The Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a major in computer science and engineering requires a minimum of 129 s.h. of coursework. The major provides technical depth and breadth along with the flexibility for students to customize their programs according to their own goals and interests. Students choose one of several focus areas according to the type of job or research they plan to pursue. Many FAs are available, such as bioinformatics, business, medical imaging, embedded systems, and software engineering; for a complete list, see ECE Focus Areas. Students may also work with their academic advisor to create a customized FA plan tailored to their goals and interests.
CSE students complete B.S.E. core requirements, including: RHET:1030 Rhetoric; ENGR:1100 Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving; ENGR:1300 Introduction to Engineering Computing; and courses in chemistry, engineering mathematics and fundamentals, and physics. Students must earn a grade of C-minus or higher in the core requirements MATH:1550 Engineering Mathematics I: Single Variable Calculus and MATH:1560 Engineering Mathematics II: Multivariable Calculus.
Students also complete the curriculum designed for their major program, which covers four major stems: mathematics and basic sciences, engineering topics, a focus area, and the general education component. For information about the curriculum stems, see Bachelor of Science in Engineering in the Catalog.
Computer Science and Engineering students complete the curriculum listed under Academic Plans. During their second year, they select an focus area (FA) in consultation with their academic advisor. Students typically begin FA courses in their third year.
Course Work
New Curriculum Starting 2021 for all CSE students.
- ENGR:2110 Statics is no longer required for the CSE major. This course has been replaced with a minimum 2 s.h. focus area free elective.
- If a student has already taken Statics, then they should list it as this free elective.
- ENGR:2130 Thermodynamics is no longer required for the CSE major. This course has been replaced by ENGR:1100 Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving.
- If a student was enrolled in CSE before Fall 2021 and takes Thermodynamics, then Thermodynamics will automatically be substituted for ENGR:1100 Intro to EPS.
- If a student was enrolled in CSE before Fall 2021 and does not take Thermodynamics, then that student must fill out a course substitution form for ENGR:1100 Intro to EPS. Any non-regressive engineering course may be used as a substitution for ENGR:1100.
- CS courses for Informatics majors (including CS:3980 Topics in Computer Science I) taken after summer 2021 can no longer be used as a CS elective.
- Students wanting to take CS:3980 should take CS:4980 Topics in Computer Science II instead since these courses are designed for CS and CSE majors.
CSE students must complete 6 core courses; 9 math, science and communication courses; 13 required Computer Science and Engineering program courses; one constrained program elective course; 6 approved focus area (FA) courses; 5 general education courses (GEC); and a two-semester capstone design sequence.
The Computer Science and Engineering major requires the following courses:
Core Computing Courses
| Course Code | Title | Semester | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGR:1300 | Introduction to Engineering Computing | Fall & Spring | 3 |
| CS:1210 | Computer Science I | All | 4 |
| ENGR:2730 | Computers in Engineering | All | 3 |
Core Engineering Courses
| Course Code | Title | Semester | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGR:1000 | Engineering Success for First-Year Students | Fall | 1 |
| ENGR:1100a | Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving | Fall | 3 |
| ENGR:2120 | Engineering Fundamentals II: Electrical Circuits | All | 3 |
aStudents enrolled in CSE before Fall 2021 and have not taken ENGR:1100 must fill out a course substitution form for ENGR:1100 Intro to EPS. Any non-regressive engineering or CS course may be used as a substitution for ENGR:1100.
Math, Science and Communication Courses
| Course Code | Title | Semester | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHET:1030 | Rhetoric | All | 4 |
| CHEM:1110 | Principles of Chemistry I | All | 4 |
| PHYS:1611 | Introductory Physics I | All | 4 |
| PHYS:1612 | Introductory Physics II (with laboratory) | Fall & Spring | 4 |
| MATH:1550 | Engineering Mathematics I: Single Variable Calculus | All | 4 |
| MATH:1560 | Engineering Mathematics II: Multivariable Calculus | All | 4 |
| MATH:2550 | Engineering Mathematics III: Matrix Algebra | All | 2 |
| MATH:2560 | Engineering Mathematics IV: Differential Equations | All | 3 |
| STAT:2020 | Probability and Statistics for the Engineering and Physical Sciences | All | 3 |
Required Program Courses
| Course Code | Title | Semester | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECE:2400 | Linear Systems I | Fall & Spring | 3 |
| ECE:2410 | Principles of Electronic Instrumentation | Fall & Spring | 4 |
| ECE:3000 | Professional Seminar: Electrical Engineering | Fall | 1 |
| ECE:3320 | Introduction to Digital Design | Fall | 3 |
| ECE:3330 | Introduction to Software Design | Fall & Spring | 3 |
| ECE:3350 | Computer Architecture and Organization | Spring | 3 |
| ECE:3360 | Embedded Systems | Fall & Spring | 3 |
| ECE:3540 | Communications Networks | Fall | 3 |
| CS:2210 | Discrete Structures | All | 3 |
| CS:2230 | Computer Science II: Data Structures | All | 4 |
| CS:3330 | Algorithms | All | 3 |
| CS:3620 | Operating Systems1 | Fall & Spring | 3 |
| CS:3820 | Programming Language Concepts | Fall & Spring | 3 |
Theory Elective
Students must take one theory elective from the approved list. Click here for the list.
Focus Area
Students select an Focus Area (FA) to personalize their curriculum and to help them prepare for the type of job or research they plan to pursue. Many FAs are available, such as bioinformatics, business, medical imaging, embedded systems, and software engineering; for a complete list, see Focus Areas. Students may also work with their academic advisor to create a customized FA plan tailored to their goals and interests.
Students complete six focus area courses (5*3 + 2 = 17 s.h.), which they choose according to guidelines established by the department.
Students who choose their EFA and GEC courses carefully may be able to earn the Certificate in Sustainability, the Certificate in Technological Entrepreneurship, or one of several undergraduate minors offered by the University by taking minimal additional coursework beyond that required for the CSE major.
Click here for a list of approved CS FA Courses.
General Education Courses
Student are required to take at least 15 semester hours of General Education Component (GEC) course credit, see the General Education Component on the College of Engineering website. Click here for more details.
Capstone Design Courses
In their senior year, students complete a two-semester capstone design sequence culminating in the development and implementation of a significant, original project. The capstone design experience emphasizes teamwork, professionalism, open-ended problem solving, and the ability to work within real-world constraints and engineering standards.
| Course Code | Title | Semester | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECE:4880 | Principles of ECE Design* | Fall & Spring | 3 |
| ECE:4890 | Senior ECE Design** | Fall & Spring | 3 |
* Prerequisites: Senior standing, ENGR:2730 and ENGR:2410
** Prerequisites: ECE:4880 and three of the following courses: CS:2210, ECE:3330, ECE:3350, ECE:3360, CS:3330, or ECE:3540.