Program: Computer Engineering (PhD) - University of Southern California - Modern Campus Catalog™

Apr 01, 2025

USC Catalogue 2019-2020

The requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Computer Engineering are in strict conformity with the requirements of the Graduate School. Program requirements for the PhD in Computer Engineering are the same as those for the PhD in Electrical Engineering except that the major field is computer engineering. See general requirements for graduate degrees.

Screening and qualifying examinations are administered by the computer engineering faculty. Students should contact the Electrical Engineering Systems Department Office for further information.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 60 units is required. Of these 60 units, a minimum of two courses must come from the Theory Area course list; at least one course must come from each of the Hardware, Software, and Systems Area course lists; one additional course must come from the Hardware, Software, and Systems Area course lists.

Theory Area Courses

CSCI 561 Foundations of Artificial Intelligence Units: 4
CSCI 567 Machine Learning Units: 4
CSCI 570 Analysis of Algorithms Units: 4
CSCI 670x Advanced Analysis of Algorithms Units: 4
CSCI 675 Convex and Combinatorial Optimization Units: 4
EE 503 Probability for Electrical and Computer Engineers Units: 4
EE 512 Stochastic Processes Units: 3
EE 553 Computational Solution of Optimization Problems Units: 3
EE 565 Information Theory and Its Application to (Big) Data Sciences Units: 4
EE 581 Mathematical Foundations for System Design: Modeling, Analysis, and Synthesis Units: 4
EE 588 Optimization for the Information and Data Sciences Units: 4
ISE 530 Optimization Methods for Analytics Units: 3
MATH 410 Fundamental Concepts of Modern Algebra Units: 4
or
MATH 425a Fundamental Concepts of Analysis Units: 4
MATH 533 Algebraic Combinatorics Units: 3

Hardware Area Courses

EE 532 Wireless Internet and Pervasive Computing Units: 3
EE 533 Network Processor Design and Programming Units: 3
EE 536a Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuit Design Units: 4
EE 552 Asynchronous VLSI Design Units: 3
EE 557 Computer Systems Architecture Units: 4
EE 560L Digital System Design Units: 4
EE 577a VLSI System Design Units: 3
EE 577b VLSI System Design Units: 3
EE 658 Diagnosis and Design of Reliable Digital Systems Units: 3
EE 659 Interconnection Networks Units: 3
EE 677 VLSI Architectures and Algorithms Units: 3
EE 680 Computer-Aided Design of Digital Systems I Units: 3

Software Area Courses

CSCI 548 Information Integration on the Web Units: 4
CSCI 551 Computer Networking Units: 4
CSCI 565 Compiler Design Units: 4
CSCI 577a Software Engineering Units: 4
CSCI 580 3-D Graphics and Rendering Units: 4
CSCI 585 Database Systems Units: 4
EE 542 Internet and Cloud Computing Units: 3

Systems Area Courses

CSCI 555L Advanced Operating Systems Units: 4
EE 542 Internet and Cloud Computing Units: 3
EE 543aL Digital Control Systems Units: 3
EE 550 Data Networks: Design and Analysis Units: 4
or
EE 555 Broadband Network Architectures Units: 3
EE 554 Real Time Computer Systems Units: 3
EE 569 Introduction to Digital Image Processing Units: 4
EE 579 Wireless and Mobile Networks Design and Laboratory Units: 3
EE 585 Linear System Theory Units: 3
EE 597 Wireless Networks Units: 4
EE 652 Low-Power Wireless Networks Units: 3
EE 657 Parallel and Distributed Computing Units: 3
EE 681 Computer-Aided Design of Digital Systems II Units: 3