Students who are interested in pursuing a curriculum in computing that emphasizes understanding of computer hardware and the hardware/software interface should sign up for a B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. degree in Computer Engineering in the EECS Department.
Computer engineers have broad professional employment opportunities including design and management responsibilities, working with microchips and computers, applicationspecific hardware-software systems, computer-aided design (CAD) tools for digital systems, aerospace systems, defense systems, and networked systems.
Our Computer Engineering curriculum has strong lab-based learning emphasis and culminates in three design-projects-based courses. Interested undergraduates can get involved earlier in significant project or research work. Our teaching laboratories have recently been upgraded with the latest computer workstations, computer-controlled instruments and new experiments in newly renovated labs.
The Computer Engineering curriculum allows students to focus on a particular area of specialization. The areas include
- High-Performance Computing
- VLSI and Computer Aided Design
- Embedded Systems
- Software
The Computer Engineering program involves the design and engineering of computers including hardware and software design. It is a carefully chosen synthesis of computer engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering courses to train students how do design complex digital systems, from transistors to software. Computer engineering is a broad area involving many possible areas of specialization. These include Computer Architecture, VLSI Systems, Computer-Aided Design, Software Design, Robotics, Computer Vision, and Embedded Systems.
The broad objectives we expect graduates to obtain from our program are:
- Career Preparation: Graduates will apply their electrical engineering skills to a variety of challenges in industry, academia or in the pursuit of other fields.
- Professionalism and leadership: Graduates will attain careers in which they become leaders in their chosen fields, work in multi-disciplinary teams, make decisions that are socially responsible, and communicate effectively.
- Intellectual curiosity: Graduates will continuously learn new concepts, identify new directions, and adapt in response to the needs of a rapidly changing world.
To prepare our graduates to achieve these objectives, we intend for students of the Computer Engineering program to graduate with the following knowledge and skills:
- Knowledge of continuous and discrete math
- Knowledge of core Computer Engineering topics
- An ability to use modern engineering techniques for analysis and design
- An ability to apply knowledge of math, science and engineering to the analysis of Computer Engineering problems
- Knowledge of probability and statistics
- An ability to design and conduct scientific and engineering experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
- An ability to design systems which include hardware and/or software components
- An ability to identify, formulate and solve novel Computer Engineering problems
- An ability to function in multidisciplinary teams
- An understanding of ethical and professional responsibility
- An ability to convey technical material through oral presentation and interaction with an audience
- An ability to convey technical material through formal written papers and reports
- A broad education and knowledge of contemporary issues
- A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, life-long learning
- The ability to get a good job or admission to a top graduate school.
The computer engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org. Further details of the computer engineering curriculum, the preferred schedule for computer engineering students, prerequisites, study plan, and information about conformance with ABET guidelines is in the Undergraduate Study Manual.
