Computer Engineering (PhD)

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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 and Computer Engineering Department Offices 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’s course list; at least one course must come from each of the Hardware, Software, and Systems Areas’ course lists; plus one additional course must come from any of the Hardware, Software or Systems Area course lists.

In addition, each student is required to complete one semester of EE 698 Doctoral Seminar (1 unit), which should be taken in the first semester that it is offered during their program.

Theory Area Courses

Take two theory area courses:

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 510 Linear Algebra for Engineering Units: 4
EE 512 Stochastic Processes for Financial Engineering Units: 4
EE 553 Computational Solution of Optimization Problems Units: 3
EE 559 Machine Learning I: Supervised Methods Units: 4
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: 4
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

Take one hardware area course:

EE 508 Hardware Foundations of Machine Learning Units: 4
EE 511 Machine Learning Hardware Accelerators Units: 4
EE 533 Network Processor Design and Programming Units: 4
EE 536a Analog Integrated Circuits Units: 4
EE 552 Asynchronous VLSI Design Units: 4
EE 557 Computer Systems Architecture Units: 4
EE 560L Digital System Design Units: 4
EE 576 Integrated Memory Devices and Technologies Units: 4
EE 577a VLSI System Design Units: 4
EE 577b VLSI System Design Units: 4
EE 582 CMOS:Nano Neuromorphic Circuits Units: 4
EE 631 Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuits Units: 4
EE 632a Integrated Communication Systems Units: 4
EE 658 Diagnosis and Design of Reliable Digital Systems Units: 4
EE 659 Advanced Topics in Interconnection Network Design and Analysis Units: 4
EE 677 Accelerated Computing using Field Programmable Gate Arrays Units: 2
EE 680 Computer-Aided Design of Digital Systems Units: 4

Software Area Courses

Take one software area course:

CSCI 548 Information Integration on the Web Units: 4
CSCI 551 Computer Networking Units: 4
CSCI 561 Foundations of Artificial Intelligence Units: 4
CSCI 567 Machine Learning Units: 4
CSCI 577a Software Engineering Units: 4
EE 568 Parallel Programming Units: 4
CSCI 580 3-D Graphics and Rendering Units: 4
CSCI 585 Database Systems Units: 4 or
CSCI 685 Advanced Topics in Database Systems Units: 4
EE 541 A Computational Introduction to Deep Learning Units: 2
EE 542 Internet and Cloud Computing Units: 4

Systems Area Courses

Take one systems area course:

CSCI 555L Advanced Operating Systems Units: 4
EE 542 Internet and Cloud Computing Units: 4
EE 547 Applied and Cloud Computing for Electrical Engineers Units: 2
EE 550 Data Networks: Design and Analysis Units: 4 or
EE 555 Broadband Network Architectures Units: 3
EE 554 Cyber-Physical Systems: A Computing Perspective Units: 4
EE 569 Introduction to Digital Image Processing Units: 4
EE 580 System Verification Units: 4
EE 585 Linear System Theory Units: 4
EE 597 Wireless Networks Units: 4
EE 641 Deep Learning Systems Units: 2
EE 657 Parallel and Distributed Computing Units: 3

One additional course required

One additional course must be taken from either the Hardware, Software or Systems Areas’ course lists.

Seminar Requirement (1 unit)

Complete one semester of EE 698 Doctoral Seminar for 1 unit, which should be taken in the first semester that it is offered during their program.

EE 698 Doctoral Seminar Series Units: 1