Undergraduate Curriculum in Computer Engineering
Prior to Fall 2006

For Students Entering as Freshmen from Fall 1995 through Spring 2006
and Transfer Students Entering from Fall 1997 through Spring 2008
See Computer Engineering Curriculum for students entering after Fall 2006


Introduction

Computer engineering is a discipline that applies principles of physics and mathematics to the design, implementation, and analysis of computer and communication systems. The discipline is broad, spanning topics as diverse as radio communications, coding and encryption, computer architecture, testing and analysis of computer and communication systems, vision, and robotics. A defining characteristic of the discipline is its grounding in physical aspects of computer and communication systems. Computer engineering concerns itself with development of devices that exploit physical phenomena to store and process information, with the design of hardware that incorporates such devices, and with software that takes advantage of this hardware's characteristics. It addresses problems in design, testing, and evaluation of system properties, such as reliability, and security. It is an exciting area to work in, one that has immediate impact on the technology that shapes society today.

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 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:

  1. Depth. To provide students with 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

The program outcomes have been adopted to prepare the student to achieve the Program Educational Objectives, statements that describe what students are expected to know and are able to do by the time of graduation. These Outcomes, which parallel the ABET EC2K Criterion 3 list of outcomes and the applicable Program Criteria, are:

  1. Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
  2. Ability to design and conduct experiments as well as analyze and interpret data
  3. Ability to design a system to meet desired needs
  4. Ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
  5. Ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
  6. Understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
  7. Ability to communicate effectively
  8. Broad education necessary to understand impact of engineering solutions in a global/societal context
  9. Recognition of the need for and ability to engage in lifelong learning
  10. Knowledge of contemporary issues
  11. Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
  12. Knowledge of probability and statistics, including applications to computer engineering
  13. Knowledge of mathematics, and basic and engineering sciences, necessary to carry out analysis and design appropriate to computer engineering
  14. Knowledge of discrete mathematics

The Importance of the First Year ECE Experience

First year students take ECE 110, Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering, 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 which are taken during the first two years of study. Students gain first hand experience in the activities of a professional computer 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 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, fifth, and sixth semesters. During the last two semesters the student chooses electives so as to define a curriculum meeting specific educational and/or career needs. The Computer Engineeering 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 (ECE 190 or CS 125, and CS 225). The rich set of ECE elective courses permits students to concentrate in any subdiscipline of computer engineering including: computer systems, electronic circuits, software, theory, computer networks, artificial intelligence and robotics, and engineering applications.

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 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 (A=4.0) 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 Requirements

The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation and is organized as follows:

For Students Entering Fall 1995 or Later
(Some exceptions apply to those who entered in Fall 1995)

Required Courses

Required courses total 76 or 77 hours

Basic Sciences and Mathematics

These courses stress the scientific principles upon which the engineering discipline is based.

Hours
 Course Number and Name
5
 Math 220 - Calculus I
3
 Math 231 - Calculus II
3
4
 Math 242 - Calculus of Several Variables (last offering will be Fall 2006) or
Math 241 - Calculus III
3
4
 Math 285 - Intro Differential Equations or
Math 286 - Intro Differential Euqations Plus
4
 Physics 211 - Univ Physics, Mechanics
4
 Physics 212 - Univ Physics, Elec & Mag
2
 Physics 213 - Univ Physics, Thermal Physics
2
 Physics 214 - Univ Physics, Quantum Phys
4
 Chem 102/103 - General Chemistry and Lab
30 Total

 

Computer Engineering Core

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

Hours
 Course Number and Name
4 ECE 110 - Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
4 ECE 190 - Introduction to Computer Systems or
CS 125 - Introduction to Computer Science
4 ECE 210 - Analog Signal Processing
3 ECE 329 - Introduction to Electromagnetic Fields
2 ECE 385 - Digital Systems Laboratory
3 ECE 290 - Introduction to Computer Engineering
3
3		 ECE 390 - Computer Engineering II
or ECE 391 - Computer Systems Engineering
4 ECE 411 - Computer Organization and Design
3 ECE 440 - Solid State Electronic Devices
4 CS 225 - Data Structures and Software Principles
34 Total

 

Advanced Mathematics

These courses provide additional sophistication for the computer engineer. The probability and statistics course ourse lays the ground work for understanding problems ranging from communications engineering to data analysis in diverse areas such as medicine and manufacturing.

Hours
 Course Number and Name
3 Math 213* - Intro. Discrete Mathematics
3 Math 415 - Linear Algebra
3 ECE 313** - Probability with Engineering Applications
9 Total

*Note that Math 213 maybe replaced by:
3 CS 173 - Discrete Mathematical Structures
plus one hour of free elective.
**Note that ECE 313 may be replaced by one of:
3 IE 300 - Analysis of Data
4 Stat 400/Math 463 - Statistics and Probability I

 

Composition I

Hours
 Course Number and Name
4 RHET 105 - This course teaches fundamentals of expository writing.

Electives

Technical Electives

(21 hours). 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 Departmentally Approved List of Technical Electives. They stress the rigorous analysis and design principles practiced in the major concentration areas of computer engineering.

