Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
Educational Objectives
All graduates in computer engineering will have:
- a strong background in the basic sciences and engineering science;
- a broad spectrum of fundamental electrical and computer engineering knowledge;
- a specialization in one or more of the branches of computer engineering;
- the ability to model, analyze, stimulate, and design computer engineering systems;
- the ability to develop embedded and PC-based software systems;
- an understanding and appreciation of the special role that technology plays in our society and the interactions between the various components of our society; and
- strong verbal and technical writing communication skills.
To achieve these objectives students are given a rigorous foundation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, mechanics, programming, and circuit theory. Then they are immersed in a sequence of required courses in digital systems, field programmable gate array (FPGA), microprocessors, electronics, computer architecture, design practice, advance computer programming, and data structures. In the senior year, students are given the choice to pursue their own areas of interest in computer engineering and computer science through the selection of several courses in addition to Design II (senior project). Both the required courses and the senior-year courses are designed to achieve breadth and depth in the curriculum. The engineering design experience is distributed throughout the entire curriculum. The design experience begins in the first year and continues throughout the curriculum culminating with the senior capstone project.
Students must complete a 4-credit lecture and laboratory course in general chemistry. Students also must complete two 4-credit lectures courses in calculus-based physics (including laboratory components), thus meeting the depth requirement. After taking Calculus I and II, students also take M 242 Differential Equations and ECE 320 Probability and Statistics for Computer Engineers. Students should have several computer engineering courses that integrate mathematical skills and should have these courses as co- or prerequisites.
The ability to work professionally on computer systems later, including the design and realization of such systems, is demonstrated by the progression of courses from introductory to comprehensive, including design components. Our senior capstone projects increasingly are becoming industry sponsored. The integrated design experience is obtained in the senior capstone project (ECE 483 Design II).
Through participation in the All-University Curriculum and in additional elective courses in the humanities and/or social sciences, students are given the opportunity to broaden their perspectives and to take part in the larger learning community of the University.
Extensive laboratory work supplements the theoretical course work through suitable hands-on experience. In addition to the laboratories in the sciences, there are several required laboratory courses in engineering: Circuits I and II, Electronics I and II, Digital Logic, FPGA, microprocessors, and digital devices.
Students exercise their verbal and technical writing skills in a required writing course and in many engineering courses. Also, written and oral communication of laboratory results is required.
The engineering design experience is distributed throughout the entire curriculum. The design experience begins in the first year and continues throughout the curriculum, culminating with the senior capstone project.
