Program Overview

Major in Computer Engineering, Aerospace Systems Concentration

The Major in Computer Engineering, Aerospace Systems Concentration, is designed for undergraduate computer engineering majors who wish to specialize in the aerospace discipline. This program offers a computer engineering degree foundation with specialized training in aerospace systems.

Program Description

Aerospace engineering is a broad and dynamic field that centers on the design, construction, and science behind aircraft and spacecraft. The aerospace concentration enables students to apply key computer engineering principles in areas such as computer systems, programming, deep-space communications, robotics, flight avionics, and more. Students will learn to solve complex engineering problems in aerospace, including improved safety-critical hardware design, real-time software programming, satellite communications, and remote sensing methods.

Program Requirements

• The curriculum for this major assumes students enter college prepared to take calculus.
• In order to maintain professional standards required of practicing engineers, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 in Electrical Engineering courses as a graduation requirement.
• ECE courses required for the major at the 100, 200, and 300 level must be passed with a minimum grade of C; grades below a C will require the student to retake the course.
• ECE courses designated as an elective are exempt from the C or higher minimum grade requirement.

Course Requirements

The program requires a total of 126 credits, distributed across eight semesters. The course requirements are as follows:

Freshman

• CHEM 111: General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) - 4 credits
• CHEM 112: General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) - 1 credit
• CO 150: College Composition (GT-CO2) - 3 credits
• ENGR 111: Fundamentals of Engineering - 3 credits
• ENGR 114: Engineering for Grand Challenges - 3 credits
• MATH 160: Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1) - 4 credits
• MATH 161: Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1) - 4 credits
• Select one group from the following:
  • Group A: CS 150B: Culture and Coding: Python (GT-AH3) - 3 credits
  • Group B: Arts and Humanities - 3 credits, CS 152: Python for STEM - 3 credits
  • Group C: Arts and Humanities - 3 credits, CS 163: CS1---No Prior Programming Experience - 3 credits

Sophomore

• CS 165: CS2--Data Structures - 4 credits
• ECE 205: Analog Circuits I - 2 credits
• ECE 206: Analog Circuits II - 3 credits
• ECE 232: Introduction to Project Practices - 1 credit
• ECE 252: Introduction to Digital Circuits - 3 credits
• ECE 253: Microcontrollers and C for Internet-of-Things - 3 credits
• ECE 303/STAT 303: Introduction to Communications Principles - 3 credits
• MATH 261: Calculus for Physical Scientists III - 4 credits
• MATH 340: Intro to Ordinary Differential Equations - 4 credits
• PH 141: Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1) - 5 credits

Junior

• CS 214: Software Development - 3 credits
• CS 220: Discrete Structures and the Applications - 4 credits
• CT 301: C++ Fundamentals - 2 credits
• ECE 311: Linear System Analysis I - 3 credits
• ECE 312: Linear System Analysis II - 3 credits
• ECE 450: Digital System Design Laboratory - 1 credit
• ECE 451: Digital System Design - 3 credits
• ECE 452: Computer Organization and Architecture - 3 credits
• ECON 202: Principles of Microeconomics (GT-SS1) - 3 credits
• JTC 300 or CO 301B: Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3) - 3 credits
• Select a minimum of three credits from the following:
  • DSCI 369: Linear Algebra for Data Science - 3 credits
  • MATH 369: Linear Algebra I - 3 credits

Senior

• ECE 401: Senior Design Project I - 3 credits
• ECE 402: Senior Design Project II - 3 credits
• Select one course from the following:
  • ECE 456: Computer Networks - 4 credits
  • ECE 528/CS 528: Embedded Systems and Machine Learning - 4 credits
• Computer Engineering Electives and Technical Electives (see lists below) - 15 credits
• Arts and Humanities - 3 credits
• Historical Perspectives - 3 credits

