Computer Engineering
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (CompE) combines education in hardware and software development, with students gaining the background necessary to become broadly-educated professionals who are knowledgeable in both domains, understanding how the domains interact, restrict, or enable interdependent capabilities.
Core coursework encompasses the physical and mathematical sciences, object-oriented programming, algorithms, data structures, software engineering, technical communications, circuits and systems, microprocessors, embedded systems, and operating systems. The major also offers the opportunity to build a strong foundation in network design and development, signal processing, mobile computing, sensor systems, semiconductor devices, testing and quality assurance, and project management, among others.
This major is jointly offered by the Division of Computing & Software Systems (CSS) and the Division of Engineering & Mathematics (E&M).
Navigate this page:
- Accreditation & licensure
- Objectives & outcomes
- Enrollment & graduation data
- Faculty
Navigate other pages:
- Getting Started with Computer Programming
- Admissions
- Curriculum Overview
- Capstone Requirement
- Student Forms & Resources
- CSS Registration & Waitlists
Accreditation & licensure
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Program Criteria and the Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s), and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.
Objectives & outcomes
Program educational objectives
Five to ten years after completing their degrees, our graduates will:
- Become engineering/computing professionals who can assume leadership roles, technical or managerial, in computer engineering and related fields.
- Be successful in pursuing advanced studies in computer engineering and related fields.
- Become contributing citizens who are conscientious of ethical and societal responsibilities.
- Become effective communicators in professional and non-professional environments and be able to function as a team member.
Student outcomes
These are the abilities that we aim our graduates to have attained upon completion of the degree.
- Outcome 1: an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- Outcome 2: an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- Outcome 3: an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- Outcome 4: an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- Outcome 5: an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- Outcome 6: an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- Outcome 7: an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Below is annual enrollment and graduation data for each academic year the program has existed. New enrollment in autumn quarter is a subset of the total enrollment. The number of graduates is for students graduating in that academic year, and is not an indication of how many enrolled students that year went on to graduate.
Enrollment & graduation data
| Academic Year | Total Enrollment in Autumn Quarter | New Enrollment in Autumn Quarter | Number of Graduates in Academic Year (autumn through summer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 – 2015 | 9 | 9 | 1 |
| 2015 – 2016 | 19 | 11 | 4 |
| 2016 – 2017 | 25 | 11 | 10 |
| 2017 – 2018 | 26 | 18 | 5 |
| 2018 – 2019 | 39 | 19 | 10 |
| 2019 – 2020 | 40 | 14 | 14 |
| 2020 – 2021 | 56 | 32 | 9 |
| 2021 – 2022 | 74 | 32 | 15 |
| 2022 – 2023 | 68 | 19 | 19 |
| 2023 – 2024 | 69 | 28 | TBD |
Faculty
Most of the courses in the Computer Engineering program are taught by faculty in these divisions of the School of STEM:
The links above take you to pages that list the faculty in each Division and briefly describe their background and interests.
Faculty coordinators
Kaibao Nie
Associate Teaching Professor and Computer Engineering Coordinator
Email: niek@uw.edu
Yang Peng
Assistant Professor and Computer Engineering Coordinator
Email: yangpeng@uw.edu