Computer Engineering (CPEG)

Mission Statement

The rapidly changing field of computer engineering has great impact on human well-being. To meet the trust placed in our profession, students and faculty in the electrical & computer engineering department continually strive to be:

• Aware – we recognize the social and ethical dimensions of engineering.
• Engaged – we seek transformative experiences and intellectual challenges.
• Skillful – we merge knowledge with application in our professional identity.
• Articulate – we are agile communicators who effectively reach diverse audiences.
• Collaborative – we compassionately support each other to reach our full potential.
• Equitable – we create environments in which those from all backgrounds can succeed.
• Contemporary – we create new opportunities by designing solutions to meaningful problems.

Program Educational Objectives

Bucknell’s broad liberal education allows graduates to choose from many possible career pathways. The computer engineering program supplements this liberal education with quantitative reasoning skills and the ability to address complex, abstract problems so that in the years following graduation, Bucknell alumni…

• can utilize and adapt engineering analysis and design knowledge and skills to successfully address professional challenges across a diverse spectrum of career paths;
• are respected in their chosen field due to their professionalism, ethical grounding, effective communication skills, ability to work with others, and understanding of the broader societal contexts of engineering;
• apply their problem-solving skills and passion for lifelong learning to their chosen endeavors;
• are actively engaged with their profession and community and continue to develop professionally, socially and personally.

Student Outcomes

At graduation, a Bucknell computer engineer:

Knows the foundational principles of engineering and the context needed to use them by demonstrating…
• an ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics;
• an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed using appropriate learning strategies.

Possesses the skills and abilities needed to practice computer engineering by demonstrating…
• 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;
• an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions;
• an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.

Possesses the professionalism and attitudes needed to be a computer engineer by demonstrating…
• 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;
• 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. 

The computer engineering program at Bucknell University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

The computer engineering program supplements Bucknell’s broad, liberal education with quantitative reasoning skills and the ability to address complex, abstract problems so graduates can address challenging human, social and technical problems across a range of careers. The requirements in the first two years for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering are identical to allow students to easily switch between programs.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering requirements are:

First Year
First Semester	Credits	Second Semester	Credits
ENGR 099	0	MATH 202	1
ENGR 100	1	PHYS 212[7]	1
MATH 201	1	ECEG 100	1
PHYS 211	1	Elective [1]	1
Foundation Seminar (W1)	1
	4		4
Sophomore
First Semester	Credits	Second Semester	Credits
MATH 211	1	MATH 241[6]	1
ECEG 210	1	ECEG 270	1
ECEG 230[8]	0.5	ECEG 247	1
ECEG 241	0.5	Elective [1]	1
Elective [1]	1
ECEG 201 (Take either fall or spring)			0.5
	4 or 4.5		4 or 4.5
Junior
First Semester	Credits	Second Semester	Credits
Elective [1]	1	CSCI 205	1
ECEG 370	1	Selected Course 1 [2,3]	1
CSCI 204	1	Elective [1]	1
Elective [1]	1	Elective [1]	1
ECEG 301  (Take either fall or spring)			.5
ECEG 310 [2,5] (Take fall)  or ECEG 311 (Take spring)			.5
	4.5		4.5
Senior
First Semester	Credits	Second Semester	Credits
ECEG 400 (W2)	1	ECEG 401 (W2)	1
Selected Course 2 [2,3]	1	Concentration Elective 2 [2,4]	1
Concentration Elective 1 [2,4]	1	Elective [1]	1
Elective [1]	1	Elective [1]	1
ECEG 310 [2,5] (Take fall)  or ECEG 311 (Take spring)			.5
	4 or 4.5		4 or 4.5
Total Credits: 34

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Notes:

