Extensive introduction to VHDL and PLDs in the sophomore year

As system courses move into the undergraduate curriculum, students must learn earlier how to create designs with hardware description languages (HDLs). A majority of current logic design textbooks, however, contain only supplemental sections on VHDL or Verilog. These sections, if covered by faculty, are usually integrated with the traditional logic design topics. While this methodology may work for some students, a majority can find it difficult to learn both logic design basics and a hardware description language at the same time. This paper describes a more extensive introduction to VHDL and programmable logic devices (PLDs) in the sophomore year through a second logic design course. By having this course early in the curriculum, students have been able to use their knowledge in upper-level microelectronics and systems courses, and have acquired quality internships after their sophomore year.