2009-2010 Bulletin – PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University

COMPUTER ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Administered by both the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Departments through a joint Computer Engineering Committee.
Student records are kept in the Electrical Engineering Department.
103
1300 S. W. Mudd, MC 4712, 212-854-3105 / 450 Computer Science
www.compeng.columbia.edu
IN CHARGE
Steven M. Nowick
508 Computer Science
COMPUTER ENGINEERING
COMMITTEE
Luca Carloni
Associate Professor of
Computer Science
Stephen A. Edwards
Associate Professor of
Computer Science
The computer engineering program
is run jointly by the Computer
Science and Electrical Engineering
departments. It offers both B.S. and
M.S. degrees.
The program covers some of engineering’s
most active, exciting, and critical
areas, which lie at the interface
between CS and EE. The focus of the
major is on computer systems involving
both digital hardware and software.
Some of the key topics covered are
computer design (i.e., computer architecture);
embedded systems (i.e., the
design of dedicated hardware/software
for cell phones, automobiles, robots,
games, and aerospace); digital and VLSI
circuit design; computer networks; design
automation (i.e. CAD); and parallel and
distributed systems (including architectures,
programming, and compilers).
The undergraduate major includes
one substantial senior design course,
either designing an entire microprocessor
(EECS 4340), or an embedded system
(CSEE 4840) (including both software
and hardware components), or
Martha A. Kim
Assistant Professor of
Computer Science
Vishal Misra
Associate Professor of
Computer Science
Steven M. Nowick
Professor of Computer
Science
Daniel Rubenstein
Associate Professor of
Computer Science
Simha Sethumadhavan
Assistant Professor of
Computer Science
Kenneth L. Shepard
Professor of Electrical
Engineering
Stephen H. Unger
Professor Emeritus of
Computer Science (and
Electrical Engineering)
Charles A. Zukowski
Professor of Electrical
Engineering
providing hands-on experience in
designing and using a computer network
(CSEE 4140).
Students in the programs have two
“home” departments. The Electrical
Engineering Department maintains student
records and coordinates advising
appointments.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
This undergraduate program incorporates
most of the core curricula in both
electrical engineering and computer
science so that students will be well
prepared to work in the area of computer
engineering, which substantially overlaps
both fields. Both hardware and software
aspects of computer science are included,
and, in electrical engineering, students
receive a solid grounding in circuit theory
and in electronic circuits. The program
includes several electrical engineering
laboratory courses as well as the Computer
Science Department’s advanced programming
course. Detailed lists of requirements
can be found in the charts on
the following pages, and on a checklist
posted at www.compeng.columbia.edu/
pages/ugrad.
Students will be prepared to work on
all aspects of the design of digital hardware,
as well as on the associated software
that is now often an integral part of
computer architecture. They will also be
well equipped to work in the growing
field of telecommunications. Students
will have the prerequisites to delve more
deeply into either hardware or software
areas, and enter graduate programs in
computer science, electrical engineering,
or computer engineering. For example,
they could take more advanced courses
in VLSI, communications theory, computer
architecture, electronic circuit theory,
software engineering, or digital design.
Minors in electrical engineering and
computer science are not open to computer
engineering majors, due to excessive
overlap.
Technical Electives
The Computer Engineering Program
includes 15 points of technical electives.
Any 3000-level or higher courses listed
in the Computer Science or Electrical
Engineering sections of this bulletin can
be used for this requirement with the
following exceptions: ELEN E3000,
EEHS 3900/4900, EEJR E4901, COMS
W3101, COMS W4400, COMS W4405,
courses used for other computer engineering
requirements (including COMS
W3203 and either CSEE W4840, EECS
E4340, or CSEE W4140), and courses
that have significant overlap with other
required or elective courses (e.g.,
COMS W3137 and COMS W3139).
Up to one course may be chosen from
SEAS 2009–2010