Computer Engineering (B.S.)

What is a Bachelor of Science in computer engineering?

This program is tailored to students who want to understand and participate in the engineering discipline that merges electronics systems with software. Students learn the fundamental concepts of electrical circuits and how those circuits can be controlled by software, gaining skills and technological expertise needed to succeed in graduate studies or a variety of career fields.

Why study computer engineering at UNH?

You’ll work in a hands-on laboratory environment that reinforces traditional classroom learning while providing the real-world skills valued by employers. Seniors choose from a suite of professional technical electives and carry out a capstone design project tailored to their career objectives. You can complete an accelerated master’s program, participate on competitive teams at national competitions and gain hands-on experience at the UNH InterOperability Lab, where you’ll work alongside top tech companies to test their networking equipment before it hits the market. This program has a high placement rate because of its great reputation among industry employers.

Potential Careers

  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Aerospace and defense
  • Automotive and Manufacturing industries
  • Biomedical engineering
  • Embedded computer systems
  • Integrated circuits and systems design industries
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Medical IoT
  • Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
  • Telecommunications Industries
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  • Computer Engineering major student Wesley Newsham
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Curriculum & Requirements

This program is tailored to students who want to understand and participate in the engineering discipline that merges electronics systems with software. Students learn the fundamental concepts of electrical circuits and how those circuits can be controlled by software, gaining skills and technological expertise needed to succeed in graduate studies or a variety of career fields.

In addition to the university's mandatory Discovery Program requirements, degree candidates must complete our core program (freshman through junior years).  In the senior year, students select professional technical electives in the areas of their interest.   They also carry out a student-designed project to acquire both breadth and depth of study and to integrate knowledge across course boundaries.

The Computer Engineering (B Sci in Computer Engineering) program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
ECE 401 Perspectives in Electrical and Computer Engineering 4
CS 410C Introduction to Scientific Programming/C 4
MATH 425 Calculus I 4
ECON 402
or EREC 411
Principles of Economics (Micro) 1
or Environmental and Resource Economics Perspectives
4
 Credits16
Spring
PHYS 407 General Physics I 4
CS 419 Computer Science for Engineers and Scientists 4
MATH 426 Calculus II 4
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
ECE 541 Electric Circuits 4
ECE 543 Introduction to Digital Systems 4
MATH 527 Differential Equations with Linear Algebra 4
PHYS 408 General Physics II 4
 Credits16
Spring
ECE 548 Electronic Design I 4
ECE 562 Computer Organization 4
MATH 645 Linear Algebra for Applications 4
Discovery Program Category 4
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall
ECE 602 Engineering Analysis 3
ECE 633 Signals and Systems I 3
ECE 583 Designing with Programmable Logic 6
Discovery Program Category 4
 Credits16
Spring
ECE 603 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves I 3
ECE 647 Random Processes and Signals in Engineering 3
ECE 634 Signals and Systems II 3
ECE 649 Embedded Microcomputer Based Design 6
Discovery Program Category 4
 Credits19
Fourth Year
Fall
ECE 791 Senior Project I 3
Two Professional Electives 2 8
Discovery Program Category 4
 Credits15
Spring
ECE 792 Senior Project II 3
Two Professional Electives 2 8
Discovery Program Category 4
 Credits15
 Total Credits129
1

Students are required to take either ECON 402 Principles of Economics (Micro) or EREC 411 Environmental and Resource Economics Perspectives to fulfill the Social Science Category of the Discovery Program.

2

Four professional electives must be selected as follows:

  • Choose two ECE 7XX courses, one course could be ECE 652 Electronic Design II.
  • Students are allowed to take only one as ECE 795 Electrical and Computer Engineering Projects or ECE 796 Special Topics.
  • Remaining professional electives can include: CS 619 Introduction to Object-Oriented Design and Development , CS 620 Operating System FundamentalsCS 659 Introduction to the Theory of Computation, or any CS 7XX course.

ECE 791 Senior Project I and ECE 792 Senior Project II fulfill Discovery Program Capstone Experience.

Fulfilling the CE program curriculum taking ECE 401 Perspectives in Electrical and Computer Engineering, ECE 791 Senior Project I, and ECE 792 Senior Project II will automatically meet Discovery Category, "Environment, Technology and Society."

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 129 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: No

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

In addition to Discovery Program requirements, the department has a number of grade-point average and course requirements:

  1. Any computer engineering major whose cumulative grade-point average in ECE and CS courses is less than 2.0 during any three semesters will not be allowed to continue as a computer engineering major.
  2. Computer engineering majors must achieve a 2.0 grade-point average in all ECE and CS courses as a requirement for graduation.

To make an exception to any of these departmental requirements based on extenuating circumstances, students must petition the department's undergraduate committee. Mindful of these rules, students, with their adviser's assistance, should plan their programs based on the distribution of courses found in the Degree Plan tab.

Required Courses
CS 410CIntroduction to Scientific Programming/C4
CS 419Computer Science for Engineers and Scientists4
ECE 401Perspectives in Electrical and Computer Engineering4
ECE 541Electric Circuits4
ECE 543Introduction to Digital Systems4
ECE 548Electronic Design I4
ECE 562Computer Organization4
ECE 583Designing with Programmable Logic6
ECE 602Engineering Analysis3
ECE 603Electromagnetic Fields and Waves I3
ECE 633Signals and Systems I3
ECE 634Signals and Systems II3
ECE 647Random Processes and Signals in Engineering3
ECE 649Embedded Microcomputer Based Design6
ECON 402Principles of Economics (Micro)4
or EREC 411 Environmental and Resource Economics Perspectives
MATH 425Calculus I4
MATH 426Calculus II4
MATH 527Differential Equations with Linear Algebra4
MATH 645Linear Algebra for Applications4
PHYS 407General Physics I4
PHYS 408General Physics II4
Capstone 2
ECE 791Senior Project I3
ECE 792Senior Project II3
Professional Electives
Choose four professional elective courses 116
Other Courses
Discovery requirements not already covered by required courses 224
Total Credits129
1

Four professional electives must be selected as follows:

  • Choose two ECE 700-level courses, one course could be ECE 652 Electronic Design II.
  • Students are allowed to take only one as ECE 795 Electrical and Computer Engineering Projects or ECE 796 Special Topics.
  • Remaining professional electives can include: CS 619 Introduction to Object-Oriented Design and Development CS 620 Operating System Fundamentals, CS 659 Introduction to the Theory of Computation, or any CS 700-level course.
2

Fulfilling the CE Program curriculum taking ECE 401 Perspectives in Electrical and Computer Engineering, ECE 791 Senior Project I, and ECE 792 Senior Project II curriculum will automatically meet Discovery Category, "Environment, Technology and Society."

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has adopted a set of student outcomes that consists of statements describing what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation, the achievement of which indicates that the student is equipped to achieve the program objectives.

The current student outcomes are:

  •  An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  • 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.
  • An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  • An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Explore Program Details

Those interested in the Computer Engineering major may also be interested in the following advanced degrees. Students in the program also have the opportunity to participate in the UNH accelerated master’s program.

Electrical & Computer Engineering M.Eng.

Electrical & Computer Engineering M.S.

Electrical & Computer Engineering Ph.D.

Electrical & Computer Engineering: Biomedical Engineering M.S.

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