6.331 Real Analog Circuit Design
Fall 91
Hours: 5-11-11
Prerequisites: 6.301, 6.302, 6.012, an otherwise empty schedule
Lecturer: J. Roberge
Difficulty: 8.8/10
Subject Overall: 6.7/7
Lecturer Overall: 6.6/7
Pace: 5.2/7
Response Rate: 11/14

6.331 is a grad class in ``real world'' analog circuit design,
covering D/A's, A/D's, power converters, buffer amplifiers, phase
locked loops, sample and holds, and many ``neat circuit tricks.''  The
emphasis in the class is the labs, where students learn by designing.

J. Roberge was universally acknowledged as an excellent lecturer; the
material was well-presented (if fast-paced) and the demos were enjoyed
by all, though the transparencies were at times difficult to read.
Some students commented that Roberge gave an ``intuitive feel'' for
circuits.  Attendence at lectures was considered essential and ``worth
every minute.''

Both TAs, J. Bulzacchelli and T. Clark, were considered immensely
 competent, available, and well-prepared.  The recitations given by
the TAs were clear and interesting, covering different material than
was covered in lecture.

The workload was heavy in 6.331, consisting of problem sets and 3
labs, but no quizzes or final.  Though some complained of the long
hours they spent on the class, overall the work was considered
rewarding and essential to learning the material.  The problem sets
raised issues relevant to the lecture topics.  The labs were
interesting and challenging.

The class had no syllabus or textbook.  Roberge's out-of-print text
was used by some, but not everyone could get a copy of it.  Some
students felt a syllabus would have been helpful.

Despite being very time-consuming, the class was undoubtedly
worthwhile.  ``The only possible problem with this course is that it
meets the same semester as other courses (no one course in particular,
just any other).''

``It's almost unquestionably the best class I've had in my 4 1/2 years
at MIT.''

``That the TAs have good technical background is an understatement.
They're great!''

``Roberge is excellent.  Take this course if you want to do circuit
design.  Resistance is useless.''