2008-2009 Bulletin – PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University

COMPUTER ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Administered by both the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Departments through a joint Computer Engineering Committee.
Student records are kept in the Electrical Engineering Department.
103
1300 S. W. Mudd, MC 4712, 212-854-3105 / 450 Computer Science
www.compeng.columbia.edu
IN CHARGE
Professor Steven M. Nowick
1312 S. W. Mudd
COMPUTER ENGINEERING
COMMITTEE
Luca Carloni
Assistant Professor of
Computer Science
Edward Coffman
Professor of Electrical
Engineering
Stephen A. Edwards
Associate Professor of
Computer Science
Vishal Misra
Associate Professor of
Computer Science
Steven M. Nowick
Professor of Computer
Science
Daniel Rubenstein
Associate Professor of
Electrical Engineering
Kenneth L. Shepard
Professor of Electrical
Engineering
Stephen H. Unger
Professor of
Computer Science (and
Electrical Engineering)
Charles A. Zukowski
Professor of Electrical
Engineering
The computer engineering
programs are run jointly by
the Electrical Engineering and
Computer Science Departments through
a joint faculty committee. Students in
the programs have two ‘‘home’’ departments.
The Electrical Engineering
Department maintains student records
and coordinates advising appointments.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
This undergraduate program incorporates
most of the core curricula in both
electrical engineering and computer
science so that students will be well
prepared to work in the area of computer
engineering, which substantially overlaps
both fields. Both hardware and software
aspects of computer science are included,
and, in electrical engineering, students
receive a solid grounding in circuit theory
and in electronic circuits. The program
includes several electrical engineering
laboratory courses as well as the
Computer Science Department’s
advanced programming course.
Students will be prepared to work on
all aspects of the design of digital hardware,
as well as on the associated software
that is now often an integral part of
computer architecture. They will also be
well equipped to work in the growing
field of telecommunications. Students
will have the prerequisites to delve more
deeply into either hardware or software
areas, and enter graduate programs in
computer science, electrical engineering,
or computer engineering. For example,
they could take more advanced courses
in VLSI, communications theory, computer
architecture, electronic circuit theory,
software engineering, or digital design.
Minors in electrical engineering and
computer science are not open to computer
engineering majors, due to excessive
overlap.
Technical Electives
The Computer Engineering Program
includes 15 points of technical electives.
Any 3000-level or higher courses listed
in the Computer Science or Electrical
Engineering sections of this bulletin can
be used for this requirement with the
following exceptions: ELEN E3000,
EEHS 3900/4900, EEJR E4901, COMS
W3101, COMS W4400, COMS W4405,
courses used for other computer engineering
requirements (including COMS
W3203 and either CSEE W4840 or
EECS E4340), and courses that have
significant overlap with other required or
elective courses (e.g., COMS W3137
and COMS W3139). Up to one course
may be chosen from outside the departments
with adviser approval. Courses at
the 3000 level or higher in other areas of
engineering, math, and science can be
considered for approval, as long as they
do not significantly overlap with other
required or elective courses. Economics
courses cannot be used as technical
electives.
Starting Early
Students are strongly encouraged to
begin taking core computer engineering
courses as sophomores. They start with
ELEN E1201: Introduction to electrical
engineering in the second semester of
their first year and may continue with
other core courses one semester after
that. For sample “early-starting” programs,
see the charts on the following
two pages. It must be emphasized that
these charts, as well as the “late-starting”
charts that follow, present examples
only; actual schedules may be customized
in consultation with academic advisers.
GRADUATE PROGRAM
The Computer Engineering Program
offers a course of study leading to the
degree of Master of Science (M.S.).
The basic courses in the M.S. program
come from the Electrical Engineering
and Computer Science Departments.
Students completing the program are
prepared to work (or study further) in
such fields as digital computer design,
digital communications, and the design
of embedded computer sytems.
SEAS 2008–2009