UNDERGRADUATE
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Swanson School of Engineering

BSE Degree Program Descriptions

CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Civil engineers are concerned with safeguarding life, health, and property while promoting the general welfare. They are the designers of the public and private works that affect large segments of the population. However, because problems of expanding population and increasing human needs confront our civilization, the responsibility of civil engineers extends beyond mere physical structures into the social, political, and economic welfare of this and other countries. In brief, the work of the civil engineer has a significant impact on the quality of life in all areas of modern society.

The civil engineer deals in environmental control and in the development or redevelopment of a geographic area through overall planning, as well as in the design, construction, and operation of structures and facilities for public and private use. This broad field of activity includes all types of structures for the following areas: buildings, bridges, and industrial installations; soil mechanics and foundations; transportation, including highways, traffic, airports, and harbors; hydraulic engineering, including irrigation; water resources, including power plants and dams; water supply; waste disposal; air pollution; hazardous and solid wastes; and environmental sanitation. Modern-day requirements have necessitated involvement in the medical and dental fields, oceanography, polar exploration, energy resources, and the space effort.

The major objectives of the civil engineering program are to

• Prepare graduates to be successful engineering professionals and problem solvers;
• Instill in graduates a desire to engage in lifelong learning; to pursue professional licensure; and to be professionally active; and
• Provide access to an educational experience that will prepare graduates for success in the pursuit of advanced degrees.

The undergraduate program begins by providing study in the humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, and mathematics, and proceeds to the fundamental aspects of civil engineering. The curriculum focuses on the electives available for designing individualized programs suited to the student’s career goals. Emphasis is placed on societal needs and ways of meeting those needs. Thus, graduates are prepared to begin work in any of the several branches of civil engineering or to continue their education at the graduate level. The civil engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. http://www.abet.org.For more information on the civil and environmental engineering department, contact cee@engr.pitt.edu or see http:// www.engineering.pitt.edu/civil/

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum

The civil engineering major program is designed for the students who enter the program at the end of their freshman year. Summer programs are available primarily to assist students who are not taking the structured curriculum on schedule. Students are expected to complete all prerequisite courses before advancing to the next term. Beginning with the seventh term, a student may elect to specialize in one of the following areas of concentration: environmental, geotechnical, structural, water resources, transportation or construction management.

*Design Electives are: (CEE 1340 or 1341), (1410, 2401 or 2455), (1505, 1513 or 1515), (1714, 1715, 1821 or 2814). One course from each group is required.

**Any non-required CEE undergraduate courses and 2000 level CEE graduate courses are suitable for CEE Electives.

COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Computer engineers are active in all phases of technology research, design and development, testing, manufacturing, sales, and management. In addition, many successful leaders in other professions, such as law, medicine, and business, use an undergraduate education in computer engineering as preparation for later professional study. The undergraduate curriculum provides preparation in both mathematics and physical sciences, coupled with coverage of all aspects of computing, software, hardware, interfacing, and design. The elective structure offers the student opportunities for professional specialization, area specialization within the computing discipline, or interdisciplinary broadening. The computer engineering program i accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. http://www.abet.org. For more information about the program, contact computer@engr.pitt.edu or see http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/computer/

Computer Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum

The sophomore year (terms three and four) starts the student’s specialization with courses in programming; data structures; digital logic; computer organization and the digital systems laboratory; as well as linear algebra and differential equations; linear systems and circuits; and electives in the humanities, social sciences, and communications skills. The junior year (terms five and six) develops the student’s knowledge in the practical foundations of computer engineering with courses in algorithm design, computer architecture, systems software, an advanced digital laboratory, and computer interfacing. These are complemented with courses in probability and statistics, as well as with electives in the humanities and social sciences. The senior year (terms seven and eight) continues the foundation sequence with software engineering and then extends the student’s experience with both technical and design electives in computer engineering. The rich set of electives available from computer engineering, computer science, telecommunications, and electrical engineering provides the student with exposure to several of the many subdisciplines within the field.

