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BS Computer Engineering Program

Four-Year Plan for Students Admitted Fall 2011

The lower division requirements (72 units) are designed to provide a strong foundation in mathematics, physics, electrical engineering, methodology and skills, and computer programming and organizational skills.

The upper division core courses  (36 units) deal with the theory and design of algorithms, computer hardware, and computer software. Students can gain additional breadth and/or depth in computer science and engineering by an appropriate selection of technical electives (28 units).

The program encompasses the study of hardware design, data storage, computer architecture, assembly languages, and the design of computers for engineering, information retrieval, and scientific research.

Many graduates in this degree program go on to graduate school or choose careers that involve the design of computer hardware and software systems in diverse areas such as: computer graphics, computer-aided design, multimedia systems, databases, parallel computation, distributed computation, artificial intelligence, optical computing, very-large-scale-integration design, and fabrication.

Major Requirements, Curriculum Revised Fall 2011

Year Fall Winter Spring

First Year

CSE 8A and 8AL, or CSE 11
Math 20A
GE

CSE 91
CSE 12
CSE 15L
Math 20B
GE

CSE 20
Math 20C
Phys 2A
GE

Second Year

CSE 21
Math 20D
ECE 35
Phys 2B

Math 20F
ECE 45
Phys 2C
GE

CSE 30
ECE 65
ECE 109                           GE

Third Year

CSE 110
CSE 140
CSE 140L
ECE 101

CSE 100
CSE 101
ECE 108
GE

CSE 141
CSE 141L
(Req TE: ECE 111 or ECE 118)
GE

Fourth Year

CSE 120
(CSE/ECE Tech Elec.)
(CSE/ECE Tech Elec.)

(CSE/ECE Tech. Elec.)
(CSE/ECE Tech Elec.)
GE

(CSE/ECE Tech Elec.)
(CSE Major Tech Elec.)GE

 

Print Checklist

CSE Major Advisors

The CSE Department has two major advisors to assist students. 

Students with last names between A-L will contact Viera Kair at ugradinfo@cs.ucsd.edu or go to the CSE Building (EBU3B), room 1236.  You may also call 858-822-1535.

Students with last names between M-Z will contact Pat Raczka at ugradinfo@cs.ucsd.edu or go to the CSE Building (EBU3B), room 1238.  You may also call 858-534-3621.

CSE Advisory Exam

Students with previous programming experience in a compiled language may start with CSE 11, all others, should begin with CSE 3, or CSE 8A and CSE 8AL.  Not sure which class to start with?   Take the CSE Advisory Exam  to find out which class you should enroll into.

Technical Elective Requirements

  • The B.S. Computer Engineering major requires seven upper division technical electives for a total of 28 units.
  • Design Requirement: Students must also take either ECE 111 or ECE 118 to meet the technical elective design requirement.
  • The remaining six technical electives may be either CSE or ECE upper division courses.
  • Students may also use a CSE or ECE graduate course for technical elective credit with approval. Once a CSE or ECE graduate course is used for an undergraduate degree that course may not be reused for a graduate degree.
  • Only 4 units of either a CSE 197 may be used toward technical elective credit.
  • In addition, 8 units of CSE 198 or CSE 199 may be also be used toward technical elective credit.
  • One of the technical elective courses can from the list of courses under the section titled Electives. This section also lists other restrictions in the selection of technical electives. Any deviation from this list of approved electives requires a petition with a CSE Academic Advisor.
  • Please note: You will not receive unit credit for Math 183 or ECON 120A as technical elective credit after completing ECE 109.

Degree Policies

The BS Computer Engineering program is jointly administered byt he Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) and the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Departments.

  • All major requirements and technical electives, except CSE 91, CSE 197, CSE 198, CSE 199 must be taken for a letter.
  • CSE 91 (Perspectives in CSE) is waived for Transfer Students. 
  • To graduate, a grade point average of 2.0 is required in the upper division major requirements, including the upper division technical electives.