Undergraduate Curriculum
in Computer Engineering
for Students Entering Fall 2006 and Later

See Computer Engineering Curriculum for students entering before Fall 2006

Introduction

Computer engineering is a discipline that applies principles of physics and mathematics to the design, implementation, and analysis of computer and communication systems. The discipline is broad, spanning topics as diverse as radio communications, coding and encryption, computer architecture, testing and analysis of computer and communication systems, vision, and robotics. A defining characteristic of the discipline is its grounding in physical aspects of computer and communication systems. Computer engineering concerns itself with development of devices that exploit physical phenomena to store and process information, with the design of hardware that incorporates such devices, and with software that takes advantage of this hardware's characteristics. It addresses problems in design, testing, and evaluation of system properties, such as reliability, and security. It is an exciting area to work in, one that has immediate impact on the technology that shapes society today.

Educational Objectives

The Computer Engineering (CompE) curriculum is administered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). The Educational Objectives of the department’s programs are based on the mission of the department and the perceived needs of the constituents, and consistent with Engineering Criteria 2000 (EC2K) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The mission statement has a preamble followed by declarations of four interconnected commitments: to students, to faculty, to alumni, and to the State of Illinois, with the understanding that the latter two include industry. There are four Program Educational Objectives for the CompE program:

  1. Depth. To produce graduates who apply in-depth understanding of scientific principles, rigorous analysis, and creative design to achieve success in the practice of or advanced study of computer engineering.
  2. Breadth. To produce graduates who apply broad knowledge of computer engineering to a diverse range of successful public or private sector careers, or in their pursuit of graduate education, within the context of the technological, economic, environmental, social, political, and ethical constraints of a global society.
  3. Professionalism. To produce graduates who use effective communication skills, participation as responsible team workers, professional and ethical attitudes and behavior, and commitment to lifelong learning to succeed in the complex modern work environment.
  4. Learning Environment. To produce graduates who succeed because of attributes they acquired in an open and supportive learning environment characterized by an innovative, rigorous and challenging curriculum; by opportunities to acquire leadership, organizational, and teamwork skills; and by staff and faculty who are committed to academic excellence and the education in professional and ethical principles by instruction and example.

Outcomes

To prepare the student for the Program Educational Objectives to be achieved, a set of Program Outcomes, that is, statements that describe what students are expected to know and are able to do by the time of graduation, have been adopted. These Outcomes, which parallel the ABET EC2K Criterion 3 list of outcomes and the applicable Program Criteria, are:

  1. Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
  2. Ability to design and conduct experiments as well as analyze and interpret data
  3. Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
  4. Ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
  5. Ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
  6. Understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
  7. Ability to communicate effectively
  8. Broad education necessary to understand impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
  9. Recognition of the need for and ability to engage in lifelong learning
  10. Knowledge of contemporary issues
  11. Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
  12. Knowledge of probability and statistics, including applications to electrical engineering
  13. Knowledge of mathematics and of basic and engineering sciences necessary to carry out analysis and design appropriate to electrical engineering
  14. Knowledge of discrete mathematics

The Importance of the First-Year ECE Experience

First-year students take Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE 110), a four-credit-hour class combining theory, laboratory measurement, and design. Not only do beginning students get a substantive course in their major, they also gain a better appreciation for the basic science and mathematics courses that are taken during the first two years of study. Students gain first-hand experience in the activities of professional computer and electrical engineers and are better able to make the important decision as to whether they have chosen the major best suited to them.

Intellectual Content of the Computer Engineering (CompE) Curriculum

Student involvement in the computer engineering discipline increases during each year of the program. Most of the core CompE courses are taken in the fourth and fifth semesters. During the last three semesters, the student chooses electives to define a curriculum meeting individual educational and career needs.

The computer engineering core curriculum focuses on fundamental computer engineering knowledge: circuits (ECE 110), systems (ECE 210), electromagnetics (ECE 329), computer engineering (ECE 190, ECE 290, ECE 385, ECE 391, ECE 411), solid state electronics (ECE 440), and computer science (CS 225). The rich set of ECE elective courses permits students to concentrate in any sub-discipline of computer engineering including: computer systems; electronic circuits; networks; engineering applications; software, languages, and theory; and algorithms and mathematical tools.

Methods of Instruction and Design Experience

Instruction is given using a combination of lecture, discussion, laboratory, and project methodologies of the highest quality. The large number of laboratory courses and superb access to advanced computer facilities provide excellent practical experience in the field. Engineering design, communication, and teamwork are integrated throughout the curriculum, including the beginning required courses, Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE 110), Introduction to Computing Systems (ECE 190), and Introduction to Computer Engineering (ECE 290), as well as Computer Systems Engineering (ECE 391), Digital Systems Laboratory (ECE 385), and Computer Organization and Design (ECE 411), which are taken in the third year. Further design experiences occur in the elective courses.

Honors Activity

Students wishing to do honors work are encouraged to apply to the James Scholar Program administered jointly by the College of Engineering and the ECE Department. In consultation with departmental honors advisors, students create and carry out honors contracts. They must also participate in the ECE Honors Seminar and are encouraged to participate in the yearly Undergrad Research Symposium. The department offers thesis courses and project opportunities for students wishing to graduate with Highest Honors.

Grade Point Average Requirements

A student must have a grade-point average of at least 2.0 (A=4.0) in ECE courses in order to remain in good standing and to graduate. To qualify for registration for the ECE courses shown in the third year of the curriculum, a student must have completed, with a combined 2.25 grade point average, the mathematics, physics, computer science, and electrical and computer engineering courses shown in the first two years.

