Undergraduate Bulletin

Requirements for the Major in Computer Engineering (ECE)

Acceptance into the Computer Engineering Major

Qualified freshman and transfer students who have indicated their interest in the major on their applications may be admitted directly as a degree major or as a pre-major. Pre-majors are placed into the Area of Interest (AOI) program and to be eligible for the degree, they must be admitted to and declare the major. The requirements and application process for matriculation are detailed below. Students admitted to other programs within the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) follow the same admissions process as students in the AOI program. Students in programs outside of CEAS (non-CEAS students) and double major applicants may apply for admission to the degree program following a separate process, outlined below.

Intellectual honesty and academic integrity are cornerstones of academic and scholarly work. The department may table any applications for major/minor admission until academic judiciary matters are resolved. An academic judiciary matter will be identified by a grade of “Q” in the instance of a first offense.

Area of Interest and Other CEAS Students (excluding double major applicants)
Applications for major admission from AOI and other CEAS students are reviewed twice per year and must be received by January 5 for Spring admission and June 5 for Fall admission. Students who submit their application on time will be admitted if they meet the following requirements:

    • Completion of at least 11 credits of mathematics, physics, electrical and computer engineering, or computer science courses           required for major (excluding ESE300 and ESE301),
    • Earned a G.P.A. of 3.2 or higher in all mathematics, physics, and engineering courses (excluding ESE300 and ESE301)                   applicable to major requirements with no more than one grade less than B-,
    • No courses required for the major have been repeated, and
    • Completion of course evaluations for all transferred courses that are to be used to meet requirements of the major.

Students must complete these requirements no later than one year after they enroll in the first course that applies towards major entry. Students must apply for admission by the application deadline immediately following completion of the above requirements, but no later than the one year limit. Admission of AOI students and other CEAS students who apply late will follow the process of Non-CEAS Students and Double Major Applicants below.

Non-CEAS Students and Double Major Applicants
Applications for major admission from non-CEAS students and double major applicants are reviewed twice per year and must be received by January 5 for Spring admission and June 5 for Fall admission. Students who do not meet the requirements for AOI admission above will not be considered. Fulfilling the requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Admission is competitive and contingent upon program capacity.

Requirements for the Major in Computer Engineering (ECE)

Completion of the major requires approximately 110 credits.

1. Mathematics

• AMS 151, AMS 161 Applied Calculus I, II
• AMS 210 or MAT 211 Applied Linear Algebra or Introduction to Linear Algebra
• AMS 261 or MAT 203 Applied Calculus III or Calculus III with Applications
• AMS 361 or MAT 303 Applied Calculus IV: Differential Equations or Calculus IV with Applications

Note: The following alternate calculus course sequences may be substituted for AMS 151, AMS 161 in major requirements or prerequisites: (MAT 131 and MAT 132) or (MAT 125, MAT 126 and MAT 127).

2. Natural Sciences

• One course from CHE 131, CHE 152, ESG 198, BIO 202, BIO 203, PHY 251
• PHY 131/PHY 133, PHY 132/PHY 134 Classical Physics I, II and laboratories

Note: The physics course sequence PHY 125, PHY 126, PHY 127, PHY 133, PHY 134 or PHY 141, PHY 142, PHY 133, PHY 134 is accepted in lieu of PHY 131/PHY 133, PHY 132/PHY 134 (Students are advised to take PHY 127 before PHY 126).

3. Freshman Introduction to Computer Engineering

• ESE 123 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering

4. Engineering Topics

Engineering topics include engineering core and engineering design. Content of the former category is determined by the creative application of basic mathematics and science skills, while the content of the latter category focuses on the procedure of devising systems, components, or processes.

a. Engineering Core Courses

• ESE 118 Digital Logic Design 
• ESE 271 Electrical Circuit Analysis
• ESE 272 Electronics
• ESE 305 Deterministic Signals and Systems

b. Engineering Design

• ESE 280 Embedded Microcontroller Systems Design I
• ESE 345 Computer Architecture
• ESE 382 Digital Design Using VHDL and PLDs
• ESE 440 Senior Design I
• ESE 441 Senior Design II

Note:  ESE 440 and ESE 441 are engineering design projects that must be carried out at Stony Brook under the supervision of an Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty member.

