Computer Engineering

Department Website: Computer Engineering

Computer Engineering (CpE) combines the disciplines of electrical engineering and computer science. It encompasses computer hardware, software, and systems. The study of computer engineering is not limited to general-purpose computers but also covers embedded computer systems that control a vast multitude of devices and functions, from automotive ignitions to cellular phones and various industrial controls, medical instruments, robotics, and consumer electronics. Computer hardware design involves logic design, digital electronics, computer architecture, and integrated circuit design. Computer software involves the design of programs in various languages using structured and object-oriented techniques to control devices and systems. Computer systems involve the combination of hardware, software, and operating systems that will provide the most effective realization of a system.

Computer engineers are continually developing newer and faster computers, and they find new applications for computers every day to fill the needs of society. The computer engineer must have a broad understanding not only of computer systems, but also of basic engineering fundamentals to apply computer technology to the solution of real engineering problems.

The courses and laboratories offered in the CpE program are organized into the three disciplines of hardware, software, and system design. Technical electives that are chosen from various fields of specialization (e.g., robotics, networking, machine learning, high-performance computing, communications, computers, artificial intelligence, and controls) enable CpE seniors to apply their computer engineering knowledge in selected areas in their professional career.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, in conjunction with its various constituencies, has clearly defined program objectives. These engineering program objectives are listed in the School of Engineering and Applied Science section of this catalog.

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Computer Engineering (BS)

Program Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall		Hours
CHEM 101	General Chemistry I	3
CHEM 101L	General Chemistry I Lab	1
DEPT 193	Magis:	3
MATH 157	Calculus and Analytic Geometry I	4
PHIL 101	Reasoning	3
COMM 100	Communication and Speech	3
	Hours	17
Spring
CPSC 121	Computer Science I	3
ENGL 101	Writing	3
MATH 258	Calculus and Analytic Geometry II	4
CPEN 230	Introduction Digital Logic	3
CPEN 230L	Introduction Digital Logic Lab	1
PHIL 201	Philosophy of Human Nature	3
	Hours	17
Second Year
Fall
CPEN 231	Embedded Computer Systems	3
CPEN 231L	Embedded Computer Systems Lab	1
PHYS 121	Physics I	4
PHYS 121L	Physics I Lab	1
EENG 201	Circuit Analysis I	3
EENG 201L	Circuit Analysis I Lab	1
MATH 231	Discrete Structures	3
	Hours	16
Spring
CPSC 122	Computer Science II	3
CPEN 247	Network Interfacing and Sockets	3
EENG 202	Circuit Analysis II	3
MATH 259	Calculus and Analytic Geometry III	4
Religion Requirement: Christianity and Catholic Traditions		3
	Hours	16
Third Year
Fall
CPSC 223	Data Structures	3
EENG 303	Electronics Design I	3
EENG 303L	Electronics Design I Lab	1
EENG 311	Signals and Systems I	4
MATH 260	Ordinary Differential Equation	3
Ethics core requirement		3
	Hours	17
Spring
CPEN 342	Cyber-Physical Systems	3
CPEN 342L	Cyber-Physical Systems Lab	1
EENG 304	Electronics Design II	3
EENG 304L	Electronics Design II Lab	1
EENG 322	Signals and Systems II	3
Religion Requirement: World or Comparative Religion		3
Core Broadening Requirement		3
	Hours	17
Fourth Year
Fall
CPEN 430	Digital System Design	3
CPEN 430L	Digital System Design Lab	1
CPEN 442	Introduction to Robotics	3
Technical elective ¹		3
ENSC 491	Senior Design Project I	2
Technical elective ¹		3
	Hours	15
Spring
ENSC 492	Senior Design Project II	3
ENSC 400	Foundations of Engineering Exam	0
Technical elective ¹		3
Technical elective ¹		3
Core Broadening Requirement		3
ENSC 432	CIS:	3
	Hours	15
	Total Hours	130

¹: Approved EENG, CPEN or CPSC elective courses

Technical Electives in Computer Engineering

Only 300 and 400 level courses that are not required in the degree plan can be used to satisfy the technical elective requirements. Approved electrical and computer engineering and computer science courses with an EENG, CPEN or CPSC designation may be used as electives. The student’s advisor must approve the selection. However, a maximum number of two approved computer science courses with a CPSC course designation may be used to satisfy computer engineering technical elective degree requirements. Please see your advisor for current course offerings.

Computer Engineering and Computer Science

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
CPEN 431	Computer Hardware Design and Architecture	3
CPEN 435	Parallel & Cloud Computing	3
CPEN 436	Machine Learning in Biomed	3
CPEN 443	Autonomous Mobile Robots	3
CPSC 321	Database Management Systems	3
CPSC 322	Data Science Algorithms	3
CPSC 346	Operating Systems	3
CPSC 435	Parallel and Cloud Computing	3
CPSC 436	Biomedical Informatics and Computing	3
CPSC 450	Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms	3

Electrical Engineering

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
EENG 340 & 340L	Introduction Electric Power Engineering and Introduction Electric Power Engineering Lab	4
EENG 401	Low Power Bioelectronics	3
EENG 403	Passive and Active Filter Design	3
EENG 406	VLSI Circuits and Systems	3
EENG 410	Information Theory and Coding	3
EENG 411	Introduction to Control Systems	3
EENG 412	Digital Control Systems	3
EENG 413	Artificial Intelligence Powered Automation	3
EENG 421	Introduction Communication Systems	3
EENG 424	Digital Signal Processing	3

Courses

CPEN 193. Magis:. (3 Credits)

The Magis Seminar (Magis) introduces new Gonzaga students to the University, the Core Curriculum, and Gonzaga’s Jesuit mission and heritage. While the seminars will be taught by faculty with expertise in particular disciplines, topics will be addressed in a way that illustrates approaches and methods of different academic disciplines. The seminar format of the course highlights the participatory character of university life, emphasizing that learning is an active, collegial process.

