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Nhu Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Computer Engineering

The concentration in computer engineering provides students with a solid base in the design, development and evaluation of computer systems. Thrust areas include computer architecture, software and embedded systems, but the program is highly customizable to the specific interests of the student. The research activities of the faculty in this concentration include parallel and distributed computer systems, distributed software architectures and databases, ultra-reliable real-time computer systems, VLSI architectures, reconfigurable computing, computer design automation, low-power design, embedded systems, computer communication protocols, computer networks, security, programming languages for parallel/distributed processing, knowledge management, service-oriented architectures and software engineering. 

Two plans are offered for the M.S. degree: a thesis option and a comprehensive examination option. For either option, students are required to develop a complete program of study with advice from their faculty advisor. The graduate advisor must approve the study plan. Part-time study toward the M.S. degree is available. The program of study must be completed within four calendar years from first enrollment. 

Plan I: Thesis Option

  • The thesis option requires completion of:
    • 12 courses of study, four units (See M.S. plan of study for details)
    • An original research investigation
    • Completion of an M.S. thesis
    • Approval of the thesis by a thesis committee
  • The thesis committee is composed of three full-time faculty members with the faculty advisor of the student serving as the chair
  • Required undergraduate core courses and graduate seminar courses may not be counted toward the 12 courses:
    • EECS 290
    • EECS 292
    • EECS 293
    • EECS 294
    • EECS 295
  • Three core courses in the Computer Engineering concentration (CPE) must be completed with a B (3.0) letter grade or better. Students can pick from the following CpE core courses: EECS 211, EECS 213, EECS 215, EECS 224, and EECS 231. 
  • At least four additional concentration courses must also be completed with a B (3.0) letter grade or better. Any Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) graduate-level course numbered between 200-289 and EECS 298 are acceptable as concentration courses.
  • No more than four units of EECS 299 and one undergraduate elective course may be counted toward the 12 courses. 
  • Up to four (16 units - 4 units each) of the required 12 courses may be from EECS 296 (M.S. thesis research) with the approval of the student's thesis advisor
  • No more than one undergraduate elective course may be counted

Plan II: Comprehensive Examination Option

  • The comprehensive examination option requires the completion of 12 courses, four units (See M.S. plan of study for details)
  • Three core courses in the Computer Engineering concentration (CPE) must be completed with a B (3.0) letter grade or better. Students can pick from the following CpE core courses: EECS 211, EECS 213, EECS 215, EECS 224, and EECS 231.
  • At least five additional concentration courses must also be completed with a B (3.0) letter grade or better. Any Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) graduate-level course numbered between 200-289 and EECS 298 are acceptable as concentration courses.
  • Only one EECS 299 course can be counted toward elective course requirements, if the EECS 299 course is four or more units
  • Undergraduate core courses and graduate seminar courses may not be counted toward the 12 courses requirements:
    • EECS 290
    • EECS 292
    • EECS 293
    • EECS 295
  • In fulfillment of the comprehensive examination seminar element of the M.S. degree program, students are required to enroll and complete EECS 294 in one quarter.
  • No more than two undergraduate elective courses may be counted.
  • Additional concentration-specific requirements are as follows; a list of core and concentration courses is given at the end of this section.

M.S. Plan of Study

In addition to fulfilling the course requirements outlined above, it is a university requirement for the master of science degree that students fulfill a minimum of 12 courses of study.

List of CpE Concentration Courses

Any Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Engineering (EECS) graduate-level course numbered between 200-289 and EECS 298 are acceptable as concentration courses. 

For a list of our department’s courses, please see the link below: 

https://catalogue.uci.edu/allcourses/eecs/