Overview of Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation and is organized as follows:

Required Courses

Required courses total 75 hours

Basic Sciences and Mathematics

These courses stress the scientific principles upon which the engineering discipline is based.

Hours Course Number & Name
4 MATH 221 - Calculus I
3 MATH 231 - Calculus II
4 MATH 241 - Calculus III
4 MATH 286 - Introduction to Differential Equations Plus
4 PHYS 211 - Univ Physics, Mechanics
4 PHYS 212 - Univ Physics, Elec & Mag
2 PHYS 213 - Univ Physics, Thermal Physics
2 PHYS 214 - Univ Physics, Quantum Physics
3 CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I
1 CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I
31 Total

Computer Engineering Core

These courses stress fundamental computer engineering concepts and basic laboratory techniques that comprise the common intellectual understanding of all computer engineering.

Hours Course Number & Name
4 ECE 110 - Introduction to Electrical & Computer Engineering
4 ECE 190 - Intro to Computing Systems
4 ECE 210 - Analog Signal Processing
3 ECE 290 - Computer Engineering I
3 ECE 329 - Introduction to Electromagnetic Fields
2 ECE 385 - Digital Systems Laboratory
3 ECE 391 - Computer Systems Engineering
4 ECE 411 - Computer Organization & Design
3 ECE 440 - Solid State Electronic Devices
4 CS 225 - Data Structure & Software Principles
34 Total

Other Mathematics

These courses provide additional sophistication for the computer engineer. The probability and statistics course lays the groundwork for understanding problems ranging from communications engineering to data analysis in diverse areas such as medicine and manufacturing.

Hours Course Number & Name
3 CS 173 - Discrete Structures
or MATH 213 - Basic Discrete Mathematics
3 ECE 313 - Probability with Engineering Applications
or STAT 410 - Statistics and Probability II
6 Total

Composition I

This course teaches fundamentals of expository writing.

Hours Course Number & Name
4 RHET 105 - Principles of Composition
4 Total

Technical Electives

These courses stress the rigorous analysis and design principles practiced in the major concentration areas of computer engineering.

Hours Requirements
23 One course must be outside of the ECE and CS technical electives. The remainder are electives in ECE and CS. All are to be chosen from the Departmentally Approved List of Technical Electives

Social Sciences and Humanities

The social sciences and humanities courses, as approved by the College of Engineering, ensure that students have exposure in breadth and depth to areas of intellectual activity that are essential to the general education of any college graduate. Humanities, Social Sciences, and General Education Requirement.

Hours Requirements
18 Social sciences and humanities courses approved by the College of Engineering and satisfying the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities.

Campus General Education Requirements

Students must select courses that satisfy both the College of Engineering's social sciences and humanities requirement and the campus requirements in social and behavioral sciences and in humanities and the arts. Proper choices will assure that these courses also satisfy the campus requirements in the areas of Western and non-Western cultures. Many of these courses satisfy the campus Advanced Composition requirement, which assures that the student has the advanced writing skills expected of all college graduates. The campus requirements in Composition I, natural sciences and technology, and quantitative reasoning are met by required courses. Beginning with the class that entered in fall 2000, students must complete a third-level college language course. Most students satisfy this requirement by completing three years of high school instruction in a single language. Courses taken to satisfy campus requirements must be taken for a grade. Humanities, Social Sciences, and General Education Requirements.

Free Electives

These nearly unrestricted electives give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual area. This freedom plays a critical role in helping students to define research specialties or to complete minors such as bioengineering, technology and management, or languages. At least seven hours must be taken for a grade.

Hours Requirements
12 Free electives

Suggested Sequence
One way to finish in four years

First Year

Hours First Semester
3 CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I
1 CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I
0 ENG 100 - Engineering Lecture
4 MATH 221 - Calculus I
4 RHET 105 - Principles of Composition
or ECE 110 - Introduction to Electrical & Computer Engineering
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities
15 Total
Hours Second Semester
4 ECE 110 - Intro Electrical & Computer Engineering
or RHET 105 - Principles of Composition
3 MATH 231 - Calculus II
4 PHYS 211 - Univ Physics, Mechanics
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities
3 Free elective
17 Total

Second Year

Hours First Semester
4 ECE 190 - Introduction to Computing Systems
3 CS 173 - Discrete Structures
or MATH 213 - Basic Discrete Mathematics
4 MATH 241 - Calculus III
4 PHYS 212 - Univ Physics, Electromagnetics & Magnetism
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities
18 Total
Hours Second Semester
4 ECE 210 - Analog Signal Processing
3 ECE 290 - Computer Engineering I
4 MATH 386 - Introduction to Differential Equations Plus
2 PHYS 213 - Univ Physics, Thermal Physics
2 PHYS 214 - Univ Physics, Quantum Phys
3 Free elective
18 Total

Third Year

Hours First Semester
4 CS 225 - Data Structure & Software Principles
3 ECE 329 - Introduction to Electromagnetic Fields
2 ECE 385 - Digital Systems Laboratory
3 Technical elective
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities
15 Total
Hours Second Semester
3 ECE 391 - Computer Systems Engineering
3 ECE 313 - Probability with Engineering Application
or STAT 410 Statistics and Probability II
3 ECE 440 - Solid State Electronic Devices
3 Technical elective
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities
15 Total

Fourth Year

Hours First Semester
4 ECE 411 - Computer Organization & Design
5 Technical electives
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities
3 Free elective
15 Total
Hours Second Semester
12 Technical electives
3 Free elective
15 Total