Computer Engineering

Major Description

Computer engineering is a multifaceted discipline that constitutes the backbone of the booming field of cyber-physical systems. It applies principles of physics and mathematics to the design, implementation, and analysis of computer, communication, and cyber-physical systems. This discipline spans topics as diverse as radio communications, coding and encryption, computer architecture, testing and analysis of computer and communication systems, robotics, and computer vision and more broadly computer sensing.

Computer engineering concerns itself (a) with developing devices that exploit physical phenomena to retrieve, store, process, and share information; (b) with designing hardware that incorporates such devices; and (c) with creating software that takes advantage of the hardware’s characteristics. It addresses problems in design, testing, and evaluation of system properties, such as reliability and security.

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Degree Requirements

ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

ECE 120—Introduction to Computing
MATH 221—Calculus I
MATH 231—Calculus II
PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics
PHYS 212—University Physics: Electricity & Magnetism

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Computer engineers are employed in every industry. Whether it is for programming, installation of a new system, or highly specialized software – computer engineers are utilized in healthcare, transportation, academics, financial institutions, and service-oriented businesses. Examples of companies that have computer engineers on staff include: Verizon Wireless, Citicorp, and Southwest airlines.

Common Career Skills

Computer Architecture
Computer validation
Education and training
Emergency response
Forensics
Game systems
Networking
Processes
Programming
Systems
Technical applications
Telecommunications
Analytical skills
Communications
Conduct experiments
Design
Knowledge of contemporary issues
Knowledge of math, science, and engineering
Teamwork

Common Career Titles

Computer Applications Software Engineer
Computer Software Engineer
Computer Systems Software Engineer
System Analysis Engineer

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

Participating in undergraduate research
Applying for a study abroad experience
Utilizing resources of The Career Center and Engineering Career Services
Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
- Women in Electrical and Computer Engineering: Supports and encourages women in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
- Illinois Robotics in Space (IRIS):Encourages and facilitates education and hands on experience in engineering and robotics, especially in the arena of space applications, for students of all ages.
- Illini Solar Car

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Computer Engineering. Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Computer Engineering. These organizations include Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, Association for Computing Machinery, Association for Women in Computing, and IEEE Computer Society.

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Major Description

Civil and environmental engineers apply basic principles of science, supported by mathematical and computational tools, to address the biggest challenges facing society: ensuring clean air, safe drinking water and sanitation; addressing our changing environment; protecting the population from natural and man-made hazards; designing a sustainable infrastructure that serves everyone; reimagining human and commodity traffic for an automated future; and of course designing and constructing the world’s tallest buildings and most iconic bridges.

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Degree Requirements

ICT Requirements

Concentrations

There are ten areas of study.

Construction Engineering and Management

The Construction Engineering and Management area of study prepares students to manage design, construction and operation of sustainable buildings and infrastructure systems in the increasingly global construction industry.

Construction Materials

The Construction Materials area of study gives students a comprehensive understanding of the composition, microstructure, and engineering behavior of materials used in civil engineering applications.

Energy-Water-Environment Sustainability

The program in Energy-Water-Environment Sustainability (EWES) is a new cross-cutting program focused on providing and supporting sustainable solutions for the exploration, production, delivery and use of energy, and their intersection with water and the natural and built environment.

Environmental Engineering and Science

The Environmental Engineering and Science (EE&S) group within CEE at Illinois prepares students for the increasingly critical role of addressing the world’s challenges of air, land and water pollution. Sustainable engineering practices for both developed and developing societies are a primary focus of the EE&S program.

Geotechnical Engineering

The Geotechnical Engineering program within CEE at Illinois has educated generations of experts in the use of natural material such as soil and rock in combination with engineered material such as concrete, steel and geosynthetics, in the design of dams, tunnels, on-shore and off-shore reclamation for airports, landfills, deep excavations, and foundations for structures of all kinds.

Societal Risk Management

The Societal Risk Management (SRM) program is a cross-disciplinary program that focuses on the development of a secure and safe society. The program concentrates on risk determination, risk evaluation and risk management for natural and human-made hazards, and disaster response and recovery.

Structural Engineering

Structural engineers combine science and art to design and build our world’s infrastructure to safely resist natural and man-made forces. Buildings, bridges, stadiums, off-shore and other civil facilities define the traditional core focus of structural engineers. At the periphery of the field, structural engineering extends more broadly to share common interests with mechanical, aerospace and naval engineering for the design of often large, complex systems including power plants, pipelines, aerospace vehicles and ships-submarines.

Transportation Engineering

The Transportation Engineering group within CEE at Illinois offers unequalled expertise in railroad, pavement, and transportation systems engineering. This large, comprehensive program boasts world-class faculty, a dynamic research program, and strong ties to industry and government agencies.

Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Systems

The program aims to prepare new generations of civil engineers who are ready to address pressing societal issues while developing needed infrastructure. For example, students will be able to use system level approaches and thinking to achieve sustainable use of material and resources in construction of engineered systems. Students will learn to balance short-term costs of facility development and the need for integrating this facility within an infrastructure system that is resilient to natural and human-made disasters.

Water Resources Engineering and Science

Water resource engineers are responsible for the planning, design, operation, and management of surface and ground water systems, preservation and enhancement of the natural river and watershed environment, design and construction of water control facilities, and conservation of water resources.

Courses That Introduce the Major

CHEM 102/103—General Chemistry I / General Chemistry Lab I
CHEM 104/105—General Chemistry II/General Chemistry Lab II
CS 101—Introduction to Computing for Engineers and Scientists
MATH 221—Calculus I
MATH 231—Calculus II
PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics
PHYS 212—University Physics: Electricity & Magnetism
SE 101—Engineering Graphics and Design

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Civil and environmental engineers are employed by the government, utilities, general contractors, design and engineering firms. There are also career options available in education and consulting. Civil and environmental engineers are working outdoors at construction sites, in offices, and research labs. They can also work in general contracting, construction management and design-build firms.

Civil and environmental engineers work in all parts of the country, and some spend their entire careers traveling and working on different projects. About half of civil engineers work for public authorities. In the private sector, civil engineers can work not only for traditional engineering firms, but also for telecommunication businesses, consulting firms, or even toy and athletic equipment manufacturers.

Common Career Skills

Communication
Problem solving
Reasoning
Resourcefulness
Teamwork

Common Career Titles

Civil Engineering Assistant
Civil Engineering Designer
Civil Engineering Technician
Design Technician
Engineering Technician
Field Technician

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

Earning a CEE-focused Certificate in Data Science and Computing
Participating in undergraduate research
Applying for a study abroad experience
Utilizing resources of The Career Center
Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
- American Society of Civil Engineers: Spreads the knowledge of Civil Engineering to students and the community.
- Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society: Chi Epsilon maintains and promotes the qualities of scholarship, practicality, and sociability in the field of civil engineering.
- Geotechnical Engineering Student Organization of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Enhances the education of students who are preparing to become geo-professionals.
- International Water Resources Association: IWRA is a non-profit, nongovernmental, educational organization connecting professionals, students, and individuals who are concerned with the sustainable use of water resources. IWRA provides a global forum for bridging disciplines and geographies.

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Civil Engineering. Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Civil Engineering. These organizations include American Society of Civil Engineers and American Society of Civil Engineers’ Publications.

Bioengineering

Major Description

Bioengineers use tools from biology, chemistry, physics and math to solve engineering problems that arise in biological systems related to biomaterials, biomechanics and prosthetics, tissue engineering, molecular modeling, imaging, bioinformatics, nanomedicine, synthetic biology, and drug delivery. The goal of research and education in bioengineering is to advance fundamental understanding of how human biological systems function, and to develop effective technology-based solutions to the wide spectrum of societal needs in human development and disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

The curriculum includes integration of principles of biology and engineering in coursework such as biomechanics, modeling of human physiology, bioinstrumentation, and cell and tissue engineering. The focus is project-based and has a strong emphasis on systems-thinking as an approach to large-scale bioengineering problems.

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Degree Requirements

ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

BIOE 120—Introduction to Bioengineering
CHEM 102/103—General Chemistry I / General Chemistry Lab I
MCB 150—Molecular & Cellular Basis of Life
MATH 221—Calculus I
MATH 231—Calculus II
PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics
PHYS 212—University Physics: Electricity & Magnetism

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Graduates may work as biomedical engineers with medical practitioners to develop new medical techniques, medical devices, and instrumentation for manufacturing companies. Clinical engineers work in hospitals and clinics to maintain and improve the vast amount of technological support required in modern medicine. With advanced degrees, some graduates perform basic research related to biology and medicine in the research laboratories of educational and governmental institutions or in the medical industries.

Common Career Skills

Ability to design and conduct experiments
Analytical skills
Communication skills
Critical thinking skills
Design and build medical devices
Quantitative skills (math, science, eng.)
Research skills
Strong background in life science fundamentals and medical systems
Teamwork skills
Technologically inclined

Common Career Titles

Biomaterial Systems Physiologist
Biomechanics Specialist
Biomedical Designer
Biomedical Engineer
Clinical Engineer
Healthcare Professional
Lab Director
Manufacturers Representative
Project Engineer
Support Specialist
Research Associate
Technical Advisor

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

Participating in undergraduate research
Applying for a study abroad experience
Utilizing resources of The Career Center
Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
- Biomedical Engineering Society, Illinois Chapter: Promotes the increase of biomedical engineering knowledge and its utilization.
- National Society of Black Engineers: NSBE’s mission is to increase the number of Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Bioengineering. Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Bioengineering. These organizations include Biomedical Engineering Society and The National Institute of Biomedical Imagining and Bioengineering.

