Computer Engineering (MSPE) - Accelerated BSCpE to MSPE

Program Overview

The Computer Engineering MSCpE degree offers a thesis and a nonthesis option in four technical specialization areas: Computer Networks and Computer Security, Computer Systems and VLSI Design, Intelligent Systems and Machine Learning, and Software Systems and Algorithms. Students can choose courses from a suggested list to meet the 24-credit elective requirement for their specialization area. The program requires a culminating experience for nonthesis students, typically involving a portfolio of activities.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Computer Engineering MSCpE degree offers programs in a number of technical (research) areas, such as Computer Networks and Computer Security (CNCS), Computer Systems and VLSI Design (CS/VLSI), Intelligent Systems and Machine Learning (ISML), and Software Systems and Algorithms (SSA). All programs offer a thesis option and a nonthesis option, as well as an Accelerated BS to MS program. Students in the program receive a broad background in the various technical areas, while specializing in a research area of their interest. The specific research areas that each one of the EE faculty focuses on can be found at the Department of Electrical Engineering website (www.ece.ucf.edu/). The master's program offers both thesis and nonthesis options in four technical specialization areas. The thesis option requires 30 credit hours of courses that includes 24 credit hours of formal coursework, exclusive of thesis and research, plus 6 credit hours of thesis. The nonthesis option requires 30 credit hours of coursework with at least 24 credit hours of formal coursework and a possibility of 6 credit hours of Independent Study (XXX 6908) based on the availability of interested faculty. Total Credit Hours Required: 30 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree.

Outline:

