Computer Engineering, BS

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Program Description

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering teaches students the necessary skills to design, analyze, and build electromechanical systems. Computer engineering is a field that includes elements of computer science, electrical engineering, software development, and mechanical engineering. Computer engineering emphasizes hardware integration with software or electrical systems. Although similar to electrical engineering, computer engineering provides more teaching in the areas of programming, sensors, and actuators. A student with a degree from this program will be well prepared to pursue an advanced degree in engineering or computer science, or to pursue a technical career in industrial and technological environments. 

Professional Licensure/Certification (PLC) Requirements

The curriculum for programs at Dixie State University customarily leading to licensure have been designed to meet the educational licensure/certification requirements in Utah as well as to prepare students to apply for licensure exams in the State of Utah. The licensure boards in each state are responsible for establishing the requirements for licensure/certification for their state. Requirement may vary state to state and may change at any time. Students who intend to use their DSU degree to secure licensure in any state other than Utah will need to review the professional licensure disclosures in that state pertaining to their program and consult with the state professional licensing board.  For more information, visit the State Authorization and Professional Licensure web page and select your program, or speak to the director of your program.

Admission Requirements

The admissions process works as follows:

  1. Student applies and is accepted to DSU
  2. Student designates their major as Pre-Engineering (pursuing Associate of Pre-Engineering)
  3. Student passes the following courses with a C- or better:
  •  CS 1400
  •  CS 1410
  •  MATH 1210
  •  MATH 1220
  •  PHYS 2210
  •  PHYS 2215
  1. Student meets with the engineering advisor to ensure that required courses are complete and to make an academic plan
  2. Student's major is switched from Pre-Engineering to Computer Engineering

Program Curriculum

125.5 credits

DSU General Education Requirements

All DSU General Education requirements must be fulfilled. A previously earned degree may fulfill those requirements, but courses must be equivalent to DSU’s minimum General Education standards in American Institutions, English, and Mathematics.

General Education Core Requirements
English3-7
Mathematics3-5
American Institutions3-6
Life Sciences 3-10
Physical Sciences3-5
Laboratory Science0-1
Fine Arts3
Literature/Humanities3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
Exploration 3-5

Computer Engineering Required Courses

ENGL 3010Professional Writing and Business Ethics (Prerequisites: ENGL 1010 and ENGL 2010, or equivalent placement score)3
MATH 1210Calculus I (MA) (Prerequisites: MATH 1010 and MATH 1050 and MATH 1060 or MATH 1080, or equivalent placement score)4
MATH 1220Calculus II (MA)4
MATH 2250Differential Equations and Linear Algebra4
MATH 3400Probability & Statistics3
PHYS 2210
& PHYS 2215		Physics/Scientists Engineers I (PS)
and Physics/Scientists Engineers I Lab (LAB)		5
PHYS 2220
& PHYS 2225		Physics/Scientists EngineersII
and Physics/Scientists Engineers II Lab		5
CS 1400Fundamentals of Programming3
CS 1410Object Oriented Programming3
CS 2420Introduction to Algorithms and Data Structures3
CS 2450Software Engineering3
CS 2810Computer Organization and Architecture3
CS 3005Programming in C++3
CS 3310Discrete Mathematics3
CS 3410Distributed Systems3
CS 3400Operating Systems3
MECH 2210
& MECH 2215		Circuits
and Circuits Lab		4
MECH 2250
& MECH 2255		Sensors & Actuators
and Sensors & Actuators Lab		4
MECH 3200
& MECH 3205		Systems & Controls
and Systems & Controls Lab		3.5
ECE 1200MATLAB and Arduino1
ECE 2700
& ECE 2705		Digital Circuits
and Digital Circuits Lab		4
ECE 2280
& ECE 2285		Microelectronics
and Microelectronics Lab		4
ECE 3730
& ECE 3735		Embedded Systems I
and Embedded Systems I Lab		4
ECE 3500Signals and Systems 3
ECE 4730
& ECE 4735		Embedded Systems II
and Embedded Systems II Lab		4
ECE 4500Digital Signal Processing 3
ECE 4005CE Product Design I3
ECE 4015CE Product Design II3

Computer Engineering Technical Elective Courses 

Complete 9 credits from the following:
Any ECE 4xxx, excluding ECE 4000, 4005, 4010, 4015, 4500
Any MECH 4xxx, excluding MECH 4000, 4010
Any MATH 4xxx, excluding MATH 4500, 4890, 4900
Any CHEM 4xxxx, excluding CHEM 4000R, 4910
ANY CS 4xxx, excluding CS 4600, 4920R, 4990, 4991R, 4992
MATH 3150
Introduction to Partial Differential Equations
MATH 3450
Statistical Inference
CS 3510
Advanced Algorithms/Data Structures
CS 3010
Mobile Application Development for Android
CS 3020
Mobile Application Development: iOS

