Computer engineers are responsible for developing the powerful computer systems that have become a part of our everyday life. Applications for computer engineering span the spectrum from high-performance, general-purpose computing systems such as desktop workstations used in all facets of business, to small microprocessors embedded in larger systems and functioning as controllers. These latter applications, known as embedded systems, can be found in control systems for trains, aircraft and automobiles; medical equipment; telecommunications systems; and consumer electronics and appliances. This explosive growth of computer systems in use in almost every new appliance or vehicle has resulted in a strong demand for engineers trained in the development of these systems, and all indications are that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:
- Identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics
- Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors
- Communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts
- Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives
- Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
Special requirements
Program D grade policy: Students must receive a minimum grade of C in all engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics and all technical electives to graduate.
Degree requirements for Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| CMSC 312 | Introduction to Operating Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 101 | Introduction to Engineering | 4 |
| EGRE 206 | Electric Circuits | 4 |
| EGRE 207 | Electric Circuits II | 4 |
| EGRE 245 | Engineering Programming | 4 |
| EGRE 246 | Advanced Engineering Programming | 3 |
| EGRE 254 | Digital Logic Design | 4 |
| EGRE 306 | Introduction to Microelectronics | 4 |
| EGRE 335 | Signals and Systems | 4 |
| EGRE 337 | Statistical Information Processing | 3 |
| EGRE 347 | Applied Embedded Programming | 3 |
| EGRE 364 | Microcomputer Systems | 4 |
| EGRE 365 | Digital Systems | 4 |
| EGRE 426 | Computer Organization and Design | 3 |
| EGRE 428 | Introduction to Integrated Systems Design | 2 |
| EGRE 429 | Advanced Digital Systems Design | 2 |
| ENGR 395 | Professional Development | 1 |
| ENGR 402 & ENGR 403 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) and Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 2 |
| • Additional major requirements | ||
| Select one of the following sequences: | 4 | |
| Senior Design Studio I (Laboratory/Project Time) and Senior Design Studio II (Laboratory/Project Time) | ||
| Senior Design Studio I - VIP (Laboratory/Project Time) and Senior Design Studio II - VIP (Laboratory/Project Time) | ||
| Technical electives (see list and requirements below) | 16 | |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| CHEZ 101 | General Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| ECON 205 | The Economics of Product Development and Markets (satisfies BOK for social/behavioral sciences and/or AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 211 | Mathematical Structures | 3 |
| or CMSC 302 | Introduction to Discrete Structures | |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHIL 201 | Introduction to Ethics (satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
| PHYS 207 | University Physics I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 5 |
| PHYS 208 | University Physics II | 5 |
| SPCH 321 | Speech for Business and the Professions | 3 |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 130 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 130.
Capstone project (four credits)
The program culminates in the capstone project. In order to prepare for the appropriate focus area of the capstone project, students, with the help of their academic adviser, should plan a course of study beginning in the fall semester of their junior year.
Technical electives (16 credits)
The 16 credit hours in the junior and senior year must be chosen from the approved lists. The following criteria must be met:
- At least eight credit hours must come from the electrical and computer engineering or computer science areas
- At least three credit hours must come from outside the electrical and computer engineering and computer science areas
- Courses not from the approved lists must be approved by the adviser and department chair.
- Courses must be technical courses at the 300 level or above.
- No more than three credit hours may come from independent study courses.
- If a student wants to apply ENGR 497 toward their technical electives, a minimum of four credit hours must be earned.
- A maximum of nine credits of ENGR 410, ENGR 497 and independent study courses may be used toward technical electives.
