Computer Engineering

Computer Engineering at Illinois focuses on the development of vital computing technologies, ranging from chips to computers to networks to programming tools to key algorithms for building exciting applications. Fundamentally, Computer Engineering addresses the problem of building scalable, trustworthy computing systems, and the faculty's interests span a broad spectrum of issues pertinent to this theme. Computer engineering has taken the lead in revolutionizing many science and engineering disciplines with parallel computing, from chips to clouds to planet-scale critical infrastructures, and has defined new standards of security, privacy, and dependability for systems ranging from small circuits to the electric power grids of many nations. Students need a broad and sound set of mathematical and computing skills, and are well-served by a flexible curriculum that enables them to pursue topics of interest among the many subdisciplines in computing.

The computer engineering core curriculum focuses on fundamental computer engineering knowledge: circuits, systems, electromagnetics, computer systems, electronics for information processing and communication, and computer science. The rich set of ECE elective courses permits students to concentrate in any sub-discipline of computer engineering including: hardware systems; cyberphysical systems; foundations and theory;  software and languages; algorithms and mathematical tools; trust, reliability, security; networking, mobile and distributed computing; big data analytics and systems; artificial intelligence, robotics, cybernetics.

Foundational Mathematics and Science

Total Hours: 31

Computer Engineering Technical Core

Technical Electives

• 27 hours to be selected from departmentally approved List of Technical Electives
• One course from departmentally approved list of EE Foundations Courses
• Three courses from departmentally approved list of Advanced Computing Electives

Liberal Education

The liberal education courses develop students’ understanding of human culture and society, build skills of inquiry and critical thinking, and lay a foundation for civic engagement and lifelong learning.

Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course and (ii) one non-western/U.S. minority culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy these cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western and non-western lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements.

Composition

These courses teach fundamentals of expository writing.

Free Electives

These unrestricted electives, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering advising website, give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual area of unique interest. This freedom plays a critical role in helping students to define research specialties or to complete minors.

Suggested Sequence

1. Completed application.

2. ACT or SAT I scores

3. TOEFL/IELTS test.

4. Application fee ($75 for international stdents).

ISSS Financial Assistance

ISSS has limited funding available to assist international students who currently attend the University of Illinois and experiencing unexpected short-term or emergency financial hardship. Assistance may take the form of a loan or grant, depending on the nature and severity of your need. The method of payment and processing time will vary depending on the type of funding. Both grants and loans have very specific eligibility requirements, and therefore ISSS advisors must assess each case individually. If you have a situation that you think might qualify for financial assistance, please fill out the e-form (available in iStart, under "Insurance and Finances" ). After submitting your application, an ISSS will contact you regarding your case within a week.

Maria Pia Gratton International Award

This award is intended to enable a female graduate student from outside the United States to have an academic and cultural experience at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Illinois). Preference will be given to a student who has had a limited opportunity to travel outside of her home country. The Gratton Award provides a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend totaling $10,000 for the academic year.

Avery Brundage Scholarship

The UIUC Avery Brundage Scholarship is designed for students who demonstrate excellence both in academic pursuits and in amateur athletic endeavors. Financial need is not a factor. Full-time graduate students in good standing with a "special athletic ability" in an amateur sport are eligible. Previous winners have represented a wide variety of sports from archery and tennis to swimming and wheelchair basketball. 

Annual James Scholar Certification

James Scholar reviews take place in the summer. Therefore, if your GPA dips below the prescribed level after the Fall semester, you may still make up for the deficiency in the Spring and remain a James Scholar. Summer courses cannot be used to make up for a GPA deficiency in the preceding academic year. However, if you move your GPA back above the prescribed limit after the Summer, you may apply in the beginning of the Fall semester to be reinstated as a James Scholar. If you maintain the prescribed GPA at the end of the Spring semester and have completed the necessary honors requirements for the academic year, you will be certified and it will be noted in your transcripts for the full year. If you maintain the prescribed GPA but do not complete the necessary honors activities, you do not get certified but can continue as a James Scholar for the next year.

James Scholar

To apply, you must meet the GPA requirements and design an honors contract that can be completed and will enable you to fulfill the graduation requirements of the program while an undergraduate. The honors contract can be modified at any time as long as the changes are approved. If you’re a transfer student, you may apply to be a James Scholar after at least one semester on campus, if your Illinois GPA meets the requirements. Grades in transfer courses will not be considered for James Scholar status. Applications to join the Engineering James Scholar Program can be made online in the first two weeks of any semester.