Computer Engineering Major, BS in Computer Engineering

uTrack Requirements

Universal Tracking (uTrack) is an academic monitoring system designed to help students stay on track for timely graduation. In order to remain on track, students must complete the minimum requirements for each tracking semester, known as milestones. Milestones include successful completion of specified courses and/or attainment of a minimum GPA. uTrack requirements only affect full-time, degree-seeking students.

Term 1

• ¹  COSC 101 - Introduction to Programming 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 101 - English Composition I 3 Credit Hours * (or equivalent)

•  

• Select one course:

• EF 142 - Introduction to Physics and Modeling for Engineers II 4 Credit Hours *
• EF 151 - Physics for Engineers I 4 Credit Hours *
• EF 157 - Honors: Physics for Engineers I 4 Credit Hours *

•  

• Select one course:

• MATH 132 - Calculus 1B Infused with Precalculus 3 Credit Hours *
• MATH 141 - Calculus I 4 Credit Hours *
• MATH 147 - Honors: Calculus I 4 Credit Hours *

Term 2

• COSC 102 - Introduction to Computer Science 4 Credit Hours
• ENGL 102 - English Composition II 3 Credit Hours * (or equivalent)

•  

• Select one course:

• EF 152 - Physics for Engineers II 4 Credit Hours *
• EF 158 - Honors: Physics for Engineers II 4 Credit Hours *

•  

• Select one course:

• MATH 142 - Calculus II 4 Credit Hours *
• MATH 148 - Honors: Calculus II 4 Credit Hours *

Term 3

• COSC 202 - Data Structures and Algorithms I 4 Credit Hours
• ECE 201 - Circuits I 3 Credit Hours
• ECE 255 - Introduction to Digital Logic Design 3 Credit Hours
• PHYS 231 - Fundamentals of Physics: Electricity and Magnetism 3 Credit Hours *

•  

• Select one course:

• MATH 231 - Differential Equations I 3 Credit Hours
• MATH 237 - Honors: Differential Equations I 3 Credit Hours

Term 4

• ECE 202 - Circuits II 3 Credit Hours
• ECE 256 - Computer System Interfaces 3 Credit Hours

•  

• Choose separate lecture and lab or honors lecture/lab combined:

• CHEM 122 - General Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours * and
• CHEM 123 - General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours *

• or

• CHEM 128 - Honors: General Chemistry I 4 Credit Hours *

•  

• Select one course:

• MATH 241 - Calculus III 4 Credit Hours
• MATH 247 - Honors: Calculus III 4 Credit Hours

•  

• Select one course:

• MATH 251 - Matrix Algebra I 3 Credit Hours
• MATH 257 - Honors: Matrix Algebra I 3 Credit Hours

Term 5

• ² Global Citizenship – US  Elective 3 Credit Hours *

• ECE 335 - Electronic Devices 3 Credit Hours
• ECE 395 - Junior Seminar 1 Credit Hours *

•  

• Select one course:

• COSC 302 - Data Structures and Algorithms II 4 Credit Hours
• COSC 307 - Honors: Data Structures and Algorithms II 4 Credit Hours

•  

• Select one course:

• ECE 313 - Probability and Random Variables 3 Credit Hours
• ECE 317 - Honors: Probability and Random Variables 3 Credit Hours

•  

• Select one course:

• ECE 351 - Digital Systems Design 3 Credit Hours
• ECE 357 - Honors: Digital Systems Design 3 Credit Hours

Term 6

• ² Arts and Humanities  Elective 3 Credit Hours *

• ECE 315 - Signals and Systems I 3 Credit Hours

•  

• Select one course:

• COSC 311 - Discrete Structures 3 Credit Hours
• COSC 317 - Honors: Discrete Structures 3 Credit Hours

•  

• Select one course:

• COSC 360 - Systems Programming 4 Credit Hours
• COSC 367 - Honors: Systems Programming 4 Credit Hours

•  

• Select one course:

• ECE 356 - Computer Systems Architecture 3 Credit Hours
• ECE 358 - Honors: Computer Systems Architecture 3 Credit Hours