Note: Some of the listed courses may have prerequisites that do not count as technical electives.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Approved electives in electrical and computer engineering | ||
| EGMN 315 | Process and Systems Dynamics | 3 |
| EGMN 416 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| EGMN 427 | Robotics | 3 |
| EGRE 303 | Electronic Devices | 3 |
| EGRE 307 | Integrated Circuits | 4 |
| EGRE 309 | Introduction to Electromagnetic Fields | 3 |
| EGRE 310 | Electromagnetic Fields and Waves | 3 |
| EGRE 334 | Introduction to Microfabrication | 4 |
| EGRE 336 | Introduction to Communication Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 435 | Microscale and Nanoscale Fabrication | 4 |
| EGRE 436 | Advanced Microscale and Nanoscale Fabrication | 3 |
| EGRE 444 | Communication Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 454 | Automatic Controls | 4 |
| EGRE 455 | Control Systems Design | 3 |
| EGRE 471 | Power System Analysis | 3 |
| EGRE 521 | Advanced Semiconductor Devices | 3 |
| EGRE 525 | Fundamentals of Photonics Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 526/CMSC 506 | Computer Networks and Communications | 3 |
| EGRE 531 | Multicore and Multithreaded Programming | 3 |
| EGRE 532 | GPU Computing | 3 |
| EGRE 535 | Digital Signal Processing | 3 |
| EGRE 540 | Microwave System Design | 3 |
| EGRE 541 | Medical Devices | 3 |
| EGRE 553 | Industrial Automation | 3 |
| EGRE 554 | Advanced Industrial Automation | 3 |
| EGRE 555 | Dynamics and Multivariable Control I | 3 |
| EGRE 573 | Sustainable and Efficient Power Systems | 3 |
| ENGR 410 | Review of Internship (completion of internship required) | 1 |
| Approved electives in computer science | ||
| CMSC 303 | Introduction to the Theory of Computation | 3 |
| CMSC 355 | Fundamentals of Software Engineering | 3 |
| CMSC 401 | Algorithm Analysis with Advanced Data Structures | 3 |
| CMSC 403 | Programming Languages | 3 |
| CMSC 404 | Compiler Construction | 3 |
| CMSC 409 | Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| CMSC 411 | Computer Graphics | 3 |
| CMSC 420 | Software Project Management | 3 |
| Approved electives outside electrical and computer engineering and computer science | ||
| EGMN 309 | Material Science for Engineers | 3 |
| EGMN 321 | Numerical Methods | 3 |
| EGRB 407 | Physical Principles of Medical Imaging | 3 |
| EGRB 408 | Advanced Biomedical Signal Processing | 3 |
| EGRB 507 | Biomedical Electronics and Instrumentation | 3 |
| ENGR 497 | Vertically Integrated Projects | 1,2 |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 310 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 351 | Applied Abstract Algebra | 3 |
| PHYS 307 | The Physics of Sound and Music | 3 |
| PHYS 320 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYZ 320 | Modern Physics Laboratory | 1 |
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| CHEZ 101 | General Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| EGRE 101 | Introduction to Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGRE 245 | Engineering Programming | 4 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| PHYS 207 | University Physics I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 5 |
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGRE 206 | Electric Circuits | 4 |
| EGRE 246 | Advanced Engineering Programming | 3 |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 208 | University Physics II | 5 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 18 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGRE 207 | Electric Circuits II | 4 |
| EGRE 254 | Digital Logic Design | 4 |
| EGRE 335 | Signals and Systems | 4 |
| ENGR 395 | Professional Development | 1 |
| MATH 211 or CMSC 302 | Mathematical Structures or Introduction to Discrete Structures | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGRE 306 | Introduction to Microelectronics | 4 |
| EGRE 337 | Statistical Information Processing | 3 |
| EGRE 347 | Applied Embedded Programming | 3 |
| EGRE 364 | Microcomputer Systems | 4 |
| EGRE 365 | Digital Systems | 4 |
| Term Hours: | 18 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| CMSC 312 | Introduction to Operating Systems | 3 |
| ECON 205 | The Economics of Product Development and Markets (satisfies BOK for social/behavioral sciences and/or AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| PHIL 201 | Introduction to Ethics (satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
| Technical electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGRE 404 or EGRE 406 | Senior Design Studio I (Laboratory/Project Time) or Senior Design Studio I - VIP (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| EGRE 426 | Computer Organization and Design | 3 |
| EGRE 428 | Introduction to Integrated Systems Design | 2 |
| ENGR 402 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| SPCH 321 | Speech for Business and the Professions | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Technical elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGRE 405 or EGRE 407 | Senior Design Studio II (Laboratory/Project Time) or Senior Design Studio II - VIP (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| EGRE 429 | Advanced Digital Systems Design | 2 |
| ENGR 403 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| General education course (select AOI for creativity, innovation and aesthetic inquiry) | 3 | |
| Technical electives | 7 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Total Hours: | 130 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 130.
Accelerated B.S. and M.S.
The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. in Computer Engineering and M.S. in Engineering with a concentration in electrical and computer engineering in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Students in the program may count up to 12 credit hours of graduate courses toward both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Thus, the two degrees may be earned with a minimum of 148 credits rather than the 160 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately.
Students holding these degrees will have a head start for pursuing careers in industry or continuing in academia. The M.S. degree provides formal research experience and can lead to expanded job opportunities, greater potential for job advancement and higher starting salaries.
Entrance to the accelerated program
Interested undergraduate students should consult with their adviser as early as possible to receive specific information about the accelerated program, determine academic eligibility and submit (no later than two semesters prior to graduating with a baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the spring semester of their junior year) an Accelerated Program Declaration Form to be approved by the graduate program director. Limited spaces may be available in the accelerated program. Academically qualified students may not receive approval if capacity has been reached.
Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 97 undergraduate credits, including the prerequisite courses for the capstone project and a minimum of 11 courses from the major requirements; an overall minimum GPA of 3.0; and a minimum GPA of 3.2 in major course work. Additionally, a reference letter from a computer engineering faculty member must accompany the application. Students who are interested in the accelerated program should consult with the graduate director before they have completed 97 undergraduate credits.
Once enrolled in the accelerated program, students must meet the standards of performance applicable to graduate students as described in the “Satisfactory academic progress” section of the Graduate Bulletin, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Guidance to students admitted to the accelerated program is provided by both the ECE undergraduate program director and the ECE graduate program director.