Agricultural & Biological Engineering

Major Description

The Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) major integrates life and engineering for the enhancement of systems involving agriculture, food, energy, water, and the environment. The program that combines fundamental engineering skills with understanding and the ability to design complex systems in some of the world’s areas of greatest need. We prepare you to create abundant and safe supplies of food, feed, water, and energy; to design healthier, more sustainable indoor and outdoor environments; and to develop new technology at both micro and macro levels. Our graduates are equipped to analyze data and manage information for complex systems. In a world with finite resources and nearly 7.5 billion people, these are skills that are valued on both local and global scales.

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Degree Requirements

ICT Requirements

Concentrations

Students will choose a concentration during their sophomore or junior year.

Agricultural Engineering

Includes the integration of physical and biological sciences as a foundation for engineering applications in agriculture, food systems, energy, natural resources, the environment, and related biological systems. Students pursuing this concentration are involved in the design of systems for renewable energy, off-road equipment, water quality, and the utilization and protection of soil and water resources. Important design constraints are economics, conservation of materials and energy, safety, and environmental quality. Within this concentration, students are strongly encouraged to select a set of coherent courses that constitutes a specialization in their area of career interest either from the following list or a customized area chosen in consultation with an advisor:

Renewable Energy Systems
Off-Road Equipment Engineering
Soil & Water Resources Engineering

Biological Engineering

Integrates biology and engineering to provide solutions to problems related to living systems (plants, animals, and microorganisms). Engineered biological systems vary widely in scale. At the molecular level, nanometer-scale devices consist of a few biomolecules inside individual cells. At the other extreme, regionally-scaled complex ecosystems depend upon multiple species of interacting living organisms. Such systems are becoming increasingly important in areas such as bioenergy, bioprocessing, nanotechnology, biosensing, bio-informatics, and bioenvironment. Within this concentration, students are strongly encouraged to select a set of coherent courses that constitutes a specialization in their area of career interest either from the following list or a customized area chosen in consultation with an advisor:

Bioenvironmental Engineering
Ecological Engineering
Food & Bioprocess Engineering
Nanoscale Biological Engineering

Courses That Introduce the Major

CHEM 102/103—General Chemistry I / General Chemistry Lab I
MATH 221—Calculus I
MATH 231—Calculus II
PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics
PHYS 212—University Physics: Electricity & Magnetism

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

An ABE degree will open doors around the world in large corporations and small businesses, including careers in water quality, food processing, environmental systems, structural design, erosion control, materials handling, agricultural power, equipment design and more.

Common Career Skills

Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
Communicating effectively
Design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
Design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
Identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
Knowledge of contemporary issues
Recognizing the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
Understand professional and ethical responsibility
Understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
Work with multi-disciplinary teams

Common Career Titles

Biological Engineer
Consulting Engineer
Design Engineer
Process Engineer
Water Resource Engineer
Waste Specialist

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

Participating in undergraduate research
Applying for a study abroad experience
Utilizing resources of The Career Center
Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
- Alpha Epsilon Honor Society: Honor society for agricultural and biological engineering students
- American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers: Supports the pre-professional development of students in agricultural and biological engineering

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Agricultural Engineering. Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Agricultural Engineering. One such organization includes American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.

Aerospace Engineering

Major Description

Aerospace Engineering provides a strong fundamental background in engineering, mathematics, and science, along with the ability to apply this fundamental knowledge to the analysis and design of future aircraft and spacecraft. It also prepares students for lifelong learning and the attainment of their career goals in the field of aerospace engineering and in a wide range of other areas. The concepts of system design culminate in the year-long senior capstone design experience, in which students work in teams to respond to a design challenge from industry, government, or a professional engineering society.

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Degree Requirements

ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

CHEM 102/103—General Chemistry I / General Chemistry Lab I
MATH 221—Calculus I
MATH 231—Calculus II
PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics
PHYS 212—University Physics: Electricity & Magnetism
AERO 100 – Intro to Aerospace Engineering

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Most aerospace and aeronautical engineers work in the aircraft, missile, and space-vehicle manufacturing industries. Others work for the federal government, engineering firms or research and testing firms that specialize in air and spacecraft.

Common Career Skills

Advanced math and statistics
In-depth knowledge of the principles of aerospace & aeronautical engineering
Intellectual creativity
Logical thinking
Planning, organizing and conducting research
Teamwork
Understanding a wide variety of scientific and technical material

Common Career Titles

Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer
Aerospace Stress Analyst
Aircraft Structural Engineer
Assurance Technician
Manufacturing Engineer
Quality Systems Engineer
Vibration Analyst

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

Participating in undergraduate research
Applying for a study abroad experience
Utilizing resources of The Career Center
Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Aerospace Engineering. Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Aerospace Engineering. One such organization includes American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.