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Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8346
Location: JD4509
Phone: (818) 677-2190
Fax: (818) 677-7062
E-mail: ece@csun.edu
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER ENGINEERING
Computer Engineering Program Educational Objectives
Computer Engineering Program Outcomes
Careers in Computer Engineering
Pre-Registration Testing Requirements
Requirements for the B.S. Degree in Computer Engineering
Lower Division Required Courses
Upper Division Required Courses
Four Year Plan - Computer Engineering Degree
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.
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.
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
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.
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
| MATH 150A | Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 150B | Calculus II | 5 |
| PHYS 220A/L | Mechanics and Lab | 3/1 |
| COMP 110/L | Introduction to Algorithims and Programming and Lab | 3/1 |
| COMP 122/L | Introduction to Computer Systems and Lab | 1/1 |
| COMP 182/L | Data Structures and Program Design and Lab | 3/1 |
Sophomore Year
| MATH 250 | Calculus III | 3 |
| MATH 280 | Applied Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 220B/L | Electricity and Magnetism and Lab | 3/1 |
| COMP 222 | Computer Organization | 3 |
| COMP 282 | Advanced Data Structures | 3 |
| COMP 240/L | Electrical Engineering Fundamentals and Lab | 3/1 |
Math and Science Electives (8 UNITS)
Select a minimum of 8 units from the following list with corresponding lab if
one exists:
| BIOL 106/L | Biological Principles I and Lab | 3/1 |
| BIOL 107/L | Biological Principles II and Lab | 3/1 |
| CHEM 101/L | General Chemistry I and Lab | 4/1 |
| CHEM 102/L | General Chemistry II and Lab | 4/1 |
| PHYS 227/L | Physics III | 3/1 |
| PHYS 375 | Introduction to Quantum Physics | 3 |
| MATH 262 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 326 | Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
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
| COMP 322/L | Introduction to Operating Systems and System Architecture and Lab |
3/1 |
| ECE 320/L | Theory of Digital Systems and Lab | 3/1 |
| ECE 340/L | Electronics I and Lab | 3/1 |
| ECE 350 | Linear Systems I | 3 |
| MSE 304 | Engineering Economy | 3 |
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.
| ECE 422 | Design of Digital Computers | 3 |
| ECE 425/L | Microprocessor Systems and Lab | 3/1 |
| ECE 420 | Digital Systems Design with Programmable Logic | 3 |
| ECE 442/L | Digital Electronics and Lab | 3/1 |
| ECE 450 | Probabilistic Systems in Electrical
Engineering Design and Analysis |
3 |
| ECE 492/493 | Senior Design Project I and II | 2/1 |
Upper Division Electives (6 UNITS)
Select a minimum of 6 units from the following:
| COMP 380 | Introduction to Software Engineering | 2 |
| COMP 429 | Computer Network Software | 3 |
| COMP 529 | Advanced Network Topics | 3 |
| ECE 443/L | Pulse and Waveshaping Circuit Design and Lab | 3/1 |
| ECE 526/L | Verilog HDL: Modelling, Simulation & Synthesis and Lab | 3/1 |
| ECE 524/L | FPGA/ASIC Design Methodology and Optimization Using VHDL and Lab |
3/1 |
| ECE 546 | Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit Design | 3 |
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
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