2017–2018 Bulletin Addendum BS in Computer Engineering

Computer Engineering is one of two BS degree programs offered by the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. As an undergraduate student in Computer Engineering, you will begin your studies by learning fundamentals in the physical sciences, mathematics, and computer science. These basic foundations will then be used to acquire discipline-specific knowledge and skills in logic design, computer organization, operating systems, software design, and algorithms. Electives allow you to further specialize in areas such as networking, imaging, sensors, software systems design, and areas in which our faculty are leading researchers. The Computer Engineering BS degree program will help you to develop written and oral communication skills, ethics and professionalism, and a sense of how society and computer engineering are connected. Design is integrated throughout the curriculum, providing an important infrastructure for the program. During the senior year, you will join electrical engineering students in a year-long, department-wide capstone design project that draws upon all of the knowledge and skills that you will have learned in your previous years of study.

Structured to resemble a real engineering company, the capstone project class will require you to design a product to meet customer needs and specifications. Design teams are responsible for product conception, development, testing, and construction, as well as budget management, oral presentations, and documentation.

Graduates of the Computer Engineering BS degree program will have:

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. An ability to 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.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. An ability to 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.
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Degree Requirements

A total of 132 credits is required for graduation. In addition to satisfying all BS requirements as listed below, a minimum of 48 credits of coursework must be taken at Boston University in the upper-division program. The upper-division program consists of the program requirements and program electives as listed below for the junior and senior years. Social Science, Humanities, and Writing courses (CAS WR 120 & WR 150–152) cannot be counted toward this requirement.

Required Courses

Freshman

First Semester (16 credits)

• CAS CH 131 General Chemistry (4 cr)
• CAS MA 123 Calculus I (4 cr)
• CAS WR 120 Writing Seminar (4 cr)
• ENG EK 100 Freshman Advising Seminar (0 cr)
• ENG EK 125 Introduction to Programming for Engineers (4 cr) [ENG EK 127 Introduction to Computation for students who matriculated prior to Fall 2017]

Second Semester (16 credits)

• CAS MA 124 Calculus II (4 cr)
• CAS PY 211 Physics I (4 cr)
• CAS WR 150 or WR 151 or WR 152 Writing and Research Seminar (4 cr)
• ENG EK 131/2 Introduction to Engineering (2 cr)
• ENG EK 102 Introduction to Linear Algebra for Engineers (2 cr)

Sophomore  

First Semester (16 credits) 

• CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus (4 cr)
• CAS PY 212 Physics II (4 cr)
• ENG EK 307 Electric Circuits (4 cr)
• ENG EC 327 Introduction to Software Engineering (4 cr)

Second Semester (18 credits) 

• CAS MA 226 Differential Equations (4 cr)
• ENG EK 301 Engineering Mechanics I (4 cr)
• ENG EC 311 Introduction to Logic Design (4 cr)
• ENG EC 330 Applied Algorithms for Engineering (4 cr)
• ENG EK 210 Introduction to Engineering Design (2 cr)

Junior

First Semester (18 credits)

• CAS MA 193 Introduction to Discrete Mathematics (2 cr)
• ENG EC 413 Computer Organization (4 cr)
• ENG EC 381 Probability Theory in Electrical & Computer Engineering (4 cr)
• Computer Engineering Core elective (4 cr)
• Humanities requirement (4 cr)

Second Semester (16 credits) 

• Computer Engineering Core elective (4 cr)
• Computer Engineering elective (4 cr)
• Electrical Engineering Breadth elective (4 cr)
• Social Science requirement (4 cr)

Senior

First Semester (16 credits) 

• ENG EC 463 Senior Design Project I (4 cr)
• Computer Engineering elective (4cr)
• Technical elective (4 cr)
• Social Science/Humanities requirement (4 cr)

Second Semester (16 credits)

• ENG EC 464 Senior Design Project II (4 cr)
• Technical elective (4 cr)
• Technical elective (4 cr)
• General Education elective (4 cr)