Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BSCP)

Did You Know...? Despite a growing national demand for their skills, the number of engineers graduating from American universities is going down, according to a survey released by the American Society for Engineering Education. Electrical and Computer Engineering are at the top of Forbes' Most Lucrative Majors list. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers 2007 Job Outlook Survey, Electrical and Computer Engineering were among the top 5 most “in-demand” majors. At University of Maryland, Electrical and Computer Engineering students are the most requested majors for employers conducting campus interviews. In fact, we have our own ECE Career Fair every year.

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Computer Engineering

In the last 30 years, information technology, wireless communications, and advanced computer, internet, and software-related innovations have transformed the way we live and how we connect with one another. Computer engineering is one of the nation's fastest growing occupations and is projected to remain so over the next ten  years. Computer engineers apply the principles and techniques of  electrical engineering, computer science, and mathematical analysis to  the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and  hardware systems that enable computers to perform increasingly  demanding functions. In the workplace, computer engineers span a wide  range of skills; for instance, they design robots, develop  microprocessors, design supercomputers and MP3 players, create integrated circuits for semiconductor fabrication, program computer-vision  capabilities, create security/cryptographic systems, and develop  software systems and network protocols.

History of Computer Engineering Major at UMD

In the Fall of 1997, the University of Maryland launched the BS degree program in Computer Engineering, drawing upon resources and expert faculty from both the departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science. The Computer Engineering program, the first of its kind in the state of Maryland, was developed in conjunction with industry leaders to address the demand for excellence in this rapidly developing field.

Curriculum

Computer Engineering Curriculum

The Computer Engineering curriculum requires a minimum of 120 credits to degree completion. Undergraduate students pursue a common foundation in math, physics, and chemistry (as well as computer and engineering sciences), then concentrate on the computer engineering core curriculum during sophomore and junior years. Seniors can choose from a wide variety of electrical engineering and computer science courses, including capstone design course work, which integrates classroom learning with hands-on practical design. Students thereby gain valuable technical skills for subsequent graduate study and/or technical advancement.

Program Educational Objectives

ECE's undergraduate computer engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commisison of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: (410) 347-7700.

Degree requirements:

The degree requirements can be grouped into the following six broad categories:

• Mathematics and Basic Sciences
• Disciplinary Foundation of Computer Engineering
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Electives
• Engineering Technical Elective
• Technical Writing
• General Education Requirements – CORE

Mathematics and Basic Sciences

This area comprises 31 credits. These courses stress the mathematical techniques and scientific principles upon which computer engineering is based. These courses contribute to the required one year of mathematics and basic sciences and include the following:

MATH140: Calculus I (4 credits)
MATH141: Calculus II (4 credits)
MATH246: Differential Equations for Scientists & Engineers (3 credits)
CMSC250: Discrete Structures (4 credits)
PHYS161: General Physics, Mechanics and Particles Dynamics (3 credits)
PHYS260/261: General Physics, Vibrations, Waves, Heat, and E/M (4 credits)
CHEM135: General Chemistry for Engineers (3 credits)

Disciplinary Foundation of Computer Engineering

The Disciplinary Foundation in Computer Engineering consists of core courses in both electrical engineering and computer science. There are 26 credits of electrical engineering work under this area. The computer science component requires students to complete an additional 18 credits.

For the electrical engineering component, students are required to take courses in circuits and microelectronics, electrical systems, computers organization, and digital computer design. These courses cover the fundamental electrical engineering concepts and laboratory skills common to any professional working in the field of computer engineering.

ENEE205: Electric Circuits (4 credits)
ENEE222: Elements of Discrete Signal Analysis (4 credits)
ENEE244: Digital Logic Design (3 credits)
ENEE245: Fund. Digital Circuits Systems Lab (2 credits)
ENEE303: Analog and Digital Electronics (3 credits)
ENEE307: Electronic Circuits Design Laboratory
ENEE322: Signal and System Theory (3 credits)
ENEE324: Engineering Probability (3 credits)
ENEE350: Computer Organization (3 credits)
ENEE446: Digital Computer Design (3 credits)

For the computer science component students are required to complete a rigorous introduction to computer programming through a Java-based sequence of courses. Students also take courses in semantics and organization of programming languages, computer algorithms, and operating systems. These computer science courses amount to 18 credits of coursework.

