Students enrolled in a computer engineering program must complete general educational requirements and prerequisite courses in the field. General educational requirements include courses in English, mathematics, science and the humanities. Students are also required to take prerequisite courses to prepare them for more advanced computer engineering classes. These courses include introduction to engineering, introduction to computer engineering, circuit design I, electronics I and logic design I.
The core curriculum within a computer engineering program features advanced level courses that prepare students for employment after graduation. These courses cover topics in computer engineering applications programming, engineering differential equations, microprocessor systems design, data structures and algorithms, computer architecture and design, and signals and systems. These courses provide students with a strong understanding of computer logic and hardware and teaches them to develop new devices and systems.
In order to prepare students to work in professional settings, students are required to participate in laboratory work. Students working in these settings are able to apply theory learned in the classroom into practical applications. This is also an opportunity for students to develop the skills and ability to work in teams and create circuits, write laboratory reports, develop machine language programming and test circuits.
A capstone project is the final project needed for graduation. Students combine their knowledge and skills gained in their coursework with research to develop an original project. Before beginning a project, students often take a capstone preparation course and work with a faculty member to develop an idea and create an outline. Students develop a computer engineering prototype and are required to complete a final report and present an oral presentation on their work.