Computer Engineering (COE) Degree

 Program Administration:

The computer engineering degree program will be administered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) with significant contributions from the Department of Computer  Science (CS) in teaching and advising.

The COE curriculum has been designed to ensure that students obtain fundamental knowledge along with analysis and design skills related to the hardware and software aspects of computer systems. All Computer Engineering students progress through an extended sequence of introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses in these areas. The courses listed in the COE curriculum are currently required or elective courses for either the electrical engineering (EE) or CS degree programs. Thus, students currently enrolled in either the CS or EE degree program can transfer into the program and count their credits toward the COE once it is formally approved.

The table below details the course requirements for the COE degree semester by semester. The full descriptions can be found here.

Descriptions for the new/modified courses are provided following the COE curriculum table. Since these courses are minor modifications of courses currently offered, a transfer of the old/current courses into the COE degree program is described for students who switch into the program from EE or CS.

Descriptions of New and Modified Courses

EE281 Logic Design Laboratory:

A laboratory involving the design and implementation of logic circuits. Combinational and sequential (both synchronous and asynchronous) design examples using small and medium scale integrated circuits. Lecture one hour, laboratory, one three - hour session. Pre- or Co-requisite: EE 280.

EE 383 - Introduction to Embedded Systems:

A course in the hardware and software of microprocessors. Assembly language programming, address decoding, hardware interrupts,parallel and serial interfacing with various special purpose integrated circuits. Each student is expected to do homework assignments using microprocessor hardware. This will be arranged by special appointment through the instructor. Prerequisite: EE /CS 380.

EE 480 / CS480G Advance Computer Architecture:

This course focuses on advanced computer architectures and low-level system software. Topics include RISC architectures, vector and multiprocessor architectures, multiprocessor memory architectures, and multiprocessor interconnection networks. Peripheral devices such as disk arrays, NICs , video/audio devices are covered. Topics also include device drivers, interrupt processing, advanced assembly language programming techniques, assemblers, linkers, and loaders. Prerequisite: EE /CS 380.

Description of Electives

USP Electives

The University Studies Program Electives (designated as USP) are described in detail in the UK bulletin. Since the required COE curriculum automatically satisfies many of the USP requirements, the remaining USP categories to be satisfied by students in the CpE program are:

• VII. Social Science (2 courses)
• VIII. Humanities (2 courses)
• IX. Cross-Cultural (1 course)

A listing of these Electives can be found at:

The University Studies Program

Writing Elective:

In addition to the required EE 104 course in the freshman year, a writing intensive course must be taken once the student achieve sophomore status. Any of the following courses qualify as writing intensive and also satisfy on the USP Electives (most efficient choice in minimizing total credit hours):

• ENG 230 Introduction to Literature (USP Humanities)
• ENG 231 Literature and Genre (USP Humanities)
• ENG 232 Literature and Place (USP Humanities)
• ENG 233 Literature and Identities (USP Humanities)
• ENG 234 Introduction to Women's Literature (USP Humanities)
• ENG 261 Survey of Western Literature I (USP Humanities)
• ENG 262 Survey of Western Literature II (USP Humanities)
• ENG 264 Major Black Writers (USP Cross-Cultural)
• ENG 270 The Old Testament as Literature (USP Humanities)
• ENG 271 The New Testament as Literature (USP Humanities)

Oral Communications Elective:

The any one of the following courses satisfies the oral communications Elective:

• COM 181 Basic Public Speaking
• COM 252 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
• COM 281 Communication in Small Groups
• COM 287 Persuasive Speaking
• TA 225 Vocal Production for the Stage I

Supportive Elective:

This is a free Elective to be chosen from any university courses, excluding more elementary versions of required courses, such as pre-calculus mathematics or PHY 211.

Technical Elective:

May be selected from upper division (300-level or above) engineering, mathematics, statistics, computer science, physics, or other technically-related fields in consultation with the academic adviser.

EE/CS Technical Electives:

These courses consist of senior level courses in either the computer science or electrical engineering disciplines. For CS these are 400-level courses and for EE these are 500-level courses with emphasis in the computer engineering area. These are to be selected in consultation with the student's academic advisor.