Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering

One of the most rapidly growing fields today is computer engineering. This includes the design, development, and application of digital and computer-based systems for the solution of modern engineering problems, as well as computer software development, data structures and algorithms, and computer communications and graphics. The department provides our computer engineering students with the tools and skills necessary to understand and apply today’s technologies and to become leaders in developing tomorrow’s technologies. The program prepares students to pursue professional careers in industry and government, and to continue their education in graduate school, if they choose.

Students in the computer engineering program begin by studying the scientific foundations that are the basis for all engineering. Specialized electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science courses follow, providing depth in the many issues related to computers, data networks, information systems, and related topics used in contemporary commercial and industrial applications. Students may direct their interests into areas such as computer and information systems, software/software engineering, and computer architectures and digital systems. In addition to computer engineering courses, students can draw upon electrical engineering and computer science courses to develop the skills appropriate for their career objectives. In the senior year, students have the opportunity to participate in an actual engineering design project which is taken directly from a current industrial or commercial application.

Mission and Objectives

The mission of the undergraduate computer engineering program in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is to provide a balanced education in fundamental principles, design methodologies, and practical experiences in computer engineering, general engineering, and physical and mathematical sciences topics through which graduates can enter into and sustain lifelong professional careers of engineering innovation and creativity.

The overriding objective of the computer engineering program is to provide graduates with the skills and understanding needed to design and build innovative new products and services. They balance the rival requirements of competitive performance/cost and practical constraints imposed by available technologies.

Graduates of the computer engineering program will:

  • Be recognized as innovative technical experts who demonstrate advanced understandings of the state-of-the-art in computer engineering, as well as their professional, social and ethical responsibilities.
  • Emerge as technical leaders through their own individual contributions and their abilities to work with and influence others.
  • Function as effective entrepreneurs who nurture new technologies from concept to commercialization.

Student Outcomes

By the time of graduation, computer engineering students will attain:

  1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
  8. a fundamental knowledge and an appreciation of the technology and business processes necessary to nurture new technologies from concept to commercialization.

Computer Engineering Curriculum

Term I

CAL 103Writing and Communications Colloquium

3

CH 115General Chemistry I

3

CH 117General Chemistry Laboratory I

1

ENGR 111Introduction to Engineering Design & Systems Thinking

4

ENGR 116Intro to Programming & Algorithmic Thinking

3

MA 121Differential Calculus

2

MA 122Integral Calculus

2

Term II

ENGR 122Field Sustainable Systems with Sensors

2

CAL 105CAL Colloquium: Knowledge, Nature, Culture

3

MA 125Vectors and Matrices

2

MA 126Multivariable Calculus I

2

MGT 103Introduction to Entrepreneurial Thinking

2

PEP 111Mechanics

3

S.E. Science Elective

3

Term III

CPE 360Computational Data Structures and Algorithms

3

ENGR 211Statics and Introduction to Engineering Mechanics

4

ENGR 245Circuits and Systems

3

MA 221Differential Equations

4

PEP 112Electricity and Magnetism

3

Term IV

CPE 390Microprocessor Systems

4

ENGR 212Design of Dynamical Systems

4

ENGR 234Thermodynamics

3

MA 134Discrete Mathematics

3

HUM Humanities

3

Term V

CPE 490Information Systems Engineering I

3

EE 359Electronic Circuits

3

ENGR 241Probability and Statistics with Data Science Applications

4

ENGR 311Design with Materials

4

HUM Humanities

3

Term VI

CPE 322Engineering Design VI

2

CPE 345Modeling and Simulation

3

CPE 462Introduction to Image Processing and Coding

3

IDE 399Engineering Economics & Project Management

2

G.E. General Elective

3

T.E. Technical Elective

3

Term VII

CPE 423Engineering Design VII

3

CPE 487Digital System Design

3

IDE 401Senior Innovation-II:Value Proposition

1

G.E. General Elective

3

HUM Humanities

3

T.E. Technical Elective

3

Term VIII

CPE 424Engineering Design VIII

3

IDE 402Senior Innovation III: Venture Planning and Pitch

1

G.E. General Elective

3

HUM Humanities

3

T.E. Technical Elective

3

T.E. Technical Elective

3

Notes:

(1) Science Elective can be selected from the following list. Laboratory is not required.

  • CH 116 with or without lab (CH 118), BIO 281 with or without lab (BIO 282), PEP 201 (embedded lab), EN 250, PEP 151, PEP 242, PEP 336, PEP 351, NANO 200, CE 240.

(2) Technical Electives can be selected from available courses offered by the EE or CPE programs. Courses listed in the Areas of Concentration are common choices. Additional courses can be selected with the approval of the student’s advisor.

(3) General Electives can be selected from available courses offered by programs in SES, SSE, SOB and CAL (including EE and CPE courses). Approval from the student’s advisor and the course instructor may be required.

(4) Humanities: all undergraduate students are required to fulfill the Humanities Requirements.

Areas of Concentration for Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering

Electrical and computer engineering students can select their four technical electives and three general electives in various ways. Some of them may wish to cluster those electives in ways that would help them gain expertise in an area of specialization within electrical and computer engineering. The following groupings are possible specialty (concentration) areas that students can select from within the electrical and computer engineering program.

Computer Architectures

Course Options:

CPE 517Digital and Computer Systems Architecture

3

CPE 550Computer Organization and Programming

3

Electronics and Embedded Systems

Course Options:

EE 359Electronic Circuits

3

CPE 487Digital System Design

3

CPE 555Real-Time and Embedded Systems

3

CPE 556Computing Principles for Mobile and Embedded Systems

3

Image Processing and Multimedia

Course Options:

CPE 462Introduction to Image Processing and Coding

3

CPE 536Integrated Services - Multimedia

3

CPE 537Interactive Computer Graphics

3

CPE 558Computer Vision

3

CPE 591Introduction to Multimedia Networking

3

CPE 592Computer and Multimedia Network Security

3

Networks and Security

Course Options:

CPE 490Information Systems Engineering I

3

CPE 579Foundations of Cryptography

3

EE 582Wireless Networking: Architectures, Protocols and Standards

3

EE 584Wireless Systems Security

3

CPE 592Computer and Multimedia Network Security

3

Power Engineering

Course Options:

EE 589Introduction to Power Engineering

3

EE 590Smart Grid

3

Robotics and Control

Course Options:

EE 478Control Systems

3

CPE 521Autonomous Mobile Robotic Systems

3

EE 575Introduction to Control Theory

3

Software Engineering and Design

Course Options:

CPE 360Computational Data Structures and Algorithms

3

CPE 442Database Management Systems

3

CPE 492Operating Systems

3

CPE 545Communication Software and Middleware

3

CPE 593Applied Data Structures and Algorithms

3

Wireless Communications

Course Options:

EE 441Introduction to Wireless Systems

3

EE 568Software-Defined Radio

3

EE 582Wireless Networking: Architectures, Protocols and Standards

3

EE 583Wireless Communications

3

EE 584Wireless Systems Security

3

EE 585Physical Design of Wireless Systems

3