Computer Engineering

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in both Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. Additional information about the Department and programs are available on the Web at www.eece.maine.edu.

The mission of the Computer Engineering program is to ensure that the students obtain a solid educational background in computer engineering so that they are nationally competitive and successful in their chosen profession and are prepared for future graduate training.  To achieve this, the program educational objectives are to:

1. Provide students with a solid foundation in computer engineering.
2. Guide students in their preparation for a broad range of career opportunities.
3. Train students to develop the ability to function in the workplace through teamwork and effective communication.
4. Educate students to become aware of their moral. ethical, legal and professional obligations and to hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public.
5. Help students develop an appreciation for the necessity of lifelong learning.

Program Description
The Computer Engineering curriculum provides students with the technical skills as well as the basic mathematical and scientific background required to advance current technology and to contribute to future developments in the computer engineering profession. The curriculum strives to instill critical written and oral communication skills in addition to providing a diverse background in the humanities and social sciences. Our graduates acquire a sense of professionalism as they become aware of an engineer’s responsibility to help solve societal problems. They also develop the ability to contribute to team solutions and an appreciation for the importance of life-long learning.

The curriculum adopts a practical hands-on approach that combines classroom theory and laboratory experience to produce an engineer who can carry a technical project from inception through to the implementation of a successful solution. The process begins in the first year of the program when students learn to prototype digital circuits and program micro-controller boards. It continues through the senior year when they complete their capstone design projects. In this latter case, students, usually working in two-person teams over three semesters, propose, specify, create, present, and demonstrate a solution to a technical problem of their choosing.

A double major leading to a BS in both Electrical and Computer Engineering is a popular option for many students. By a judicious choice of electives and early planning, this option can be achieved in an extra semester or by taking summer courses. Note that the first year curriculum is the same for electrical and computer engineers and that the sophomore year is very similar for the two majors. Students interested in the possibility of a double major should consult with their advisors early in their programs.

To obtain a BS in Computer Engineering, a student must: (1) meet all University academic requirements, (2) meet all Computer Engineering curriculum requirements, and (3) have a GPA of 2.0 or better in all ECE courses as well as a GPA of 2.0 or better in all COS courses. Deviation from the above policies requires approval of the Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty. The program in Computer Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone: (410) 347-7700.

Our undergraduate program prepares students for graduate work as well as industry. Many of our students choose to pursue further study at graduate schools across the US as well as at the University of Maine. The University of Maine offers programs leading to advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. These programs are described in the University of Maine Graduate School online Catalog.

Practical Experience
Students are strongly encouraged to pursue a co-op work experience. These co-op experiences must be pre-approved by the student’s advisor and the co-op coordinator. They may be taken during the summer as well as the fall or spring semesters. Summer-fall and spring-summer placements are particularly worthwhile. To gain additional practical experience many undergraduate students take advantage of opportunities to work with ECE faculty on research and development projects. Because many of these projects are related to real-world problems and may actually be sponsored by industry, students gain invaluable insight into how to apply their classroom learning to solve industrial problems. The Department strongly encourages both of these approaches through advising and by giving technical elective credit for substantial experiences.

Employment Opportunities
The Computer Engineering Program provides its graduates with the knowledge necessary to design systems based on computers and complex digital logic devices. They know how to select and interconnect the electronic and mechanical devices that make up a computer-based system. A computer engineer, through knowledge of both software and hardware can develop a complete solution to a given problem by assigning some tasks to hardware and others to software. Systems designed by computer engineers find use in such diverse tasks as computation, communication, instrumentation, networking, entertainment, information processing, artificial intelligence, and control. Although trained in both hardware and software, some graduates choose to emphasize one area after graduation, pursuing for example a career involving just software development. Graduates find employment with local, national, and international companies as well as government agencies. Specific examples include IBM, Lockheed Martin, Analog Devices, Fairchild Semiconductor, National Semiconductor, Compaq, Tundra Semiconductor, Motorola, and Hewlett Packard. For more examples please visit our Department web page at www.eece.maine.edu/  and click on the Alumni/ae link.

Scholarships
The department has several scholarships available on a competitive basis for students majoring in electrical and computer engineering. Outstanding incoming students should apply for college and departmental scholarships through the College of Engineering. Scholarship information is also available by following the “Perspective Students” link at the Department web page www.eece.maine.edu/