The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering

The computer engineering program at CSU, Chico bridges the curriculum gap between electrical/electronic engineering and computer science. The program is designed to provide a broad background in both the theory and practice of computer hardware and software design and the integration of both into usable computer systems. The curriculum includes courses in logic design, microprocessor system design, computer interfacing, programming and data structures, computer architecture and assembly language programming, embedded system design, and system requirements and design. The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: (410) 347-7700 Note: The highlighted is different from what appears in the printed catalog. What is displayed is current and correct. .

Computer Engineering Program Mission

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department educates each student to be a responsible and productive computer engineer who can effectively respond to future challenges.

Computer Engineering Program Objective

• Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to identify, formulate, and solve computer engineering problems.
• Use industry standard tools to analyze, design, develop, and test computer-based systems containing both hardware and software components.
• Achieve success in graduate programs in computer engineering, electrical engineering or computer science.
• Continue to develop their knowledge and skills after graduation in order to succeed personally and contribute to employer success.
• Work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary development team and undertake leadership roles when appropriate.
• Communicate their thoughts, in both written and oral forms, so that others can comprehend and build on their work.
• Appreciate the importance of ethics in the profession and the need to act in society's best interest.

Computer Engineering Design Experience

Design is a fundamental aspect of the computer engineering curriculum and it is integrated into the curriculum beginning in the freshman year where students are introduced to both hardware and software design. As students expand their knowledge and analysis skills through the sophomore and junior years, the design problems they are assigned increase in complexity. Design problems are assigned in electronics, digital and microprocessor systems, embedded systems, and software systems.

The design experience culminates in the senior year when all students are required to identify a design project, create testable requirements for the project, design the project, and construct the project to prove the design works. Projects chosen by students often include elements of both hardware and software design. In the past, students have designed computer-controlled robots, security systems, sophisticated Web applications, and peripheral interfaces.

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree: 132 units

See “Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree” in The University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

The department has prepared a suggested Four Year Advising Plan to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. Please request a plan from your major adviser or view it and other current advising information on the CSU, Chico Web.

General Education Requirements

Computer Engineering is a major with modifications to the university’s General Education Requirement. The following requirements fulfill the General Education Requirement.

Area A: 9 units

A1: CMST 011 or CMST 011H
A2: ENGL 001 or ENGL 011H
A3: Waived
A4: MATH 007A

Area B: 3 units (computer engineering);
6 units (electrical/electronic engineering)

B1: CHEM 037
B2: Additional physics courses satisfy requirement for computer engineering;
BIOL 008 for electrical/electronic engineering

Area C: 6 units

HIST 050 plus one course selected from C1, C2, or C3 (a course that also fulfills the Ethnic or Non-Western requirement is recommended)

Area D: 9 units

POLS 055, C E 121, plus one course selected from D1, D2, or D3 (a course that also fulfills the Ethnic or Non-Western requirement is recommended)

Area E: 3 units

ENGR 195

Upper-Division Theme: 9 units

ECE 140 plus two courses from the same theme. Consult with an ECE adviser to determine which courses satisfy the requirements for the degree.

Please see the Cultural Diversity and U.S. History requirements under the BS in Civil Engineering.

Literacy Requirement:

See “Mathematics and Writing Requirements” in The University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or better to receive WP credit. See The Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 001 (or its equivalent) with a C- or better before you may register for a WP course.

Course Requirements for the Major: 105 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree.

Lower-Division Requirements: 51 units

16 courses required:

CHEM    037    General Chemistry    4.0    FS *

Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry or CHEM 016. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)

CSCI    015B    Programming and Algorith II    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: Grade of C- or better in CSCI 015A (or ECE 090 for engineering majors).

ECE    084    Intro Elec/Computer Engineering    2.0    FS

ECE    085    Logic Design Fundamentals    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: Either ECE 084 or M E 025 or permission of instructor.
Corequisites: ECE 097.

ECE    086    Processor Architec/Assembly Lang    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: Either CSCI 015A or ECE 090.

ECE    090    Algorithms & Programs for Engrs    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: MATH 007A is recommended.

ECE    095    Electrical Circuits and Devices    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: PHYS 004B (may be taken concurrently), MATH 007C (may be taken concurrently.