5. Discrete Mathematics and Probability and Statistics

• ESE 122 Discrete Mathematics for Engineers
• ESE 306 Random Signals and Systems

6. Software

• ESE 124 Programming Fundamentals
• ESE 224 Advanced Programming and Data Structures
• ESE 333 Real-time Operating Systems
• ESE 344 Software Techniques for Engineers

7. Computer Engineering Electives

Seven upper-level ESE courses. A list of acceptable electives can be found in the electrical and computer engineering undergraduate guide. For students in the BEMS program or with a double major or minor in computer science, please check the
computer engineering undergraduate guide for a complete list of electives.

8. Engineering Ethics

• ESE 301 Engineering Ethics and Societal Impact

9. Upper-Division Writing Requirement: ESE 300 Technical Communication for Electrical and Computer Engineers

All degree candidates must demonstrate skill in written English at a level acceptable for computer engineering majors. Students must register for the writing course ESE 300 after completion of ESE 280. 

Grading

All courses taken to satisfy requirements 1 through 9 must be taken for a letter grade. A letter grade of C or higher is required in the following courses:

• AMS 151, AMS 161 (or MAT 125, MAT 126, and MAT 127 or MAT 131 and MAT 132)
• PHY 131/PHY 133 and PHY 132/PHY 134 (or PHY 125, PHY 126, and PHY 127)
• ESE 118, ESE 124, ESE 224, ESE 271, ESE 272, ESE 280, ESE 300, ESE 301, ESE 345, ESE 382, ESE 440, and ESE 441
• Five ESE electives

Honors Program in Computer Engineering

The purpose of the honors program in Computer Engineering is to give high achieving students an opportunity to receive validation for a meaningful research experience and for a distinguished academic career.  A student interested in becoming a candidate for the honors program in Computer Engineering may apply to the program at the end of the sophomore year. To be admitted to the honors program, students need a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50 and a B or better in all major required courses (including math and physics). Transfer students who enter Stony Brook University in the junior year need a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50 and a B or better in all required major courses (including math and physics) in their first semester at Stony Brook University.

Graduation with departmental honors in Computer Engineering requires the following:

1. A cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher and a B or better in all major required courses (including math and physics) upon graduation.
2. Completion of ESE 494, a 1 credit seminar on research techniques, with a B or better during the junior year.
3. Completion of ESE 495, a 3-credit honors research project, with a B or better.
4. Presentation of an honors thesis (written in the format of an engineering technical paper) under the supervision of an ECE faculty member.  The thesis must be presented to and approved by a committee of two faculty members including the student’s advisor.

For students who qualify, this honor is indicated on their diploma and on their permanent academic record.

Requirements for the Accelerated B.E. Computer Engineering/M.S. Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering Degrees

The intent of the accelerated five-year Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering program is to prepare high-achieving and highly motivated undergraduate computer engineering students for either doctoral studies or a variety of advanced professional positions. Computer engineering students interested in the accelerated program should apply through the undergraduate office of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The program is highly selective and is offered to the top 10 to 20 percent of the junior undergraduate class. Admission is based on academic performance (a major g.p.a. of at least 3.30) as well as undergraduate research and professional activities. The accelerated program is as rigorous as the current B.E. and M.S. programs taken separately. The requirements for the accelerated program are the same as the requirements for the B.E. and M.S. programs except that two 300-level electives in the B.E. program are substituted by two 500-level graduate courses. Therefore six graduate credits will be counted towards the undergraduate degree. Detailed guidelines and sample course sequences are provided by the Department.