Computer Engineering

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Local:$ 17 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 37.8 k / Year(s) Deadline: Dec 1, 2025
48 place StudyQA ranking:4037 Duration:4 years

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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

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

CHEM 102

General Chemistry I

3

CHEM 103

General Chemistry Lab I

1

MATH 221

Calculus I 1

4

MATH 231

Calculus II

3

MATH 241

Calculus III

4

MATH 286

Intro to Differential Eq Plus

4

PHYS 211

University Physics: Mechanics

4

PHYS 212

University Physics: Elec & Mag

4

PHYS 213

Univ Physics: Thermal Physics

2

PHYS 214

Univ Physics: Quantum Physics

2

Total Hours

31

Total Hours: 31

Computer Engineering Technical Core

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

CS 173

Discrete Structures 1

3

CS 225

Data Structures

4

   

ECE 110

Introduction to Electronics 2

1 TO 3

ECE 120

Introduction to Computing

4

ECE 210

Analog Signal Processing

4

ECE 220

Computer Systems & Programming

4

ECE 313

Probability with Engrg Applic 3

3

ECE 374

Introduction to Algorithms & Models of Computation

4

ECE 385

Digital Systems Laboratory

3

ECE 391

Computer Systems Engineering

4

Total Hours

36

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.

Course List

 

Title

Hours

Electives from the campus General Education Social and Behavioral Sciences list.

6

Electives from the campus General Education Humanities and the Arts list.

6

Electives either from a list approved by the college, or from the campus General Education lists for Social and Behavioral Sciences or Humanities and the Arts.

6

Total Hours

18

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.

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

RHET 105

Writing and Research

4

Advanced Composition. May be satisfied by completing ECE 496 and ECE 499 or a course within either the liberal education or free elective categories which has the Advanced Composition designation.

 

Total Hours

4

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.

Course List

 

Title

Hours

Free electives. Additional unrestricted course work, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering advising Web site, so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree. At least seven hours must be taken for a grade.

12

Suggested Sequence

First Year

First Semester

Hours

RHET 105

Writing and Research

4

OR

 

CHEM 102
& CHEM 103

   

MATH 221

Calculus I

4

ECE 120

Introduction to Computing

4

Liberal Education elective

3

ENG 100

Engineering Orientation

0

 

Semester Hours

15

Second Semester

 

CHEM 102
& CHEM 103

General Chemistry I

4

OR

 

RHET 105

   

PHYS 211

University Physics: Mechanics

4

MATH 231

Calculus II

3

ECE 110

Introduction to Electronics

1 TO 3

Liberal Education elective

3

 

Semester Hours

17

Second Year

First Semester

 

MATH 241

Calculus III

4

PHYS 212

University Physics: Elec Mag

4

ECE 220

Computer Systems Programming

4

Liberal Education elective

3

 

Semester Hours

15

Second Semester

 

MATH 286

Intro to Differential Eq Plus

4

ECE 210

Analog Signal Processing

4

CS 225

Data Structures

4

CS 173

Discrete Structures

3

 

Semester Hours

15

Third Year

First Semester

 

PHYS 213

Univ Physics: Thermal Physics

2

PHYS 214

Univ Physics: Quantum Physics

2

ECE 313

Probability with Engrg Applic

3

ECE 385

Digital Systems Laboratory

3

Technical elective

4

Liberal education elective

3

 

Semester Hours

17

Second Semester

 

ECE 391

Computer Systems Engineering

4

ECE 374

Introduction to Algorithms Models of Computation

4

Technical elective

3

Liberal education elective

3

Free elective

3

 

Semester Hours

17

Fourth Year

First Semester

 

ECE 411

Computer Organization Design

4

Technical electives

6

Liberal education elective

3

Free elective

4

 

Semester Hours

17

Second Semester

 

Technical electives

10

Free elective

5

 

Semester Hours

15

 

Total Hours:

128

1. Completed application.

2. ACT or SAT I scores

3. TOEFL/IELTS test.

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


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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.

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