B.S. Computer Engineering

Curriculum update: CSE 15L (2 units) will be replaced with CSE 29 (4 units) in Spring 2024. A new updated version of CSE 30 will be offered Fall 2024. For students admitted in FA24, to accommodate the two additional units for CSE 29, the Computer Science and Engineering elective will be removed.

The BS computer engineering program is jointly administered by the Departments of Computer Science and Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering. The curriculum is the same in both departments. Students wishing to take the computer engineering program must be admitted to one of the departments.

Many exciting innovations have recently sprung from the boundary between hardware and software — the domain of computer engineering. Harnessing hardware and software together opens the door to building innovative technologies that are not possible in one domain or the other. Topics in the exciting field span many areas of computer science and electrical engineering: embedded systems, computer architecture, robotics, cryptography & security, machine learning, mobile & ubiquitous computing, and systems & networking.

The lower-division computer engineering program is designed to provide a strong foundation in mathematics, physics, electrical engineering, programming methodology and skills, and computer organization. Upper-division core courses deal with the theory and design of algorithms, hardware and software, as well as electronic systems. Students can gain additional breadth and/ or depth in computer science and engineering by an appropriate selection of technical electives.

The BS Computer Engineering program has been updated for Fall 2024 to enable Computer Engineering students to explore Computer Engineering from both a CSE and ECE perspective, to ensure hands-on project-based learning, and to support timely degree completion. Please see the Fall 2024 Computer Engineering Checklist and policies below for more information.

CSE Computer Engineering students who are interested in switching to the latest FA24 degree requirements may request to update their degree audit to the FA24 curriculum starting in Fall 2024. CSE’s Computer Engineering (CS25) students will be able to fill out a Google Form, which will be posted below, and notify CSE Advising in the VAC to update their degree audit, after reviewing and completing the Google Form.

Intent to Change Degree Audit - CS25 FA24 Curriculum - Coming Fall 2024

Degree Plan Checklist:

• BS Computer Engineering (Fall 2024 Curriculum)
  • All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade AND passed with a C- or better (with the exception of CSE 91, CSE 95, 197, 198, and 199).
  • Only 8 units of CSE Electives or ECE Technical Elective courses from departments outside of CSE or ECE may be used to fulfill major requirements.
  • If ECE 109 is listed as a prerequisite to a particular course, MATH 11 cannot not be used to replace ECE 109. Please see the CSE Prerequisites page for more information.
  • Please note that CSE 20 and CSE 21 are not required courses for the FA24 CE curriculum but may be required for certain CSE course prerequisites (e.g. CSE 100). Please see the CSE Prerequisites page and plan accordingly to fulfill CSE course prerequisites.
  • Students who received high grades in both calculus and physics in high school may substitute the major’s sequence, PHYS 4A-B-C, for PHYS 2A-B-C.
  • A maximum of four units of P/NP courses may count among the following: CSE 198, CSE 199, CSE 199H, ECE 191, ECE 193H, ECE 196, ECE 198, ECE 199.
  • Undergraduate students may use CSE or ECE graduate -level courses towards their major requirements, but may need a petition if they have taken the equivalent/similar undergraduate course.
  • All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade AND passed with a C- or better (with the exception of CSE 91, CSE 95, 197, 198, and 199).
  • ECE 108 may be substituted with another upper-division CSE or ECE course that is not currently being used to satisfy another major requirement. This is a manual update an advisor needs to make. Please send a message through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).
  • All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade AND passed with a C- or better (with the exception of CSE 91, CSE 95, 197, 198, and 199).
  • ECE 108 may be substituted with another upper-division CSE or ECE course that is not currently being used to satisfy another major requirement. This is a manual update an advisor needs to make. Please send a message through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).
  • All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade AND passed with a C- or better (with the exception of CSE 95, 197, 198, and 199).
  • ECE 108 may be substituted with another upper-division CSE or ECE course that is not currently being used to satisfy another major requirement. This is a manual update an advisor needs to make. Please send a message through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).
  • For Students starting Fall 2019 or after: All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade AND passed with a C- or better (with the exception of CSE 95, 197, 198, and 199).
  • For students starting before Fall 2019: All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade (with the exception of CSE 95, 197, 198, and 199).
  • For Students starting Fall 2019 or after: All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade AND passed with a C- or better (with the exception of CSE 95, 197, 198, and 199).

  Academic Plans:

  • Academic Planning Worksheet (link to copy a Google Sheet): blank worksheet for students to be able to create a sample long term plan which can be brought to an advising meeting
  • Sample Plans By College: sample long term plan that includes college requirements

  First Year

  CSE 8A or 11 *1
  MATH 20A
  

  CSE 8B *1
  PHYS 2A
  MATH 20B
  

  CSE 12
  MATH 20C
  MATH 18
  PHYS 2B

  Second Year