The overall objective of the computer engineering program is to prepare individuals to be confident and successful in whatever path they choose to pursue in the 21st century global economy. This includes those who move into practice within the computer engineering discipline either through employment in industry or government, or through a start-up of their own, those who move on to advanced computer study and research in graduate school, or those that move into other professions such as law, business, or management.

As indicated, the program has considerable elective flexibility. The humanities and social science electives must be selected from the list of acceptable courses compiled by the Swanson School of Engineering. The open elective may be satisfied by any University course, including band, Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), or physical education. Technical electives may include computer engineering; electrical engineering; computer science; or other engineering, mathematics, or basic science courses.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Electrical engineers are involved in research, design, development, testing, manufacturing, sales, and management of electrical systems and devices, such as televisions, wireless telephone systems, computers and computer networks, patient monitoring equipment, and power generation and distribution systems. Many successful leaders in professions such as law, medicine, and business have used an undergraduate education in electrical engineering as preparation for later professional study. The undergraduate curriculum includes required courses in the basic electrical and physical sciences as well as electives that provide the student an opportunity to choose professional specialization or interdisciplinary broadening. The curriculum also includes elective courses in the humanities and social sciences to provide a balanced, liberal education so that the graduate may participate creatively in society and become both an educated and effective citizen.

During the sophomore year, electrical engineering students take courses in calculus, matrix theory, differential equations, and communication skills. There are also required electrical engineering courses in linear circuits and systems, digital logic, computer organization, electronics, and an introductory lab. In the junior year, students have required courses in signals and systems, electromagnetics, semiconductor electronics, laboratories in signal processing and electronic circuit design, and two elective courses. During the senior year, the student takes only electives, including electrical engineering (EE) electives, selected from more than 25 offerings. A capstone of the student’s program is the Senior Design elective, in which the student initiates and completes a significant design project. Each term students take the undergraduate seminar, which addresses professional issues and career opportunities. All undergraduate students are required to use computers and computer software in project work and in homework assignments.

The overall objective of the EE program is for our graduates to be successful professionals in the diverse, global environment of the 21st century who are able to adapt to new and shifting technologies, in whatever career path they choose to pursue. This includes careers in electrical engineering through employment in industry, government or private practice, as well as careers in other engineering or professional disciplines such as bioengineering, computer engineering, business, law, or medicine. Our graduates will also pursue advanced study in electrical engineering or other engineering or professional fields and be able to serve in leadership positions in academia, industry or government.

Non-EE elective courses in the undergraduate program include humanities and social science electives, a communication skills course, an open elective, and technical electives. The humanities and social science electives must be selected from the list of acceptable electives compiled by the school. The communications skills elective is also chosen from a list available in the department Web site. The open elective may be satisfied by taking a course that is acceptable for any other elective course category, or by using (for example) 3 credits of band, Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), or chorus. Technical electives may include electrical engineering electives, engineering courses, mathematics courses, or basic science courses. The electrical engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. http://wwww. abet.org. For more information on the program, visit our website or contact eedept@ee.pitt.edu.

Specialization and Interdisciplinary Studies

Specialization is readily available for students with specific career goals. To facilitate specialization, optional areas of concentration have been defined to allow a student to develop strength in a particular area of interest. Areas of concentration that are currently available include computers, electronics, telecommunications/signal processing and power. Requirements for the areas of concentration are met by proper selection of design and other elective courses. Students may take some courses in an area of concentration without completing all of the requirements.

For students interested in interdisciplinary studies, special programs can be arranged using the elective structure that exists within the regular electrical engineering curriculum. Formal interdisciplinary programs have been developed through minors offered by other engineering departments. Students may use electives to satisfy both EE and minor requirements.

Electrical Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum

Students are asked to present and demonstrate their design projects at one of the ECE department’s senior design expos, which are held near the end of the fall and spring terms. These design electives can also be used to satisfy ECE elective requirements. However, a given course can only be used to satisfy one requirement.