[1] A student must choose electives that meet engineering college requirements for general education. Three courses in each student's program must fulfill the University writing requirement that includes a W1 course taken in the first semester, foundation seminar (FOUN or RESC), and two subsequent W2 courses. The two subsequent W2 courses will be satisfied by senior design. At least two electives must be in math or science. The choice of math or science electives may be determined by the concentration you choose — please consult with your adviser. Math/science electives are 200-level or above courses in the natural sciences (physics & astronomy, chemistry, geology or biology) and 300-level or above mathematics courses with the exception of non-major courses, PHYS 235 Applied Electronics, and MATH 303 Probability, which do not count as math/science electives. MATH 245 Linear Algebra or MATH 212 Differential Equations may be taken if they are not already part of the student's plan of study. Other courses may be substituted with the approval of the department chair.

[2] Courses may be taken out of the recommended sequence. The student should plan when to take courses in consultation with their adviser, taking into account plans for a concentration, study abroad, etc.

[3] Selected courses: take two of ECEG 350, ECEG 431, ECEG 472 or CSCI 311.

[4] Concentration Electives: Any 300-level or above ECEG or CSCI course or courses required to complete a concentration. Independent study or honors thesis may only count toward one credit of concentration electives. Students not pursuing a concentration should take two courses chosen in consultation with, and approved by, their adviser.

[5] ECEG 310 and ECEG 311 must each be taken once. It is recommended that one be taken in the junior year and the other in the senior year unless the student plans to study abroad.

[6] Students interested in a mathematics minor or considering graduate studies may choose to take MATH 240 and MATH 280 instead of MATH 241.

[7] Or an equivalent, department-approved transfer course.

[8] Students may take CSCI 203 instead of ECEG 230. They should consult with their academic adviser to understand this option and the impact. 

Information on Minors

ECEG and CSCI courses that are required for the major and the two selected courses, see note [3] above, may not count toward a minor. Concentration electives and other electives may be counted toward a minor. Natural science and math courses, even if they are required, may be counted toward a minor.

Computer Engineering Concentrations

Students may select a concentration — a series of electives that develops expertise in a particular sub-discipline of computer engineering — that is recognized on the official student transcript. Only one concentration may be officially recognized. A concentration may require specific selected courses and concentration electives, math/science electives, and up to two free electives within a particular area chosen from the lists below. Students may petition the department to consider new or other courses; the final decision is made on a case-by-case basis by the department chair in consultation with the student’s adviser. 

Concentrations must be declared to the concentration adviser by the start of the junior year. A concentration is declared by notifying the respective concentration adviser. The respective concentration advisers for each concentration are listed with the description of each concentration. Final consideration for a concentration is done via completion and submission of a Concentration Declaration Form to the department office by February 15th of the senior year. Because not all concentration electives are offered each year, students are highly advised to discuss their interest in a concentration with their adviser and the concentration adviser no later than the end of their sophomore year. Courses used toward a minor in any department at Bucknell may not be double-counted toward a concentration. The ECE department offers the following concentrations in computer engineering:

Internet of Things (IoT) captures how computing devices are embedded in nearly all products. IoT has four major areas – interaction, computation, storage and communication – and students must take one course representing each area. The areas covered by a particular course are listed with the course in the list below. Courses may only count for one area if multiple areas are listed. Prof. Stewart Thomas is the adviser for this concentration. The list below shows the courses that cover the various areas of this concentration.

• Selected courses: ECEG 350 Electronics I (computation), ECEG 431 Computer Systems (computation, storage), ECEG 472 Digital Signals and Communications (interaction, storage), CSCI 311 Design & Analysis of Algorithms (computation).

• Concentration electives: ECEG 430 Mobile Computing (communication, interaction), ECEG 442 Digital VLSI Circuit Design (computation), ECEG 470 Communication and Information Systems (communication), ECEG 473 Digital Speech and Audio Processing (interaction, storage), ECEG 475 Computer Communication Networking (communication), ECEG 478 Machine Learning and Intelligent Systems (computation) ECEG 497 Wireless System Design (communication), CSCI 320 Computer Architecture (computation, storage), CSCI 341 Theory of Computation (computation). Other courses not offered on a regular basis may also count as concentration electives; please consult with your adviser.

