Undergraduate Program
This undergraduate program incorporates most of the core curricula in both electrical engineering and computer science so that students will be well prepared to work in the area of computer engineering, which substantially overlaps both fields. Both hardware and software aspects of computer science are included, and, in electrical engineering, students receive a solid grounding in circuit theory and in electronic circuits. The program includes several electrical engineering laboratory courses as well as the Computer Science Department’s advanced programming course.
Students will be prepared to work on all aspects of the design of digital hardware, as well as on the associated software that is now often an integral part of computer architecture. They will also be well equipped to work in the growing field of telecommunications. Students will have the prerequisites to delve more deeply into either hardware or software areas, and enter graduate programs in computer science, electrical engineering, or computer engineering. For example, they could take more advanced courses in VLSI, communications theory, computer architecture, electronic circuit theory, software engineering, or digital design.
Minors in electrical engineering and computer science are not open to computer engineering majors, due to excessive overlap.
Technical Electives
The Computer Engineering Program includes 15 points of technical electives. Any 3000-level or higher courses listed in the Computer Science or Electrical Engineering sections of this bulletin can be used for this requirement with the following exceptions: ELEN E3000, EEHS 3900/4900, EEJR E4901, COMS W3101, COMS W4400, COMS W4405, courses used for other computer engineering requirements (including COMS W3203 and either CSEE W4840 or EECS E4340), and courses that have significant overlap with other required or elective courses (e.g., COMS W3137 and COMS W3139). Up to one course may be chosen from outside the departments with adviser approval. Courses at the 3000 level or higher in other areas of engineering, math, and science can be considered for approval, as long as they do not significantly overlap with other required or elective courses. Economics courses cannot be used as technical electives.
Starting Early
Students are strongly encouraged to begin taking core computer engineering courses as sophomores. They start with ELEN E1201: Introduction to electrical engineering in the second semester of their first year and may continue with other core courses one semester after that. For sample “early-starting” programs, see the charts on the following two pages. It must be emphasized that these charts, as well as the “late-starting” charts that follow, present examples only; actual schedules may be customized in consultation with academic advisers.