Undergraduate Curriculum
in Computer Engineering

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

See the Computer Engineering curriculum