Computer engineers improve the underlying digital hardware, computing networks and production software systems that impact everyday life. The discipline aims to improve computer efficiency and manage the hardware/software/energy costs of all types of computers, from portable embedded devices and miniature sensor nodes to supercomputers. The work involves mobile and embedded computing devices, sensor networks, reconfigurable logic, software engineering, and computer system design and analysis, and can be applied in a variety of sub-disciplines, including signal processing, cybersecurity, renewable power, biomedical sensing, computer architecture, microwave engineering and antenna design, and more. While computer engineers have less programming experience than computer science graduates, their understanding of hardware gives them an advantage in working with overall systems.
The Computer Engineering Comprehensive Track covers fundamental computer engineering concepts. The student is exposed to key areas in the discipline, including embedded processing, operating systems, object oriented programming, computer networks, FPGA Design, computer organization and architecture etc. The technical electives can be selected to provide more depth in one or more areas of computer engineering.
CECS Progress Policy
- Students in the Computer Engineering major are expected to make consistent good progress toward their degrees to remain enrolled in, or eligible for, any major, minor, or certificate in the College of Engineering & Computer Science (CECS) or the College of Optics and Photonics (COP). To support this, CECS and COP enforce a Progress Policy with two components: the low grade component and the repeat attempt component.
- Low Grade Component: Any student majoring in Computer Engineering who has accumulated 7 or more unsuccessful attempts (i.e., grades below "C" (2.0), U grades, and withdrawals, including in 0-credit courses) over all courses taken at UCF will be placed on Lack of Progress Probation and remain on Lack of Progress Probation as long as the student is enrolled in a CECS or COP major. If a student on Lack of Progress Probation has a tenth unsuccessful attempt over all courses taken at UCF, the student will be Excluded from all CECS and COP majors, minors, and certificates.
- Repeat Attempt Component: Any student majoring in Computer Engineering who repeats any UCF course and does not earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better on the second attempt will be placed on Lack of Progress Probation and remain on Lack of Progress Probation as long as the student is enrolled in a CECS or COP major. If a student on Lack of Progress Probation does not receive a grade of "C" (2.0) or better by the third attempt in the same UCF course, the student will be Excluded from all CECS and COP majors, minors, and certificates.
- A student who has been excluded from CECS and COP majors cannot declare any CECS or COP minors or certificates unless as required by the student’s degree program. A student who has been excluded from CECS and COP majors may seek readmission to a major in CECS or COP after earning a bachelor’s degree or relevant associate of science degree, either from another college at UCF or from another institution. To be eligible for readmission to CECS or COP, the student must not have accumulated any additional low grades in subsequent coursework used to complete the earned degree. An excluded student who meets these criteria is not guaranteed readmission to a CECS or COP major. Any student who is readmitted to the Computer Engineering major will be subject to all probation conditions that applied at the time of exclusion.
This program prepares students for state-regulated professional licensure or certification. For more information on how this program may prepare you in that regard, please view the licensure disclosure for the Computer Engineering, Comprehensive Track (B.S.Cp.E.) program.
Degree Requirements
Basic Core Requirements
5 Total Credits
- A minimum 2.250 GPA is required for courses used in Basic Core Requirements, Advanced Core Requirements, Restricted Electives, and Capstone Requirements. COM 1000, SPC 1603C, and SPC 1608 are specifically identified in the GEP.
5 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- EGS1006C - Introduction to the Engineering Profession (1)
- EGN1007C - Engineering Concepts and Methods (1)
- STA3032 - Probability and Statistics for Engineers (3)
- Complete at least 1 of the following: COM 1000 - Introduction to Communication (3), SPC 1603C - Fundamentals of Technical Presentations (3), or SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication (3)
Advanced Core Requirements
51 Total Credits
- A minimum 2.250 GPA is required for courses used in Basic Core Requirements, Advanced Core Requirements, Restricted Electives, and Capstone Requirements.
51 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following:
- EGN3211 - Engineering Analysis and Computation (3)
- EGN3420 - Engineering Analysis (3)
- EEE3342C - Digital Systems (3)
- EEL3801C - Computer Organization (4)
- EEL3004C - Linear Circuits I (3)
- EEL3123C - Linear Circuits II (3)
- COP3330 - Object Oriented Programming (3)
- COT3100C - Introduction to Discrete Structures (3)
- COP3502C - Computer Science I (3)
- COP3503C - Computer Science II (3)
- Complete the following:
- EEE3307C - Electronics I (4)
- EEL4742C - Embedded Systems (3)
- EEL3926L - ECE Design Lab (1)
- COP4600 - Operating Systems (3)
- COP4331C - Processes for Object-Oriented Software Development (3)
- EEL4768 - Computer Architecture (3)
- EEL4781 - Computer Communication Networks (3)
Restricted Electives
12 Total Credits
- A minimum 2.250 GPA is required for courses used in Basic Core Requirements, Advanced Core Requirements, Restricted Electives, and Capstone Requirements.
