Viterbi School of Engineering

Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Degree

Undergraduate Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the Computer Engineering and Computer Science program are expected to attain the following educational objectives within a few years of graduation:

• Graduates will apply analytical and critical thinking principles of both computer engineering and computer science to their chosen professions.
• Graduates will successfully engage in life-long learning to continue to be contributing members of their communities in fields within and outside the traditional scope of computer engineering.
• Graduates will exhibit high professional and ethical standards to become productive leaders in society.

Undergraduate Program Criteria

The program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Computer Science provides both breadth and depth across the range of engineering topics implied by the title. The curriculum includes probability and statistics, including appropriate applications; mathematics, including discrete mathematics through differential and integral calculus; sciences (defined as biological, chemical or physical science) to develop an understanding of the scientific method and provide students with an opportunity to experience this mode of inquiry in courses for science or engineering majors that provide some exposure to lab work; and engineering topics (including computing science) necessary to analyze and design complex electrical and electronic devices, software and systems containing hardware and software components.

The computer science portion of the curriculum covers the fundamentals of algorithms, data structures, software design, concepts of programming languages and computer organization and software; provides an exposure to a variety of programming languages and systems, including at least one higher-level language; and includes advanced course work that builds on the fundamental course work to provide depth.

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.

The requirement for the degree is 128 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required in all upper division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken.

composition/writing requirements (7 units)		Units
WRIT 150	Writing and Critical Reasoning — Thematic Approaches	4
WRIT 340*	Advanced Writing	3

General Education (20 units)		Units
General education+		20

Pre-Major Requirements (29-30 units)		units
Engineering (2 units)
ENGR 102	Engineering Freshman Academy	2

Mathematics (16 units)
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
MATH 225	Linear Algebra and Differential Equations	4
MATH 226	Calculus III	4

Statistics and Probability (3-4 units)
EE 364	Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (3), or
MATH 407	Probability Theory (4)	3-4

Physics (8 units)
PHYS 151L**	Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics, and	4
PHYS 152L	Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism; or	4
PHYS 161L	Advanced Principles of Physics I, and	4
PHYS 162L	Advanced Principles of Physics II	4

major requirements (51-52 units)		Units
Computer Science (27 units)
CSCI 103L	Introduction to Programming	3
CSCI 104L	Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design	4
CSCI 170	Discrete Methods in Computer Science	4
CSCI 201L	Principles of Software Development	4
CSCI 270	Introduction to Algorithms and Theory of Computing	4
CSCI 350	Introduction to Operating Systems	4
CSCI 353	Introduction to Internetworking	4

Electrical Engineering (21 units)
EE 109	Introduction to Embedded Systems	3
EE 154	Fundamentals of Digital Logic	2
EE 254	Introduction to Digital Circuits	4
EE 277	Introduction to Digital Integrated Circuits	2
EE 451	Parallel and Distributed Computation	3
EE 457	Computer Systems Organization	3
And one of the following courses:
EE 454	Introduction to Systems Using Microprocessors (4), or
EE 477L	MOS VLSI Circuit Design (4)	4

Senior Design Project (3-4 units)
CSCI 477ab	Design and Construction of Large Software Systems (2-2), or
EE 459L	Embedded Systems Design Laboratory (3)	3-4

Engineering Economy/Business elective		3-4
Technical electives ++		11
Free electives		5-7

Total units

128

**Satisfies GE requirement.

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 in computer engineering and computer science. No more than three courses (maximum 12 units) may be counted at the 400 level — at least 18 adviser-approved units must be taken at the 500 or 600 level.

All applicants must have taken the entrance requirement courses (or equivalent in other institutions) in order to be admitted to the program. Entrance requirement course credit cannot be applied toward the degree. A fundamental course may be waived by taking a placement exam. In case a placement exam is not offered, a fundamental course may be waived by a designated faculty member. At least 18 units must be taken at the 500-level or above. At least 18 units must be taken in electrical engineering, 15 of which must be taken at USC. Units taken outside of electrical engineering or computer science must be approved in advance by a computer engineering adviser and must be substantive in content and related to the degree objective. Up to 3 units of Directed Research (EE 590) with a computer engineering faculty member may be applied toward the degree.

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

Students must take or waive all four of the following fundamental courses (with the option of EE 450 or EE 465 or EE 503):

Fundamental Courses		Units
CSCI 402x	Operating Systems	3
EE 450	Introduction to Computer Networks, or
EE 465	Probabilistic Methods in Computer Systems Modeling	3
EE 457	Computer Systems Organization	3
EE 477L	MOS VLSI Circuit Design	4
EE 503	Probability for Electrical and Computer Engineers	4

Students must take at least two of the following core courses (with the option of EE 550 or EE 555):

Core Courses		Units
EE 550	Design and Analysis of Computer Communication Networks, or
EE 555	Broadband Network Architectures	3
EE 557	Computer Systems Architecture	3
EE 577a	VLSI System Design	3

Students must take at least 6 units from the following list of elective courses (cannot overlap with the core courses):

Computer Science: CSCI 545, CSCI 546, CSCI 547, CSCI 551, CSCI 555, CSCI 558L, CSCI 561, CSCI 565, CSCI 570, CSCI 584, CSCI 585, CSCI 595

Electrical Engineering: EE 532, EE 536ab, EE 549, EE 550, EE 552, EE 554, EE 555, EE 557, EE 558, EE 560, EE 577ab, EE 579, EE 630, EE 650, EE 652, EE 653, EE 657, EE 658, EE 659, EE 677, 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 Viterbi School of Engineering requirements for the Master of Science apply.

Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering

The requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) 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.

Course Requirements		units
The following course work must be completed; these courses can be included in the 60-unit course work requirement:

Take two courses from theory area and four courses from the other three areas (hardware, software and systems), including at least one course from each area to total six courses.

Theory Area Courses
CSCI 570	Analysis of Algorithms	3
EE 465	Probabilistic Methods in Computer Systems Modeling, or
EE 503	Probability for Electrical and Computer Engineers, or
EE 549	Queuing Theory for Performance Modeling	3-4
EE 562a	Random Processes in Engineering	3
EE 565a	Information Theory	3
MATH 410	Fundamental Concepts of Modern Algebra, or
MATH 425a	Fundamental Concepts of Analysis	4
MATH 432	Applied Combinatorics, or
MATH 533	Combinatorical Analysis and Algebra	4

Hardware Area Courses
EE 536a	Mixed Signal Integrated Circuit Design	3
EE 552	Asynchronous VLSI Design	3
EE 557	Computer Systems Architecture	3

Software Area Courses
CSCI 565	Compiler Design, or
CSCI 595	Advanced Compiler Design	4
CSCI 577a	Software Engineering	4
CSCI 585	Database Systems	3

Systems Area Courses
CSCI 551	Computer Communications	3
CSCI 555	Advanced Operating Systems	3
CSCI 561	Foundations of Artificial Intelligence	3
EE 543a	Digital Control Systems	3
EE 554	Real Time Computer Systems	3
EE 550	Design and Analysis of Computer Communication Networks, or
EE 555	Broadband Network Architectures	3
EE 569	Introduction to Digital Image Processing	3

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