OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 130
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. Minimum of a cumulative 2.0 GPA for all Computer courses taken.
Contact Information: Donald Hummels, Chair and Castle Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, 101 Barrows Hall, 207 581 2223
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 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:
- Demonstrate a solid foundation in computer engineering by holding positions that utilize their engineering training, advancing in their job responsibilities, and/or be pursuing postgraduate education.
- Demonstrate the ability to function in the workplace through independent thought, problem solving, teamwork and effective communication.
- Be working as engineering professionals, acting ethically, adhering to standards and be committed to the welfare of employees and the general population.
- 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 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, except for the Chemistry requirement, 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, (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 achieving a passing grade. This includes courses where a grade of AU, L, or WF is received. Any exceptions to the program specifics listed above require approval of the ECE 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.
Cooperative and Research Work 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, build, and work with 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, Tundra Semiconductor, Motorola, Mitre Corporation, Kepware Technologies, Tyler Technologies 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 at www.eece.maine.edu/
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