Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department Office: 155 Everitt Laboratory, 1406 West Green, Urbana, (217) 333-2300
Curriculum in Computer Engineering
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science 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, computer 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.
The computer engineering core curriculum focuses on fundamental computer engineering knowledge: circuits, systems, electromagnetics, computer engineering, solid state electronics, and computer science. The rich set of ECE elective courses permits students to concentrate in any subdiscipline of computer engineering including: computer systems; electronic circuits; networks; engineering applications; software, languages, and theory; and algorithms and mathematical tools.
Overview of Curricular Requirements
The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation and is organized as shown below. Technical grade point average requirements for graduation and advanced-level course registration apply to students in this curriculum. These rules are summarized at the College of Engineering's undergraduate advising Web site.
Orientation and Professional Development
These courses introduce the opportunities and resources your college, department, and curriculum can offer you as you work to achieve your career goals. They also provide the skills to work effectively and successfully in the engineering profession.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Orientation1 |
| 0 | Total |
1. External transfer students take ENG 300—Engrg Transfer Orientation instead.
Foundational Mathematics and Science
These courses stress the basic mathematical and scientific principles upon which the engineering discipline is based.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I |
| 4 | MATH 221 - Calculus I1 |
| 3 | MATH 231 - Calculus II |
| 4 | MATH 241 - Calculus III |
| 4 | MATH 286 - Intro to Differential Eq Plus |
| 4 | PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics |
| 4 | PHYS 212 - University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 2 | PHYS 213 - Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 2 | PHYS 214 - Univ Physics: Quantum Physics |
| 31 | Total |
1. MATH 220 - Calculus may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
Computer Engineering Technical Core
These courses stress fundamental concepts and basic laboratory techniques that comprise the common intellectual understanding of computer engineering.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | CS 173 - Discrete Structures or MATH 213 - Basic Discrete Mathematics |
| 4 | CS 225 - Data Structures |
| 4 | ECE 110 - Intro Elec & Computer Engrg |
| 4 | ECE 190 - Intro to Computing Systems |
| 4 | ECE 210 - Analog Signal Processing |
| 3 | ECE 290 - Computer Engineering I |
| 3 | ECE 313 - Probability with Engrg Applic or STAT 410 - Statistics and Probability II |
| 3 | ECE 329 - Intro Electromagnetic Fields |
| 2 | ECE 385 - Digital Systems Laboratory |
| 3 | ECE 391 - Computer Systems Engineering |
| 4 | ECE 411 - Comp Organization & Design |
| 3 | ECE 440 - Solid State Electronic Devices |
| 40 | Total |
Technical Electives
These courses stress the rigorous analysis and design principles practiced in the major subdisciplines of computer engineering.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 23 | Technical electives. One course must not be either ECE or CS. The remainder are electives in electrical and computer engineering and in computer science. 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.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 18 | Electives in social sciences and humanities approved by the College of Engineering and satisfying the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities, including cultural studies western and non-western. |
Composition
These courses teach fundamentals of expository writing.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | RHET 105 - Principles of Composition |
| Advanced Composition. May be satisfied by completing a course with the Advanced Composition designation in either the social sciences and humanities or the free elective categories. | |
| 4 | Total |
Free Electives
These unrestricted electives give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual area of unique interest. This freedom plays a critical role in helping students to define research specialties or to complete minors.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 12 | Free electives. Additional unrestricted course work so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree. At least seven hours must be taken for a grade. |
Suggested Sequence
The schedule that follows is illustrative, showing the typical sequence in which courses would be taken by a student with no college course credit already earned and who intends to graduate in four years. Each individual's case may vary, but the position of required named courses is generally indicative of the order in which they should be taken.
First Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I |
| 0 | ENG 100 - Engineering Orientation |
| 4 | MATH 221 - Calculus I1 |
| 4 | RHET 105 - Principles of Composition or |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 15 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | ECE 110 - Intro Elec & Computer
Engrg or RHET 105 - Principles of Composition2 |
| 3 | MATH 231 - Calculus II |
| 4 | PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 3 | Free elective |
| 17 | Total |
Second Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | ECE 190 - Intro to Computing Systems |
| 3 | CS 173 - Discrete Structures or MATH 213 - Basic Discrete Mathematics |
| 4 | MATH 241 - Calculus III |
| 4 | PHYS 212 - University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 18 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | ECE 210 - Analog Signal Processing |
| 3 | ECE 290 - Computer Engineering I |
| 4 | MATH 286 - Intro to Differential Eq Plus |
| 2 | PHYS 213 - Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 2 | PHYS 214 - Univ Physics: Quantum Physics |
| 3 | Free elective |
| 18 | Total |
Third Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | CS 225 - Data Structures |
| 3 | ECE 329 - Intro Electromagnetic Fields |
| 2 | ECE 385 - Digital Systems Laboratory |
| 3 | Technical elective4 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 15 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | ECE 313 - Probability with
Engrg Applic or STAT 410 - Statistics and Probability II |
| 3 | ECE 391 - Computer Systems Engineering |
| 3 | ECE 440 - Solid State Electronic Devices |
| 3 | Technical elective4 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 15 | Total |
Fourth Year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | ECE 411 - Comp Organization & Design |
| 5 | Technical electives4 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 3 | Free elective |
| 15 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 12 | Technical electives4 |
| 3 | Free elective |
| 15 | Total |
1. MATH 220—Calculus may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
2. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester of the first
year as authorized. The alternative is ECE 110.
3. Each student must satisfy the 18-hour social sciences and humanities requirements of the College of Engineering and the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities.
4. One course must not be either ECE or CS. The remaining classes are ECE and CS electives. All are to be chosen from the departmentally approved List of Technical Electives.