At the undergraduate level neither Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
is very specific to a particular technical area. Typically specificity comes
from a graduate degree – a large number of our students eventually go on
to get a master's level degree.
Our Computer Engineering
curriculum has two "tracks:" hardware and software. Students
interested in software will take classes such as EECS 338 Intro to Operating
Systems whereas students more interested in hardware will take classes such
as EECS 318 VLSI CAD. The Computer Engineering program at Case sits between
Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (which some regard as broader than
either computer science or computer engineering). Computer engineering has a
stronger emphasis on computer hardware, i.e., digital design, very large scale
integrated circuit (VLSI) design, etc. and computer software than electrical
engineering. Both Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering share a number
of classes which have strong hardware components such as EECS 281 Digital Logic
and Computer Organization.
The Electrical Engineering curriculum requires classes which emphasize the
fundamentals of programming, circuits (analog and digital), signals & systems,
electromagnetic fielda and semiconductor electronics. Students must choose a
depth area in which they take three classes. Professional breadth comes from
technical electives and open electives.
Both engineering programs culminate in a senior project experience in which
students bring together all of their engineering training to solve a significant
engineering design problem. It is not uncommon to find an electrical engineering
student working with a computer engineering student on a joint project.
Note: Detailed descriptions of department classes are found here.