Graduation Requirements

  1. Complete a minimum of 125.5 college-level credits (1000 and above).
  2. Complete at least 40 upper-division credits (3000 and above).
  3. Complete at least 30 upper-division credits at DSU for institutional residency.
  4. Cumulative GPA 2.0 or higher.
  5. Grade C- or higher in all Computer Engineering Required Courses and Technical Elective Courses.
  6. Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam
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Graduation Plan - 4 years

Plan of Study Grid
1st Year
Fall SemesterHours
MATH 1210 Calculus I (MA) 4
CS 1400 Fundamentals of Programming 3
ENGL 2010 Interm Writing Selected Topics: (EN) 3
GE Life Sciences 3
GE Exploration (CHEM or BIOL course) 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
MATH 1220 Calculus II (MA) 4
CS 1410 Object Oriented Programming 3
PHYS 2210
& PHYS 2215		 Physics/Scientists Engineers I (PS)
and Physics/Scientists Engineers I Lab (LAB)		 5
GE Literature/Humanities 3
 Hours15
2nd Year
Fall Semester
CS 2420 Introduction to Algorithms and Data Structures 3
MECH 2210
& MECH 2215		 Circuits
and Circuits Lab		 4
PHYS 2220
& PHYS 2225		 Physics/Scientists EngineersII
and Physics/Scientists Engineers II Lab		 5
ECE 2700
& ECE 2705		 Digital Circuits
and Digital Circuits Lab		 4
ECE 1200 MATLAB and Arduino 1
 Hours17
Spring Semester
CS 2450 Software Engineering 3
MECH 2250
& MECH 2255		 Sensors & Actuators
and Sensors & Actuators Lab		 4
MATH 2250 Differential Equations and Linear Algebra 4
ECE 2280
& ECE 2285		 Microelectronics
and Microelectronics Lab		 4
 Hours15
3rd Year
Fall Semester
MECH 3200
& MECH 3205		 Systems & Controls
and Systems & Controls Lab		 3.5
ECE 3730
& ECE 3735		 Embedded Systems I
and Embedded Systems I Lab		 4
CS 2810 Computer Organization and Architecture 3
CS 3005 Programming in C++ 3
MATH 3400 Probability & Statistics 3
 Hours16.5
Spring Semester
CS 3410 Distributed Systems 3
ECE 3500 Signals and Systems 3
ENGL 3010 Professional Writing and Business Ethics 3
ECE 4730
& ECE 4735		 Embedded Systems II
and Embedded Systems II Lab		 4
Tech Elective 1 3
 Hours16
4th Year
Fall Semester
ECE 4005 CE Product Design I 3
Tech Elective 2 3
CS 3400 Operating Systems 3
CS 3310 Discrete Mathematics 3
GE Fine Arts 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
ECE 4015 CE Product Design II 3
ECE 4500 Digital Signal Processing 3
Tech Elective 3 3
GE - American Institutions 3
GE - Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours125.5

Graduation Plan - 5 years (MATH 1010)

Plan of Study Grid
1st Year
Fall SemesterHours
MATH 1010 Intermediate Algebra 4
ENGL 1010 Introduction to Writing (EN) 3
General Education (Life Science) 3
General Education (American Institutions) 3
 Hours13
Spring Semester
MATH 1080 Pre-Calculus with Trigonometry (MA) 5
ENGL 2010 Interm Writing Selected Topics: (EN) 3
CS 1400 Fundamentals of Programming 3
General Education (Fine Arts) 3
 Hours14
2nd Year
Fall Semester
ECE 2700
& ECE 2705		 Digital Circuits
and Digital Circuits Lab		 4
CS 1410 Object Oriented Programming 3
ECE 1200 MATLAB and Arduino 1
MATH 1210 Calculus I (MA) 4
General Education (Exploration) 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
CS 2420 Introduction to Algorithms and Data Structures 3
PHYS 2210
& PHYS 2215		 Physics/Scientists Engineers I (PS)
and Physics/Scientists Engineers I Lab (LAB)		 5
MATH 1220 Calculus II (MA) 4
 Hours12
3rd Year
Fall Semester
MECH 2210
& MECH 2215		 Circuits
and Circuits Lab		 4
CS 3005 Programming in C++ 3
PHYS 2220
& PHYS 2225		 Physics/Scientists EngineersII
and Physics/Scientists Engineers II Lab		 5
 Hours12
Spring Semester
MECH 2250
& MECH 2255		 Sensors & Actuators
and Sensors & Actuators Lab		 4
ECE 2280
& ECE 2285		 Microelectronics
and Microelectronics Lab		 4
CS 2450 Software Engineering 3
MATH 2250 Differential Equations and Linear Algebra 4
 Hours15
4th Year
Fall Semester
ECE 3730
& ECE 3735		 Embedded Systems I
and Embedded Systems I Lab		 4
MECH 3200
& MECH 3205		 Systems & Controls
and Systems & Controls Lab		 3.5
CS 2810 Computer Organization and Architecture 3
MATH 3400 Probability & Statistics 3
 Hours13.5
Spring Semester
ECE 4730
& ECE 4735		 Embedded Systems II
and Embedded Systems II Lab		 4
ECE 3500 Signals and Systems 3
CS 3410 Distributed Systems 3
Tech Elective 1 3
 Hours13
5th Year
Fall Semester
ECE 4005 CE Product Design I 3
CS 3400 Operating Systems 3
Tech Elective 2 3
ENGL 3010 Professional Writing and Business Ethics 3
CS 3310 Discrete Mathematics 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
ECE 4015 CE Product Design II 3
ECE 4500 Digital Signal Processing 3
Tech Elective 3 3
General Education (Lit / Humanities) 3
General Education (Social & Behavioral Sciences) 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours137.5

