ESE 3510
Signals and Systems
This course presents an introduction to concepts and methodology of linear dynamic systems in relation to discrete- and continuous-time signals. Topics include mathematical modeling; representation of systems and signals; Fourier, Laplace, and Z-transforms and convolution; input-output description of linear systems, including impulse response and transfer function; time-domain and frequency-domain system analysis, including transient and steady-state responses, system modes, stability, frequency spectra, and frequency responses; and system design, including filter, modulation, and sampling theorem. Continuity is emphasized from analysis to synthesis. MATLAB will be used.
Instructors
Hiro Mukai, James Feher, Janet Sorrells, Jason Trobaugh, Jinsong Zhang, Randall Hoven, Randy Brown, Ulugbek Kamilov
Reviews
By far one of the best professors WashU has . She understand the young generation and makes the subject fun to learn!!!
6/8/2026
This is Prof. Sorrells's first time teaching Signals & Systems and she's clearly trying her best. Lectures are naturally dense & hard to digest, but Sorrells is super enthusiastic & passionate about teaching. She has also reduced our workload by giving reasonable extensions & removing a couple of MATLAB homework assignments.
5/11/2026
Prof. Trobaugh definitely knows his stuff really well and can be unironically funny during lectures, but Signals & Systems is just notoriously difficult. The material is very densely packed, lectures are very fast-paced and overall difficult to follow, and the amount of homework is kind of insane. Lots of time & effort outside of class required.
5/11/2026
Professor Kamilov is the GOAT. His lectures were very engaging, though at a high level. He made the class understandable. Although some graded components like the quizzes were challenging, the homework and tests more than made up for your performance on the quizzes.
5/13/2025
The first half of the semester is really tough. And the second half of the semester is so easy. Basically, he makes the final so easy because everyone has a bad grade, so everyone gets above 100 on the final. He changed the grading system during the semester. He allowed a partial final exam grade to be transferred to the midterm exam.
5/10/2025
10+ hrs/week
This class is a TON of work. It is possible to get an A, but only if you are willing to sacrifice your dignity. I think there may be a different professor coming in the future though, but I can't imagine that would change the workload by much. This class is really a year long class squeezed into a semester.
5/24/2024
Trobaugh really knows his stuff. Nice guy, lowkey funny. Moves fast in lecture so you really have to pay attention and maybe rewatch portions of lecture recordings. Not required to read the textbook but it can be helpful to cement understanding. Very work heavy but he knows that and is willing to give extensions and provide help outside of class.
5/4/2023
Although the class is extremely work-heavy, Dr. Trobaugh is the silver lining. He is always ready to explain things, give an extension, AND crack a joke/anecdote about that specific type of problem. He knows exactly how hard he makes this class. He wants you to get the material so you gain the higher level intuition for the problem types,great guy
7/17/2022
An absolute GOAT. Trobaugh is extremely chill and does a great job answering questions. Even though the course is quite difficult and the lectures are fast-paced, taking advantage of piazza and office hours will put you in a good place. The case studies and matlab homework can be very difficult, but free extensions are always given if asked.
5/14/2021
Professor Trobaugh did a decent job piloting the rework of ESE 351 during Covid. He lectures decently well, and is receptive to student feedback regarding the course. The class is a lot of work (roughly weekly psets with MATLAB HW, 3 case studies, 5 quizzes & 2 tests), but it will solidify your foundation in Signals and Systems
5/4/2021
Really surprised to see people give Mukai such great ratings. His lectures are not clear at all and if you're new to differential equations you will need help to understand his textbook. If you don't know Matlab you also have your work cut out for you. Get a tutor and you might be able to work your way through this class
12/16/2019
Would definitely recommend. One of the best (and easiest) professors in the ESE department.
11/11/2019
Idk how he is in Prob Stats, but Signals and Systems with Zhang is... bad. When I told an upperclassman engineering student who was teaching this class, he reacted with surprise and a small amount of horror. - restrictive tech policy (no laptops for notes) - disorganized lecture - textbook is more comprehensive than lecture - not easy to talk to
10/31/2019
I've never wanted to like a professor more than Dr. Feher. He's an awesome guy, and I could listen to his stories for hours. Unfortunately, he's almost comically unorganized as a lecturer, teaching his material "stream of consciousness" as even he will admit. Occasional topics will be explained well, but most of the time you'll learn from the book.
1/6/2017
The class material itself is boring and he makes it way worse by not able to explain things well. The homework is very tedious and can be really long. Tests are easy enough if you understand the material well, which a lot of people find hard with him teaching.
2/24/2016
Lectures are a bit tough to follow, but he is extremely helpful in office hours. Nice guy.
12/12/2014
Randy is the man. The content can be boring at times, but when I paid attention he was very good at lecturing. Very reasonable and I thought easy tests (relatively) as long as you crush your crib sheets for tests, write full examples, you will be pumped.
11/11/2013
Great, very useful class. Trobaugh is really nice, very helpful, and I really enjoyed his class. He is happy to explain things again if you didn't get it the first time, and he is very knowledgeable about the subject.
9/29/2012
A very fair and understanding teacher. Signals and systems is a generally boring subject. All 351 sections have quizzes every class and 6 tests. Mukai/Trobaugh give quizzes on upcoming material that is to be read for hw Brown realized that system is dumb and for quizzes gives a problem based on material from last class. Tests arent bad, take notes.
4/18/2012