A changing role for DSP education

In academia, most courses in DSP have historically been restricted to the graduate level and, at that level, the emphasis is often on the mathematics and theoretical issues. Following tradition, most curricula start with circuit theory and progress through continuous-time Fourier analysis to finally reach DSP. Motivation is the key issue. Most engineering students would probably testify that their initial courses are usually only endured, not enjoyed. In a marketplace with many students, educators could use the first course as a "gate." However, many of the curriculum changes at the entry level have turned this attitude around by involving students in projects and activities that convey some interesting aspect of the engineering process. The goal is almost always to motivate further study and questioning, and this is where DSP has some natural advantages.