Graduation Plan - 5 years (MATH 1050)

Plan of Study Grid
1st Year
Fall SemesterHours
MATH 1050 College Algebra / Pre-Calculus (MA) 4
ENGL 1010 Introduction to Writing (EN) 3
CS 1400 Fundamentals of Programming 3
General Education (American Institutions) 3
 Hours13
Spring Semester
MATH 1060 Trigonometry (MA) 3
CS 1410 Object Oriented Programming 3
ENGL 2010 Interm Writing Selected Topics: (EN) 3
General Education (Exploration) 3
General Education (Life Science) 3
 Hours15
2nd Year
Fall Semester
ECE 2700
& ECE 2705		 Digital Circuits
and Digital Circuits Lab		 4
ECE 1200 MATLAB and Arduino 1
CS 2420 Introduction to Algorithms and Data Structures 3
MATH 1210 Calculus I (MA) 4
 Hours12
Spring Semester
CS 2450 Software Engineering 3
PHYS 2210
& PHYS 2215		 Physics/Scientists Engineers I (PS)
and Physics/Scientists Engineers I Lab (LAB)		 5
MATH 1220 Calculus II (MA) 4
 Hours12
3rd Year
Fall Semester
MECH 2210
& MECH 2215		 Circuits
and Circuits Lab		 4
CS 3005 Programming in C++ 3
PHYS 2220
& PHYS 2225		 Physics/Scientists EngineersII
and Physics/Scientists Engineers II Lab		 5
CS 3310 Discrete Mathematics 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
MECH 2250
& MECH 2255		 Sensors & Actuators
and Sensors & Actuators Lab		 4
ECE 2280
& ECE 2285		 Microelectronics
and Microelectronics Lab		 4
MATH 2250 Differential Equations and Linear Algebra 4
General Education (Fine Arts) 3
 Hours15
4th Year
Fall Semester
ECE 3730
& ECE 3735		 Embedded Systems I
and Embedded Systems I Lab		 4
MECH 3200
& MECH 3205		 Systems & Controls
and Systems & Controls Lab		 3.5
CS 2810 Computer Organization and Architecture 3
MATH 3400 Probability & Statistics 3
 Hours13.5
Spring Semester
ECE 4730
& ECE 4735		 Embedded Systems II
and Embedded Systems II Lab		 4
ECE 3500 Signals and Systems 3
CS 3410 Distributed Systems 3
Tech Elective 1 3
 Hours13
5th Year
Fall Semester
ECE 4005 CE Product Design I 3
CS 3400 Operating Systems 3
ENGL 3010 Professional Writing and Business Ethics 3
Tech Elective 2 3
General Education (Social & Behavioral Science) 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
ECE 4015 CE Product Design II 3
ECE 4500 Digital Signal Processing 3
Tech Elective 3 3
General Education (Lit / Humanities) 3
 Hours12
 Total Hours135.5

Computer Engineering BS Program Learning Outcomes

At the successful completion of the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering, students will be able to: 

  1. Formulate and evaluate complex engineering problems with regards to electronics by applying principles of engineering, science, & mathematics. 
  2. Create satisfactory solutions to a defined problem by using a structured engineering design process. 
  3. Develop experiments for electronic systems, analyze resulting experimental data, and use engineering judgement to make conclusions from the data. 
  4. Collaborate effectively with others to establish goals, meet deadlines, and articulate results. 
  5. Design, prototype, and troubleshoot mechatronic systems that accomplish a specified task or objective and integrate hardware & software.