Physical Electronics emphasizes the basic physical principles that underlie the operation of electronic and photonic devices and the design and application of solid state devices, solar cells, lasers and opto-electronics. If you have an interest in merging electrical engineering with physics, this area of electrical engineering may match your interests. Prof. Amal Kabalan is the adviser for this concentration. This concentration has the following course requirements:

• Math Course: MATH 212 Differential Equations.

• Math/Science Electives: PHYS 222 Wave Mechanics and Quantum Physics and one of the following: CHEM 203 General Chemistry for Engineers or MATH 245 Linear Algebra.

• Selected courses: ECEG 350 Electronics I and ECEG 472 Digital Signals and Communications.

• Concentration electives – at least two of: ECEG 492 Solid State Optoelectronic Devices, ENGR 240 Science of Materials, PHYS 303 Modern Optics, PHYS 309 Condensed Matter Physics, PHYS 317 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, PHYS 332 Quantum Mechanics, PHYS 336 Mathematical Methods in Physics, ECEG 478... 

• Open elective recommendations: students are strongly encouraged to take at least one credit of independent study doing research.

Sustainable Energy focuses on the technology of sustainable electrical energy production and distribution, including wind and solar. Prof. Peter Jansson is the adviser for this concentration. This concentration has the following course requirements:

• Math/Science Electives: MATH 212 Differential Equations and CHEM 203 General Chemistry for Engineers.

• Selected courses: ECEG 350 Electronics I and ECEG 461 Electrical Energy Conversion.

• Concentration electives – at least two of: ECEG 462 Renewable Energy Systems, ECEG 476 Electrical Control Systems, ECEG 492 Solid State Optoelectronic Devices, ENGR 240 Science of Materials, CEEG 242 Sustainability Principles for Engineers, CEEG 443 Sustainable Design or ENST 230 Introduction to Sustainable Design or either MECH 220 Mechanics or ENGR 229 Solid Mechanics I.

• Open elective recommendations: ENST 236 Environmental Ethics, MSUS 200 Managing for Sustainability I.

Signals and Systems prepares students for work in diverse fields such as audio/video/multimedia technology, telecommunications, smart grid technology, control systems and machine learning. Students engage with fundamental approaches for the description and processing of quantitative information. These approaches are not only useful in the context of technical systems, but also in the context of non-technical systems such as societal, economic and biological systems. Prof. Robert Nickel is the adviser for this concentration. This concentration has the following course requirements:

• Math Course: MATH 212 Differential Equations.

• Math/Science Elective: MATH 245 Linear Algebra.

• Selected courses – at least two of: ECEG 472 Digital Signals and Communications, ECEG 431 Computer Systems, ECEG 350 Electronics I, CSCI 311 Design & Analysis of Algorithms.

• Concentration electives – at least two of: ECEG 351 Electronics II, ECEG 470 Communication and Information Systems, ECEG 476 Electrical Control Systems, ECEG 473 Digital Speech and Audio Processing, ECEG 474 Neural Signals and Systems ECEG 475 Computer Communication Networking, ECEG 478 Machine Learning and Intelligent Systems, or CSCI 365 Image Processing & Analysis.

• Open elective restrictions: none.

Wireless Systems prepares students for employment or graduate study in the area of wireless systems, which includes radio frequency (RF) design, microwave and millimeter-wave systems, antennas, and digital communications. Applications include the Internet of Things; RFID; cellular, broadband and automotive wireless networks; satellite communications; radar; remote sensing; and satellite and terrestrial-based broadcasting. Prof. David Kelley is the adviser for this concentration. This concentration has the following course requirements:

• Math Course: MATH 212 Differential Equations.

• Math/Science Elective: MATH 245 Linear Algebra or MATH 350 Methods in Applied Mathematics.

