Curriculum in Computer Engineering

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, that is, 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 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 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 290, ECE 385, 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 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 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 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.

Computer Engineering Core

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

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.

Composition I

This course teaches fundamentals of expository writing.

Technical Electives

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

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.

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 research specialties or to complete minors such as bioengineering, technology and management, or languages. At least seven hours must be taken for a grade.

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.

Suggested Sequence

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year