Computer Engineering (Engineering, BSE)

Program: Computer Engineering Major
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering  
College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science

Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science Building 327 ~ 260-481-6362

URL: http://www.pfw.edu/ece, email: ece@pfw.edu

---

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Purdue University Fort Wayne offers a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) with majors in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. These programs share a common foundation in mathematics, science, and engineering fundamentals while allowing students to develop discipline-specific expertise in their chosen major.

Engineering is a broad and integrative profession that applies principles of mathematics, science, and technology to design, analyze, and implement solutions to complex real-world problems. Engineers work across diverse domains to improve quality of life, advance technology, and address societal needs while considering public health, safety, sustainability, ethics, and economic constraints. Reflecting this broad nature, all engineering majors within the BSE degree emphasize analytical thinking, design, communication, teamwork, and lifelong learning.

Students across all four majors complete a common core curriculum, including calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, chemistry, physics, and Engineering Fundamentals I and II. This shared foundation supports a unified set of Degree Learning Outcomes (DLOs) that overlap substantially across the majors while preparing graduates for professional practice, graduate study, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Degree Learning Outcomes (DLO)

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering, regardless of major, will demonstrate the following broad learning outcomes. These outcomes reflect competencies that overlap across Electrical, Computer, Civil, and Mechanical Engineering and form the shared educational goals of the degree.

1. Problem Solving and Analysis: Graduates will be able to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of mathematics, science, and engineering fundamentals.
2. Engineering Design: Graduates will be able to apply the engineering design process to develop solutions that meet specified needs, with appropriate consideration of public health, safety, welfare, and relevant global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
3. Communication: Graduates will be able to communicate engineering concepts, analyses, and solutions effectively to a range of audiences, including technical and non-technical stakeholders, using written, oral, and graphical forms.
4. Ethics and Professional Responsibility: Graduates will be able to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering practice and make informed judgments that consider the broader impacts of engineering solutions in societal, environmental, and economic contexts.
5. Teamwork and Leadership: Graduates will be able to function effectively as members of multidisciplinary teams, contributing to leadership, collaboration, goal setting, task planning, and successful project completion in inclusive and professional environments.
6. Experimentation and Data Analysis: Graduates will be able to develop and conduct appropriate experiments or analyses, interpret data, apply engineering judgment, and draw valid conclusions relevant to engineering practice.
7. Lifelong Learning: Graduates will be able to acquire, adapt, and apply new knowledge as needed using appropriate learning strategies, recognizing the evolving nature of engineering tools, technologies, and professional expectations.

Computer Engineering Major

Computer Engineering is the engineering discipline that deals with the design and application of computer systems.  These computer systems range in size from tiny embedded processors to massive database and network servers. Purdue University Fort Wayne offers a four-year computer engineering undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degree.

Computer engineers have a broad technical background, covering both hardware (equipment) and software (programs). These two aspects of computer systems are inseparable: software cannot operate without hardware; without software, computer hardware can perform no useful function. In system design, it is often necessary to assign functions to hardware and software components, based on cost and performance criteria.

Our students, while drawn from diverse backgrounds, are all extremely able and committed to learning. Purdue Fort Wayne delivers an exceptional educational experience to engineering students, encouraging collaboration and teamwork throughout the curriculum.

---

Student Learning Outcomes:

As a framework for the continuous improvement policy, the Computer Engineering program has adopted a set of program educational objectives that describe the anticipated accomplishments of our graduates within a few years after graduation.

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering with Major in Computer Engineering program educational objectives are to produce graduates who:

1. Advance professionally to roles of greater engineering responsibilities and/or by transitioning into leadership positions in business, government, and/or education
2. Participate in life-long learning through the successful completion of advanced degree(s), continuous education, and/or engineering certification(s)/licensure or other professional development
3. Demonstrate commitment to community by applying technical skills and knowledge to support various service activities
4. Demonstrate commitment to the moral imperatives and professional responsibilities expected from practicing professionals

The graduates from the Computer Engineering program will demonstrate that they can:

1. identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. 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.
3. communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. 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.
5. function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgement to draw conclusions.
7. acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

---

Accreditation:

• The Computer Engineering major in the BSE degree is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Program Delivery:

• The Computer Engineering program is delivered primarily through on-campus courses; however, some of the required General Education courses are available as hybrid and/or on-line courses and those can be used to satisfy the program requirements.

Declaring this Major:

Students interested in declaring Computer Engineering as their major may do so in one of two ways:

• On their application when they first apply to Purdue Fort Wayne
• After meeting with an ECE faculty advisor, who will determine that the student has the required math and chemistry background to begin our program

General Requirements:

1. Degree Requirements  
2. General Education Requirement   
3. Academic Regulations  

 

Students in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering programs take many common courses and are encouraged to explore the possibility of dual majors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering.  Please contact your advisor for further information.