during sessions.	6%	Multiple weeks	3 hours	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Interactive oral	In-lecture Q&A Students can earn these marks by either asking relevant technical questions during a lecture or correctly answering questions posed during the lectures.	5%	Multiple weeks	10 minutes	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Quiz Weekly on-line quiz	19%	Multiple weeks	-	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Portfolio or journal	Lab reports Students submit lab reports online for evaluation by tutors.	5%	Multiple weeks	-	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Early Feedback Task This is an early feedback task to assess the prerequisite knowledge for this unit.	1%	Week 01	Several online questions, untimed	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
In-person practical, skills, or performance task or test	Term Project Students present and demonstrate their group project.	9%	Week 13	-	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Final exam (55%, individual): Complete a two-hour supervised final examination during the formal examination period. The exam assesses students’ understanding and application of the unit’s core concepts, analytical methods and problem-solving skills.
Lab engagement (6%, group): Participate actively in scheduled three-hour laboratory sessions and demonstrate appropriate practical skills, preparation, teamwork and engagement. Lab demonstrators will assess performance during the sessions.
Term Project (9%, group): Develop a group project and present and demonstrate the completed work in Week 13. Students must explain the project design, implementation and outcomes and respond to questions about their work.
In-lecture Q&A (5%, individual): Participate in lecture discussions by asking relevant technical questions or correctly answering questions posed during lectures.
Quiz (19%, individual): Complete weekly untimed online quizzes on Canvas. The quizzes assess understanding of the unit content and provide regular opportunities to apply concepts and check progress.
Early Feedback Task (1%, individual): Complete an untimed online quiz in Week 1 assessing prerequisite knowledge for the unit. The task provides early feedback on areas that may require further revision.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late submission In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply: Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date. After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Multiple weeks	Home-study hours include previewing and reviewing lecture and tutorial materials, completing weekly quizzes, preparing for labs and writing lab reports, and preparing term project demonstrations.	Self-directed learning (38 hr)
Week 01	Introduction and Circuit Review	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 01	Introduction and Circuit Review	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	Basic Semiconductor Physics	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Basic Semiconductor Physics	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Metal-Semiconductor Contacts, PN junctions	Lecture (2 hr)
	Lab 1	Practical (3 hr)
	Metal-Semiconductor Contacts, PN junctions	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	PN junctions, circuit models	Lecture (2 hr)
	Lab 2	Practical (3 hr)
	PN junctions, circuit models	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Circuit models of Diodes, rectifiers	Lecture (2 hr)
	Lab 3	Practical (3 hr)
	Circuit models of Diodes, rectifiers	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	Bipolar junction transistors (BJTs)	Lecture (2 hr)
	Lab 4	Practical (3 hr)
	Bipolar junction transistors (BJTs)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	BJT circuits, operation modes	Lecture (2 hr)
	Lab 5	Practical (3 hr)
	BJT circuits, operation modes	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETS)	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETS)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	MOSFET circuits	Lecture (2 hr)
	Term Project	Practical (3 hr)
	MOSFET circuits	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	MOSFET amplifiers, Operational Amplifiers (Op Amps)	Lecture (2 hr)
	Term Project	Practical (3 hr)
	MOSFET amplifiers, Operational Amplifiers (Op Amps)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	Op Amps (continued)	Lecture (2 hr)
	Term Project	Practical (3 hr)
	Op Amps (continued)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Filter designs	Lecture (2 hr)
	Term Project	Practical (3 hr)
	Filter designs	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 13	Overview	Lecture (2 hr)
	Term Project	Practical (3 hr)
	Filters and review	Tutorial (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture:
Lectures require prior preparation and active participation. Questions will be asked during lectures, and students are expected to engage actively. These questions will mainly address fundamental concepts and prerequisite material, and they do not carry positive or negative marks. Short quizzes may also be conducted during lectures. For preparation, students are expected to study the relevant materials based on the topics listed under the Schedule tab, including any necessary prior knowledge.

Tutorial:
Tutorials involve solving exercises that extend the lecture activities, and require prior preparation and active participation. Students are expected to study the materials provided before each tutorial. Although full solutions for all tutorials are available on Canvas, students are still expected to attempt the given problems and be prepared to answer relevant questions during their tutorial session. Three tutorial sessions will also include in-tutorial tests.

Laboratory:
Laboratories involve hands-on work in groups of two. Students are expected to study the lab materials before attending each lab session. Three lab sessions are dedicated to in-lab tests. In addition, there will be an introductory lab to remind students how to work with the board and equipment. It is essential that students regain fluency with the lab equipment within the first two lab sessions.

Timetabling:
The necessary topics should be discussed in lectures before the corresponding tutorials and labs. For this reason, tutorials and labs need to run sufficiently behind the lectures. Because some lab sessions are dedicated to in-lab tests, the laboratory schedule may fall further behind the lecture schedule than the tutorial schedule.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Microelectronic Circuit Design by R. Jaeger and T. Blalock (main),
Fundamentals of Microelectronics (2nd Edition) by Behzad Razavi. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
Microelectronic Circuits by Adel S. Sedra, Kenneth C. Smith,
Device Electronics for Integrated Circuits by Richard S. Muller, Theodore I. Kamins, Mansun Chan

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate fluency in communicating concisely and accurately using varied formats such as written and oral, to deliver specific engineering project information
LO2. work in a team and promote creative team interaction to encourage contribution from all members to deliver specific engineering projects and assignments
LO3. design, evaluate, and select the appropriate electronic circuits according to practical engineering applications
LO4. understand the basic principles and performance characteristics of common electrical circuits
LO5. analyze circuit performance and present an initial design for engineering applications
LO6. identify information needs and target information searches effectively and efficiently using varied sources such as internet, library databases and electronic publications as part of specific engineering projects
LO7. select and use maths/science models and tools for performance analysis of electrical devices.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Thank you to everyone who provided thoughtful and candid feedback on ELEC2104/9704; it was encouraging to see strong recognition of the hands-on laboratories, tutorials, project work, teaching team, and the overall value of the unit in building both conceptual understanding and practical circuit skills. We also appreciate the constructive suggestions on lecture delivery, learning support, assessment design, workload, and the transition into electronic circuits, and we will continue refining the balance between prepared materials, live discussion, problem-solving opportunities, and practical engagement. Your feedback is valuable to us, and the teaching team remains committed to providing an engaging, supportive, and intellectually rigorous learning experience for future cohorts.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

ELEC2104: Electronic Devices and Circuits

Semester 2, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links