Approaching innovation from a holistic perspective is key to advancing our hyper-connected world. The interdisciplinary embedded and IoT computing concentration takes a bird’s eye view of computer engineering to help students understand how electronic devices, software, and networks function together to enable end-to-end solutions. Take a smart home, for example. Rather than designing one aspect of the solution, such as the temperature sensors on a thermostat, this concentration will help students design and optimize software and hardware technologies across the entire spectrum to enable an integrated, smart system. Centering on the science and design of both hardware and software for computing systems across applications ranging from medical imaging tools to wearable electronic devices, students will work on complex engineering problems such as improving energy-efficiency in mobile devices, integrating artificial intelligence into computing platforms, and developing solutions for reliability and security in safety critical applications. Course work focuses on applications of key computer engineering principles in the areas of computer architecture, embedded systems, internet-of-things (IoT), machine learning, computer security, software algorithms, and more.

Effective Fall 2025

In order to maintain professional standards required of practicing engineers, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 in Electrical Engineering courses as a graduation requirement. It is the responsibility of any student who fails to maintain a 2.000 average to work with their advisor to correct grade point deficiencies. ECE courses required for the major at the 100, 200, and 300 level must be passed with a minimum grade of C (2.000); grades below a C will require the student to retake the course.  ECE courses designated as an elective are exempt from the C or higher minimum grade requirement.

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)3A4
CHEM 112General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)3A1
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
ENGR 111Fundamentals of Engineering 3
ENGR 114Engineering for Grand Challenges 3
MATH 160Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)1B4
MATH 161Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1)1B4
Select one group from the following:1 7
Group A
  
Culture and Coding: Python (GT-AH3)3B 
CS1--Computational Thinking with Java  
Group B
  
3B 
Python for STEM  
CS1--Introduction to Java Programming  
Group C
  
3B 
CS1---No Prior Programming Experience  
 Total Credits 29
Sophomore
 
CS 165CS2--Data Structures 4
ECE 205Analog Circuits I 2
ECE 206Analog Circuits II 3
ECE 232Introduction to Project Practices 1
ECE 252Introduction to Digital Circuits 3
ECE 253Microcontrollers and C for Internet-of-Things 3
ECE 303/STAT 303Introduction to Communications Principles 3
MATH 261Calculus for Physical Scientists III 4
MATH 340Intro to Ordinary Differential Equations 4
PH 141Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1)3A5
 Total Credits 32
Junior
 
CS 214Software Development 3
CS 220Discrete Structures and the Applications 4
CT 301C++ Fundamentals 2
ECE 311Linear System Analysis I 3
ECE 450Digital System Design Laboratory 1
ECE 451Digital System Design 3
ECE 452Computer Organization and Architecture 3
ECON 202Principles of Microeconomics (GT-SS1)3C3
JTC 300 or CO 301BStrategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)
23
Select a minimum of three credits from the following: 3
Linear Algebra for Data Science  
Linear Algebra I  
1C1C3
 Total Credits 31
Senior
 
CS 320Algorithms--Theory and Practice 3
ECE 401Senior Design Project I4A,4B3
ECE 402Senior Design Project II4C3
Select one course from the following: 4
Computer Networks  
Embedded Systems and Machine Learning  
Computer Engineering Electives and Technical Electives (see list below) 15
Arts and Humanities3B3
Historical Perspectives3D3
 Total Credits 34
 Program Total Credits: 126

Computer Engineering Electives 0-3 credits

Select 0-3 credits from the following courses:
ECE 395AIndependent Study 21-3
ECE 395BIndependent Study: Open Option Project 21
ECE 395CIndependent Study : Vertically Integrated Project 21
IDEA 310LDesign Thinking Toolbox : Creating Things That Think2

