University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder Search A to Z Campus Map CU Search Links
ECE Home

Prospective Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate
Graduate
Course List
Research
Contact Us

What is ECE?

Electrical engineers and computer engineers today are involved in the development and enhancement of nearly every aspect of our lives. As technology becomes ever more pervasive in our everyday lives, electrical or computer engineers are increasingly in demand by a wide range of industries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the growth rate in jobs among computer engineers from 2000 to 2010 to be 24.9% or 15,000 jobs; electrical engineering jobs will grow by 11.3% or 18,000 jobs. So what are the differences?

Electrical Engineering

Aspects of electrical engineering are found in almost every consumer device or appliance. For example, such consumer technologies as cell phones, personal digital assistants, MP3 and DVD players, personal computers, and high-definition TV each involve several areas of specialization within electrical engineering.
Other technologies,such as the internet, wireless network connections, medical instrumentation, manufacturing, and power distribution -- technologies most people take for granted -- also involve some area of electrical engineering. In fact, it is difficult to find an industry where electrical engineers do not play a role.

Because electrical engineering has so many facets, there are many areas of specialization within the discipline. Our department has a high degree of expertise in electromagnetics and wave propagation, optoelectronics, digital signal processing and communications, power electronics, nanostructures and devices, controls, and computer engineering. Students may pursue specialization in these areas through elective courses.

Computer Engineering

Computer engineering is for those interested in building and understanding computer hardware, digital systems, and computer hardware systems. While most people are aware of computers in the form of personal computers and web servers, most electronic devices contain several small computers or microprocessors (try operating your newer vehicle when the "computer" fails).
Our program is designed for anyone interested in building and programming computer and digital hardware, understanding processor design, or interfacing with digital circuits.

Our computer engineering degree is actually called Electrical and Computer Engineering because it satisfies the criteria of our accrediting agency, ABET, for both the electrical engineering degree and the computer engineering degree. This doubly-accredited degree is rare among engineering colleges. Our faculty believe that a good computer engineer needs to have a basic understanding of electrical systems as well as computer systems. This degree provides both.

What would I study?

The curriculum for each degree is the exactly the same for the first two years. All students take the required math and science courses in those two years while starting the department's core courses. During the sophomore and juniors years, they take the seven 5-hour lecture/laboratory courses which, along with Intro to Probability, constitute the core requirements. There are three courses covering circuits and electronics, two in digital circuits, one in electromagnetics and one in linear systems (see details here).

In the junior year, electrical engineering majors start selecting a variety of elective courses that reflect their individual interests. Computer engineering majors continue to take additional required computer engineering and computer science courses, along with some elective courses. All students take the capstone design laboratory course (ECEN 4610) in their final year.

We are frequently asked what the difference is between a computer engineering program and a computer science program. Computer engineering, while including two additional software courses not required of electrical engineering majors, emphasizes computer and digital hardware, understanding processor design, or interfacing with digital circuits. The computer science curriculum (which is offered by the Computer Science Department) focuses on the theoretical and mathematical aspects of computing at all levels, the interdependence of hardware and software, and the challenge of large-scale software production. In short, computer engineering focuses on hardware with software as a secondary emphasis while computer science focuses on software with hardware as a secondary emphasis.

Want to learn more?

Here are a few links to sites that have valuable and extensive information for anyone interested in a career in engineering. Most have additional specific links for electrical engineering or computer engineering.