Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
155 Everitt Laboratory
1406 West Green Street
Urbana IL 61801
217-333-2300
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
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 are
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:
Depth. To provide students with an understanding
of the fundamental knowledge prerequisite for the practice of or for
advanced study in computer engineering, including its scientific principles,
rigorous analysis, and creative design.
Breadth. To provide students with the broad education,
including knowledge of important current issues in engineering with
emphasis on computer engineering, necessary for productive careers
in the public or private sectors or for the pursuit of graduate education.
Professionalism. To develop skills for clear communication
and responsible teamwork and to inculcate professional attitudes and
ethics, so that students are prepared for the complex modern work
environment and for lifelong learning.
Learning Environment. To provide an environment that
enables students to pursue their goals in an innovative program that
is rigorous and challenging, open and supportive.
Outcomes
To prepare the student for the program educational objectives to be
achieved, a set of program outcomes-statements that describe what
students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation-have
been adopted. These outcomes, which parallel the ABET EC2K Criterion
3 list of outcomes (see description under College
of Engineering) and the applicable Program Criteria, are:
- Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
- Ability to design and conduct experiments as well as analyze
and interpret data
- Ability to design a system to meet desired needs
- Ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
- Ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
- Understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
- Ability to communicate effectively
- Broad education necessary to understand impact of engineering
solutions in a global/societal context
- Recognition of the need for and ability to engage in lifelong
learning
- Knowledge of contemporary issues
- Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering
tools necessary for engineering practice
- Knowledge of probability and statistics, including applications
to computer engineering
- Knowledge of mathematics, and basic and engineering sciences,
necessary to carry out analysis and design appropriate to computer
engineering
- Knowledge of discrete mathematics.
The Importance of the First-Year ECE Experience
First-year students take ECE 110, Intro Elec & Comp Engrg, 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/electrical
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 (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 385, ECE 290, ECE 390, ECE 411),
solid state electronics (ECE 440), and computer science (CS 125, CS
225). 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.
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 390), 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 advisers,
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 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 77 hours.
Basic Sciences and Mathematics
These courses stress the scientific principles upon which the engineering
discipline is based.
| Hours |
|
| 5 |
MATH 220—Calculus I |
| 3 |
MATH 230—Calculus II |
| 3 |
MATH 242—Calculus of Several
Variables |
| 3 |
MATH 385—Intro Differential
Equations |
| 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
Phys |
| 3 |
CHEM 102—General Chemistry
I |
| 1 |
CHEM 103—General Chemistry
Lab I |
| 30 |
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 |
|
| 4 |
ECE 110—Intro Elec & Comp
Engrg |
| 4 |
ECE 210—Analog Signal Processing |
| 3 |
ECE 290—Computer Engineering,
I |
| 3 |
ECE 329—Intro Electromagnetic
Fields |
| 2 |
ECE 385—Digital Systems Laboratory |
| 3 |
ECE 390—Computer Engineering,
II |
| 4 |
ECE 411—Comp Organization &
Design |
| 3 |
ECE 440—Solid State Electronic
Devices |
| 4 |
CS 125—Intro to Computer Science |
| 4 |
CS 225—Data Structure &
Softw Prin |
| 34 |
Total |
Advanced 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 |
|
| 3 |
MATH 213—Basic Discrete Mathematics |
| 3 |
MATH 415—Linear Algebra |
| 3 |
ECE 413—Probability with Engrg
Applic |
| |
Note: ECE 413 may be replaced by
either: |
3 |
IE 300—Analysis of Data |
4 |
STAT 400/MATH 463—Statistics and Probability I |
| 9 |
Minimum total hours |
Composition I
This course teaches fundamentals of expository writing.
| Hours |
|
| 4 |
RHET 105—Principles of Composition |
Technical Electives
These courses stress the rigorous analysis and design principles practiced
in the major concentration areas of computer engineering.
| Hours |
|
| 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 list of departmentally approved courses.
|
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 |
|
| 18 |
Social sciences and humanities courses
approved by the College of Engineering. |
Other Electives
These electives give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual
area. This freedom 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.
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.
Suggested Sequence
First Year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 3 |
CHEM 102—General Chemistry
I |
| 1 |
CHEM 103—General Chemistry
Lab I |
| 0 |
ENG 100—Engineering Lecture |
| 5 |
MATH 220—Calculus I |
| 4 |
RHET 105—Principles of Composition
or ECE 110*—Intro Elec & Comp Engrg1 |
| 3 |
Elective in social sciences or humanities |
| 16 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 4 |
ECE 110*—Intro Elec & Comp
Engrg or RHET 105—Principles of Composition1 |
| 3 |
MATH 230*—Calculus II |
| 4 |
PHYS 211*—Univ Physics, Mechanics |
| 3 |
Elective in social sciences or humanities |
| 3 |
Additional elective |
| 17 |
Total |
Second Year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 3 |
MATH 213*—Basic Discrete Mathematics |
| 3 |
MATH 242*—Calculus of Several
Variables |
| 4 |
PHYS 212*—Univ Physics, Elec
& Mag |
| 3 |
Electives |
| 17 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 4 |
ECE 210*—Analog Signal Processing |
| 3 |
ECE 290*—Computer Engineering,
I |
| 3 |
MATH 385*—Intro Differential
Equations |
| 2 |
PHYS 213*—Univ Physics, Thermal
Physics |
| 2 |
PHYS 214*—Univ Physics, Quantum
Phys |
| 14 |
Total |
Third Year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 4 |
CS 225—Data Structure &
Softw Prin |
| 3 |
ECE 329—Intro Electromagnetic
Fields |
| 2 |
ECE 385—Digital Systems Laboratory |
| 3 |
MATH 415—Linear Algebra |
| 4 |
Electives |
| 16 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 3 |
ECE 390—Computer Engineering,
II |
| 3 |
ECE 413**—Probability with
Engrg Applic |
| 3 |
ECE 440—Solid State Electronic
Devices |
| 7 |
Electives |
| 16 |
Total |
Fourth Year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 4 |
ECE 411—Comp Organization &
Design |
| 12 |
Electives |
| 16 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 16 |
Electives |
* 2.25 GPA rule courses
** May be replaced by one of the following: IE 300-Analysis of Data
or STAT 400/MATH 463-Statistics and Probability I.
1. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester of the first
year as authorized. The alternative is ECE 110.
|
|
