Requirements for the Major in Computer Engineering

The computer engineering degree requires 130 hours of course work. There is a set of required core courses in computer science and engineering (29–32 credit hours), electrical engineering (28 credit hours), mathematics (23 credit hours), and physics and chemistry (13 credit hours). Students select technical electives (12 credit hours) distributed over at least three of the following five areas: system–level architecture, software systems, design implementation, communication and distributed systems, and computer engineering applications. The department maintains a list of CSCE 496 special topics selections that may be substituted as technical electives. Students must complete the humanities and social science requirements of the college (18 hours), a technical writing course, and the college’s freshmen and sophomore seminars and professional ethics course.

Computer Science and Engineering courses (44 hours):

• Computer Science and Engineering Core (32 hours)
  • Required courses – CSCE 155, 156, 230, 230L, 235, 251, 310, 340, 351, 430, 488, and 489;
• Technical Electives (12 hours)
  • Must have at least one course in three of the following five tracks:
    • System–Level Architecture – CSCE 432, 435, ELEC 476, 479
    • Software Systems – CSCE 322, 361, 378, 425, 451, 464, JDEP 301H, 302H, 383H, 401H, 402H
    • Hardware Design Implementation – CSCE 434, ELEC 306, 416, 417, 469, 470
    • Communications and Distributed Systems – CSCE 455, 462, 463, 477, ELEC 462, 464
    • Computer Engineering Applications – CSCE 410, 413, 421, 456, 457, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 476, 478, 479, ELEC 463, 465

Electrical Engineering courses (28 hours):

• Required courses – ELEC 121, 215, 233, 216, 234, 304, 316, 361, 307, 370, and 475;

Mathematics and Statistics courses (23 hours):

• Required courses – Calculus (MATH 106, 107 and 108), Differential Equations (MATH 221), Linear Algebra (MATH 314), and Statistics (STAT 380);

Science courses (13 hours):

• Required courses – General Physics I, II and Lab (PHYS 211, 212, and 222), and General Chemistry (CHEM 109)

Supporting courses (22 hours):

• Technical Writing, Ethics, Humanities, and Social Sciences

The College of Engineering has general education requirements in both essential and integrative studies. Essential studies include communication, the social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, natural sciences, historical studies, the humanities, the arts, and human diversity. Integrative studies engage students intensively in intellectual activities such as writing, speaking, critical thinking, and the consideration of human diversity. Students must take nine integrative studies courses with at least one course each at the 200, 300, and 400 levels, and at most three per department.

Program Assessment. In order to assist the department in evaluating the effectiveness of its programs, majors will be required to complete a written exit survey in their senior year. The undergraduate adviser will inform students of the scheduling and format of assessment activities. Results of participation in these assessment activities will in no way affect a student's GPA or graduation.

Formal Admission to the Degree Program

In the College of Engineering (CoE), freshmen may declare an intended major, but formal admission to a degree program requires a formal application for admission to that program. This application typically is submitted midway through the sophomore year.  Both the CSE Department and CoE review applications for admission to the Computer Engineering Program. In the Department, a subcommittee of the Undergraduate Advising Committee, which must include the Chief Advisor, evaluates the applications. The CSE Department Chair reviews and signs the applications, which then are sent to the CoE. The CSE Department imposes the following admission requirements to indicate the likelihood of successfully completing the program:

• Have accumulated 43 university credit hours (including transfer credits), including at least 12 hours at UNL,
• Have submitted an Application for Admission to the Computer Engineering Program,
• Have satisfied all College of Engineering and Technology requirements for admission,
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5, and
• Have a term GPA of at least 2.5 for the latest term completed at UNL,
• Have completed with a grade of “C+” or better, all core courses listed below (or their equivalents for transfer students). Testing out of a course via a placement test is equivalent to earning a “C+” or better. If a course was taken more than once, then the highest grade on the student’s transcript applies.
• CSCE 155 Introduction to Computer Science I, CSCE156 Introduction to Computer Science II, CSCE230 Computer Organization, CSCE230L Computer Organization Laboratory, CSCE235 Introduction to Discrete Structures,
• ELEC121 Introduction to Electrical Engineering, ELEC215 Electronics and Circuits I, ELEC233 Introductory Electrical Laboratory I,
• MATH106 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I, MATH107 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II, MATH208 Analytic Geometry and Calculus III, and
• PHYS211 General Physics I, PHYS212 General Physics II, PHYS222 General Physics Laboratory II.

Application Appeals

In the event that a student’s application for admission is denied, that student may file a written appeal letter with the Chief Advisor, requesting reconsideration and/or waiver of requirements. The appeal letter should include specific statements explaining why this case is unique, and providing details of the mitigating circumstances that would justify reconsideration and/or a waiver.

The appeal is reviewed and voted upon by the entire Undergraduate Advising Committee. If the committee reaches a tie vote and cannot resolve the impasse, then the CSE Department Chair makes the final decision. An individual student may submit only one application per academic semester. Also, only one appeal may be filed per application.