IITM BS Electronic Systems Course Prerequisites

In the IITM BS in Electronic Systems, many courses have a prerequisite (a course you must pass first) or a corequisite (a course you take in the same term, if you have not already done it). This post lists both for every foundation, diploma and degree course, using the prerequisite section of the ES handbook. Where the handbook's main course table says something different, it is noted below the tables.

Rules between levels

• You must finish the foundation courses up to the Electronics Laboratory before you register for diploma courses.
• Embedded C Programming (CS2101) must be passed before, or taken in the same term as, your first diploma courses.
• You can register for degree level courses only after completing all foundation and diploma courses.

Foundation level

The foundation lab policy from May 2026 makes the ESTC, C and Embedded C courses prerequisites of their labs, not corequisites. So under the newer policy, finish the theory course before its lab. See ES lab registration rules.

Diploma level

Signals and Systems is the gate for most of the diploma. Analog, DSP and the Signal Processing Project need it, and the sensors courses need Analog. More on each course in ES diploma courses.

Degree level core courses

Degree level electives

None of the 8 department electives has a prerequisite. Among the open electives from the Data Science programme, only these have one:

The full elective list is in ES degree courses and electives.

Where the two tables disagree

The ES handbook has two course tables: a main table with credits, and the prerequisite section used above. They differ in these places:

• Digital Systems (EE1102): the main table says it needs ESTC (EE1101), not C Programming.
• Embedded C Lab (CS2901): the main table lists the C Programming Lab as a corequisite, not a prerequisite.
• Signals and Systems (EE2101): the main table has no corequisite. "MA2101" appears nowhere else in the handbook.
• Python Programming: coded CS1002 in the main table and CS2102 in the prerequisite section.
• DSD Lab (EE2902): the main table has no prerequisite.
• Embedded Linux and FPGA Lab (EE4901): the main table makes EE4101 a corequisite, not a prerequisite.
• Control Engineering (EE3102): the main table makes EE2101 a prerequisite, not a corequisite.
• Deep Learning (CS3004): the main table adds CS2004 as a corequisite.
• Deep Learning for Computer Vision: coded DA5006 in the main table.
• The CS2101 rule also names "CS2109", a code that is not listed anywhere else.

If a course matters to your plan, confirm the rule with support before registration closes.

Common questions

What is the difference between a prerequisite and a corequisite?

A prerequisite has to be passed before you register. A corequisite can run in the same term as the course that needs it. If you already passed the corequisite earlier, that also works.

Which ES courses have no prerequisite or corequisite at all?

At the foundation level: English I, Math for Electronics I, ESTC and Introduction to C Programming. At the diploma level: Python Programming, Computer Organisation and Electronic Testing and Measurement. Several degree courses also have none.

Can I take a diploma course while one foundation course is still pending?

Only the courses that come after the Electronics Lab in the course order can overlap: Embedded C Programming and its lab. Everything up to the Electronics Lab has to be finished first.

Do these prerequisites apply to Data Science students?

No. This list comes from the ES handbook and covers ES courses only. The DS programme has its own courses and rules, explained in DS course prerequisites.