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Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BS CE)

The Department of Information and Computer Sciences and the Department of Electrical Engineering offer a joint Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering (BS CE). The BS CE degree program provides you with the opportunity to learn about computer hardware and software, computer organization and architecture, computer security, software engineering, computer networks and Internet technology, embedded systems, computer-aided design, multi-core and parallel computing, wireless networks, and other topics stressing both hardware and software.

Degree Requirements

The BS CE degree program requires a minimum of 123 credit hours which includes:

  • College of Engineering Requirements (51 credit hours) which includes calculus, chemistry, physics, economics, speech, and UH Manoa General Education requirements.
  • BSCE Requirements (72 credit hours)
    • CompE Core Courses (66 credit hours)
    • CompE Technical Electives (6 credit hours)

CompE Core Courses

Students must complete a total of 66 credit hours including the following (credit hours are shown in parentheses):

  • EE 160 Programming for Engineers (4)
  • EE 205 Object-Oriented Programming (3)
  • EE 211 Basic Circuit Analysis I (4)
  • EE 213 Basic Circuit Analysis II (4)
  • EE 260 Introduction to Digital Design (4)
  • EE 315 Signal and System Analysis (3)
  • EE 323 Microelectronic Circuits I/Lab (3/1)
  • EE 324 Physical Electronics (3)
  • EE 342 EE Probability and Statistics (3)
  • EE 361/361L Digital Systems and Computer Design/Lab (3/1)
  • EE 366 CMOS VLSI Design (4)
  • EE 367/367L Computer Data Structures and Algorithms/Lab (3/1)
  • EE 371 Engineering Electromagnetics I (3)
  • EE 495 Ethics in Electrical Engineering (1)
  • ICS 141 Introduction to Discrete Math for Computer Scientists I (3)
  • PHYS 274 General Physics III (3)
  • Engineering Breadth (3) — see description below
  • MATH 307 Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (3)
  • Project courses: EE 296 Sophomore Project (1), EE 396 Junior Project (2), and EE 496 Senior Capstone Design (3). EE 496 is the senior level capstone design course and requires a significant design effort.

CompE Technical Electives

There is a requirement of a minimum of 6 credit hours of technical electives.  They may be all from the following list of EE and ICS courses.  Alternatively, they may be composed of 3 credit hours from the list and 3 credit hours of an EE course that is at the 300 level or higher.

  • EE 344 Network I (or ICS 451)
  • EE 406 Introduction to Computer and Network Security
  • EE 449 Computer Communication Networks (or ICS 451)
  • EE 461 Computer Architecture (or ICS 431)
  • EE 467 Object Oriented Software Engineering
  • EE 468 Introduction to Operating Systems (or ICS 412)
  • EE 469 Wireless Data Networks
  • EE 491 Special Topics in Electrical Engineering (E, F, G)
  • ICS 311 Algorithms
  • ICS 313 Programming Language Theory
  • ICS 321 Data Storage & Retrieval
  • ICS 413 Software Engineering I
  • ICS 414 Software Engineering II
  • ICS 415 Introduction to Programming for the Web
  • ICS 421 Database Systems
  • ICS 424 Application Frameworks
  • ICS 425 Computer Security and Ethics
  • ICS 426 Computer System Security
  • ICS 432 Concurrent and High-Performance Programming
  • ICS 441 Theory of Computation
  • ICS 442 Analytical Models and Methods
  • ICS 461 Artificial Intelligence I
  • ICS 464 Human Computer Interaction I
  • ICS 465 Introduction to Hypermedia
  • ICS 466 Design for Mobile Devices
  • ICS 469 Introduction to Cognitive Science
  • ICS 481 Introduction to Computer Graphics

Note that ICS courses from the list may have prerequisite courses that are not part of the computer engineering curriculum.  These courses used as technical electives will lead to more credit hours to complete the program.


Engineering Breadth Requirement

The Engineering Breadth requirement is satisfied by CEE 270 Applied Mechanics I, ME 311 Thermodynamics, or a CEE, ME, OE, or BE course that is at the 300 level or higher.  It may also be satisfied by a physical or biological science course that is at the 300 level or higher and approved by the Department’s Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC). The following is the current list of approved courses:

  • Biochemistry (BIOC)
    • BIOC 341 Elements of Biochemistry (3)
    • BIOC 441 Basic Biochemistry (4)
  • Chemistry (CHEM)
    • CHEM 351 Physical Chemistry I (3)
  • Microbiology (MICR)
    • MICR 351 Biology of Microorganisms (3)
    • MICR 394 Marine Biotechnology (3)
    • MICR 485 Microbes and Their Environment (3)
  • Molecular Biosciences and Biosystems Engineering (MBBE)
    • MBBE 401 Molecular Biotechnology (3)
    • MBBE 402 Principles of Biochemistry (4)
    • MBBE 412 Environmental Biochemistry (3)
  • Physics (PHYS)
    • PHYS 310 Theoretical Mechanics I (3)
    • PHYS 350 Electricity and Magnetism (3)
    • PHYS 430 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (3)
    • PHYS 460 Physical Optics(3)

Student Outcomes (BS Computer Engineering)

  • An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
  • An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
  • An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
  • An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
  • An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
  • An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
  • An ability to communicate effectively.
  • The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
  • A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, life-long learning.
  • A knowledge of contemporary issues.
  • An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
  • A knowledge of discrete mathematics.