Fairfax, USA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest start date
TUITION FEES
USD 4,897 / per semester **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for International student | Domestic student is 1st of February
** in-state tuition full-time (12-15 credits); USD 16,980 - out-of-state tuition full-time (12-15 credits); USD 1,803 - mandatory student fee
Key Summary
Introduction
The field of computer engineering can be described as a blend of electrical engineering and computer science. It is an amalgam of the computer hardware orientation of an electrical engineering program and the operating systems and languages of a computer science program. Computer engineers are involved in the research, development, design, production, and operation of a wide variety of digital systems, from integrated circuits to computer systems and large-scale computer networks.
Classes in the department are taught by experienced faculty who have been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally for their research and teaching excellence. They have been awarded more than 35 patents and have $7M in active research grants. Many of them have also won prestigious research and teaching awards and a number of them are elected as fellows of professional organizations such as the IEEE.
Students gain hands-on experience in the virtual and physical space in the numerous laboratories in the school’s building. The dual semester-long senior design project effort is one of the highlights of the computer engineering program. Some recent projects included a fire extinguisher that uses sound to put out fires, a remote-controlled robot that is small and agile enough to go places too small or dangerous for humans, and an unmanned aerial system that can perform search and rescue operations.
A senior design lab is available for students to design and build a working prototype of an electronic device or system. Some equipment found in that lab includes machines used for PCB prototyping, 3-D printing, and laser-based cutting tools.
Career opportunities exist in engineering design and development such as hardware/software co-design and integration, embedded system programming, mobile system and application development, robot and drone design, and cloud and big data computing. Other opportunities include engineering management, consultancy, technical sales, and patent law. The program provides strong preparation for graduate study.
Career Opportunities
Students who earn a degree in computer engineering may work in software, hardware, or in fields that are based on a combination of the two areas. Computer engineers find employment in a number of diverse fields including computer manufacturing, consumer electronics, telecommunications and networking, computer forensics, research and development, robotics, and software engineering, among many others. Some may choose to pursue patent law and become patent attorneys/agents or become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses. The proximity of the department to the USPTO and to local venture capital firms opens up a rich range of alternative prospects to students. The department has strong ties to local businesses and representatives from companies are regularly invited to the department as guest speakers. An active industrial advisory board provides input in setting future directions for the department. Whatever field they choose, employment prospects for graduates of the computer engineering program are excellent.
Curriculum
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 126
Electrical and Computer Engineering
- ECE 101 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering 3
- ECE 201 Introduction to Signals and Systems 3
- ECE 231 Digital System Design 3
- ECE 232 Digital System Design Lab 1
- ECE 240 C Programming for Engineers 3
- ECE 285 Electric Circuit Analysis I 3
- ECE 286 Electric Circuit Analysis II 3
- ECE 321 Continuous-Time Signals and Systems 3
- ECE 333 Linear Electronics I 3
- ECE 334 Linear Electronics Lab I 1
- ECE 340 Data Structures and Embedded Systems Programming in C/C++ 3
- ECE 350 Embedded Systems and Hardware Interfaces 3
- ECE 445 Computer Organization 3
- ECE 447 Microcontrollers 4
- ECE 448 FPGA Design with VHDL 4
- ECE 465 Computer Networking Protocols 3
- ECE 491 Engineering Seminar 1
- ECE 492 Senior Advanced Design Project I (Mason Core) 1
- ECE 493 RS: Senior Advanced Design Project II (Mason Core) 2
Total Credits 50
Technical Electives
Three technical electives totaling 9 credit hours must be selected from the list below. Some graduate courses listed below and courses outside the ECE department may be taken to fulfill the technical elective requirement with the permission of the department. The decision to approve non-ECE courses as well as graduate courses as technical electives is at the discretion of the department based on a review of the course content and the student's academic record.
