Jul 01, 2024  
2024 2025 Academic Catalog 
    
2024 2025 Academic Catalog

Computer Engineering, M.S.

Location(s): Main Campus


Engineering Technology Building
Telephone: (203) 576-4737
Fax: (203)576-4765

The Master’s Degree in Computer Engineering is a course of study intended to prepare individuals whose undergraduate background is in computer or electrical engineering for advanced professional work in the field and for further study leading to the doctorate. Emphasis is placed on current stateof- the-art applications including computer architecture, FPGA and VLSI design, parallel computing, quantum computing, computer vision, artificial intelligence, sensing, robotics, automation, networking and network security, internet of things (IOT), and the like. Admission to the program requires an undergraduate degree in engineering, and includes the following fundamental coursework:

  • Programming Languages
  • Data Structures
  • Digital Design
  • Digital Design Lab
  • Computer Organization
  • Microprocessors
  • Probability and Statistics

Applicants with superior academic credentials but lacking the required background can be admitted subject to their taking the necessary preparatory courses. Applicants are expected to have an average of B or better in their undergraduate coursework.

The Department also offers, as an integral part of the Computer Engineering Masters Degree, the opportunity to specialize in several concentration areas.

Computer Engineering Concentration areas:

  1. Advanced Applications and Systems Programming
  2. VLSI and FPGA Design
  3. Computer and Information Security
  4. Computer Communications and Networking
  5. Artificial Intelligence
  6. Microelectronics and Computer Architecture
  7. IOT and Embedded Systems
  8. Robotics and Automation
  9. Signal and Image Processing
  10. Software Engineering
  11. Parallel and Distributed Computing

Please refer to the Graduate Studies Division Catalog pages for course details of the concentration areas.

In addition, the department also offers the opportunity to acquire dual graduate degrees along with the M.S. degree in Computer Engineering. Candidates for these dual Masters degree programs are typically required to complete a total of 52 credit hours to satisfy the requirements of two Masters degrees. This implies 18 credit hours in addition to the 34 hours required for the M.S. degree in Computer Engineering.

Please refer to the Graduate Studies Division catalogue pages for detailed information on Dual Graduate Degree programs.

Furthermore, customized study plans to allow receiving the Computer Engineering M.S. degree while pursuing either the Ph.D. degree in Computer Science and Engineering or the Ed.D. degree in Education are available. Doctoral students in these two programs should consult their respective doctoral advisors to work on their individualized plans. Further details on the dual M.S. in Computer Engineering degree programs are available in the catalog section on the Graduate Studies Division.

Program Objectives

Our Computer Engineering Students will:

  • Apply foundational scientific concepts and sound engineering principles efficiently and effectively;
  • Be well-educated, highly valued, and successful engineers and scientists;
  • Significantly contribute to technical interdisciplinary team projects;
  • Professionally communicate technical solutions and results;
  • Continue to pursue lifelong multidisciplinary learning as professional engineers and scientists.

Learning Outcomes

Our Computer Engineering Students will:

  • Demonstrate an in depth and comprehensive understanding of Computer Engineering;
  • Have an enhanced ability to learn, on their own, technical details for which they are responsible;
  • Have an enhanced ability to apply the knowledge learned to solve technical problems that arise in research they conduct or supervise;
  • Have an enhanced ability to study an issue, identify and evaluate alternative actions, propose an optimal course of action;
  • Have an enhanced ability to prepare technical point papers, brief their seniors, and defend their conclusions.

Course Requirements


Required Courses - 34 Credit(s)


A total of 34 semester hours is required.

Core Requirements - 6 Credit(s)


The core curriculum consists of 6 credits and includes:

Electives - 21-24 Credit(s)


The remaining 21-24 credits are elective courses.

The elective courses may be chosen from the list of Computer Engineering concentration areas or chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor. Also, students are required to take ENGR 400 Engineering Colloquia Series .

The course requirements of the concentration areas are described in the Graduate Studies Division section of the catalog.

Master’s Project or Thesis - 3-6 Credit(s)


Students must do a Masters Project (3 credit hours) or Thesis (6 credit hours) as part of the 18 elective credit hours.

The concentration areas can be applied to satisfy the requirements of second Masters degree programs of study.