Admission to the graduate program
Entrance to the accelerated program enables the student to take the approved shared courses that will apply to the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, entry into an accelerated program via an approved Accelerated Program Declaration Form does not constitute application or admission into the graduate program. Admission to the graduate program requires a separate step that occurs through a formal application to the master’s program, which is submitted through Graduate Admissions no later than a semester prior to graduation with the baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the fall semester of the senior year. In order to continue pursuing the master’s degree after the baccalaureate degree is conferred, accelerated students must follow the admission to graduate study requirements outlined in the VCU Bulletin. The GRE is waived for the admission to the M.S.
Degree requirements
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering degree will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 130 credits and the satisfactory completion of all undergraduate degree requirements as presented in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
A maximum of 12 graduate credits may be taken prior to completion of the baccalaureate degree. These graduate credits will apply as required major electives or open elective credits (engineering electives) for the undergraduate degree. These courses are shared credits with the graduate program, meaning that they will be applied to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. Three graduate credits may be approved credits from outside engineering, to help meet the undergraduate requirement that at least three technical elective credit hours must be from approved courses outside electrical engineering.
Examples of graduate engineering courses that may be taken as an undergraduate once a student is admitted to the program are:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EGRE 510 | Introduction to Internet of Things | 3 |
| EGRE 512 | Intelligent Autonomous Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 513 | Fundamentals of Modern Systems Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 521 | Advanced Semiconductor Devices | 3 |
| EGRE 525 | Fundamentals of Photonics Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 526 | Computer Networks and Communications | 3 |
| EGRE 531 | Multicore and Multithreaded Programming | 3 |
| EGRE 532 | GPU Computing | 3 |
| EGRE 535 | Digital Signal Processing | 3 |
| EGRE 536 | Introduction to Cyber-Physical Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 539 | Introduction to Microwave Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 540 | Microwave System Design | 3 |
| EGRE 541 | Medical Devices | 3 |
| EGRE 553 | Industrial Automation | 3 |
| EGRE 554 | Advanced Industrial Automation | 3 |
| EGRE 555 | Dynamics and Multivariable Control I | 3 |
| EGRE 573 | Sustainable and Efficient Power Systems | 3 |
| EGRE 591 | Special Topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering | 1-4 |
Upon approval by the instructor of the course, one 600-level graduate course can be taken as an undergraduate and used to fulfill three undergraduate technical elective credits. Examples of 600-level courses are: Recommended course sequence/plan of study
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
What follows is the recommended plan of study for students interested in the accelerated program beginning in the fall of the senior year.
For students accelerating toward the thesis option in the master’s degree:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGRE 404 | Senior Design Studio I (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| or EGRE 406 | Senior Design Studio I - VIP (Laboratory/Project Time) | |
| EGRE 426 | Computer Organization and Design | 3 |
| EGRE 428 | Introduction to Integrated Systems Design | 2 |
| ENGR 402 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| EGRE 5XX (from list above) | 6 | |
| Other required B.S. course work | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGRE 405 | Senior Design Studio II (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| or EGRE 407 | Senior Design Studio II - VIP (Laboratory/Project Time) | |
| EGRE 429 | Advanced Digital Systems Design | 2 |
| ENGR 403 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| EGRE 5XX (from list above) 1 | 6 | |
| Other required B.S. course work | 5 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Fifth year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGRE 697 | Directed Research in Electrical and Computer Engineering (for thesis-option only) | 3 |
| EGRE technical electives (500-level or above) | 3 | |
| Open elective 2 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGRE 697 | Directed Research in Electrical and Computer Engineering (for thesis-option only) | 3 |
| Open elective 2 | 3 | |
| EGRE technical electives (500-level or above) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
One three-credit 600-level EGRE course can be substituted for one three-credit 500-level course in the senior year and upon approval by the instructor of the course.
EGRE, ENGR, EGRB, EGMN, CMSC, CLSE, PHYS, MATH, OPER, STAT, CHEM at 500-level or above, approved by the adviser
For students accelerating toward the non-thesis option in the master’s degree:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGRE 404 | Senior Design Studio I (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| or EGRE 406 | Senior Design Studio I - VIP (Laboratory/Project Time) | |
| EGRE 426 | Computer Organization and Design | 3 |
| EGRE 428 | Introduction to Integrated Systems Design | 2 |
| ENGR 402 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| EGRE 5XX (from list above) | 6 | |
| Other required B.S. course work | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGRE 405 | Senior Design Studio II (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 |
| or EGRE 407 | Senior Design Studio II - VIP (Laboratory/Project Time) | |
| EGRE 429 | Advanced Digital Systems Design | 2 |
| ENGR 403 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 |
| EGRE 5XX (from list above) 1 | 6 | |
| Other required B.S. course work | 5 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Fifth year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EGRE technical electives (500-level or above) | 6 | |
| Open elective 2 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EGRE technical electives (500-level or above) | 6 | |
| Open elective 2 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
One three-credit 600-level EGRE course can be substituted for one three-credit 500-level course in the senior year and upon approval by the instructor of the course.
EGRE, ENGR, EGRB, EGMN, CMSC, CLSE, PHYS, MATH, OPER, STAT, CHEM at 500-level or above, approved by the adviser