Sep 24, 2023  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Computer Engineering B.S.C.P.


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TOTAL DEGREE HOURS: 120

Plans of Study

The Computer Engineering program emphasizes the application of engineering principles to the design of computer hardware and software, and devotes additional time to computer architecture and advanced topics in hardware design, including extensive laboratory work. Students in this program also acquire a broad background in engineering topics through related coursework in the College.

Mission Statement

In keeping with the mission of the College of Engineering, the Department of Computer Science and Engineering strives for excellence in teaching, research, and public service. Specifically, the Department aspires to:

  1. Lead the advancement of computer science, computer engineering, information technology, and cybersecurity through internationally recognized research and education, as well as technology transfer.
  2. Prepare students for full and ethical participation in a diverse society and encourage lifelong learning.
  3. Educate students in the best practices of the field as well as integrate the latest research into the curriculum.
  4. Foster the development of problem solving and communication skills as an integral component of the profession.
  5. Provide quality learning experiences through effective classroom practices, active learning styles of teaching, and opportunities for meaningful interactions between students and faculty.

Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes

The Department has established the following program educational objectives for Computer Engineering graduates. 

Objective 1: Our graduates will apply their knowledge and skills to succeed in their careers and/or obtain advanced degrees.

Objective 2: Our graduates will function ethically and responsibly, and will remain informed and involved as full participants in our profession and society.

Objective 3: Our graduates will creatively solve problems, communicate effectively, and successfully function in multi-disciplinary teams.

Objective 4: Our graduates will apply principles and practices of computing grounded in mathematics and science to successfully complete hardware and/or software-related engineering projects to meet customer business objectives and/or productively engage in research

The following are the Student Outcomes. Graduates of the program will have an ability to:

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

Student enrollment data is posted on the Department website.

University Admissions


Admission to the University is based on the University’s Undergraduate Admission Requirements that may be found by clicking on the following urls:

For Admission information specific to the College of Engineering, see the information at College of Engineering .

Computer Engineering Minimum Requirements for Progression into the Upper Division


Computer Engineering students who have fully met the below requirements and are in good academic standing, may progress into the upper level of the major. Prior to progression into the upper level, a student may take no more than two Departmental courses.  The department may have continuation requirements, which specify minimum performance standards in core major courses which must be met before further registration in the department is granted.

  1. Completion of:
    • ENC 1101  - Composition I and ENC 1102  - Composition II 
    • Calculus I (MAC 2311  or MAC 2281 ) and Calculus II (MAC 2312  or MAC 2282 )
    • Calculus-based Physics I with Lab (PHY 2048  and PHY 2048L )

    • All students must complete the equivalent of USF Composition I & II, Engineering Calculus I & II, and Calculus-based General Physics I (with lab) with minimum grades of C in each course (grades of C- are insufficient). The minimum overall grade average in these five courses required for progression to the upper level is between 3.0 and 3.5 for any given year. The minimum acceptable grade average will be posted on the Department’s website one year prior to the fall semester that the revised grade average is applicable. The computed grade average is based on the best attempts in these courses. These requirements must be met with a maximum of two attempts allowed for each course..
  2. Completion of COP 2510  with a minimum grade of B (grade of B- is insufficient) or another introductory programming course covering a modern programming language, with an emphasis on programming concepts and design methodology with a minimum grade of B (grade of B- is insufficient).
  3. A minimum overall GPA of 2.0
  4. A minimum USF GPA of 2.0

Minimum Continuation Requirements for the Computer Engineering Major


Students meeting the above requirements may progress to either of the Computer Engineering or Computer Science degree tracks; however, continuation in the major will be allowed only for students who complete CDA 3103  and COP 3514  with minimum grades of B, based on best attempts in each course (grades of B- are insufficient). These requirements must be met with a maximum of two attempts allowed for each course.

Departmental Policies


In addition to the College’s graduation requirements, the Department has the following policies:

  1. Mandatory academic advising and/or mentoring of students.
  2. Exit interview and/or survey as a graduation requirement

State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites


Students wishing to transfer to USF should complete an A.A. degree at a Florida College System institution. Some courses required for the major may also meet General Education requirements thereby transferring maximum hours to the university.

If a student wishes to transfer without an A.A. degree and has fewer than 60 semester hours of acceptable credit, the student must meet the university’s entering freshman requirements including ACT or SAT test scores, GPA, and course requirements.

Transfer students are also required to comply with the immunization, foreign language, and continuous enrollment policies of the university.

Students should complete the following prerequisite courses at the lower level prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at a Florida College System institution, they must be completed before the degree is granted.

Unless stated otherwise, a grade of C is the minimum acceptable grade in prerequisite courses.

Students qualify for direct entry to the Department if they have completed the following courses at a Florida College System institution or University in the Florida State University System (SUS) and meet all other admissions requirements of the University and College.

