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  • Computer Engineering

    The Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering is concerned with theory, design, development and application of computer systems and information processing techniques.

    About This Major

    Overview

    The hardware specialization is offered through the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the software specialization is offered through the Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering.

    The Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering is concerned with theory, design, development and application of computer systems and information processing techniques.

    The computer engineering curriculum provides a balance among computer systems, hardware and software as well as theory and applications. Graduates can pursue graduate studies in computer science and engineering or they can choose from many different careers related to computers and their applications in high technology environments.

    Opportunities for cooperative education provide students a better understanding of the industrial applications of computer and information technologies. By properly choosing electives, students can specialize in computer systems, computer communications, networking, computer vision, pattern recognition, expert systems, multi-media systems or other areas.

    CISE Requirements

    Students must complete all critical-tracking courses with a C or better in each course and the critical-tracking GPA must be at 2.5 or higher. A minimum grade of C or higher is required in CIS 3020 or 3023, EEL 3701C and ENC 3254. In addition, CISE requires all computer engineering students to maintain a cumulative, upper-division and department grade point average of 2.0 or higher.

    Students who do not meet these requirements will be placed on academic probation and be required to prepare a probation contract with a CISE adviser. Students normally are given two terms in which to remove their deficit points; however, students who do not satisfy the conditions of the first term of probation may be dismissed from the department.

    Computer engineering students in the hardware emphasis should refer to the department requirements listed under Electrical Engineering.

    Educational Objectives

    The objective of the program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering is to provide students with a strong theoretical and practical background in computer hardware and software, along with the engineering analysis, design and implementation skills necessary to work between the two.

    A computer engineer is someone with the ability to design a complete computer system from its circuits to its operating system to the algorithms that run on it. Although one can consider software and hardware separately, a computer engineer must take a more holistic approach.

    If an electronic device is to be called a computer, it must produce mathematically meaningful results. Similarly, any useful theory of computing must be physically realizable. The synthesis of the theory and algorithm that must take place before any useful computing can be achieved is the job of the computer engineer, and to produce such engineers is the mission of this program.

    Three to five years after graduating with this degree, a computer engineering graduate will:

    • Excel in a career utilizing their education in computer engineering;
    • Continue to enhance their knowledge;
    • Be effective in multidisciplinary and diverse professional environments; and
    • Provide leadership and demonstrate good citizenship.

    Mission

    • To educate undergraduate and graduate majors as well as the broader campus community in the fundamental concepts of the computing discipline,
    • To create and disseminate computing knowledge and technology, and
    • To use our expertise in computing to help society solve problems.
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    Specialization: Hardware
    Specialization: Software

    Hardware

    Computer engineering has become a major part of electrical engineering, so much so that a separate degree is offered as computer engineering - hardware specialization.

    Computer engineering in a broad sense deals with the body of knowledge that forms the theoretical and practical basis for the storage, retrieval, processing, analysis, recognition and display of information. It also includes the design and implementation of computer systems and peripheral devices for information handling and engineering applications.

    The computer engineering - hardware degree provides an academic program and research environment to obtain knowledge and skills in digital hardware, microprocessors, software systems and computer applications. In the hardware courses, students study the functional behavior of integrated circuit components and the design of complex digital systems. In the software system courses, students receive hands-on operating experience in different aspects of system software and their relations to hardware facilities. Courses in computer engineering also deal with pattern processing, machine intelligence and information system design and evaluation.

    Electives are taken according to individual interest to permit a student to delve more deeply into subject matter previously introduced. Students can specialize in the areas of computer system architecture, computer communications, computer network architecture, computer systems and controls, machine learning, man-machine interaction, robotics and machine intelligence. Technical electives must be taken from an approved list.

    Students who want to take their technical electives in hardware would pursue the computer degree through the ECE department. Students who want to take their technical electives in software would pursue the computer degree through the CISE department.

    Critical Tracking

    To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.

    Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

    Semester 1

    • 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
    • 2.5 GPA on all critical tracking coursework for semesters 1-5
    • Complete 1 of 8 tracking courses with a minimum grade of C+ within two attempts: CHM 2045 or CHM 2095, CHM 2046 or 2096 or approved biological science course, MAC 2311, MAC 2312, MAC 2313, MAP 2302, PHY 2048,
      PHY 2049

    Semester 2

    • Complete 1 additional critical tracking course with a minimum grade of C+ within two attempts

    Semester 3

    • Complete 2 additional critical tracking courses with minimum grades of C+ within two attempts

    Semester 4

    • Complete 2 additional critical tracking courses with minimum grades of C+ within two attempts

    Semester 5

    • Complete all 8 critical tracking courses with minimum grades of C+ in each course within two attempts

    Recommended Semester Plan

    To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical tracking courses, which appear in bold.

    Semester 1 Credits
    CHM 2045 General Chemistry 1 or
    CHM 2095 Chemistry for Engineers 1 (GE-P)
    3
    CHM 2045L General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (GE-P) 1
    MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M) 4
    Humanities (GE-H) 3
    Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) 3
    Total 14
    Semester 2 Credits
    Biological Science (GE-B) or
    CHM 2046 General Chemistry 2 or
    CHM 2096 Chemistry for Engineers 2
    3
    ENC 3254 Professional Writing in the Discipline (GE-C, WR)
    (Professional Communication for Engineers)
    3
    MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (GE-M) 4
    PHY 2048 Physics with Calculus 1 (GE-P) 3
    PHY 2048L Physics with Calculus 1 Laboratory (GE-P) 1
    Total 14
    Semester 3 Credits
    CIS 3020 Advanced Programming Fundamentals for CIS Majors (GE-M) or
    CIS 3022 and 3023 Programming Fundamentals for CIS Majors 1 and 2 (for students with no Java programming experience)
    3
    MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 (GE-M) 4
    PHY 2049 Physics with Calculus 2 (GE-P) 3
    PHY 2049L Physics with Calculus 2 Laboratory 1
    Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) 3
    Total 14
    Semester 4 Credits
    COT 3100 Applications of Discrete Structures 3
    EEL 3105 Analytical Methods in Electrical Engineering 3
    EEL 3111C Circuits 1 4
    MAP 2302 Elementary Differential Equations 3
    Total 13
    Semester 5 Credits
    EEE 3308C Electronic Circuits 1 4
    EEE 3396 Solid-State Electronic Devices 3
    EEL 3135 Introduction to Systems and Signals 3
    EEL 3701C Digital Logic and Computer Systems 4
    Total 14
    Semester 6 Credits
    CDA 3101 Introduction to Computer Organization 3
    COP 3530 Data Structures and Algorithm 4
    EEL 3112 Circuits, Systems and Signals 4
    Humanities (GE-H) ​3
    ​Total ​14
    ​Summer Credits​
    ​Co-op or internship, if desired
    Semester 7 Credits
    EEL 4744 Microprocessor Applications 4
    STA 3032 Engineering Statistics 3
    Electrical engineering technical elective
    (any EEL or EEE-prefixed course except EEL 3003)
    3
    Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) 3
    Total 13
    Semester 8 Credits
    CEN 3031 Introduction to Software Engineering 3
    COP 4600 Operating Systems 3
    EEL 3923C Electrical and Computer Engineering Design 1 3
    EGN 4034 Professional Ethics 1
    College breadth, from approved list 2
    Total 12
    Semester 9 Credits
    EEL 4712C Digital Design or
    EEL 4713C Digital Computer Architecture
    4
    Electrical engineering technical electives
    (any EEL or EEE-prefixed course except EEL 3003)
    6
    Technical elective, from approved list 3
    Total 13
    Semester 10 Credits
    EEL 4924C Electrical Engineering Design 3
    Technical elective, from approved list 2
    Total 5
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    Software

    Critical Tracking

    To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.

    Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

    Semester 1

    • 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
    • 2.5 GPA on all critical tracking coursework for semesters 1-5
    • Complete 1 of 8 tracking courses with a minimum grade of C within two attempts: CHM 2045, CHM 2046 or approved 2000-level biological or physical science course, MAC 2311, MAC 2312, MAC 2313, MAP 2302, PHY 2048, PHY 2049

    Semester 2

    • Complete 1 additional critical tracking course with a minimum grade of C within two attempts

    Semester 3

    • Complete 2 additional critical tracking courses with minimum grades of C within two attempts

    Semester 4

    • Complete 2 additional critical tracking courses with minimum grades of C within two attempts

    Semester 5

    • Complete all 8 critical tracking courses with minimum grades of C in each course within two attempts

    Recommended Semester Plan

    To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.

    Semester 1 Credits
    CHM 2045 General Chemistry 1 (GE-P) 3
    CHM 2045L General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (GE-P) 1
    MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M) 4
    Humanities (GE-H) 3
    COP 3502 Programming Fundamentals for CIS Majors 1 (CISE technical elective) 3
    Total 14
    Semester 2 Credits
    COP 3504 Advanced Programming Fundamentals for CIS Majors or
    COP 3503 Programming for CIS Majors 2
    3
    COT 3100 Applications of Discrete Structures 3
    MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (GE-M) 4
    PHY 2048 Physics with Calculus 1 (GE-P) 3
    PHY 2048L Physics with Calculus 1 Laboratory (GE-P)​ ​1
    Total ​14
    ​Summer Credits​
    ​Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) ​3
    Humanities (GE-H) or Social andBehavioral Sciences (GE-S) ​3
    Total 9
    Semester 3 Credits
    CDA 3101 Introduction to Computer Organization
    3
    MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 (GE-M) 4
    PHY 2049 Physics with Calculus 2 (GE-P) 3
    PHY 2049L Physics with Calculus 2 Laboratory (GE-P) 1
    COP 3530 Data Structures and Algorithms 4
    Total 15
    Semester 4 Credits
    EEL 3111C Circuits 1 4
    MAP 2302 Elementary Differential Equations (GE-M) 3
    CHM 2046 General Chemistry 2 (GE-P) or
    CHM 2051, PHY 2464, a 3000+ level PHY course or
    Non-CHM or non-PHY course at the 2000+ level with a GE-B or GE-P designation
    ​3
    MAS 3114 Computational Linear Algebra or
    MAS 4105 Linear Algebra 1
    3
    Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) ​3
    Total 16
    ​Summer Credits
    ​EEL 3701C Digital Logic and Computer Systems ​4
    Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) 3
    Total 7
    Semester 5 Credits
    COT 4501 Numerical Analysis - A Computational Approach 3
    ENC 3254 Professional Communication for Engineers (GE-C,WR-6) 3
    EEL 4712C Digital Design 4
    STA 3032 Engineering Statistics 3
    Engineering core, from approved list 2-3
    Total 15-16
    Semester 6 Credits
    EEL 4744C Microprocessor Applications 4
    COP 4600 Operating Systems 3
    CISE technical elective 3
    Engineering core, from approved list 2-3
    Total 12-13
    Semester 7 Credits
    CEN 3031 Introduction to Software Engineering 3
    ​EEL 3135 Discrete - Time Signals and Systems (3) or
    EEL 3308C Electronic Circuits 1 (4)
    ​3-4
    EGN 4034 Professional Ethics (1) or
    CGS 3065 Legal and Social Issues in Computing (3) (F)
    (CGS 3065 = CISE technical elective and ethics requirement)
    1-3
    Technical elective 3
    Total 10-13
    Semester 8 Credits
    CEN 4914 Senior Project (see adviser) 3
    CISE technical electives (two) 6
    CNT 4007C Computer Network Fundamentals 4
    Total 13
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majors: computer-engineering