Computer Engineering

The Disicpline and the major

Computer Engineering is a dynamic engineering discipline at the intersection of electrical engineering and computational systems. It is focused on the physical design, development, and integration of the hardware and cyber-physical systems that power the modern world. Computer engineers build the physical foundation of computing.

The computer engineering major provides a rigorous engineering foundation in digital logic, electronics, microcontrollers, networks, and computer architecture. Building on this foundation, students learn how to integrate hardware and software to design high-performance computing systems, secure hardware infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and mobile agents. Upper-level coursework dives further into very-large-scale integration (VLSI) design, wireless networks, advanced cyber-physical systems, digital signal processing, and machine learning.

Midshipmen participate in hands-on laboratory work beginning their 3/C year, and the program culminates in a core ECE-focused capstone design sequence. This sequence integrates the many hardware and software skills acquired in preparatory courses, requiring students to design, implement, test, and demonstrate a significant hardware-focused or cyber-physical project. These capstone projects provide deeply meaningful, real-world problem-solving experiences that showcase our students' innovation and capabilities, thoroughly preparing them for impactful careers.

Opportunities

Our department is highly committed to supporting midshipmen as they balance rigorous academic requirements with the Brigade's diverse opportunities. Computer engineering majors routinely and successfully compete as varsity student-athletes, complete language minors, participate in high-impact summer internships, and spend semesters abroad or at other service academies.

The Navy and Marine Corps increasingly require officers with deep technical expertise to lead the development, integration, and security of advanced cyber-physical platforms. We prepare graduates for the complex challenges of the modern warfighting space, as well as the defense and private sectors, by adopting modern engineering techniques and providing guided, early exposure to emerging technologies, including the effective use of Generative AI (GenAI).

Because our graduates understand the fundamental physical and architectural design of computer systems, they are equipped to lead in fields like the Information Warfare (IW) and Cyber communities, as well as across all operational warfare specialties. The computer engineering major provides an exceptional technical foundation for continued, specialized study at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) or other premier graduate-level academic institutions, as well as opening doors to successful civilian careers.

Considerations for those who might be interested in this major

Midshipmen considering the computer engineering major should have a strong interest in pursuing an engineering career that relies on advanced computing elements. It is ideal for problem-solvers who possess a genuine love for learning and a passion for implementing new concepts through hands-on activities.

The curriculum is highly experiential, with the majority of courses featuring a dedicated laboratory component. Most classes culminate in a final project that integrates the skills acquired in earlier, smaller labs. Our curriculum is interconnected; labs and design challenges frequently build upon one another and span across multiple courses. Well before reaching their 1/C capstone projects, students engage in open-ended, constraint-based mini-projects, allowing them to master constraint optimization and full lifecycle execution from the very beginning of their academic careers.

Beyond technical aptitude, the ideal computer engineering student is someone who thrives in a close-knit, collaborative environment. Our department prides itself on maintaining a relatively smaller, supportive community with a family-like mindset, where faculty and midshipmen know each other well and are deeply committed to one another’s success.