Computer Engineering

Department of Computer Science and Engineering
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
201 Bell Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-2000
Phone: (716) 645-3180
Fax: (716) 645-3464
Web: Computer Science and Engineering
Bharat Jayaraman, Interim Chair
Helene Kershner, Assistant Chair
Peter D. Scott, Director of Undergraduate Studies

The Program
Computer engineering, anchored in physics, mathematics, engineering principles, engineering design, and computer science, is primarily concerned with the creation of information processing devices and systems. Computer engineers do research and development in all aspects of computing, including software and hardware at both the circuit and system levels. With emphasis on the physical principles of computing hardware, computer engineers are well trained to address critical interface issues between hardware and software essential to many current and future applications. Reliability and availability of systems, performance evaluation and optimization, networking and computer communication, integrated circuit power reduction, miniaturization, and VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) are all within the scope of computer engineering.

The undergraduate program in computer engineering at UB includes digital electronics, logic design, computer architecture, VLSI design and testing, computer networking, computer vision, multimedia, software engineering, and computer architecture. While the lower division of the program concentrates on mathematics, basic science, and introductory topics in circuit theory and computer science, the upper division provides an in-depth understanding of digital systems, design of hardware and software for modern computer systems, assembler and high-level programming, and the use of computers for a variety of applications, including artificial intelligence, telecommunication devices, networking, and distributed systems. Culminating in a sequence of engineering design electives in the senior year, graduates of this program acquire the skills and capabilities for creative work in academic or industrial settings.

Graduates of this program are in high demand in the job market. The National Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks computer engineering as one of the fastest growing job categories in the United States. Computer engineers find employment in the computer, communication, instrumentation, and semiconductor industries in such areas as computer hardware, software, information processing, networking, telecommunication, and product design, in addition to traditional areas of engineering and computer science, such as electronics, aerospace, defense, business information systems, instrumentation, and biomedical engineering.

Note: Course descriptions may be found in the computer science section on page 79, in the electrical engineering section on page 95, and within other entries of this catalog.

Computer Engineering - B.S.

Acceptance Criteria
Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in CSE116, MTH142* or MTH152*, and PHY107
*Unless exempted by score on SAT, Advanced Placement credits, or transfer credits

Required Courses
CHE107 General Chemistry for Engineers
CSE115 Introduction to Computer Science for Majors I
CSE116 Introduction to Computer Science for Majors II
CSE191 Introduction to Discrete Mathematics
CSE250 Algorithms and Data Structures
CSE305 Introduction to Programming Languages
CSE341 Computer Organization
CSE379 Introduction to Microprocessors and Microcomputers
CSE380 Introduction to Microprocessors Lab
CSE421 Introduction to Operating Systems
CSE442 Software Engineering
EAS204 Thermodynamics or EAS207 Statics
EAS305 Applied Probability
EE 202 Circuit Analysis I
EE 203 Circuit Analysis II
EE 303 Signal Analysis and Transform Methods
EE 310 Electronic Devices and Circuits I
EE 311 Electronic Devices and Circuits II
EE 312 Basic Electronic Instrumentation Laboratory
EE 378 Digital Principles
EE 408 Senior Seminar
MTH141 College Calculus I
MTH142 College Calculus II
MTH241 College Calculus III
MTH306 Introduction to Differential Equations
MTH309 Linear Algebra or MTH437 Numerical Analysis I
PHY107 General Physics I
PHY108/158 General Physics II/Lab
Two engineering design elective courses

See Baccalaureate Degree Requirements (page 254) for general education and remaining university requirements.

Recommended Sequence of Major Requirements

First Year
Fall-CSE115, MTH141, CHE107
Spring-CSE116, MTH142, PHY107

Second Year
Fall-CSE191, EE 202, MTH306, PHY108/158
Spring-CSE250, EE 203, MTH241, MTH309

Third Year
Fall-EE 310, EE 312, EE 378, EAS305
Spring-CSE379, CSE380, EE 303, EE 311, one engineering science elective (EAS204 or EAS207)

Fourth Year
Fall-CSE305, CSE341, EE 408, one engineering design elective
Spring-CSE421, CSE442, one engineering design elective

Engineering Design Electives
Engineering design electives are lab-based 400-level courses with significant engineering design content; at least one must be offered by the CSE department.

Summary
Total required credit hours in computer science and engineering - 40
Total required credit hours outside computer science
and engineering - 72

Academic Affairs

Phone: (716) 645-6003

Fax: (716) 645-2549

Last updated: Thursday, 09-Dec-2004 15:21:17 EST