Apr 19, 2024

2010-2011 General Catalog

2010-2011 General Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

Computer Engineering, BS

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The program leading to a Bachelor of Science in computer engineering is nominally a four-year program. The required program consists of a basic foundation of mathematics, science, computer science, engineering fundamentals, and laboratory and design experiences. Elective courses providing for one or more areas of technical focus, communication skills, and University Studies complete the program and prepare students for productive and rewarding careers in the computer engineering profession.

Bachelor of Sciences in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Admission to Pre-Professional Program

Admission requirements for students desiring to major in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering are the same as those governing admission to the College of Engineering , except that students must also be “calculus ready.” That is, they must: (1) achieve a score of 27 or higher on the math ACT test; (2) complete MATH 1050 and MATH 1060 or MATH 1210 ; or (3) achieve an AP score of at least 3 on the AB Calculus or BC Calculus test.

Required Courses

Required courses are shown in the accompanying paragraphs; however, because of differences in high school or transfer student preparation, it is strongly recommended that students meet with the college academic advisor to plan a detailed semester-by-semester schedule for completing the preprofessional requirements. Particular attention must be paid to course prerequisites, requiring some students to take longer than four semesters to complete the preprofessional program. Students transferring into the department should consult with the college academic advisor for transfer credit evaluation and proper placement in the curriculum.

AP and CLEP credit may be used to meet some of the required technical and University Studies courses. Details concerning courses acceptable as electives are available from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.

Pre-professional Program

Suggested Semester Schedule

Freshman Year (30-31 credits)

Fall Semester (15-16 credits)

MATH 1210 - Calculus I (QL) 4 *
CS 1400 - Introduction to Computer Science–CS 1 3 *
CS 1405 - Introduction to Computer Science–CS 1 Lab 1 ¹
ECE 1000 - Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering 2 *
University Studies Breadth courses 6

Spring Semester (15 credits)

Sophomore Year (31-32 credits)

Fall Semester (16 credits)

ENGL 2010 - Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode (CL2) 3 *
CS 2420 - Algorithms and Data Structures–CS 3 (QI) 3 *
MATH 2270 - Linear Algebra (QI) 3 *
PHYS 2220 - General Physics–Science and Engineering II (BPS/QI) 4 *
University Studies Breadth course 3

Spring Semester (15-16 credits)

MATH 2280 - Ordinary Differential Equations (QI) 3 *
MATH 3310 - Discrete Mathematics 3
CS 3100 - Operating Systems and Concurrency 3
ECE 2250 - Electrical Circuits 4 *
Technical Elective course 2-3

Professional Program

Suggested Semester Schedule

Because of the variation in schedules, it is recommended that students meet with an advisor to work out a schedule for their junior and senior years. The following courses are required for students selecting the Professional Program in Computer Engineering.

Junior Year (33 credits)

see note ²

Fall Semester (16 credits)

ECE 3620 - Circuits and Signals 3
ECE 3710 - Microcontroller Hardware and Software 4
ECE 5530 - Digital System Design 3
ECE 5720 - Computer Systems Programming and Architecture 3
University Studies Breadth course 3

Spring Semester (17 credits)

ECE 3410 - Microelectronics I 4
ECE 3640 - Signals and Systems 3
ECE 3810 - Engineering Professionalism 1 **
ENGL 3080 - Introduction to Technical Communication (CI) 3 **
MATH 5710 - Introduction to Probability 3
University Studies Breadth course 3

Senior Year (30-33 credits)

Fall Semester (16-17 credits)

ECE 4740 - Computer and Data Communications 3
High-Level Technical Elective course 4
Computer Science elective course 4
Computer Engineering elective course 3
University Studies Depth Humanities and Creative Arts (DHA) course 2-3

Spring Semester (14-16 credits)

ECE 4850 - Engineering Communications (CI) 2 ***
High-Level Technical Elective course 3-4
Math/Science elective course 3
University Studies Depth Social Sciences (DSS) course 3
ECE Capstone course 3-4 ***

Capstone Courses (select 3-4 credits)

ECE 4840 - Engineering Design (CI) 3
ECE 5220 - Electro-optical Engineering 3
ECE 5240 - Space System Design 3
ECE 5340 - Mobile Robots 4
ECE 5770 - Microcomputer Interfacing 4
ECE 5930 - Special Topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering 1-4 (3 credits required) (ECE 5660 or ECE 5810 should be taken concurrently)

High-Level Technical Elective Courses (select 14-17 credits)

Students must complete a total of at least 14 credits within high-level technical electives. Courses listed in this departmental section as Computer Engineering Electives or Computer Science Electives may be used to fulfill this requirement. Also, courses having an ECE or CS prefix, which are numbered at the 5000 level, may be used as high-level technical electives.

Technical Elective Courses (select 20 or more credits)

Computer Engineering Electives (select 3-13 credits)

Computer Science Electives (select 4-14 credits)

Math and Science Electives (select 3-6 credits)

Technical Electives (select 0-3 credits)

Note:

Any upper-division (3000, 4000, or 5000 level) ECE class not required by the major may also be used as a Technical Elective course. However, specific courses must be approved in writing before the student registers for the course.

Note:

¹Students desiring a Computer Science minor must take CS 1405 as a freshman. The rest of the minor is built into the curriculum. This lab is not required for the Computer Engineering major.

*These classes are required for admission to the Professional Engineering Program (PEP). Courses are listed under the semesters in which they best fit.

²Some of the junior classes can be delayed until the senior year, but this may limit a student’s choice of electives during his or her senior year

**ENGL 3080 must be taken before or concurrently with ECE 3810 .

***ECE 4850 and a capstone course must be taken during the same semester.

³Students cannot receive credit for both Engineering Mechanics and Physics Mechanics.

⁴Students cannot receive credit for both Engineering Thermodynamics and Physics Thermodynamics.

⁵Students cannot receive credit for both ECE Optics and PHYS Optics.