Catalogue 2004-05

• USC Viterbi School of Engineering
  • Degrees and Requirements
  • Undergraduate Degrees
  • Graduate Degrees
  • Engineering
  • Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
  • Applied Mechanics
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer-Aided Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Industrial and Systems Engineering
  • Information Technology Program
  • Manufacturing Engineering
  • Materials Science
  • Multimedia and Creative Technologies
  • Petroleum Engineering
  • Product Development Engineering
  • Sustainable Cities Program
  • Systems Architecture and Engineering

Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Degree

Education Program Objectives

The undergraduate program in Computer Engineering and Computer Science has the following objectives:

(1) Graduates will design and develop computer hardware that reflects the exigencies imposed by software design and development considerations.

(2) Graduates will develop software that makes efficient use of current and developing hardware technologies.

(3) Graduates will continue to develop the scientific and engineering skills and knowledge that will enable them to design and implement computer systems that effectively and efficiently integrate developing hardware and software technologies.

(4) Graduates will be exposed to extensive work experiences in both the areas of computer engineering and computer science.

(5) Most graduates will enter employment in their field.

(6) Some graduates will undertake graduate education in computer engineering and/or computer science.

(7) Graduates will engage in lifelong learning and understand contemporary developments in the field.

(8) The reputations of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science departments, which jointly sponsor the CECS program, for attracting quality students and producing quality graduates, will be continuously improved.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Computer Science

Students attaining the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering and Computer Science would possess the scientific and engineering skills and knowledge that would enable them to design and implement computer systems that effectively and efficiently integrate developing hardware and software technologies. This degree is administered jointly by the Departments of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

In order to earn the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering and Computer Science, the student must: (1) earn 131 class units as described below; (2) achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on all course work undertaken at USC; (3) attain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on all course work completed in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at USC.

In addition, CECS majors must complete a minimum of 30 units of course work in Humanities and Social Sciences.

The following sample four-year program is only an example of how the required courses might be scheduled. A student does not have to take the required course work in the order specified in the sample program although it would be appropriate to try and follow it as closely as possible.

Sample Four-Year Program

First Year, First Semester		Units
CSCI 101L	Fundamentals of Computer Programming	3
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
WRIT 140*	Writing and Critical Reasoning	4
General education VI*		4
		15

First Year, Second Semester		Units
CSCI 105	Object-Oriented Programming	2
CSCI 107	Computers and Society	3
EE 105	Introduction to Electrical Engineering	3
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
General education V		4
		16

Second Year, First Semester		Units
CSCI 102L	Data Structures	4
EE 101L	Introduction to Digital Logic	3
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
PHYS 151L**	Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics	4
		15

Second Year, Second Semester		Units
CSCI 201L	Principles of Software Development	4
CSCI 271	Discrete Methods in Computer Science	3
EE 102L	Introduction to Digital Circuits	2
MATH 225	Linear Algebra and Differential Equations	4
PHYS 152L	Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism	4
		17

Third Year, First Semester		Units
CSCI 303	Analysis and Design of Algorithms	3
EE 326Lx	Essentials of Electrical Engineering	4
EE 357Lx	Basic Organization of Computer Systems	3
Science elective***		4
Technical elective I****		3
		17

Third Year, Second Semester		Units
CSCI 377	Introduction to Software Engineering	3
EE 327x	Digital Electronics	3
EE 454L	Introduction to Systems Using Microprocessors	4
MATH 407	Probability Theory	4
General education IV+		4
		18

Fourth Year, First Semester		Units
CSCI 402	Operating Systems	3
EE 459L	Senior Design Project	3
WRIT 340	Advanced Writing	3
General education I		4
General education II		4
		17

Fourth Year, Second Semester		Units
CSCI 477	Design and Construction of Large Software Systems	3
EE 457Lx	Computer Systems Organization	3
ISE 460	Engineering Economy 3
400-level Math elective++		4
Technical elective II		3
		16
Total:		131

Minor in Multimedia and Creative Technologies

See listing under Multimedia and Creative Technologies.

Graduate Degrees

The graduate program in computer engineering, offered through the Department of Electrical Engineering, is designed to provide students with an intensive background in the analysis, structure, design and function of digital computers and information processing systems. In addition to giving each student a fundamental background in digital logic, computer architecture and operating systems, a wide variety of elective courses allows for study in the following specialized areas: artificial intelligence; computer architecture; computer networks; computer system performance; design automation; fault-tolerant computers; microprocessors; parallel processing; real-time systems; robotics; and VLSI design.

Master of Science in Computer Engineering

The Master of Science in Computer Engineering is earned by completing an integrated program of at least 27 units of approved course work.

It is expected that all applicants have taken the following required courses in order to be admitted to the program. If not, the student may be required to take these courses in addition to their 27 units.

