Dec 01, 2024  
2011-2012 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2011-2012 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Computer Engineering, B.S. Major in


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Program Description

Students desiring intensive study at the undergraduate level to develop proficiency in the fields of computer engineering, such as hardware, software, and systems that arise in the design, analysis, development, and application of computers and digital systems, will find this program to be a challenging and rewarding experience. The curriculum provides a broad foundation in the science and engineering of computers and digital systems with emphasis on theory, analysis, design, natural science, and discrete and continuous mathematics in a liberal arts setting. The broad range of Hofstra University resources in the humanities and social sciences make the liberal arts component especially enlightening.

Students will develop analytical, computer, and applied skills which will enable them to analyze, design, and test digital and computer systems, architectures, networks, and processes. Graduates will understand the various areas of computer engineering such as applied electronics, digital devices and systems, electromagnetic fields and waves, and computer architectures, systems, and networks. Graduates will also have an understanding of hardware issues, software issues and models, the interactions between these issues, and related applications. This thorough preparation in theoretical tools and laboratory experimentation will give graduates the skill and flexibility required to meet the ever-changing demands on the computer engineer. The program is responsive to suggestions posed by industry leaders from the Long Island community. 

Students will develop design skills progressively, beginning with their first courses in programming, circuit analysis, digital circuits, computer architectures, and networks, and they will apply their accumulating knowledge to practical problems throughout the curriculum. This process culminates in the capstone design course, which complements the analytical part of the curriculum.

The thorough preparation afforded by the computer engineering curriculum includes the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context. Hence, graduates will be well prepared for professional employment or advanced studies.

Program Objectives


Graduates of  the B.S. in computer engineering program will:

  1. advance in graduate studies or be successful practitioners in applied or theoretical fields;
  2. apply communication and organizational skills in the context of ethical issues affecting the discipline or society;
  3. think critically and creatively to solve local or global problems and become lifelong learners and contributors to society;
  4. apply knowledge and skills to solve problems effectively and efficiently and to contribute to the technical advancement of computer engineering.

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 132


Candidates for graduation with the B.S. degree in this area must fulfill the following requirements:

1. The Successful Completion of at Least 132 Semester Hours


The successful completion of at least 132 semester hours and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for all courses required for the major. Student may not count Military Science toward this total semester hour requirement.

2. Liberal Arts


Students must complete at least 57 credits in the liberal arts excluding courses in computer science and engineering. Students may use ENGG 19  for liberal arts credit.

3. Residency Requirements


There are two requirements that must ordinarily be completed in residence at Hofstra: 15 semester hours in the major field of specialization and the last 30 semester hours. The 15 semester hours need not be included within the last 30 hours.

4. General and Major Requirements


The general and major requirements are listed under the “Suggested Four-Year Sequence” below. As outlined there, the following courses must be successfully completed. WSC 1  or placement examination* and WSC 2 ; 6 semester hours in Humanities distribution and 6 semester hours in Social Sciences distribution. Students transferring in with previous social science/humanities credits may use them in place of requirements in the same category as the transferred credits. Students may not take courses on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis

5. Major Cumulative Average


A cumulative average of C or better is required in all engineering courses. A grade of  C- or better is required in all computer science courses.

6. Overall Average


An overall average of C or better is required in CSC 14 , CSC 15 , CSC 16  for continuing in the major. In addition students may not take any of these courses more than twice.

Suggested Four-Year Sequence (132 s.h.)


First Year


  1st. Sem. 2nd. Sem.
MATH 71 , 72  4 4
CSC 14 , 15 , 16  7 4
ENGG 15  or TPP 19  3 -
PHYS 11A , 11B  - 5
WSC 1 , 2  3 3
Total 17 16

 

Second Year


  1st. Sem. 2nd. Sem.
MATH 73 , 143  4 3
CSC 17 , 110 , 112  6 3
ENGG 30 , 32A , 34  3 4
CHEM 3A , 3B  - 4
PHYS 12A , 12B  5 -
Social science or humanities distribution  ** - 3
Total 18 17

 

Third Year


 

  1st. Sem. 2nd. Sem.
CSC 190 , 175  3 3
ENGG 32B , 33 , 36 , 104  7 3
CSC 185 /ENGG 185 /ENGG 189 *** 3 -
CSC 153 /ENGG 153  3 -
CSC 113 , CSC 154 /ENGG 154  - 4
Free elective** - 3
Technical electives**** - 3
Total 16 16

 

 

Fourth Year


  1st. Sem. 2nd. Sem.
CSC 197A 197B  † 1.5 1.5
CSC 198F , CSC 198S  †† 0.5 0.5
ENGG 172 , 192  - 4
ENGG 177 /ENGG 176  3 3
CSC 163  - 1
Social science or humanities distribution  ** 3 -
Social science or humanities distribution ** 3 -
Social science or humanities distribution ** - 3
Technical electives**** 6 3
Total 16.5 15.5

 

Footnotes


* If this requirement is fulfilled by passing the exemption examination, 3 semester hours in the humanities or social sciences should be taken with adviser’s approval.
**  Students may not take these courses on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis.
*** ENGG 189  may substitute for CSC 185 /ENGG 185  with program director’s approval, but students can no longer use ENGG 189  as a technical elective. Note: ENGG 189  is a prerequisite for ENGG 171 .
****Computer engineering majors will choose four technical electives from any computer science elective courses numbered higher than 100, excluding CSC 194 , and from the following list of engineering courses: ENGG 111 , 113 , 166B , 171 , 173 , 179 , 180 , 187 , 188 , 193 , 194 , or another engineering elective with the approval of the director of the computer engineering program. In addition, only one of the electives may be selected from the following group of five courses: CSC 143 A-Z , 144 A-Z , 195 A-Z , 196 A-Z , or 199 . Students may select either CSC 187  or ENGG 188 , but not both, for credit as a technical elective. 
† Students must register for CSC 197A  and 197B  for a total of 2 s.h. See Computer Engineering program director for approval.
†† Students must register for CSC 198F  and 198S  for a total of 1 s.h. See Computer Engineering program director for approval.

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