Basic Science Elective List
One course must be from the Basic Science Elective List
(if a second course is taken it will count as a FreeElective)

Hours Course Title
4
 CHEM 104/105 - General Chemistry with Lab
3
 ASTR 404 - Astrophysics, I

4

 ATMS 402 - Principles of Atmospheric Dynamics
4
 IB 104 - Animal Biology
4
 IB 150 - Organismal and Evolutionary Biology
4
 MCB 150 - Molecular and Cellular Biology
4
 MCB 103/104 - Introduction to Human Pysiology and Lab

 

Suggested ECE/CS Courses

List of Approved ECE/CS Elective Courses
See Suggested ECE/CS Courses Flowchart for an example.

ECE All non-required 200, 300, and 400 level courses (except ECE 101, 205, 206, 211, 316, 317 and non-technical sections of ECE 398 and 498) count as technical electives for computer engineering students.
Comp. Sci.
 
 
 
 
 

All non-required 200, 300 and 400 level courses except CS 210, 231, 232, 241, 242, 400, 417, 484 count as technical electives for computer engineering students.CS Electives Flowchart

See CS Electives Flowchart for examples.

Contact the ECE Advising Office, at 156 Everitt Lab or advisor@ece.uiuc.edu, about CS 241 credit if you have already taken ECE 390.

 

Graduation Check Sheet Examples
Graduation Check Sheet

Social Sciences and Humanities

(18 hours). The Social Science and Humanities courses, as approved by the College of Engineering, assure that students have exposure in breadth and depth to areas of intellectual activity which are essential to the general education of any college graduate. Humanities, Social Sciences, and General Education Requirements

Other Electives

(12 hours). 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.

Restrictions on Courses Used for Other Electives
Electives Restrictions
Religious Foundation Courses 4 semester hours maximum.
Military Courses May be used for free electives. Effective Fall, 1999
Kinesiology Three-semester-hour maximum on skill courses. No limit on professional physical education courses.
Remedial Courses Credit in any math course below analytical geometry (Math 011, 012, 014, etc.) or chemistry courses below Chem 102 (Chem 101) cannot be used.
Duplicate Courses No credit will be used for graduation which duplicates credit earned in previous college course work.
Foreign Language Up to two years of high school credit in foreign languages can be duplicated if the student takes a placement test and places below the expected entrance level in that language. Example: Student had 4 years of French in high school. He takes the placement test and places in French 101. The student will receive no credit for completing French 101 or 102. Graduation credit to meet the humanities and/or free elective requirement will be awarded for successful completion of French 103 and 104.

Campus General Education Requirements

Students must select courses which satisfy both the college Social Sciences and Humanities requirement and the campus requirements in Social and Behavioral Sciences and in Humanities and the Arts. Careful 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 Composition II 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 ECE courses. Humanities, Social Sciences, and General Education Requirements .

Suggested Course 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 I1
4 RHET 105 - Principles of Composition or
ECE 110* - Introduction to Electrical & Computer Engineering2
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities3
16 Total
Hours Second Semester
4 ECE 110* - Intro Electrical & Computer Engineering or
RHET 105 - Principles of Composition
3 MATH 230* - Calculus II4
4 PHYS 211* - Univ Physics, Mechanics
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities
3 Free elective
17 Total

Second Year

Hours First Semester
4 ECE 190* - Introduction to Computing Systems
3 MATH 213* - Basic Discrete Mathematics5
3 MATH 242* - Calculus of Several Variables (Calculus III)6
4 PHYS 212* - Univ Physics, Electromagnetics & Magnetism
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities
17 Total
Hours Second Semester
4 ECE 210* - Anaolg Signal Processing
3 ECE 290* - Computer Engineering I
3 MATH 285* - Intro Differential Equations7
2 PHYS 213* - Univ Physics, Thermal Physics
2 PHYS 214* - Univ Physics, Quantum Physics
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities
17 Total

Third Year

Hours First Semester
4 CS 225 - Data Structures and Software Principles
3 ECE 329 - Intro Electromagnetic Fields
2 ECE 385 - Digital Systems Laboratory
3 MATH 415 - Linear Algebra
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities
15 Total
Hours Second Semester
3 ECE 390 - Computer Engineering II  or
ECE 391 - Computer Systems Engineering
3 ECE 313 - Probability Engrg Applic8
3 ECE 440 - Solid State Electronic Devices
3 Technical elective9
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities
15 Total

Fourth Year

Hours First Semester
4 ECE 411 -- Comp Organization & Design
6 Technical Electives
6 Free Electives
16 Total
Hours Second Semester
12 Technical Electives
3 Free elective
15 Total

 

* 2.25 GPA Rule courses

  1. May be replaced by Math 221 (4 hours)
  2. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester of the first year as authorized. The alternative is ECE 110.
  3. Each student must satisfy the 18-hour social sciences and humanities requirements of the College of Engineering and the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities.
  4. Numbered Math 231 after Summer 2006
  5. May be replaced by CS 173 Discrete Structures (3 hours)
  6. May be replaced by Math 241 Calculus III (4 hours)
  7. May be replaced by Math 386 Differential Equations Plus (4 hours)
  8. May be replaced by one of the following: IE 300—Analysis of Data or STAT 400/MATH 463—Statistics and Probability I.
  9. 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.

Check the Probation and Drop Rules