Information about the BS Degree in

Computer Engineering

Joanne Bechta DuganComputer Engineering

jbd@virginia.eduhttp://www.cpe.virginia.edu

You need information to help you decide which major to declare next spring. We’re here to provide

it.

• I’ll tell you about the best major in SEAS.

• Current computer engineering students will tell you about their experiences.

• We hope to be able to answer any questions you may have.

Why Computer Engineering @ UVA ?

• We could tell you a lot ofreasons….– We asked our majors what

to tell you!

.

Computer Engineering Majors on why this is the best major --

Jobs: many opportunities in diverse fields (even business oriented jobs, consulting)

Computer Engineering Majors on why this is the best major --

Understanding how to interface between the HW & SW makes you a better HW or SW engineer.

Computer Engineering Majors on why this is the best major --

• “Not only do you learn how to code and program, you also will understand the physical aspects of hardware and electronic circuits.”

• “Computer Engineering provides you the tools to understand any electronic device in the world today.”

Computer Engineering Majors on why this is the best major --

Best of Both Worlds –

“In my mind, CpE gives you the best of both worlds of CS and EE, and cuts out the weird/abstract/theoretical classes of CS and EE (mainly algorithms, ToC, and EM fields).  If people are unsure about maybe whether they would like to do CS or EE, CpE is basically the perfect major for them. ”

Computer Engineering Majors on why this is the best major --

Part of Two Departments – ECE and CS

“Computer engineering gives you the chance to be a member of two departments - the ECE department and the CS department.  Therefore, you can tailor your understanding of computer engineering to meet your needs and research interests by using the resources both departments offer. “

Computer Engineering Majors on why this is the best major --

• Broad base of knowledge

• “My initial thoughts about Computer Engineering was that is was the most limited field. I thought that I would only know how to code a little bit, and that I would only know how electrical systems worked a little bit, only enough to design computer systems. Now I believe the opposite, I will know how to code just as well as my CS peers, and I will understand electrical systems just as well as my EE peers.”

Computer Engineering Majors on why this is the best major --

Lots of Electives“It is also in my opinion very nice to be able to take CS and EE electives, so you have more options to take upper level courses that really interest you, whether these be CS or EE courses.  For example, I originally planned on taking only CS electives.  Now though, I am currently taking Electronics II after taking Electronics I and liking the subject/instructor/material.  I would also consider taking other ECE electives, which I would not have had the opportunity nor even the desire if I was CS instead of CpE. “

Relationship between requirements for Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Computer

Engineering

2 APMA electives

5 CS electives

2 additional HSS electives

Electromagnetic Fields7 ECE electives

2 ECE lab electivesMath elective

2 Tech Electives

Discrete MathProgram & Data Representation

Adv SW DevelopmentOperating Systems

SEAS Core RequirementsSoftware Development Methods

Digital Logic DesignProbability

5 Unrestricted Electives

Intro Circuit AnalysisElectronics I

Signals & Systems IEmbedded Systems

Computer NetworksComputer Architecture & Design

Embedded System Design4 CS/EE electives

Computer Science Curriculum

Electrical Engineering Curriculum

Computer Engineering Curriculum

Theory of ComputationAnalysis of AlgorithmsComputer Architecture

CS SeminarCapstone

Large Choice of Electives

Any ECE or CS Course may be used as an elective

Large Choice of Electives

Any ECE or CS Course may be used as an elective

Students Get Jobs with….

• High Tech Companies:– Google, Microsoft, IBM, BBN Technologies, etc.

• Consulting Etc.: – Accenture, Bloomberg, Booz-Allen Hamilton, CGI,

Capital IQ, Captech Ventures

• Entertainment:– Electronic Arts, Epic Systems, Time Warner Cable,

Video Game Technologies

• Government and Providers:– BAE Systems, Computer Science Corp., SAIC,

General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, NSA, Raytheon, State Dept.

Graduating opportunities

• National Association of Colleges and Employers– Demand and starting salary

• CpE, EE and CS are routinely among the top 5• Starting salaries still increasing – 4% expectation

• US Bureau of Labor Statistics• Computing professional expected to be among the

fastest growing occupations through 2020

• Nationally and in the Mid-Atlantic Region– Professionals required at all levels – B.S., M.S., and Ph.D

Information from Bureau of Labor Statistics

• Computer Software Engineer– Annual Mean Wage -- $96,620– Annual Median Wage -- $93,470– Job Growth – 32% in next 10 years

Employed in 2008 – 909,600Employed in 2018 – 1,204,800

• Computer Hardware Engineer– Annual Mean Wage -- $101,410– Annual Median Wage -- $98,820– Job Growth – 4% in next 10 years

Employed in 2008 – 74,700Employed in 2018 – 77,500

• Electrical Engineers – Job Growth in next 10 years is 2%• Computer Programmers – Job Growth in next 10 years is -3%

Recruiting at UVa Career Fair, Oct. 09What majors are you interested in? (Circle all that apply)

Answer Options Response Percent Response Count

Biomedical Engineering 9.3% 4

Aerospace Engineering 25.6% 11

Chemical Engineering 25.6% 11

Civil Engineering 37.2% 16

Computer Engineering 55.8% 24

Computer Science 58.1% 25

Electrical Engineering 67.4% 29

Engineering Science 20.9% 9

Mechanical Engineering 62.8% 27

System Engineering 55.8% 24

answered question 4343 companies indicated which majors they were looking for in Oct. 09

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What majors are you interested in? (Circle all that apply)

Student Life• Clubs and Organizations– IEEE– ACM– ACM-W– Student Game Developers

• Activities– Lunches (with research groups)– Teatime in CS– Spring Luncheon with CpE faculty– ACM: lunches, game night, etc.

Excelling in Undergrad Research

• UVa is one of the best places to do undergrad research in computing.

• We can prove this!Outstanding Undergraduate Award from the Computing Research Association

• From 1999 to 2008, U.Va. undergraduates received 28 CRA awards.

• Ranks third behind Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Washington.