Mathematics:

Courses at USF

Courses at a Florida College System Institution

  • MAC X311 or MAC X281 - 4 credit hours
  • MAC X312 or MAC X282 - 4 credit hours
  • MAC X313 or MAC X283 - 4 credit hours
  • MAP X302 Differential Equations - 3 credit hours

Natural Sciences:

Courses at USF

Courses at a Florida College System Institution

  • (CHM X045 and CHM X045L) or CHM X045C  or  CHM X440C - 4 credit hours
  • (PHY X048 and PHYX048L) or PHY X048C - 5 credit hours
  • (PHY X049 and PHY X049L) or PHY X049C - 5 credit hours
  • COP XXXX Intro Programming in C, C++, JAVA or equivalent Language

Note: Introductory Programming in C, C++, Java, or equivalent language. Choose programming language required by the university to which the student wishes to transfer.

Total Major Hours: 108


Major Core (96 Credit Hours)


Composition and Technical Writing (9 Credit Hours)


Major Electives (12 Credit Hours)


Departmental upper-level technical electives are classified as “software”, “hardware”, and “theory”. Computer Engineering students must choose 6 hours of hardware electives and an additional, non-overlapping 6 hours of “software”, “hardware”, or “theory” technical electives in the Department. 

Note: The Department website undergraduate section contains the most up to date list of Departmental upper-level technical electives. Additional electives may be available with a special topics course number (typically, CIS 4930). The prerequisite for Departmental upper-level technical electives is CDA 3201 Computer Logic and Design and COP 4530 Data Structures. Consult with the Department Undergraduate Advisor to learn more about available electives. A maximum of six (6) hours of CIS 4900 and/or any other supervised individual study (including CIS 4915 and CIS 4940) are allowed as Department credit.

GPA Requirements


Students must have and maintain a minimum 2.0 semester GPA, 2.0 Math and Science GPA, 2.0 Engineering GPA, 2.0 Specialization GPA, 2.0 USF GPA, and 2.0 overall GPA.

Grading Requirements


Unless otherwise stated, the minimum acceptable grade in all BSCP required math, science, and engineering courses is a C or higher (C- is insufficient). The minimum acceptable grade in specialization courses is a C-, except as stated in the major progression and continuation requirements.

Course Grade Requirements


Continuation in the major requires successful completion of CDA 3103  and COP 3514  with minimum grades of B, based on best attempts in each course. Grades of B- are insufficient. These requirements must be met with a maximum of two attempts allowed for each course.

Residency Requirements


Transfer students must complete a minimum number of approved specialization courses in the major at USF. The minimum number of USF specialization credit hours required is established by the respective academic department. In no case will this be less than 18 hours. Basic engineering courses are not considered specialization courses. The University residency requirement must also be met.

A dual degree student must meet the requirements of each major and have a minimum of 18 approved specialization hours taken in the degree granting department beyond those specialization hours required for the first degree.

Research Opportunities


Undergraduate students in any degree program are able to participate in undergraduate research. Several options exist to show mentored undergraduate research activity on a student’s official transcript. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate research course should consult with their academic advisor to understand how the credit will apply towards the degree requirements. If no credit is needed, students may be eligible to enroll in the 0-credit IDS 4914  course. This course will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office of Undergraduate Research is able to assist with further inquiries.

Internship Opportunities


The College of Engineering and USF’s Career Services Cooperative Education (Co-Op) program provides services for students interested in experiential educational experiences. A wide variety of industries and government agencies offer internships and cooperative education employment opportunities for engineering students. Participants gain valuable expertise in practical applications and other aspects of operations and development in a professional engineering environment. Students normally apply for participation in this program during their first year in the College of Engineering and pursue actual internships during their sophomore, junior and senior years. See the Department Undergraduate Advisor for more information on earning academic credit for internships.

Accreditation Information


The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering degree is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Advising Information


Department Undergraduate Advisor: http://www.usf.edu/engineering/cse/undergraduate/contacts.aspx

4 Year Plan of Study - Computer Engineering B.S.C.P.


NOTES:

 

Potential Entry Level Job Titles:

  • Hardware Developer
  • Hardware Tester
  • Software Developer
  • Software Tester

Potential Entry Level Salary Range:

$55,000 - $85,000

Year 1


Semester 1 (Fall)


Total Credit Hours: 14

Semester 2 (Spring)


Total Credit Hours: 14

Semester 3 (Summer)


Please consider pursing High Impact Practice opportunities this semester such as Education Abroad, Internship Opportunities, Community Engagement, or Research Opportunities.

Questions about opportunities? Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor.

Year 2


Semester 4 (Fall)


Total Credit Hours: 14

Semester 6 (Summer)


Total Credit Hours: 9

Year 3


Semester 8 (Spring)


Total Credit Hours: 13

Semester 9 (Summer)


  • Internship/Co-op Participation (see advisor for credit options - CIS 4940 )

Total Credit Hours: 0

Year 4


Semester 10 (Fall)


Total Credit Hours: 13

Semester 11 (Spring)


Total Credit Hours: 12

2 Year Plan of Study - Computer Engineering B.S.C.P.


NOTES:

 

Year 1


Semester 1 (Fall)


Total Credit Hours: 15

Semester 2 (Spring)


Total Credit Hours: 16

Semester 3 (Summer)


Total Credit Hours: 0

Year 2


Semester 4 (Fall)


Total Credit Hours: 14

Semester 5 (Spring)


Total Credit Hours: 16

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