Freshman to Senior Year Timeline & Advising

Freshman Year

Coursework: Besides completing a number of units to fulfill parts of the general education requirements, a CE freshman prepares for specialized subjects in the major by taking mathematics, physics, computer programming, and writing courses. Some students may already enter the program with credit for certain courses through appropriate AP or equivalent credit.

Learn and Experience: Mathematics, basic science, programming, and writing courses provide tools that render specialized courses taken by students in later years both accessible and enjoyable. Two required 1-unit freshman seminars, taken during Winter and Spring, introduce the students to interesting technical and research problems in Computer Engineering via tutorial / overview lectures and mathematical / logical puzzles.

Freshman GRID (2025-2026)

Blue = CE Core | Orange = General Education

The Frosh Yr. GRID Gsheet (current students) – is a reference page for "all things" GRID-related during the freshman year. It includes an in-depth version of the GRID, links to individual courses, to-dos, tips, updates, and additional helpful info.

Sophomore Year

Coursework: Basic hardware and software courses begin the journey toward professional standing in computer engineering. Hardware-related courses introduce students to circuits and logic design, while software-related courses deal with advanced programming topics and systems software. Exposure to mathematics and physics subjects continues in this second year.

Learn and Experience: The foundations of students’ understanding of computer hardware and software are laid in the sophomore year. By the end of this year, students have become sophisticated computer users and have acquired a basic understanding of how the underlying circuits of typical electronic digital computers work.

Sophomore GRID (2025-2026)

Blue = CE Core | Purple = CE Upper Division Major Requirements

The Soph Yr. GRID Gsheet (current students) – is a reference page for "all things" GRID-related during the sophomore year. It includes an in-depth version of the GRID, links to individual courses, to-dos, tips, updates, and additional helpful info.

Junior Year

Coursework: The most important and widely applicable topics in computer engineering constitute the focus of courses in this third year. These include courses on computer architecture & data structures. Students begin selection of CE Senior Electives as well as completion of Capstone Sr. project prerequisite coursework. Most students also complete the general education requirements during this third year.

Learn and Experience: Mastering technical hardware and software topics, that form the common language of computer engineering, is required for understanding other upper division courses, but it also forms a foundation for many graduate-level courses. Given that CE students branch out into different specialty areas during the senior year, this common core knowledge is important for effective communication among colleagues in the workplace and in other teamwork contexts.

Junior GRID (2025-2026)

Orange = General Education | Purple = CE Upper Division Major Requirements | Green = CE Upper Division Major Electives

The Jr. Yr. GRID Gsheet (current students) – is a reference page for "all things" GRID-related during the junior year. It includes an in-depth version of the GRID, links to individual courses, to-dos, tips, updates, and additional helpful info.

Senior Year

Coursework: The focus in this fourth year is on elective subjects and the Senior Capstone Project. A key component in elective units is the choice of two different 2-course sequences (Senior Elective Sequences). Such sequences are available in computer networks, computer systems design, design & test automation, distributed systems, machine learning, multimedia, programming languages, real-time computing & control, robotics, signals & systems, system software architecture, very large scale integration.

Learn and Experience: Two-course sequences provide specialization and depth in areas of interest to students. Other electives allow exploration of additional areas for breadth. The senior capstone project, considered an academic career highlight by most students, provides an opportunity to participate in a team project, starting from problem definition & requirements formulation and ending with the demonstration of a fully functional, tested, & documented product during Senior Capstone Project events.

Senior GRID (2025-2026)

Orange = General Education | Green = CE Upper Division Major Electives | Yellow = CE or CS Capstone | Split Yellow & Green = CE or CS Capstone OR CE Upper Div Electives

The Sr. Yr. GRID Gsheet (current students) – is a reference page for "all things" GRID-related during the senior year. It includes an in-depth version of the GRID, links to individual courses, to-dos, tips, updates, and additional helpful info.