Department website: http://www.lcsee.statler.wvu.edu/
Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (B.S.Cp.E.)
Nature of the Program
Computer engineers design, develop, test, and oversee the manufacture and maintenance of embedded computer hardware and software. As such, computer engineering combines portions of the knowledge of electrical engineers and computer scientists. Embedded computer systems include applications in the automotive, communications, radio and television, consumer electronics, aircraft, robotics, and health-care industries. In addition, computer engineers design, develop, test, manufacture, and maintain complex systems including digital communications systems such as cell phone networks, secure computer networks, and system-level software such as operating systems and applications software. The Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Computer Engineering.
Fundamental courses in the computer engineering areas of hardware and software are taken during the second year with general fundamental engineering courses included. The third and fourth years in the curriculum concentrate on areas of computer engineering in both software and hardware with technical electives provided to allow the student to acquire more depth in a preferred area of expertise.
Program Educational Objectives
The Program Educational Objectives (PEO) of the Computer Engineering (CpE) program at West Virginia University is to produce graduates who will apply their knowledge and skills to achieve success in their careers in industry, research, government service or graduate study. It is expected that in the first five years after graduation our graduates will achieve success and proficiency in their profession, be recognized as leaders, and contribute to the well-being of society.
Click here to view the Suggested Plan of Study
Curriculum in Computer Engineering
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Degree Requirements
Students must meet the following criteria to qualify for a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering degree:
- Complete a minimum of 122 credit hours
- Satisfy WVU's undergraduate degree requirements
- Satisfy Statler College's undergraduate degree requirements
- Complete all courses listed in the curriculum requirements with the required minimum grades
- Attain an overall grade point average of 2.00 or better
- Attain a WVU grade point average of 2.00 or better
- Attain a Statler grade point average of 2.00 or better
- A maximum of one math or science courses with a grade of D+, D, or D- may apply towards a Statler College degree
- Complete a survey regarding their academic and professional experiences at WVU, as well as post-graduation job placement or continuing education plans.
The Statler GPA is computed based on all work taken at WVU with a subject code within Statler College (BIOM, BMEG, CE, CHE, CPE, CS, CSEE, CYBE, EE, ENGR, ENVE, ETEC, IENG, IH&S, MAE, MINE, PDA, PNGE, ROBE, SAFM, SENG) excluding ENGR 140, ENGR 150, and CS 101. The WVU GPA is computed based on all work taken at WVU. The Overall GPA is computed based on all work taken at WVU and transfer work.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 19 | |
| Fundamentals of Engineering Requirements | 5 | |
| Math and Science Requirements | 30 | |
| Computer Engineering Program Requirements | 68 | |
| Total Hours | 122 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7 | 18 | |
| ENGR 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Total Hours | 19 | |
Fundamentals of Engineering Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum grade of C- is required in all Fundamentals of Engineering courses. | ||
| ENGR 101 | Engineering Problem Solving 1 | 2 |
| Engineering Problem Solving (Select one of the following): | 3 | |
| Introduction to Chemical Engineering | ||
| Engineering Problem Solving 2 | ||
| Introduction to Nanotechnology Design | ||
| Introduction to Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Design | ||
| Total Hours | 5 | |
Math and Science Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum grade of C- is required in all Math and Science courses. | ||
| Calculus I (GEF 3): | 4 | |
| Calculus 1 | ||
| Calculus 1a with Precalculus and Calculus 1b with Precalculus | ||
| MATH 156 | Calculus 2 (GEF 8 ) | 4 |
| MATH 251 | Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 261 | Elementary Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 375 | Applied Modern Algebra | 3 |