Computer Engineering Electives

• ECE 395A: Independent Study 2 - 1-3 credits
• ECE 395B: Independent Study: Open Option Project 2 - 1 credit
• ECE 395C: Independent Study : Vertically Integrated Project 2 - 1 credit
• IDEA 310L: Design Thinking Toolbox : Creating Things That Think - 2 credits

Technical Electives

• ATS 550: Atmospheric Radiation and Remote Sensing - 3 credits
• CS 314: Software Engineering - 3 credits
• CS 345: Machine Learning Foundations and Practice - 3 credits
• CS 356: Systems Security - 3 credits
• CS 370: Operating Systems - 3 credits
• CS 4XX: Any CS course numbered 400-479, excluding CS457 and CS470 - 4 credits
• CS 545: Machine Learning - 4 credits
• CS 553: Algorithmic Language Compilers - 4 credits
• CS 559: Quantitative Security - 4 credits
• CS 575: Parallel Processing - 4 credits
• CT 307: High Performance Programming in Rust - 2 credits
• ECE 340: Electromagnetics for Computer Engineering - 3 credits
• ECE 404: Experiments in Optical Electronics - 2 credits
• ECE 411: Control Systems - 3 credits
• ECE 412: Digital Control and Digital Filters - 3 credits
• ECE 415: Semiconductor Physics and Junctions - 2 credits
• ECE 421: Telecommunications I - 3 credits
• ECE 441: Optical Electronics - 3 credits
• ECE 444: Antennas and Radiation - 3 credits
• ECE 455: Introduction to Robot Programming/Simulation - 3 credits
• ECE 456: Computer Networks - 4 credits
• ECE 495A: Independent Study 2 - 1-3 credits
• ECE 495B: Independent Study: Open Option Project 2 - 1 credit
• ECE 495C: Independent Study: Vertically Integrated Projects 2 - 1 credit
• ECE 512: Digital Signal Processing - 3 credits
• ECE 514: Applications of Random Processes - 3 credits
• ECE 516: Information Theory - 3 credits
• ECE 520: Optimization Methods--Control and Comm. - 3 credits
• ECE 521: Satellite Communication - 3 credits
• ECE 528/CS 528: Embedded Systems and Machine Learning - 4 credits
• ECE 529: Signal Processing & Artificial Intelligence - 3 credits
• ECE 540: Computational Electromagnetics - 3 credits
• ECE 541: Applied Electromagnetics - 3 credits
• ECE 544: Silicon Photonics for Computing Systems - 3 credits
• ECE 545: FPGA Signal Processing/Software-Defined Radio - 3 credits
• ECE 549: Radar Systems and Design - 3 credits
• ECE 553: Adaptive Systems and Machine Learning - 3 credits
• ECE 554: Computer Architecture - 3 credits
• ECE 556: AI for Radar and Remote Sensing - 3 credits
• ECE 561/CS 561: Hardware/Software Design of Embedded Systems - 4 credits
• ECE 564: Semiconductor Memory - 3 credits
• ECE 571: VLSI System Design - 4 credits
• ECE 578: Satellite Data Analysis - 3 credits
• ECE 579: Global Navigation Satellite Systems - 3 credits
• ENGR 430: Engineering With Drones - 3 credits
• ENGR 570: Coupled Electromechanical Systems - 3 credits
• MATH 450: Introduction to Numerical Analysis I - 3 credits
• MATH 451: Introduction to Numerical Analysis II - 3 credits
• MECH 518: Orbital Mechanics - 3 credits
• MECH 519: Aerospace Vehicles Trajectory and Performance - 3 credits
• STAT 421: Introduction to Stochastic Processes - 3 credits

Recommended Sequence

The recommended sequence for most incoming students is Group A: CS 150B to CS 164.

Notes

• A total of 6 credits of Independent Study may apply toward total degree requirements.
• Course may count as a Technical Elective ONLY when not taken as part of the major requirements. The course cannot count as credit toward both major and technical elective requirements.