Computer Engineering Program Educational Objectives

The Computer Engineering program at the California State University, Northridge prepares a diverse group of graduates for lifelong careers in the field that will allow them to make productive contributions to society and to find personal satisfaction in their work.  To accomplish this, graduates of the computer engineering program will meet the following educational objectives:

1. The ability to apply engineering principles in designing and analyzing electrical circuits and computer systems.

2. The knowledge and application of state-of-the-art design techniques and software tools.

3. The ability to communicate well, both orally and in writing, and work as a productive member of an interdisciplinary team.

4. The ability to develop engineering solutions with consideration of their impact on society.

5. The ability to maintain lifelong learning.

Computer Engineering Program Outcomes

The Computer Engineering curriculum prepares our graduates to meet the Program Outcomes which are listed below:

1. An ability to apply knowledge of math, science and engineering to the analysis of computer engineering problems.

2. An ability to design and conduct scientific and engineering experiements, as well as to analyze and interpret data.

3. An ability to design systems which include hardware and/or software components within realistic constraints such as cost, manufacturability, safety and environmental concerns.

4. An ability to function in multidisciplinary teams.

5. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve computer engineering problems.

6. An understanding of ethical and professional responsibility.

7. An ability to communicate effectively through written reports and oral presentations.

8. An understanding of the impact of engineering in a social context.

9. Recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning.

10. A broad education and knowledge of contemporary issues.

11. An ability to use modern engineering techniques for analysis and design.

12. Knowledge of probability and statistics.

13. An ability to analyze and design complex devices and systems containing hardware and software components.

14. Knowledge of math including differential equations, linear algebra, complex vari­ables and discrete math.

15. The ability to be competitive in the engineering job market and/or to continue studies at the graduate level.

About Computer Engineering

The Computer Engineering (CompE) program bridges the curriculum gap between Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Computer Engineers deal with the hardware and software aspects of computer system design and development. The Computer Engineering curriculum contains components of both the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering programs.

Computer Engineering majors receive a broad knowledge in the basic curriculum. Among the many topics are mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, electrical circuits, engineering economy, algorithms, programming, and computer organization. Computer Engineering students will take coursework in a number of areas (i.e. computer architecture, digital design) from both the software and hardware points of view, allowing them to get a broader, more complete exposure to the subject. Additionally, these curricula will be unified in the one year senior design project course bringing together the existing Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science programs.
 

The ECE department has 16 labs associated with its ECE classes. In the labs, students work alongside professors who may be designing medical instrumentation for health care, developing pagers and satellite communications system, or working on innovations in electrical power systems.
All students take part in the department's senior design program, modeled on industry work groups that students will encounter on the job. Like professional engineers, students design and develop a project, from conception through manufacture. In the process, they gain valuable experience in working as a team, dealing with personalities as well as technical areas.
 

Senior design projects have included a national intercollegiate competition in designing a micromouse and training it to run through a 10' square maze. Other projects include developing a antenna, television tuner, fabrication of hybrid circuit, etc.
 

The School of Engineering and Computer Science offers an Honors Cooperative Program that allows juniors and seniors to complete their studies while holding down jobs as engineers.
 

A student chapter of the national professional society, the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, meets on campus. Other active organizations include Tau Beta Pi, the student engineering society; the Society for Women, Engineers; the National Society for Black Engineers; and the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers.
 

Careers in Computer Engineering

The department’s practical approach to engineering offers hand’s on design experience as well as theoretical knowledge. That’s an advantage on the job because graduates actually have experience in constructing projects as well as designing them. Students who enjoy using math and science creatively to solve real-world problems will find rewarding careers as computer engineers.

Careers in Computer Engineering: Computer engineering graduates will be effective engineering designers and problem solvers based upon the strong theoretical foundation in both the hardware and software aspects of computers and related systems. They will have expertise in design, construction, and operation of computer systems. Computer engineering graduates have the potential to work in virtually every industry. Among the major employers are the computer industry, communications, microelectronics, control systems, robotics, radar, instrumentation, innovative distributed systems, computer networking and the entertainment industry. Computer Engineers are employed in all sectors: manufacturing, services, and government. The program prepares the graduate for professional practice as well as for graduate studies.