12 Total Credits
- Earn at least 12 credits from the following types of courses: Technical electives are available in the BSCpE program to address specific student interests in a variety of technical areas. Students should consult with their academic advisor for the identification of courses that are approved technical electives and the terms when specific courses of this type are to be offered.
Capstone Requirements
6 Total Credits
- A minimum 2.250 GPA is required for courses used in Basic Core Requirements, Advanced Core Requirements, Restricted Electives, and Capstone Requirements.
6 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- EEL4914 - Senior Design I (3)
- EEL4915L - Senior Design II (3)
Grand Total Credits: 74
Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 122
Plan of Study
- A tentative course schedule for entering freshman is available on the CECS Academic Affairs Office website at https://academicaffairs.cecs.ucf.edu/. Students should consult with an Academic Success Coach to develop a personalized plan to graduation.
CECS Senior Design Sequencing Policy
- CECS students who are required to complete a two-course Senior Design sequence are expected to complete the course sequence in consecutive terms (Fall-Spring, Spring-Summer, or Summer-Fall). The Senior Design sequence is expected to be taken during the last two semesters of the academic program.
- Students are expected to enroll into and complete Senior Design 1 in the semester where permission is granted. Permission to delay Senior Design 1 to subsequent terms will not be considered unless the requisites to enroll into Senior Design 1 have not been satisfied or the initial attempt of Senior Design 1 was not completed with a passing grade.
Foreign Language Requirements
- Two years of one foreign language in high school, or one year of one foreign language in college (or equivalent proficiency exam) prior to graduation.
Departmental Exit Requirements
- Computer Engineering students must earn at least 32 hours in residence at UCF.
- 24 of the 32 residency hours must be at the 3000-5000 level courses taken from the ECE Department at UCF and applicable to the degree program.
College Exit Requirements
- Students must complete at least eight upper-division courses towards their degree within CECS at UCF.
- Students must complete all their discipline-specific senior design and/or capstone course(s) within CECS at UCF.
University Minimum Exit Requirements
- Students must have a minimum 2.0 UCF GPA.
- Students must have completed 42 semester hours of upper division credit.
- 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
- A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
- Complete the General Education Program, the State Writing and Math Requirement, nine hours of Summer credit, and Civic Literacy Requirement.
Honors In Major
- Information on Honors in the Major can be found at https://honors.ucf.edu/.
Related Programs
- Electrical Engineering (B.S.E.E.)
- Computer Science (B.S.)
- Information Technology (B.S.)
- Mathematics (B.S.) - Engineering/Physics Track
- Physics (B.S.)
- Engineering Leadership Minor
- Intelligent Robotic Systems (IRS), Interdisciplinary Minor
- Mathematics Minor
- Physics Minor
Advising Notes
- Students should meet regularly with their Academic Success Coach. Contact the CECS Academic Affairs Office (https://academicaffairs.cecs.ucf.edu/) for more information on meeting with an Academic Success Coach.
- Each student should seek academic advisement before registering for classes each semester to minimize excess hours and to ensure that satisfactory academic progress is being maintained.
- The Computer Engineering program offers the Accelerated BS-MS Program to students of high academic standing. This program allows up to twelve hours to be shared between the BS and MS degrees. Visit https://grad.cecs.ucf.edu/bstoms/ for more information.
Transfer Notes
- Courses transferred must be formally evaluated for equivalency credit. The student must provide all supporting information with his/her petition for this evaluation.
- Helpful transfer student resources, including established course equivalencies, are available online at https://registrar.ucf.edu/transfer-student-resources/.
- EGS 1006C and EGN 1007C are required courses for incoming freshmen only. The credits for these two courses (one hour each) may, with prior approval of the college, be moved to Restricted Electives.
Program Academic Learning Compacts
- Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at: http://www.oeas.ucf.edu/alc/academic_learning_compacts.htm
Equipment Fees
- Part-Time Student: $42 per term
- Full-Time Student: $84 per term