Select 9 credits from the following: 9
- ECE 370 Robot Design
- ECE 410 Applications of Discrete-Time Signal Processing
- ECE 411 Electricity Sector Engineering, Economics, and Regulation
- ECE 414 Grid Digitization and Automation or ECE 514 Grid Digitization and Automation
- ECE 415 Power System Analysis
- ECE 416 Electric Machinery and Modern Applications
- ECE 417 Smart Grid and Cyber Security or ECE 517 Cyber Infrastructure of the Smart Grid
- ECE 418 Power System Protection and Control or ECE 518 Power System Protection and Control
- ECE 419 Power Electronics for Modern Power Systems or ECE 519 Power Electronics for Modern Power Systems
- ECE 421 Classical Systems and Control Theory
- ECE 424 Modern Control Systems Design
- ECE 425 Secure RF Communications
- ECE 431 Digital Circuit Design
- ECE 433 Linear Electronics II
- ECE 446 Device Driver Development
- ECE 450 Mobile Robots
- ECE 455 GPU Architecture and Programming or ECE 555 GPU Architecture and Programming
- ECE 460 Communication and Information Theory
- ECE 462 Data and Computer Communications
- ECE 463 Digital Communications Systems
- ECE 470 Introduction to Humanoid Robotics
- ECE 476 Cryptography Fundamentals
- ECE 480 Small Spacecraft Engineering or ECE 580 Small Spacecraft Engineering
- ECE 499 Special Topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering
- CYSE 462 Mobile Devices and Network Security
The following 500-level courses may also be taken:
- ECE 505 Hardware Security
- ECE 508 Internet of Things
- ECE 511 Computer Architecture
- ECE 512 Computer Architecture Security
- ECE 516 Mobile Systems and Applications
- ECE 521 Linear Systems and Control
- ECE 527 Learning From Data
- ECE 528 Introduction to Random Processes in Electrical and Computer Engineering
- ECE 530 Sensor Engineering
- ECE 531 Introduction to Wireless Communications and Networks
- ECE 532 Secure Wireless Communications and Networks
- ECE 535 Digital Signal Processing
- ECE 542 Computer Network Architectures and Protocols
- ECE 552 Big Data Technologies
- ECE 554 Machine Learning for Embedded Systems
- ECE 556 Neuromorphic Computing
- ECE 567 Optical Fiber Communications
- ECE 580 Small Spacecraft Engineering
- ECE 590 Selected Topics in Engineering
Total Credits 9
Computer Science
- CS 112 Introduction to Computer Programming (Mason Core) 4
- CS 211 Object-Oriented Programming 3
- CS 471 Operating Systems 3
Total Credits 10
Mathematics and Statistics
- MATH 113 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core) 4
- MATH 114 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II 4
- MATH 125 Discrete Mathematics I (Mason Core) 3
- MATH 203 Linear Algebra 3
- MATH 213 Analytic Geometry and Calculus III 3
- MATH 214 Elementary Differential Equations 3
- STAT 346 Probability for Engineers 3
Total Credits 23
Physics
- PHYS 160 University Physics I (Mason Core) 3
- PHYS 161 University Physics I Laboratory (Mason Core) 1
- PHYS 260 University Physics II (Mason Core) 3
- PHYS 261 University Physics II Laboratory (Mason Core) 1
Total Credits 8
Engineering
- ENGR 107 Introduction to Engineering (Mason Core) 2
Total Credits 2
Concentrations
Concentrations are available in the computer engineering baccalaureate program. Completion of specific courses leads to one of these designations on the student's transcript on graduation. Concentration requirements may also meet some or all of the Technical Elective requirements.
Available Concentrations:
- Computer Networks (CNWK)
- Embedded Systems (EMSY)
- Hardware and System Security (HSYS)
- Internet of Things (INOT)
- Robotics (ROB)
- Power and Energy Systems (PES)
- Space-Based Systems (SBSY)
- Computer Networks (CNWK)
English, Communication, and Economics
- ENGH 302 Advanced Composition (Mason Core) (Natural Sciences and Technology or Multidisciplinary section) 3
- COMM 100 Public Speaking (Mason Core) 3 or COMM 101 Fundamentals of Communication (Mason Core)
- ECON 103 Contemporary Microeconomic Principles (Mason Core) 3
Total Credits 9
Additional Mason Core
Students must complete all Mason Core requirements not fulfilled by major requirements. Mason Core courses should be selected from the department's list of approved courses. Honors college students meet the written and oral communication requirements through completion of the honors college curriculum. The Synthesis Mason Core requirement is satisfied by ECE 492 Senior Advanced Design Project I (Mason Core) plus ECE 493 RS: Senior Advanced Design Project II (Mason Core).
- Written Communication 3
- Literature 3
- Arts 3
- Western Civilization/World History 3
- Global Understanding 3
Total Credits 15
Admissions
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English Language Requirements
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