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School of Engineering By

Computer Engineering

Program Director: Ron Hoelzeman
Phone number: 412-624-8000
Student to faculty ratio: 16.5: 1
Percent of students that go on to graduate school: 10%

What do you think is the biggest misconception about your program and why is it a misconception?

The biggest misconception is that you need to understand computers or programming before you join the program. In fact, some high school experiences with computers and programming are negative because these tend to introduce bad habits and misrepresent what should be a good design process. Computer engineering covers all aspects of computers, hardware, software, interfacing, and most important, design. As a program, it emphasizes the design (engineering) of computers.

What sorts of interests would a freshman possess in order to find course work in your program exciting?

A good background and enjoyment of mathematics, coupled with an interest in computers would be desirable.

What types of employment would a student find upon graduation with a degree in your program? What are some major companies that hire students from your program?

Typical job opportunities include chip design, computer products, applications development, software design, and interface design, but most any company, particularly a larger company, utilizes people who can integrate a computer into an application.

Which courses are stressed in your program, which are expanded upon, and how much is theory, practical lab application, design, computers (in what way do you use them), etc.?

The program contains the best computer courses offered in this University. The emphasis is on design, particularly in the several laboratory courses contained in the program. Students take an idea, design the hardware and software necessary, simulate these, then build and test these subsystems. They continue this design process on continually more complex systems throughout the laboratory sequence.

Benedum Hall

Dedicated in 1971, Benedum Hall is home to exploration and discovery.

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