| PHYS 111 & 111L | General Physics 1 and General Physics 1 Laboratory (GEF 2) | 4 |
| PHYS 112 & 112L | General Physics 2 and General Physics 2 Laboratory (GEF 8) | 4 |
| STAT 215 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics (GEF 8) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Computer Engineering Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CPE 271 & 271L | Introduction to Digital Logic Design and Digital Logic Laboratory | 4 |
| CPE 310 & 310L | Microprocessor Systems and Microprocessor Systems Laboratory | 4 |
| CPE 453 | Data and Computer Communications | 3 |
| CPE 410S | Microcomputer Structures and Interfacing | 3 |
| or CPE 442 | Introduction to Digital Computer Architecture | |
| or CPE 484 | Real-Time Systems Development | |
| CS 110 & 110L | Introduction to Computer Science and Introduction to Computer Science Laboratory | 4 |
| CS 111 & 111L | Introduction to Data Structures and Introduction to Data Structures Laboratory | 4 |
| CS 330 & 330L | Introduction to Software Engineering and Introduction to Software Engineering Laboratory | 4 |
| CS 350 | Computer System Concepts | 3 |
| CS 450 | Operating Systems Structure | 4 |
| CSEE 380 | Engineering for Societal Impact | 2 |
| CSEE 480S | Capstone Project - Design | 2 |
| or CSEE 480 | Capstone Project - Design | |
| CSEE 481S | Capstone Project - Implementation | 3 |
| or CSEE 481 | Capstone Project - Implementation | |
| EE 221 & 221L | Introduction to Electrical Engineering and Introduction to Electrical Engineering Laboratory | 4 |
| EE 223 & 223L | Electrical Circuits and Electrical Circuits Laboratory | 4 |
| EE 251 & 251L | Digital Electronics and Digital Electronics Laboratory | 4 |
| EE 327 | Signals and Systems 1 | 3 |
| EE 355 & 355L | Analog Electronics and Analog Electronics Laboratory | 4 |
| CPE Elective (400-level or higher course in CPE subject code) *, ** | 3 | |
| Lane Department Elective (400-level or higher course in BIOM, CPE, CS, CSEE, CYBE, EE, or ROBE subject codes) *, ** | 3 | |
| Statler College Elective (300-level or higher course offered by Statler College) ** | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 68 | |
- *
Students choosing an AOE in Cybersecurity are not required to take the CPE Elective (3 credits) or the Lane Departmental Elective (3 credits).
- **
A maximum of 3 credits of any applicable 491 course may be used toward elective requirements.
Suggested Plan of Study
It is important for students to take courses in the order specified as much as possible; all prerequisites and concurrent requirements must be observed. A typical B.S.Cp.E. degree program that completes degree requirements in four years is as follows.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CS 110 & 110L | 4 | CS 111 & 111L | 4 |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ENGR 102 | 3 |
| ENGR 101 | 2 | MATH 156 (GEF 8) | 4 |
| ENGR 191 | 1 | PHYS 111 & 111L (GEF 2) | 4 |
| MATH 155 (GEF 3) | 4 | ||
| GEF 5 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CPE 271 & 271L | 4 | CS 350 | 3 |
| EE 221 & 221L | 4 | EE 223 & 223L | 4 |
| MATH 251 | 4 | EE 251 & 251L | 4 |
| PHYS 112 & 112L (GEF 8) | 4 | MATH 261 | 4 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CPE 310 & 310L | 4 | CPE 410S, 442, or 484 | 3 |
| CSEE 380 | 2 | CS 330 & 330L | 4 |
| EE 327 | 3 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| EE 355 & 355L | 4 | STAT 215 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| GEF 6 | 3 | GEF 7 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CPE 453 | 3 | CSEE 481S | 3 |
| CSEE 480S | 2 | CPE Elective | 3 |
| CS 450 | 4 | Lane Department Elective | 3 |
| MATH 375 | 3 | Statler College Elective | 3 |
| GEF 4 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total credit hours: 122 | |||
Area of Emphasis
- Cybersecurity
Area of Emphasis in Cybersecurity
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CPE 453 | Data and Computer Communications | 3 |
| CYBE 366 | Secure Software Development | 3 |
| CYBE 465 | Cybersecurity Principles and Practice | 3 |
| CYBE 467 | Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Computer Incident Response | ||
| Host Based Cyber Defense | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Student Outcomes
Upon graduation, all Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering students will have:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.