Term 7

• ^3,5 Core Elective 3 Credit Hours
• ² Expanded Perspectives  Elective 3 Credit Hours *
• ^4,5 Senior Electives 6 Credit Hours
• ² Social Sciences  Elective 3 Credit Hours *

• ECE 401 - Senior Design Theory 2 Credit Hours *

Term 8

• ^3,5 Core Elective 3 Credit Hours
• ² Expanded Perspectives  Elective 3 Credit Hours *
• ² Global Citizenship – International  Elective 3 Credit Hours *
• ^4,5 Senior Elective 3 Credit Hours
• If necessary, ² Engaged Inquiries  Elective 0-3 Credit Hours * (Note student may try to choose courses from Expanded Perspectives  or Electives that also meet Engaged Inquiries .)

• ECE 402 - Senior Design Practicum 3 Credit Hours *

Total Credit Hours 126-130

Footnotes

1. Beginning students who have had high school computer science and/or who have had significant programming experience (e.g. summer institute study, special research projects, home laboratory) are invited to apply during the summer to the head of the department for permission to take a proficiency examination for COSC 101 - Introduction to Programming . If a satisfactory grade is made on the examination, credit will be allowed for COSC 101 . The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science also gives credit in COSC 101  to students who receive a score of 3 or better on the Computer Science Advanced Placement A Examination.
2. Chosen from the Volunteer Core  list. Students should try to select courses that satisfy approved areas and Engaged Inquiries  category. Students must have a minimum of 9 credit hours in at least two subject areas for Engaged Inquiries .
3. Among the computer engineering core electives, you must choose two courses from within the following list: COSC 340 , COSC 361 , COSC 366 , ECE 433 , ECE 453 , ECE 455 . Other courses not currently listed may count as core electives only with departmental approval.
4. Choose 9 credit hours of computer engineering senior electives with advisor’s consent. Acceptable computer engineering senior electives are ECE 4xx and COSC 4xx courses that are not otherwise required, with the exception of COSC 422 , which is not allowed.
5. 500-level courses are mentioned here as suggestions to students admitted into the Five-Year BS/MS program. Up to three COSC 5XX or ECE 5XX courses may count as computer engineering core and/or senior electives.

* Meets Volunteer Core Requirements .

Computer Engineering – Honors Concentration

In addition to satisfying the requirements for the electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science major, candidates for the honors concentration must also complete the following requirements.

• Maintain an overall GPA of 3.4.
• Four 100- or 200-level honors courses* (14 hours minimum, at least two courses must be from Materials Science and Engineering, Engineering Fundamentals, Physics, Math, Chemistry, Biology, Statistics, or MSE 117 - Honors: Materials Chemistry  or Materials Science and Engineering 207 ).
• Two upper-division honors courses in computer science or electrical and computer engineering (COSC 307 , COSC 317 , COSC 367 , COSC 377 , COSC 427  or ECE 317 , ECE 347 , ECE 357 , ECE 358 , ECE 417 , ECE 427 , ECE 477 , ECE 478 , ECE 487 ).
• Satisfy the Breadth Requirements for the Cook Grand Challenge Honors Program.

Computer Engineering Major – Five-Year BS/MS Program

The department offers a Five-Year BS-MS program for qualified students. The primary component of the program is that qualified students may take up to 9 hours of approved graduate courses for their senior undergraduate electives and have them count toward both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Tennessee. This program is designed for students attending the University of Tennessee for their Master of Science degree because other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree. Significant components of the program are: 

• Students must have an overall GPA of at least 3.4 to be admitted to the program. Conditional admission may be granted after completing 64 hours of required coursework while full admission is granted after completing 96 hours of required coursework with a minimum overall GPA of 3.4.
• Students must at least have conditional admission before taking graduate courses for both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. All courses taken for graduate credit must be approved by the departmental chair of the program. Students admitted to the program must request permission from the Graduate School to take approved courses for graduate credit. 
• Students admitted to the program must also follow the normal procedure for admission to the Graduate School. Admission of students into this program must be approved by the department and the Graduate School.
• Students will not be eligible for graduate assistantships until they are enrolled as graduate-level students in the Graduate School.