Computer Engineering

OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 124

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: Repeating any ECE course for which a grade of F, L, or WF has been recorded requires a grade of C- or better in prerequisites for the course. Dismissal from the program will be recommended if any required course in the program is taken twice without achieving a passing grade. This includes courses where a grade of AU, L, or WF is received.

Other GPA requirements to graduate: Minimum of a cumulative 2.0 GPA for all courses taken. Minimum of a cumulative 2.0 GPA for all ECE courses taken.

Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience: ECE 403

Contact Information: Vijaya Devabhaktuni, Professor and Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering, 101 Barrows Hall, (207) 581-222; vijay.devabhaktuni@maine.edu

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in both Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. Additional and more detailed information about the Department, its programs, career opportunities, scholarships, and a wealth of other materials are available at www.ece.umaine.edu.

The mission of the Computer Engineering program is to ensure that 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, within two to five years of graduation, graduates of the computer engineering program will:

1. Demonstrate a solid foundation in computer engineering by holding positions that utilize their engineering training, advancing in their job responsibilities, or be pursuing postgraduate education.
2. Demonstrate the ability to function in the workplace through independent thought, problem solving, teamwork, and effective communication.
3. Be working as engineering professionals, acting ethically, adhering to standards, and be committed to the welfare of employees and the general population.
4. Participate in lifelong learning activities to continue their professional development.

Program Description
The Computer Engineering curriculum provides students with the technical skills as well as the 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 lifelong learning.

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

To obtain a BS degree in Computer Engineering, a student must: (1) meet all University academic requirements, (2) meet all Computer Engineering curriculum requirements, (3) have a GPA of 2.0 or better in all ECE courses, and (4) have a GPA of 2.0 or better in all computer courses. Repeating any ECE course for which a grade of F, L, or WF has been recorded requires a grade of C- or better in prerequisites for the course. Dismissal from the program will be recommended if any required course in the program is taken twice without receiving a passing grade. This includes courses where a grade of AU, L, or WF is received.

Students may petition the ECE faculty for exceptions to any program requirements. The program in Computer Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.