The 2000 Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, states that “Computer Software Engineering is expected to be one of the top three fastest growing occupations through the year 2012.” According to the BLS, from 2000 to 2010, the number of jobs for computer software engineers is expected to increase 95.4% nationwide. Computer Software Engineering is predicted to be the fastest growing field of engineering during this period with over 114,000 new jobs becoming available. Additionally, Computer Software Engineering is predicted to be the second fastest growing occupation with respect to all other occupations nationwide. In California, a report by the Employment Development Department a growth of 24.5% in jobs for computer hardware engineers through 2010.

High School Preparation

It must be emphasized that this program is based upon an expectation of adequate high school preparation in science, mathematics, and English. High school courses should include algebra, plane geometry, trigonometry, chemistry, or physics (both desirable), and four years of English. Students who have not had an adequate background of pre-engineering work in high school may be required to take some additional course work in their first year and may not be able to complete an engineering program in eight semesters. Entering beginning engineering students must take or be exempt from the Entry Level Mathematics Test and the Mathematics and English Placement Tests before registration in basic courses will be permitted.

Pre-Registration Testing Requirements

The campus requires most beginning students to take the Entry Level Mathematics Exam (ELM) and the English Placement Test (EPT) prior to enrolling in their courses. Refer to the section of the university catalog entitled “Appendices-Admission” for further details on these exams. In addition to these general university requirements, students in any of the engineering programs may also need the following exams:

1. Mathematics Placements Test (MPT) is required prior to enrollment in MATH 150A. Students who have passed or are exempt from the ELM should take this exam prior to enrolling in their classes so they may be placed in the appropriate mathematics course. Students with scores of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Calculus AB or BC are exempt from the MPT.

2. Chemistry Placement Test (CPT) is required with a score of 40 or higher prior to enrolling in CHEM 101. Students who do not receive this score must receive a grade of C or better in CHEM 105 before taking CHEM 101

Transfer Requirements

All degree programs in engineering accommodate students beginning as freshmen or as transfer students. Transfer students should have completed lower-division writing, mathematics, physics, and chemistry courses. Courses that are transferred into the major are reviewed to ensure that they satisfy the same requirements as courses at Northridge. Courses transferred into the engineering major must have been completed with a grade of C or better.

Special Grade Requirements

No grade lower than a C will be accepted for transfer classes from another institution to the Electrical and Computer Engineering major requirements. No CSUN grade lower than a C- will be accepted as satisfactory for courses required for the major. More stringent prerequisite requirements may apply to some courses.

Requirements for the B.S. Degree in Computer Engineering

The Computer Engineering program requires a minimum of 123 units total, including General Education and Title 5 requirements of 27 units, a Computer Engineering core of 90 units, and a minimum of 6 units of an approved elective. Computer Engineering majors must complete a minimum of 30 semester units of upper-division computer engineering courses in residency, including senior design project I and II.
 

Lower Division Required Courses (52 UNITS)

Note: All students must pass the English Placement Test with a score of 151 or higher before enrolling in any 200-level engineering courses.
 

Freshman Year
 

Sophomore Year

Math and Science Electives (8 UNITS)
 

Select a minimum of 8 units from the following list with corresponding lab if one exists:
 

Upper Division Required Courses (38 UNITS)

Note: All students must complete lower-division writing requirements with grade of C or better before enrolling in any 300-level course in the major and must attempt the Upper-Division Writing Proficiency Examination before enrolling in any 400-level course in the major.
 

Junior Year

Senior Year

 
The senior year must include a ‘capstone’ design experience and additional courses with design content so that the student’s total engineering program contains at least one semester of engineering design. This engineering design requirement must be taken in residency. An advisor and the Department Chair must approve all senior year electives.

Upper Division Electives (6 UNITS)

Select a minimum of 6 units from the following:

Note: Some elective courses have prerequisites that are not part of the required program. All courses must include the lab, if one exists. Other courses may be selected with the approval of the ECE Department Chair.

TOTAL UNITS IN THE MAJOR - 96

General Education (27 UNITS)

Computer Engineering majors have to follow a modified general education program depending upon the year and enrollment status as a college student. Returning and transfer students should consult an advisor before planning their general education programs.

Computer Engineering students are required to take courses in the following GE sections: Analytical Reading and Expository Writing (3 units), Oral Communication (3 units), Social Sciences (3 units), Arts and Humanities (6 units), Comparative Cultures (6 units), U.S. History and Local Government (6 units). All other GE requirements are met through completion of courses in the major. Nine of the GE units must be at the upper-division level and two courses must meet the Information Competency requirement.
 

TOTAL UNITS REQUIRED FOR DEGREE IN COMPUTER ENGINEERING - 123