CMSC132: Object Oriented Programming II (4 credits)*
CMSC216: Introduction to Computer Systems (4 credits)
CMSC330: Organization of Programming Languages (3 credits)
CMSC351: Algorithms (3 credits)
CMSC412: Operating Systems (4 credits)

[*Students are required to complete CMSC 131 prior to taking CMSC132 unless they have AP credit for CMSC 131 (5 on the JAVA A exam, 4 or 5 on the JAVA AB) or have satisfactorily passed the Computer Science exemption exam.]

The total combined credits for these required electrical engineering and computer science courses is 44 credits.

Engineering Ethics

Because of the strong symbiotic relationship between engineering and society as well as the important role ethics plays in engineering practice, ECE requires electrical engineering majors to complete a course on the social and ethical dimension of engineering. The course, ENEE200: "Social and Ethical Dimensions of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology" (3 credits), is required of all freshman entering in or after Fall 2008. .

Computer Engineering Technical Electives

In addition to the required engineering courses, students must complete 22 credits of electrical engineering and computer science electives. The elective courses are divided into five categories. ategory A, "Mathematics and Basic Science," which consists of nearly twenty courses that students can choose from. Two courses must be chosen from this category. Category B, “Computer Science Theory and Applications,” consists of twenty CMSC electives students can choose from. The third category is Category C, “Electrical Engineering Theory and Applications.” This area contains nearly two dozen upper-level ENEE courses that can be used to satisfy this requirement. The next is Category D, “Advanced Laboratory.” Students must select from among nine different courses to satisfy this requirement. All but one of these is two credits. The fifth group is Category E. This is the “Capstone Design” requirement. Students must select from six different capstone design courses. The final category, Category F, is explained in the next section. See the list of approved CP Technical Electives for an explanation of which courses fall into what categories.

Engineering Technical Electives

All Computer Engineering students are also expected to complete at least 3 additional credits of engineering electives.

For students matriculating prior to Fall 2010: these credits must come from an engineering discipline other than electrical engineering. Furthermore, any course used to satisfy this requirement cannot be cross-listed as a CMSC course. See the Category F List for approved engineering courses that satisfy this requirement. Courses not on this list may be acceptable, but they must be approved. Such courses must: a) be at the 300- or 400-level; b) be junior- or senior-level in technical content, as evidenced by significant sophomore-level prerequisites in mathematics, physics, or engineering; and/or c) make academic sense in the student's program. Approvals of special requests are made by the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies.

For students matriculating in Fall 2010 and later: Category F consists of 300 and 400-level courses that meet the following criteria: (1) the course prefix is one of the following: AMSC, BCHM, BIOE, BSCI, CHEM, CMSC, ENAE, ENBE, ENCE, ENCH, ENEE, ENES, ENFP, ENMA, ENME, ENNU, ENRE, MATH, PHYS, and STAT (2) the course prerequisites contain at least one 100 or 200-level math, science, engineering course, and (3) the course does not appear on the list of prohibited classes One implication of this is that ENEE courses can be used for to fulfill this requirement just so long as they are not being used satisfy other major requirements. Upper-level courses which do not begin with the prefixes in the list above may be approved, on a case-by-case basis. However, to qualify for approval more than one off-list course must be selected and they must be connected by a theme which is consistent with the student's stated professional goals. However, under no circumstances will exceptions be granted for courses on the proscribed listed.

Professional Writing

All engineering students in the A. James Clark School of Engineering are required to complete a 3-credit, Professional Writing course. The course typically taken is ENGL393: Technical Writing.

General Education/CORE Requirements

A degree from the University of Maryland signifies more than just mere technical or narrowly-defined career training. Students are offered a liberal education that prepares them to achieve the intellectual integration and awareness they need to meet challenges in their personal, social, political, and professional lives. As such, all graduates are required to complete the University's general education or CORE requirements, depending on the date of matriculation. Students must complete a minimum of 40 credit hours in General Eduation or CORE. Some of these requirements are satisfied in the process of completing some of the major requirements.

For more information, see the approved computer engineering course list:

Approved Computer Engineering Course list

Degree Requirements

Sample Schedule

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