Reasons for need for Computer Engineering
program
From Computer Engineering Program proposal
Department of Computer Science
School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
circa 1988
Dedicated to David Carrington who made major contributions to the CE proposal
1
Computing
Computing is a discipline which is developing rapidly in depth and in scope. There is growing recognition that Computing has matured as a professional discipline and requires a separate course rather than a sequence of subjects within a general degree structure or an elective sequence within the B.E. (Elect. Eng.). As a result, our responsibility for the education of professional computing graduates has outgrown the existing subjects and course structures.
The science and technology of computing systems have grown principally from mathematics and electrical engineering. Computer Science Departments are commonly found in Schools of Mathematics, and have offered complete de-gree programs, frequently emphasising software. The hardware and technologi-cal aspects of computing systems have generally been covered within Electritechnologi-cal Engineering degree programs. The world-wide need for graduates to be able to integrate computer science and technology as an engineering discipline has been recognised widely, and has led to many different forms of academic liaison and curricula. The IEEE has been particularly active in formulating guidelines for the integrated Computer Science and Engineering curriculum. More recently the IE Aust has approved Computer Systems Engineering programs at several institutions.
The School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is undertaking a thorough revision of its undergraduate courses. A special committee of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science set up to investigate Computer Engineering recommended the establishment of a new 4-year pro-gram. The term, Computer Engineering, may be defined as the methodical design and implementation of reliable and cost-effective computer-based sys-tems. Such systems may be used either for the acquisition, storage, retrieval, processing, distribution and display of information or for the control of other engineering systems. The term Computer Engineering may have connotations that emphasize the hardware side of computing systems; this is not intended
and it must be emphasized that the course is concerned with both the software and hardware aspects of computing system design and implementation. In com-mon with other engineering disciplines, Computer Engineering embraces a wide range of concepts, technologies, applications and activities. The concepts and technologies include those of software, information processing, digital systems, computer architecture, electronics and communications. Essential components of Computer Engineering activities are the design and implementation of com-plete information processing systems at the hardware and software level. It should be emphasised that the design and implementation of software is it-self now regarded as an engineering discipline, as evidenced by the growth and recognition of Software Engineering.
The new program is distinct from the Electrical Engineering program but there is considerable subject commonality and flexibility between the two. This will allow easy student transfer between the two programs and will make efficient use of the School’s resources. The concept of a 4-year program in Computing was a major item in the Faculty of Engineering’s Corporate Plan. It has already received endorsement from the University Corporate Planning Committee. The choice of the name, Computer Engineering, was made after considerable discus-sion and is intended to indicate the profesdiscus-sional goals of the new program and to distinguish it from the existing Computer Science program.
Associated with the Computer Engineering proposal is a major revision of the computing subjects offered by the School of Electrical Engineering and Com-puter Science. The aim is to modernise both the content and teaching methods and to create a set of subjects that can used in the Electrical Engineering, Com-puter Engineering and ComCom-puter Science programs. New computing equipment to be installed in 1988 will allow the subjects to be presented using the most modern computing technology.
The Department of Computer Science also offers a three year Computer Science major (four year Honours) within the Science and Mathematics course administered by the BSSM. As well there are several double degree programs with Arts, Law, and other Engineering disciplines. These programs will continue but they will be revised to use the new computing subjects. Students with normal programs will not be affected by the changes since the new subjects will be phased year by year but transition arrangements have been proposed to handle unusual or broken programs.
1.1
Details of the Proposal — Course Structure
The Computer Engineering degree is a four year professional course that com-bines subjects from Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. The primary
• ability to communicate ideas to others and to work effectively as a member of a team;
• a capacity for independent study so that the learning process is ongoing. In conjunction with the introduction of the new program, the Department of Computer Science is revising its subject offerings. To distinguish the new subjects, they are numbered 6.7XY where X is the year when the subject is normally taken and Y identifies subjects within a year.
The first three years of the course contain fixed core material and the fourth year contains elective subjects.
Year 1
Hours per week Session 1 Session 2
1.961 Physics 6 6
6.010 Electrical Engineering 1 – 6 6.710 Introduction to Computer Engineering 1.5 1.5
6.711 Computing 1A 4 – Laboratory 1A 2 – 6.712 Computing 1B – 4 Laboratory 1B – 2 10.001 Mathematics 1 6 6 10.081 Discrete Mathematics 6 – Total hours 25.5 25.5
Comparison with Electrical Engineering
The first year differs in the omission of a half unit of Chemistry which is replaced by additional Discrete Mathematics (a full unit instead of a half unit) and the replacement of Engineering E by a second unit of Computing. The Electrical Engineering course has the second unit of Computing in year two.
The Electrical Engineering program has a subject Introduction to Electrical Engineering which is an introduction to the prevailing professional paradigms (General Education requirement for Contextual Studies). The equivalent Com-puter Engineering subject will be organised along similar lines and will share lectures as much as possible.
Year 2
Hours per week Session 1 Session 2 6.721 Data Organisation 5 – 6.722 Computer Organisation – 5 6.723 Concurrent Computing – 5 6.729 EE Laboratory for Comp.Eng 2 2 6.821 Circuit Theory 2.5 – 6.823 Analog Electronics – 2.5 6.824 Digital Circuits 2.5 – 10.111A Linear Algebra 2.5 2.5 10.1114 Complex Analysis 2.5 – 10.1115 Finite Mathematics A 2 – 10.361 Statistics SE 2 2 General Education 2 2 Total hours 23 21
Year 3
Hours per week Session 1 Session 2 6.731 Parsing and Translation 5 – 6.732 Microprocessors & Interfacing 5 – 6.733 Programming Techniques – 5 6.734 C.E. Design Laboratory – 5 6.739 EE Laboratory for Comp. Eng. 2 2 6.822 Systems Theory 2.5 – 6.832 Integrated Electronics 2.5 – 6.833 Signal Processing – 2.5 10.0331 Transform Methods 2 – 10.0332 Numerical Analysis – 2 18.603 Management and Economics 2 2 General Education – 4
Honours Degree Track Hours per week Session 1 Session 2 4 EE & CE electives 12 – 3 EE & CE electives – 9
Thesis 6 9
Contextual Studies (Category C) 2 2
Total hours 20 20
Pass Degree Track Hours per week Session 1 Session 2 6 EE & CE electives 18 – 6 EE & CE electives – 18 Contextual Studies (Category C) 2 2
Total hours 20 20
Year 4 Electrical Engineering Electives to be advised
Year 4 Computer Engineering Electives
The initial set of Computer Engineering electives has been derived from existing subjects in years 3, 4 and the post-graduate programs:
Algorithm Design and Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, Bit-slice Processor Design, Compiling Techniques, Computer Architecture, Data Bases, Data Se-curity, Formal Specifications, Graphics, Man-Machine Systems, Networks, Of-fice Automation, Operating Systems, Parallel and Distributed Computing, Pro-gramming Language Principles, ProPro-gramming Language Semantics, Software Engineering, VLSI Design