• Selected courses: ECEG 350 Electronics I and ECEG 472 Digital Signals and Communications.

• Concentration electives – at least two of: ECEG 470 Communication and Information Systems, ECEG 497 Wireless System Design, ECEG 492 Solid State Optoelectronic Devices, or ECEG 431 Computer Systems. One of the courses must be ECEG 470 or ECEG 497, or both may be taken to fulfill the requirement.

• Open elective requirements: ECEG 351 Electronics II and ECEG 390 Electromagnetics.

• Open elective recommendations: CHEM 203 General Chemistry for Engineers, PHYS 222 Wave Mechanics and Quantum Physics, PHYS 221 Classical Mechanics, and ENGR 229 Solid Mechanics I.

Formidable challenges prepare students to explore in depth a large societal issue that can be significantly impacted by electrical and computer engineering and focus their course of study on elective courses related to this issue. Examples could be drawn from the NAE Grand Challenges or the UN sustainable development goals and include topics such as sustainable energy, information technology and privacy, intelligent transportation, smart cities, etc. Prof. Alan Cheville is the adviser for this concentration. This concentration has the following requirements: 

• Students must declare this concentration at the start of the junior year and have identified a challenge topic at that time. The department, in consultation with the student, will determine a concentration adviser for the student within the department. 

• The student’s concentration adviser in the department will consult with other faculty in the College of Engineering to ensure the student’s work is aligned with the formidable challenge being investigated.  

• Students are required to identify a second adviser outside of the College of Engineering in an area related to the formidable challenge they are investigating. The second adviser must agree to co-advise the student.

• This concentration will specify the two concentration electives and two free electives. These will be developed in concert with the student but ultimately approved by the advisers. The following additional criteria also apply. 

• One concentration elective must be a one-credit independent study.

• The other concentration elective will be determined in concert with the advisers.

• Two open electives will be courses related to the issue the student is exploring and will be chosen in concert with their advisers.  Earning a minor is strongly recommended to ensure sufficient depth of knowledge in a second area related to the formidable challenge.

Preparation for graduate study consists of courses suggested for those students who are planning to go to graduate school in computer engineering but do not have a specific area they want to pursue. This option provides a breadth of experience with a strong focus on the theoretical aspects of computer engineering to serve as a basis for graduate-level work. Students who have a particular interest should take the concentration that best aligns with it. Prof. Stu Thompson is the adviser for this concentration. 

• Selected courses – at least two of: CSCI 311 Design & Analysis of Algorithms, ECEG 431 Computer Systems, ECEG 350 Electronics I or ECEG 472 Digital Signals and Communications.

• Concentration electives – at least two of: CSCI 315 Operating Systems Design, CSCI 341 Theory of Computation, CSCI 331 Compiler Optimization, CSCI 349 Introduction to Data Mining, ECEG 443 High Performance Computer Architecture or ECEG 495 Advanced Topics in Engineering Mathematics.

• Open elective restrictions: students are strongly encouraged to take at least one credit of independent study doing research.

At graduation a Bucknell computer engineer:

1)  Knows the foundational principles of engineering and the context needed to use them by demonstrating…

• an ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics;
• an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

2)  Possesses the skills and abilities needed to practice computer engineering by demonstrating…

• 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;
• an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions;
• an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.

3)  Possesses the professionalism and attitudes needed to be a computer engineer by demonstrating…

• 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;
• 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. 

Faculty

Professors: John C. Bravman (President), R. Alan Cheville, Richard J. Kozick, Joseph V. Tranquillo (Associate Provost for Transformative Teaching & Learning)

Associate Professors: Peter M. Jansson, Amal Kabalan, David F. Kelley, Alan Marchiori, Robert M. Nickel, Michael S. Thompson (Chair)

Assistant Professors: Vajiheh Farhadi, Stewart Thomas

Assistant Professor (Adjunct): Rebecca Thomas