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.
Programs Description
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.
The Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Concentrations
Minors
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:
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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.
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Emerge as technical leaders through their own individual contributions and their abilities to work with and influence others.
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Function as effective entrepreneurs who nurture new technologies from concept to commercialization.
Student Outcomes
By the time of graduation, computer engineering students will attain:
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- 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
- an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- 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
- 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
- an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
- 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 103 | Writing and Communications Colloquium | 3 |
| CH 115 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 117 | General Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| ENGR 111 | Introduction to Engineering Design & Systems Thinking | 4 |
| ENGR 116 | Intro to Programming & Algorithmic Thinking | 3 |
| MA 121 | Differential Calculus | 2 |
| MA 122 | Integral Calculus | 2 |
Term II
| CAL 105 | CAL Colloquium: Knowledge, Nature, Culture | 3 |
| ENGR 122 | Field Sustainable Systems with Sensors | 2 |
| MA 125 | Vectors and Matrices | 2 |
| MA 126 | Multivariable Calculus I | 2 |
| MGT 103 | Introduction to Entrepreneurial Thinking | 2 |
| PEP 111 | Mechanics | 3 |
| | Science Elective | 3 |
Term III
| CPE 360 | Computational Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
| ENGR 211 | Statics and Introduction to Engineering Mechanics | 4 |
| ENGR 245 | Circuits and Systems | 3 |
| MA 221 | Differential Equations | 4 |
| PEP 112 | Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
Term IV
Term V
Term VI
Term VII
| CPE 423 | Engineering Design VII | 3 |
| CPE 487 | Digital System Design | 3 |
| IDE 401 | Senior Innovation II: Value Proposition | 1 |
| G.E. | General Elective | 3 |
| T.E. | Technical Elective | 3 |
| HUM | Humanities | 3 |
Term VIII
| CPE 424 | Engineering Design VIII | 3 |
| IDE 402 | Senior Innovation III: Venture Planning and Pitch | 1 |
| G.E. | General Elective | 3 |
| T.E. | Technical Elective | 3 |
| T.E. | Technical Elective | 3 |
| HUM | Humanities | 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 181 with or without lab (BIO 182), PEP 201 (embedded lab), EN 250, PEP 151, PEP 152, 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 HASS (including EE and CPE courses). Approval from the student’s advisor and the course instructor may be required.
(4) Humanities: Please see Humanities Requirements for specific 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.
Students interested in pursuing one of these concentrations typically take two or three courses listed below as general or technical electives. Please direct questions on this process to your academic advisor.
Computer Architectures
Course Options:
| CPE 517 | Digital and Computer Systems Architecture | 3 |
| CPE 550 | Computer Organization and Programming | 3 |
Electronics and Embedded Systems
Course Options:
| EE 359 | Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| CPE 487 | Digital System Design | 3 |
| CPE 555 | Real-Time and Embedded Systems | 3 |
| CPE 556 | Computing Principles for Mobile and Embedded Systems | 3 |
Image Processing and Multimedia
Course Options:
| CPE 462 | Introduction to Image Processing and Coding | 3 |
| CPE 536 | Integrated Services - Multimedia | 3 |
| CPE 537 | Interactive Computer Graphics | 3 |
| CPE 558 | Computer Vision | 3 |
| CPE 591 | Introduction to Multimedia Networking | 3 |
| CPE 592 | Computer and Multimedia Network Security | 3 |
Networks and Security
Course Options:
| CPE 490 | Information Systems Engineering I | 3 |
| CPE 579 | Foundations of Cryptography | 3 |
| EE 582 | Wireless Networking: Architectures, Protocols and Standards | 3 |
| EE 584 | Wireless Systems Security | 3 |
| CPE 592 | Computer and Multimedia Network Security | 3 |
Power Engineering
Course Options:
| EE 489 | Introduction to Electric Energy Systems | 3 |
| EE 589 | Introduction to Power Engineering | 3 |
| EE 590 | Smart Grid | 3 |
Robotics and Control
Course Options:
| EE 478 | Control Systems | 3 |
| CPE 521 | Autonomous Mobile Robotic Systems | 3 |
| EE 575 | Introduction to Control Theory | 3 |
Software Engineering and Design
Course Options:
| CPE 360 | Computational Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
| CPE 442 | Database Management Systems | 3 |
| CPE 492 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CPE 545 | Communication Software and Middleware | 3 |
| CPE 593 | Applied Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
Wireless Communications
Course Options:
| EE 441 | Introduction to Wireless Systems | 3 |
| EE 568 | Software-Defined Radio | 3 |
| EE 582 | Wireless Networking: Architectures, Protocols and Standards | 3 |
| EE 583 | Wireless Communications | 3 |
| EE 584 | Wireless Systems Security | 3 |
| EE 585 | Physical Design of Wireless Systems | 3 |