CPEN 230. Introduction Digital Logic. (3 Credits)

Number systems and codes, Boolean Algebra, Logic gates and flip-flops. Verilog HDL. Combinational and sequential Logic Design using CPLDs. Three lecture hours per week.

Corequisites: CPEN 230L

CPEN 230L. Introduction Digital Logic Lab. (1 Credit)

Three laboratory hours per week. Taken concurrently with CPEN 230.

Corequisites: CPEN 230

CPEN 231. Embedded Computer Systems. (3 Credits)

Study of components of simple computer systems: CPU's memory, registers, busses, computer control, microprogramming, assembly language programming. Three lecture hours per week.

Prerequisites: CPSC 121 with a minimum grade of D or ENSC 201 with a minimum grade of D

CPEN 231L. Embedded Computer Systems Lab. (1 Credit)

Three laboratory hours per week.

CPEN 247. Network Interfacing and Sockets. (3 Credits)

Reviewing main programming concepts. Introducing network models, services and applications. Processes Communications. UDP and TCP Client/Server Sockets. Offered during Spring semesters.

Prerequisites: CPSC 121 with a minimum grade of D

CPEN 342. Cyber-Physical Systems. (3 Credits)

The microcontroller as an engineering component. Hardware expansion with analog and digital devices. Board-level design of real-time systems. Design of user-friendly interactive displays. Design project. Troubleshooting with logic analyzers and in-circuit emulation. Three lecture hours per week.

Prerequisites: (CPEN 231 with a minimum grade of D or CPSC 260 with a minimum grade of D) and EENG 201 with a minimum grade of D and EENG 201L with a minimum grade of D

CPEN 342L. Cyber-Physical Systems Lab. (1 Credit)

Three laboratory hours per week. Taken concurrently with CPEN 342.

Corequisites: CPEN 342

CPEN 430. Digital System Design. (3 Credits)

Modern methods of digital design realization. Technology independence. Designs utilizing gate arrays and custom integrated circuits. Use of high-level design software. Extensive use of Verilog hardware design language for system description, simulation, and implementation. Three lecture hours per week.

Prerequisites: CPEN 231 with a minimum grade of D or CPSC 260 with a minimum grade of D

Corequisites: CPEN 430L

CPEN 430L. Digital System Design Lab. (1 Credit)

Three laboratory hours per week. Taken concurrently with CPEN 430.

Corequisites: CPEN 430

CPEN 431. Computer Hardware Design and Architecture. (3 Credits)

Understanding the design techniques, machine structures, technology factors, evaluation methods that will determine the form of computers in 21st century. Three lecture hours per week.

Prerequisites: CPEN 231 with a minimum grade of D or CPSC 260 with a minimum grade of D

Equivalent: CPSC 431

CPEN 435. Parallel & Cloud Computing. (3 Credits)

Parallel Programming platforms; principles of parallel algorithm design; basic communication operations; programming using the message-passing paradigm (MPI); programming on shared address space platforms (POSIX Thread and OpenMP); cloud computing; big data analysis; and other advanced topics. On sufficient demand.

Prerequisites: CPEN 231 with a minimum grade of D or CPSC 260 with a minimum grade of D

Equivalent: CPSC 435

CPEN 436. Machine Learning in Biomed. (3 Credits)

Investigation of the role of computers in the provision of medical services; machine learning algorithms for regression, classification, clustering, and anomaly detection; medical decision-making support; genomic medicine and its techniques. On sufficient demand.

Prerequisites: CPSC 121 with a minimum grade of D or ENSC 201 with a minimum grade of D

Equivalent: CPSC 436

CPEN 442. Introduction to Robotics. (3 Credits)

Principles of real-time systems and robotics. Thread management and inter-thread communications. Semaphores and thread synchronization. Design and simulation of simple robotic systems. Cooperation, blocking semaphores, FIFO queues, and deadlocks. Thread sleeping and scheduling. File system management, solid-state drives (SSDs), Controller Area Network (CAN). Robotic control systems and fuzzy logic.

Prerequisites: CPEN 231 with a minimum grade of D or CPSC 260 with a minimum grade of D

CPEN 443. Autonomous Mobile Robots. (3 Credits)

Introducing the principles of robotic sensor integration, mobility, real-time systems, line tracking, data acquisition systems, cognition: object detection and tracking, robotic wireless control, tachometers, and odometry. This course will be offered every spring semester

Prerequisites: CPEN 231 with a minimum grade of D or CPSC 260 with a minimum grade of D

CPEN 481. Special Topics. (1-3 Credits)

May be repeated for credit.

Courses of special interest may be offered from time to time. Prerequisites will depend on the nature of the material offered and will be announced.

ECE: Concentration in AI in Engineering and Applied Science

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers a Concentration in AI in Engineering and Applied Science.

This concentration is for students majoring in either the BSEE or the BSCpE degrees. A student majoring in one of these programs may pursue the concentration as they are not eligible for a minor in this area. The concentration course requirements are identical regardless of the degree a student is seeking.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
CPEN 231	Embedded Computer Systems	3
CPEN 436	Machine Learning in Biomed	3
CPEN 443	Autonomous Mobile Robots	3
EENG 413	Artificial Intelligence Powered Automation	3

ECE: Concentration in Robotics

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers a Concentration in Robotics.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
CPEN 442	Introduction to Robotics	3
CPEN 443	Autonomous Mobile Robots	3
Select two of the following:		6
CPEN 436	Machine Learning in Biomed
EENG 411	Introduction to Control Systems
EENG 412	Digital Control Systems
EENG 424	Digital Signal Processing