Program Overview

Computer Science and Engineering Program

The Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department spans multiple areas of research including theory, systems, AI/ML, architectures, and software. CSE’s areas of research are:

• computer hardware, including architecture, VLSI (chip design), FPGAs, and design automation
• computer security and privacy
• cyber-physical systems
• distributed systems
• database systems
• machine learning and artificial intelligence
• natural language processing
• networks
• pervasive computing and human-computer interaction
• programming languages
• robotics
• social computing
• storage systems
• and visual computing, including computer vision, visualization, and graphics

Research Collaborations

In cooperation with other departments on campus, CSE also offers a strong research group in:

• bioinformatics
• computational biology
• biomolecular engineering
• and human genome mapping The CSE department enjoys a close relationship with the Electrical and Computer Engineering, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics departments. Faculty members carry out joint research projects, supervise students, and teach courses for these departments.

Degrees Offered

The CSE department offers the following degrees:

• M.S. degree, which requires either a master’s thesis or an approved project and is usually completed in two years, although it is possible to complete the program in one year
• Ph.D. degree, which is usually completed in five years

Career Paths

Computer Science and Engineering career paths include:

• Software Engineer/Developer
• Hardware Engineer/Developer
• Network Engineer
• Web Developer
• Mobile App Developer
• AI/ML Engineer
• UX Designer
• Systems Architect
• Cybersecurity Engineer

Research Areas

The Natural Language Processing (NLP) master's degree program provides students the in-depth NLP skills and experience needed for successful careers in this fast-growing field. Computer engineering faculty and students are researching and developing secure, efficient, and effective networking applications that support the internets of the future.

Rankings

The CSE department has been ranked:

• #40 among the top computer science institutions worldwide (Computer Science Rankings, 2024)
• #8 among the best computer engineering bachelor's degree schools in the far Western US region (College Factual, 2025)
• #26 among the best schools for computer engineering graduate degrees (College Factual, 2025)