Corequisites: ECE 095L.

ECE    095L    Circuits and Devices Activity    1.0    FS

Corequisite: ECE 095

ECE    097    Simulation and Analysis Tools    1.0    FS

Prerequisites: Either ECE 084 or M E 025 or permission of instructor.
Corequisites: ECE 085.

MATH    007A    Analytic Geometry and Calculus    4.0    FS *

Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; both MATH 004 and MATH 006 (or high school equivalent); a score that meets department guidelines on a department administered calculus readiness exam.

MATH    007B    Analytic Geometry and Calculus    4.0    FS

Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; MATH 007A with a grade of C- or higher.

MATH    007C    Analytic Geometry and Calculus    4.0    FS

Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; MATH 007B with a grade of C- or higher.

MATH    007D    Elem Diff Equation/Vector Calc    4.0    FS

Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; MATH 007C with a grade of C- or better.

PHYS    004A    Mechanics    4.0    FS *

Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of MATH 007B (second semester of calculus) or equivalent.

PHYS    004B    Electricity and Magnetism    4.0    FS

Prerequisites: MATH 007B, PHYS 004A.

PHYS    004C    Heat/Wave Motion/Sound/Light    4.0    FS

Prerequisites: MATH 007B, PHYS 004A.

Upper-Division Requirements: 54 units

16 courses required:

C E    121    Engineering Economy & Statistics    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: Either C E 020 or CSCI 065 or ECE 090 or M E 038; CMST 011 (may be taken concurrently); junior standing (completion of 60 college units).

CSCI    151    Algorithms and Data Structures    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: Grade of C- or better in CSCI 015B.

ECE    140    Linear Circuits    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: ECE 095; ECE 097, MATH 007D (both may be taken concurrently).

ECE    141    Signals and Transforms    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: ECE 140.

ECE    145    Electronics I    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: ECE 095, ECE 095L; ECE 097, ECE 140 (both may be taken concurrently).

ECE    180    Project Requirements/Design/Test    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: ENGL 001; either CSCI 015B or ECE 086.

This course is the same as CSCI 180 which may be substituted.

ECE    186    Digital Systems Design    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: ECE 085, ECE 086; either ECE 030 or ECE 031 or ECE 095 and ECE 095L.

ECE    187    System Architecture/Performance    3.0    FA

Prerequisites: Either CSCI 171 or ECE 186 (may be taken concurrently).

ECE    188    Computer Interface Circuits    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: ECE 085, ECE 145.

ECE    210    SW Engr-Requirements & Design    3.0    FA

Prerequisites: CSCI 015B.

ECE    236    State Machine Design    3.0    SP

Prerequisites: Either CSCI 171 or ECE 085.

ECE    252    Real-Time Embedded Systems    3.0    SP

Prerequisites: CSCI 015B; either CSCI 171 or ECE 085.

ECE    285    Microprocessor Systems Design    4.0    SP

Prerequisites: ECE 186.

ECE    290A    Senior Project Planning    1.0    FS

Prerequisites: ENGL 001 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, faculty permission.

ECE    290B    Senior Project    1.0    FS

Prerequisites: ECE 290A.

ENGR    195    Lifelong Development Engineers    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: ENGL 001; graduation in engineering expected within 12 months.

9 units selected from:

Any approved upper-division ECE or CSCI courses not otherwise required for graduation.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

All students must attain a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) in all college courses attempted and for all courses attempted at Chico. Computer Engineering majors must also attain a 2.0 GPA in:
(a) All courses required for the major, and
(b) All Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Computer Science (CSCI) courses taken to meet major requirements at CSU, Chico.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program.
Consult your undergraduate adviser for specific information.

A sample program for students who wish to complete their major in four years is available upon written request to the department, CSU, Chico, CA 95929-0888, or on the department’s website.

Honors in the Major

Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major.
It involves 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.

Your Honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair. Most importantly, however, the Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the university for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or competition in shows; such experience is valuable for graduate school and later professional life.

Some common features of Honors in the Major program are

1. You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. At least 3 of these 6 units are independent study (299H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.
2. You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
3. Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5 percent of majors in your department.
4. Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5 percent of majors in your department.
5. Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.
6. Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your Honors project.

While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major adviser for further information.