HomeComputer and Telecommunications Engineering Program Description
The Computer and Telecommunications Engineering major is a uniquely crafted degree program with two primary components:
Computers and Systems. With the increasing global prevalence of computer systems and networks has arisen a sustained, increasing demand for engineers who can analyze, design, and use computer hardware and software in environments ranging from small homogeneous systems of a few computers located in close proximity to very large, heterogeneous systems of computers networked over a widespread geographical area. This is the province of computer engineering.
Telecommunications. The internet is just the latest manifestation of the global explosion in communications. Most generically, telecommunications engineering is concerned with the flow of information between several end points. A voice connection, a remote database access, computer communications, and video conferences are all examples of telecommunications links. To enable two or more end users to communicate several things must be resolved: 1) the communicating parties must use the same language; 2) they must agree on how to conduct themselves during the information flow; and 3) they must be able to signal the beginning and the end of communication. The technology and protocols which enable an efficient resolution of these issues comprises the field of telecommunications and networks.
The explosive growth of computer networking and communications has led to a confluence of computers and systems-- long the province of computer engineers and scientists and communication networks -- a traditional province of electrical engineers. Indeed, the issues of computation and communication have become inextricably intertwined.
The Computer and Telecommunications Engineering major is an innovative and topical degree program which weaves this synergistic view of computer systems and telecommunication networks seamlessly into the curriculum. This eclectic program draws on traditional strengths in computers and computer engineering and in telecommunications in the departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer and Information Science to provide a broad foundational base in the theory and practice of modern computer engineering. Through flexible elective courses, the curriculum offers unique access to a wealth of telecommunication network technological expertise across the university in areas such as robotics, cognition, biotechnology, and microelectronics, as well as a complete panoply of offerings in all areas of telecommunications ranging from policy to protocols and software and hardware. Through judicious selections of elective courses in the curriculum, students in the program can craft uniquely individualized degrees reflecting their career goals and interests.
Students graduating with a Computer and Telecommunications Engineering degree will find a plethora of career opportunities in a wide range of companies and industries where expertise in digital systems, computer hardware, and networking is needed. Typical examples are companies specializing in products in microelectronics, computers, and communications, as well as consulting firms providing software and hardware services. The emphasis on a strong theoretical and analytical background in the curriculum also provides a strong foundation for students who wish to go on to graduate studies in electrical and computer engineering and computer science to specialize in fields such as advanced computer architecture, VLSI design, robotics, and telecommunications.