Entrance Requirement Courses		Units
CSCI 455x	Introduction to Programming Systems Design	4
EE 357	Basic Organization of Computer Systems	3
EE 454L	Introduction to Systems Design Using Microprocessors	4

In addition, it is expected that each student in this program take or have taken the equivalent of the following fundamental courses:

Fundamental Courses		Units
CSCI 402x	Operating Systems	3
CSCI 410x	Translation of Programming Languages	3
EE 450	Introduction to Computer Networks	3
EE 457Lx	Computer Systems Organization	3
EE 465	Probabilistic Methods in Computer Systems Modeling	3
EE 477L	MOS VLSI Circuit Design	4

Students must take the following core courses:

Core Courses		Units
EE 557	Computer Systems Architecture	3
EE 577a	VLSI System Design	3

Depth Courses

Each student must choose one of four areas of specialization: networks, computer architecture, VLSI and CAD. Six units of depth courses must be taken in the area of specialization.

CAD: CSCI 570, EE 552, EE 599, EE 658, EE 680, EE 681.

Computer Architecture: AE 549a, CSCI 565 or CSCI 595, EE 554, EE 653, EE 657, EE 659.

Networks: CSCI 551, CSCI 558L, EE 549, EE 550, EE 555, EE 558, EE 650.

VLSI: EE 504L, EE 533ab, EE 536, EE 552, EE 560, EE 577b, EE 582, EE 630, EE 677.

Breadth Courses

The student must also take 6 units from the following list of breadth courses associated with his or her chosen area of specialization. For example, a student who chooses a specialization in VLSI must take 6 units from the VLSI breadth list.

CAD: AME 549a, CSCI 551, CSCI 565, EE 504L, EE 533a, EE 536, EE 550, EE 554, EE 555, EE 577b, EE 582, EE 657.

Computer Architecture: CSCI 551, CSCI 570, EE 504L, EE 533a, EE 536, EE 549, EE 550, EE 552, EE 555, EE 577b, EE 582, EE 658, EE 680, EE 681.

Networks: AME 549a, CSCI 565, CSCI 570, EE 504L, EE 533a, EE 536, EE 552, EE 554, EE 577b, EE 582, EE 657, EE 658, EE 659, EE 680, EE 681.

VLSI: AME 549a, CSCI 551, CSCI 565, CSCI 570, EE 550, EE 554, EE 555, EE 657, EE 658, EE 659, EE 680, EE 681.

A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0) must be earned on all course work applied toward the master's degree in computer engineering. This average must also be achieved on all 400-level and above course work attempted at USC beyond the bachelor's degree. Transfer units which count as credit (CR) toward the master's degree are not computed in the grade point average. All other School of Engineering requirements for the Master of Science apply. For the M.S. in Electrical Engineering (VLSI Design) and the M.S. in Electrical Engineering (Computer Networks) degrees section, see Electrical Engineering Graduate Degrees section.

Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering

The requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in computer engineering are in strict conformity with the requirements of the Graduate School. Program requirements for the Ph.D. in computer engineering are the same as those for the Ph.D. in electrical engineering except that the major field is computer engineering. See general requirements for graduate degrees.

Screening and qualifying examinations are administered by the computer engineering faculty. Students should contact the Electrical Engineering-Systems Department Office for further information.

Major Areas in Computer Engineering and Relevant Courses (not applicable to M.S., Computer Engineering requirements)

Computer Systems Architecture		Units
EE 457Lx	Computer Systems Organization	3
EE 554	Real Time Computer Systems	3
EE 557	Computer Systems Architecture	3
EE 653	Multithreaded Architectures, Data-Flow Computing and Functional Programming	3
EE 657	Parallel Processing	3
EE 659	Interconnection Networks	3

Artificial Intelligence		Units
CSCI 544	Natural Language Processing	3
CSCI 561	Foundations of Artificial Intelligence	3
CSCI 574	Computer Vision	3
CSCI 674a	Advanced Topics in Computer Vision	3
EE 559	Mathematical Pattern Recognition	3

Robotics		Units
AME 541	Linear Control Systems II	3
AME 548	Analytical Methods in Robotics	3
CSCI 545	Robotics	3
CSCI 547	Sensing and Planning in Robotics	3

Computer Networks and Distributed Systems		Units
CSCI 551	Computer Communications	3
CSCI 555	Advanced Operating Systems	3
EE 450	Introduction to Computer Networks	3
EE 532	Wireless Internet and Pervasive Computing	3
EE 549	Queueing Theory for Performance Modeling	3
EE 550	Design and Analysis of Computer Communication Networks	3
EE 555	Broadband Network Architectures	3
EE 650	Advanced Topics in Computer Networks	3

Digital Systems Design		Units
EE 552	Logic Design and Switching Theory	3
EE 560	Digital System Design -- Tools and Techniques	3
EE 577ab	VLSI System Design	3-2
EE 582	Technical Seminar on VLSI Design	1
EE 658	Diagnosis and Design of Reliable Digital Systems	3
EE 680	Computer Aided Design of Digital Systems I	3
EE 681	Computer-Aided Design of Digital Systems II	3

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