Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BSCP)
Did You Know...?
- According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers 2007 Job Outlook Survey, Electrical and Computer Engineering were among the top 5 most “in-demand” majors.
- Electrical and Computer Engineering were two of the four highest paid majors among recent college graduates.
- At University of Maryland, Electrical and Computer Engineering are the most requested majors for employers conducting campus interviews.
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Computer Engineering
In the Fall of 1997, the University of Maryland launched the BS degree program in Computer Engineering, drawing upon resources and expert faculty from both the departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science. The Computer Engineering program, the first of its kind in the state of Maryland, was developed in conjunction with industry leaders to address the demand for excellence in this rapidly developing field.
Computer technology pervades nearly every aspect of our lives. The driving force behind the explosion of many engineering applications is the fact that available computer power per dollar is more than doubling every two years. This has been going on for the past 20 years, and is expected to continue into the future.
Everything from personal digital assistants (PDA's) to VCR's to automobiles contain computer chips, and with the continuing cost reductions of digital hardware, this trend will accelerate. The integration of computing power or "intelligence" into every day mechanical objects makes applications plausible, which were totally impossible, when a computer took up tens of cubic feet of space and consumed kilowatts of electrical power.
Traditionally, electrical engineers design the circuits and hardware, while computer scientists work with software and applications. With the increasing demand for computer and systems to interact efficiently, developers are looking for professionals whose knowledge integrates expertise from both the electrical engineering and computer science fields. Computer engineers meet this demand by combining expertise in low-level software, high-level hardware and integrated system design.
 Curriculum
Computer Engineering Curriculum
The Computer Engineering curriculum requires a minimum of 120 credits to degree completion. Undergraduate students pursue a common foundation in math, physics, and chemistry (as well as computer and engineering sciences), then concentrate on the computer engineering core curriculum during sophomore and junior years. Seniors can choose from a wide variety of electrical engineering and computer science courses, including capstone design course work, which integrates classroom learning with hands-on practical design. Students thereby gain valuable technical skills for subsequent graduate study and/or technical advancement.
Undergraduate Educational Objectives
Accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: (410) 347-7700
Degree requirements:
 The degree requirements can be grouped into the following six broad categories:
- Mathematics and Basic Sciences
- Disciplinary Foundation of Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Electives
- Engineering Technical Elective
- Technical Writing
- General Education Requirements – CORE
Mathematics and Basic Sciences
This area comprises 31 credits. These courses stress the mathematical techniques and scientific principles upon which computer engineering is based. The courses are required and include the following:
MATH140: Calculus I (4 credits)
MATH141: Calculus II (4 credits)
MATH246: Differential Equations for Scientists & Engineers (3 credits)
CMSC250: Discrete Structures ( 4 credits)
PHYS161: General Physics, Mechanics and Particles Dynamics (3 credits)
PHYS260/261: General Physics, Vibrations, Waves, Heat, and E/M (4 credits)
CHEM135: General Chemistry for Engineers (3 credits
*A minimum of six additional credits must be completed from the approved “Mathematics and Basics Sciences” electives list. (6 credits)
These courses contribute to the required one year of mathematics and basic sciences. See section 4.d for a detailed treatment of this requirement.
Disciplinary Foundation of Computer Engineering
The Disciplinary Foundation in Computer Science consists of core course in both electrical engineering and computer science. There are 26 credits of electrical engineering work under this area. The computer science component requires students to complete an additional 18 credits.
For the electrical engineering component, students are required to take courses in circuits and microelectronics, electrical systems, computers organization, and digital computer design. These courses cover the fundamental electrical engineering concepts and laboratory skills common to any professional working in the field of computer engineering.
ENEE204: Basic Circuit Theory (3 credits)
ENEE206: Fundamental Electric and Digital Circuits Laboratory (2 credits)
ENEE241: Numerical Techniques in Engineering (3 credits)
ENEE244: Digital Logic Design (3 credits)
ENEE302: Digital Electronics (3 credits)
ENEE322: Signal and System Theory (3 credits)
ENEE324: Engineering Probability (3 credits)
ENEE350: Computer Organization (3 credits)
ENEE446: Digital Computer Design (3 credits)
For the computer science component students are required to complete a rigorous introduction to computer programming through a Java-based sequence of courses. Students also take courses in semantics and organization of programming languages, computer algorithms, and operating systems. These computer science courses amount to 18 credits of coursework.
CMSC132: Object Oriented Programming II (4 credits)*
CMSC212: Introduction to Low-level Programming Concepts (4 credits)
CMSC330: Organization of Programming Languages (3 credits)
CMSC351: Algorithms (3 credits)
CMSC412: Operating Systems (4 credits)
[*Students are required to complete CMSC 131 prior to taking CMSC132 unless they have AP credit for CMSC 131 (5 on the JAVA A exam, 4 or 5 on the JAVA AB) or have satisfactorily passed the Computer Science exemption exam.]
The total combined credits for these required electrical engineering and computer science courses is 44 credits.
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Electives
In addition to the required engineering courses, students must complete 11 credits of electrical engineering and computer science electives. The elective courses are divided into four categories. The first is Category B, “Computer Science Theory and Applications” which consists of twenty CMSC electives students can choose from. The second is Category C, “Electrical Engineering Theory and Applications.” This area contains nearly two dozen upper-level ENEE courses that can be used to satisfy this requirement. The next is Category D, “Advanced Laboratory.” Students must select from among nine different courses to satisfy this requirement. All but one of these is two credits. The last group is Category E. This is the “Capstone Design” requirement. Students must select from six different capstone design courses. See the list of approved CP Technical Electives for an explanation of which courses fall into what categories.
Engineering Technical Electives
All Computer Engineering students are also expected to complete at least 3 additional credits of engineering electives. These credits must come from an engineering discipline other than electrical engineering. Furthermore, any course used to satisfy this requirement cannot be cross-listed as a CMSC course. See the Category F List for approved engineering courses that satisfy this requirement. Courses not on this list may be acceptable, but they must be approved. Such courses must: a) be at the 300- or 400-level; b) be junior- or senior-level in technical content, as evidenced by significant sophomore-level prerequisites in mathematics, physics, or engineering; and/or c) make academic sense in the student's program. Approvals of special requests are made by the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies.
Technical Writing
All engineering students in the A. James Clark School of Engineering are required to complete a 3-credit, junior-level English course in technical writing. The course typically taken is ENGL393: Technical Writing.
General Education Requirements – CORE
A degree from the University of Maryland signifies more than just mere technical or narrowly defined career training. Students are offered a liberal education that prepares them to achieve the intellectual integration and awareness they need to meet challenges in their personal, social, political, and professional lives. As such, all graduates are required to complete the University's general education or CORE requirements. Students usually do 40 credits of CORE work. Some of these requirements are satisfied in the process of completing some of the major requirements.
For more information, see approved computer engineering course list:
Approved Computer Engineering Course list
Degree Requirements
Sample Schedule
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