• Track Prerequisites: A bachelor's degree in computer engineering or a closely related discipline.
This track is available to University of Central Florida undergraduates. In general, all students must have completed the following undergraduate courses (or their equivalents in an accredited BSCpE program) before admission to our graduate program. Students who have taken these courses must complete the articulation courses listed below, plus all prerequisites, that they require. Grades of "B" or higher must be obtained in each articulation course. Articulation courses are not eligible for inclusion on a student's Graduate Program of Study.
• EEE 3342C: Digital Systems
• EEL 3801: Computer Organization
• COP 3502: Computer Science I
• COP 3503: Computer Science II
• Plus choose ONE of the following:
• COP 4331: Processes for Object-Oriented Development
• EEL 4768C: Computer Architecture
• EEL 4781: Computer Communications Networks
• Degree Requirements:
• Elective Courses (24 Total Credits):
There are no required courses within a specialization area. However, all students (thesis and nonthesis) must choose at least 24 credit hours of formal courses, excluding research-related courses and independent study (XXX 6908), which emphasize their specialization area. Courses from outside specialization areas could also be chosen if the student's adviser approves such a Program of Study. The Program of Study (POS) form must be approved by an adviser in the selected specialization area no later than the end of the second semester after admission. The program of study must meet all the university requirements specified in the graduate catalog and must also receive departmental-level and college-level approval.
• Specialization Areas (24 Total Credits): Complete 1 of the following:
• CDA5106 - Advanced Computer Architecture (3)
• CDA5110 - Parallel Architecture and Algorithms (3)
• CDA6530 - Performance Models of Computers and Networks (3)
• CNT5008 - Computer Communication Networks Architecture (3)
• CNT6418 - Computer Forensics II (3)
• CNT6519 - Wireless Security and Forensics (3)
• CNT6707 - Advanced Computer Networks (3)
• COP5537 - Network Optimization (3)
• COP5611 - Operating Systems Design Principles (3)
• CAP6133 - Advanced Topics in Computer Security and Computer Forensics (3)
• COT5405 - Design and Analysis of Algorithms (3)
• EEE5542 - Random Processes I (3)
• EEL5780 - Wireless Networks (3)
• EEL6762 - Performance Analysis of Computer and Communication Systems (3)
• EEL6785 - Computer Network Design (3)
• EEL6788 - Advanced Topics in Computer Networks (3)
• EEL6883 - Software Engineering II (3)
• Computer Systems and Very Large Scale Integration (CS/VLSI):
Earn at least 24 credits from the following:
• CDA5106 - Advanced Computer Architecture (3)
• CDA5110 - Parallel Architecture and Algorithms (3)
• CDA6107 - Parallel Computer Architecture (3)
• CDA6938 - Special Topics (3)
• COP5537 - Network Optimization (3)
• EEE5390C - Full-Custom VLSI Design (3)
• EEL5722C - Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Design (3)
• EEL6762 - Performance Analysis of Computer and Communication Systems (3)
• EEE6327 - Design of Video Coding Systems (3)
• ECM6308 - Current Topics in Parallel Processing (3)
• Intelligent Systems and Machine Learning (ISML):
Earn at least 24 credits from the following:
• CAP5055 - AI for Game Programming (3)
• CAP5512 - Evolutionary Computation (3)
• CAP5610 - Machine Learning (3)
• CAP5636 - Advanced Artificial Intelligence (3)
• CAP6545 - Machine Learning Methods for Biomedical Data (3)
• CAP6616 - Neuroevolution and Generative and Developmental Systems (3)
• CAP6640 - Computer Understanding of Natural Language (3)
• CAP6671 - Intelligent Systems: Robots, Agents, and Humans (3)
• CAP6675 - Complex Adaptive Systems (3)
• CAP6676 - Knowledge Representation (3)
• EEL5825 - Machine Learning and Pattern Recognition (3)
• EEL5874 - Expert Systems and Knowledge Engineering (3)
• EEL6812 - Introduction to Neural Networks and Deep Learning (3)
• EEL6875 - Autonomous Agents (3)
• EEL6878 - Modeling and Artificial Intelligence (3)
• Software Systems and Algorithms (SSA):
Earn at least 24 credits from the following:
• CAP6515 - Algorithms in Computational Biology (3)
• CNT6418 - Computer Forensics II (3)
• CAP5510 - Bioinformatics (3)
• CAP6133 - Advanced Topics in Computer Security and Computer Forensics (3)
• CAP6545 - Machine Learning Methods for Biomedical Data (3)
• CEN5016 - Software Engineering (3)
• CEN6075 - Formal Specification of Software Systems (3)
• COP5021 - Program Analysis (3)
• COP5711 - Parallel and Distributed Database Systems (3)
• COP6730 - Transaction Processing (3)
• COP6731 - Advanced Database Systems (3)
• COT5405 - Design and Analysis of Algorithms (3)
• COT6410 - Computational Complexity (3)
• COT6417 - Algorithms on Strings and Sequences (3)
• COT5600 - Quantum Computing (3)
• EEL6883 - Software Engineering II (3)
• Thesis/Nonthesis Option (6 Total Credits): Complete 1 of the following:
• Thesis Option:
Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: EEL 6971 Thesis. The thesis option requires 24 credit hours of formal coursework in one of the specialization areas and the completion of 6 credit hours of thesis. Additional requirements are as follows:
• Courses must be chosen from the suggested list of courses for the student's chosen specialization area.
• No more than 6 credits of thesis (XXX 6971) will be counted toward the degree requirement.
• Fifteen credit hours (including EEL 6971 Thesis) must be 6000-level courses.
• Thesis students who are full time must continue to enroll in three credit hours of thesis coursework each semester until the thesis requirement is satisfied, even if they take more than the required 6 credit hours of thesis.
However, only 6 credit hours of thesis will count toward the degree requirement.
• Nonthesis Option: Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: Additional Electives from the list above.
The nonthesis option is especially suitable for part-time students. Nonthesis students must complete 6 credit hours of electives in addition to the 24 credit hours of formal coursework described above. If desired by the student and approved by the student's adviser a total of 6 credit hours can be Independent Study (XXX 6908).
• Portfolio Requirement (0 Total Credits): Students are required to complete a culminating experience.
The culminating experience for nonthesis MS students is submission of their portfolio of activities by the course Withdrawal Date of the semester prior to their intended graduation.