Technical Electives 12-15 credits

CS 314Software Engineering3
CS 345Machine Learning Foundations and Practice3
CS 356Systems Security3
CS 370Operating Systems3
CS 4XX Any CS course numbered 400-479, excluding CS457 and CS4704
CS 545Machine Learning4
CS 553Algorithmic Language Compilers4
CS 559Quantitative Security4
CS 575Parallel Processing4
CT 307High Performance Programming in Rust2
ECE 340Electromagnetics for Computer Engineering3
ECE 445Digital Logic Synthesis3
ECE 455Introduction to Robot Programming/Simulation3
ECE 456Computer Networks 34
ECE 495AIndependent Study 21-3
ECE 495BIndependent Study: Open Option Project 21
ECE 495CIndependent Study: Vertically Integrated Projects 21
ECE 519Network Centric Systems3
ECE 528/CS 528Embedded Systems and Machine Learning 34
ECE 544Silicon Photonics for Computing Systems3
ECE 545FPGA Signal Processing/Software-Defined Radio3
ECE 554Computer Architecture3
ECE 561/CS 561Hardware/Software Design of Embedded Systems4
ECE 564Semiconductor Memory3
ECE 571VLSI System Design4
ENGR 430Engineering With Drones3
MATH 360Mathematics of Information Security3
MATH 450Introduction to Numerical Analysis I3
MATH 451Introduction to Numerical Analysis II3
MATH 460Information and Coding Theory3
MATH 463Post-Quantum Cryptography3
STAT 421Introduction to Stochastic Processes3
1

Recommended sequence for most incoming students is Group A: CS 150B to CS 164.

2

A total of 6 credits of Independent Study may apply toward total degree requirements. This includes credit awarded for ECE 395AECE 395B, ECE 395C, ECE 495A, ECE 495B, and ECE 495C combined.

3

Course may count as a Technical Elective ONLY when not taken as part of the major requirements. The course cannot count as credit toward both major and technical elective requirements.

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:

TO PREPARE FOR FIRST SEMESTER:  The curriculum for this major assumes students enter college prepared to take calculus. 

In order to maintain professional standards required of practicing engineers, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 in Electrical Engineering courses as a graduation requirement. It is the responsibility of any student who fails to maintain a 2.000 average to work with their advisor to correct grade point deficiencies.  ECE courses required for the major at the 100, 200, and 300 level must be passed with a minimum grade of C (2.000); grades below a C will require the student to retake the course.  ECE courses designated as an elective are exempt from the C or higher minimum grade requirement.

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) X3A4
CHEM 112General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) X3A1
ENGR 111Fundamentals of EngineeringX  3
MATH 160Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)X 1B4
First course from Group A, B, or C (See options in Program Requirements Tab)X 3B3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2) X1A3
ENGR 114Engineering for Grand ChallengesX  3
MATH 161Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1)X 1B4
Remaining course(s) from Group A, B, or C (See options in Program Requirements Tab)X  4
 Total Credits   14
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CS 165CS2--Data StructuresX  4
ECE 205Analog Circuits IX  2
ECE 252Introduction to Digital CircuitsX  3
MATH 261Calculus for Physical Scientists IIIX  4
PH 141Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1)X 3A5
 Total Credits   18
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ECE 206Analog Circuits II   3
ECE 232Introduction to Project PracticesX  1
ECE 253Microcontrollers and C for Internet-of-Things   3
ECE 303/STAT 303Introduction to Communications PrinciplesX  3
MATH 340Intro to Ordinary Differential EquationsX  4
 Total Credits   14
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CS 214Software DevelopmentX  3
CS 220Discrete Structures and the ApplicationsX  4
ECE 311Linear System Analysis IX  3
ECE 450Digital System Design LaboratoryX  1
ECE 451Digital System DesignX  3
JTC 300 or CO 301BStrategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)
 X23
 Total Credits   17
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CT 301C++ Fundamentals   2
ECE 452Computer Organization and ArchitectureX  3
ECON 202Principles of Microeconomics (GT-SS1) X3C3
Select a minimum of three credits from the following: X 3
Linear Algebra for Data Science    
Linear Algebra I    
1C X1C3
 Total Credits   14
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CS 320Algorithms--Theory and Practice X 3
ECE 401Senior Design Project IX 4A,4B3
Choose one of the following:X  4
Computer Networks    
Embedded Systems and Machine Learning    
Computer Engineering Electives and Technical Electives (See Lists on Program Requirements Tab)X  4
Historical Perspectives X3D3
 Total Credits   17
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ECE 402Senior Design Project IIX 4C3
Computer Engineering Electives and Technical Electives (See Lists on Program Requirements Tab)X  11
Arts and HumanitiesX 3B3
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   17
 Program Total Credits:   126