Program Overview

BS in Computer Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering degree from UIC requires students to complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering degree requirements are outlined below.

Degree Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering degree, students need to complete the following requirements:

• Nonengineering and General Education Requirements: 53 hours
• Required in the College of Engineering: 58 hours
• Technical Electives: 17 hours
• Total Hours: 128

Nonengineering and General Education Requirements

The following courses are required:

• ENGL 160: Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts (3 hours)
• ENGL 161: Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research (3 hours)
• Exploring World Cultures course (3 hours)
• Understanding the Creative Arts course (3 hours)
• Understanding the Past course (3 hours)
• Understanding the Individual and Society course (3 hours)
• Understanding U.S. Society course (3 hours)
• MATH 180: Calculus I (4 hours)
• MATH 181: Calculus II (4 hours)
• MATH 210: Calculus III (3 hours)
• MATH 218: Applied Linear Algebra (3 hours)
• MATH 220: Introduction to Differential Equations (3 hours)
• PHYS 141: General Physics I (Mechanics) (4 hours)
• PHYS 142: General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism) (4 hours)
• PHYS 260: Introduction to Thermal Physics (2 hours)
• CHEM 122: Matter and Energy (3 hours)
• CHEM 123: Foundations of Chemical Inquiry I (2 hours)

Required in the College of Engineering

The following courses are required:

• ENGR 100: Engineering Success Seminar for Freshmen (1 hour)
• CS 107: Introduction to Computing and Programming (4 hours)
• CS 151: Mathematical Foundations of Computing (3 hours)
• CS 251: Data Structures (4 hours)
• ECE 115: Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering (4 hours)
• ECE 225: Circuit Analysis (4 hours)
• ECE 265: Introduction to Logic Design (4 hours)
• ECE 266: Introduction to Embedded Systems (4 hours)
• ECE 310: Discrete and Continuous Signals and Systems (3 hours)
• ECE 333: Computer Communication Networks I (4 hours)
• ECE 340: Electronics I (4 hours)
• ECE 341: Probability and Random Processes for Engineers (3 hours)
• ECE 366: Computer Organization (3 hours)
• ECE 396: Senior Design I (2 hours)
• ECE 397: Senior Design II (2 hours)
• ECE 465: Digital Systems Design (3 hours)
• ECE 466: Computer Architecture (3 hours)
• ECE 467: Introduction to VLSI Design (4 hours)
• ECE 499: Professional Development Seminar (0 hours)

Technical Electives

Students must select 17 hours from the following courses:

• CS 361: Systems Programming
• CS 401: Computer Algorithms I
• ECE 311: Communication Engineering
• ECE 317: Digital Signal Processing I
• ECE 322: Introduction to Electromagnetics and Applications
• ECE 342: Electronics II
• ECE 346: Solid State Device Theory
• ECE 347: Integrated Circuit Engineering
• ECE 350: Principles of Automatic Control
• ECE 407: Pattern Recognition I
• ECE 410: Advanced Circuit Analysis
• ECE 412: Introduction to Filter Synthesis
• ECE 415: Image Analysis and Computer Vision I
• ECE 417: Digital Signal Processing II
• ECE 418: Statistical Digital Signal Processing
• ECE 421: Introduction to Antennas and Wireless Propagation
• ECE 423: Electromagnetic Compatibility
• ECE 424: RF and Microwave Engineering
• ECE 432: Digital Communications
• ECE 434: Multimedia Systems
• ECE 436: Computer Communication Networks II
• ECE 437: Wireless Communications
• ECE 440: Nanoelectronics
• ECE 442: Power Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Circuits
• ECE 445: Analysis and Design of Power Electronic Circuits
• ECE 448: Transistors
• ECE 449: Microdevices and Micromachining Technology
• ECE 451: Control Engineering
• ECE 452: Robotics: Algorithms and Control
• ECE 454: Mechatronic Embedded Systems Design
• ECE 458: Electromechanical Energy Conversion
• ECE 464: Testing and Reliability of Digital Systems
• ECE 468: Analog and Mixed - Signal Integrated Circuits
• ECE 469: Hardware Description Language Based Digital and Computer System Design
• MCS 425: Codes and Cryptography
• MCS 471: Numerical Analysis
• PHYS 240: Fundamentals of Modern Quantum Theory
• STAT 471: Linear and Non-Linear Programming

Sample Course Schedule

The following is a sample course schedule for the BS in Computer Engineering program:

Freshman Year

• First Semester:
  • MATH 180: Calculus I (4 hours)
  • CHEM 122: Matter and Energy (3 hours)
  • CHEM 123: Foundations of Chemical Inquiry I (2 hours)
  • ENGL 160: Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts (3 hours)
  • ECE 115: Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering (4 hours)
  • ENGR 100: Engineering Success Seminar for Freshmen (1 hour)
• Second Semester:
  • MATH 181: Calculus II (4 hours)
  • PHYS 141: General Physics I (Mechanics) (4 hours)
  • ENGL 161: Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research (3 hours)
  • CS 107: Introduction to Computing and Programming (4 hours)

Sophomore Year

• First Semester:
  • MATH 210: Calculus III (3 hours)
  • PHYS 142: General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism) (4 hours)
  • CS 151: Mathematical Foundations of Computing (3 hours)
  • ECE 265: Introduction to Logic Design (4 hours)
  • General Education Core course (3 hours)
• Second Semester:
  • MATH 220: Introduction to Differential Equations (3 hours)
  • PHYS 260: Introduction to Thermal Physics (2 hours)
  • ECE 225: Circuit Analysis (4 hours)
  • ECE 266: Introduction to Embedded Systems (4 hours)
  • CS 251: Data Structures (4 hours)

Junior Year

• First Semester:
  • MATH 218: Applied Linear Algebra (3 hours)
  • ECE 310: Discrete and Continuous Signals and Systems (3 hours)
  • ECE 340: Electronics I (4 hours)
  • ECE 341: Probability and Random Processes for Engineers (3 hours)
  • ECE 366: Computer Organization (3 hours)
• Second Semester:
  • ECE 333: Computer Communication Networks I (4 hours)
  • ECE 465: Digital Systems Design (3 hours)
  • ECE 466: Computer Architecture (3 hours)
  • ECE 467: Introduction to VLSI Design (4 hours)
  • General Education Core course (3 hours)

Senior Year

• First Semester:
  • ECE 396: Senior Design I (2 hours)
  • Technical Elective (7 hours)
  • General Education Core course (6 hours)
• Second Semester:
  • ECE 397: Senior Design II (2 hours)
  • Technical Electives (10 hours)
  • ECE 499: Professional Development Seminar (0 hours)
  • General Education Core course (3 hours)