CURRICULUM IN COMPUTER ENGINEERING
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
155 Everitt Laboratory
1406 West Green Street
Urbana IL 61801
217-333-2300
URL: http://www.ece.uiuc.edu/For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
PURPOSE
The computer engineering curriculum, which is administered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), stresses scientific principles, rigorous analysis, creative design, clear communication, and responsible teamwork. Students will gain the fundamental knowledge, practical skills, professional attitudes, and experiences that provide a broad foundation for further learning during productive careers in computer engineering. In consultation with their faculty advisors, students choose electives to prepare for immediate employment, graduate study, or both. While the course of study is designed primarily to prepare students for careers closely allied with computer engineering, it also provides a valuable understanding of science and technology for those who will pursue careers in other professions. The curriculum also meets the requirements of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FIRST YEAR ECE EXPERIENCE
First year students take ECE 110, Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering, 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 a professional computer engineer 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 CURRICULUM
Student involvement in the computer engineering discipline increases during each year of the program. Most of the core computer engineering courses are taken in the fourth, fifth, and sixth semesters. During the last two semesters, the student chooses electives so as to define a curriculum meeting specific educational and career needs.
The computer engineeering core curriculum focuses on fundamental computer engineering knowledge: circuits (ECE 110), systems (ECE 210), electromagnetics (ECE 229), computer engineering (ECE 249, ECE 290, ECE 291, ECE 312), solid state electronics (ECE 340) and computer science (C S 125, C S 223, C S 225). The rich set of ECE elective courses permits students to concentrate in any subdiscipline of computer engineering including: computer systems, electronic circuits, software, theory, computer networks, artificial intelligence and robotics, and engineering applications.
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) and Introduction to Computer Engineering (ECE 290), as well as Computer Engineering II (ECE 291), Digital Systems Laboratory (ECE 249) and Computer Organization and Design (ECE 312), 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 activity contracts. They must also participate in the ECE Honors Seminar and are encouraged to participate in the yearly Undergraduate Honors 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 76-77 hours.
HOURS BASIC SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS These courses stress the scientific principles upon which the engineering discipline is based.1 10 Calculus for students entering with analytic geometry: 5
MATH 135-Calculus 5
MATH 245-Calculus II 11 Calculus for students entering without analytic geometry: 5
MATH 120-Calculus and Analytic Geometry, I 3
MATH 130-Calculus and Analytic Geometry, II 3
MATH 242-Calculus of Several Variables 3
MATH 285-Differential Equations 4
PHYCS 111-General Physics (Mechanics) 4
PHYCS 112-General Physics (Electricity and Magnetism) 2
PHYCS 113-General Physics (Fluids and Thermal Physics) 2
PHYCS 114-General Physics (Waves and Quantum Physics) 4
CHEM 101-General Chemistry 29-30
Total
1. Either the MATH 120/130/242 sequence or the MATH 135/245 sequence may be taken according to the student's advanced placement status and score on the mathematics placement exam.
HOURS
COMPUTER ENGINEERING CORE These courses stress fundamental computer engineering concepts and basic laboratory techniques that comprise the common intellectual understanding of all computer engineering. 4
ECE 110-Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering 4
ECE 210-Analog Signal Processing 3
ECE 229-Introduction to Electromagnetic Fields 2
ECE 249-Digital Systems Laboratory 3
ECE 290-Introduction to Computer Engineering 3
ECE 291-Computer Engineering II 4
ECE 312-Computer Organization and Design 3
ECE 340-Solid-State Electronic Devices 3
C S 125-Introduction to Computer Science 1
C S 223-Software Laboratory 4
C S 225-Data Structures and Software Principles 34
Total
HOURS
ADVANCED MATHEMATICS These courses provide additional sophistication for the computer engineer. The probability and statistics course lays the ground work for understanding problems ranging from communications engineering to data analysis in diverse areas such as medicine and manufacturing. 3
MATH 213-Introduction to Discrete Mathematics 3
MATH 315-Linear Transformations and Matrices 3
ECE 313-Probabilistic Methods of Signal and System Analysis Note that ECE 313 may be replaced by one of the following: 3
I E 230-Analysis of Data 4
STAT 310/MATH 363-Introduction to Mathematical Statistics and Probability, I 9
min Total
HOURS
COMPOSITION I This course teaches fundamentals of expository writing. 4
RHET 105-Principles of Composition Technical Electives
HOURS
REQUIREMENTS These courses stress the rigorous analysis and design principles practiced in the major concentration areas of computer engineering. 21
One course must come from a list of basic science electives. The remainder are upperclass electives in electrical and computer engineering and in computer science, to be chosen from a departmentally approved list. Social Sciences and Humanities
HOURS
REQUIREMENTS These courses assure that students have exposure in breadth and depth to areas of intellectual activity that are essential to the general education of any college graduate. 18
Social sciences and humanities courses approved by the College of Engineering. Other Electives
HOURS
REQUIREMENTS These electives give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual area. This f+reedom plays a critical role in helping students to define what are effectively minor concentrations in areas such as bioengineering, technology and management, languages, or research specialties. At least seven hours must be taken for a grade. 12-13
Electives 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 Composition II 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 ECE courses.
First Year
HOURS
FIRST SEMESTER 4
CHEM 101-General Chemistry 0
ENG 100-Introduction to Engineering 5
MATH 135*-Calculus or MATH 120*-Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 4
RHET 105-Principles of Composition or ECE 110*- Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering 3
Elective in social sciences or humanities 16
Total HOURS
SECOND SEMESTER 4
ECE 110*-Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering or Rhet 105-Principles of Composition 5 or 3
MATH 245*-Calculus II or MATH 130*-Calculus and Analytic Geometry II 4
PHYCS 111*-General Physics (Mechanics) 3
Elective in social sciences or humanities 0 or 3
Additional elective if MATH 130 is taken instead of MATH 245 16 or 17
Total Second Year
HOURS
FIRST SEMESTER 3
C S 125*-Introduction to Computer Science 3
MATH 213*-Introduction to Discrete Mathematics 3
MATH 285*-Differential Equations and Orthogonal Functions or MATH 242*-Calculus of Several Variables 4
PHYCS 112*-General Physics (Electricity and Magnetism) 3
Electives 16
Total HOURS
SECOND SEMESTER 1
C S 223*-Software Laboratory 4
ECE 210*-Analog Signal Processing 3
ECE 290*-Introduction to Computer Engineering 4 or 3
Electives or MATH 285* - Differential Equations and Orthogonal Functions 2
PHYCS 113*-General Physics (Fluids and Thermal Physics) 2
PHYCS 114*-General Physics (Waves and Quantum Physics) 16 or 15
Total Third Year
HOURS
FIRST SEMESTER 3
ECE 229-Introduction to Electromagnetic Fields 2
ECE 249-Digital Systems Laboratory 3
ECE 291-Computer Engineering II 3
ECE 313**-Probabilistic Methods of Signal and System Analysis 3
ECE 340-Solid-State Electronic Devices 2
Electives 16
Total HOURS
SECOND SEMESTER 4
C S 225-Data Structures and Software Principles 4
ECE 312-Computer Organization and Design 3
MATH 315-Linear Transformations and Matrices 5
Electives 16
Total Fourth Year
HOURS FIRST SEMESTER 16 Electives HOURS SECOND SEMESTER 16 Electives
* 2.25 GPA rule courses
** May be replaced by one of the following: I E 230-Analysis of Data or STAT 310/MATH 363-Introduction to Mathematical Statistics and Probability, I.