Bachelor of Science in Computational Engineering*
Computational engineering is a relatively new field in engineering that recognizes the increasing demand for advanced computational methods in engineering practice. Computational engineering in this context refers to the study and development of computer algorithms that translate mathematical and physical descriptions of engineering problems into languages that computers can process. This emphasis distinguishes computational engineering from computer science and computer engineering. Computational engineers must have basic knowledge of fundamental engineering and science, with more advanced knowledge of mathematics, algorithms and computer languages. Because of their extensive education in these disciplines, computational engineers can work in a variety of areas.
The objectives of the computational engineering degree program are to prepare students for professional practice in engineering; to prepare students for such post-baccalaureate study as their aptitudes and professional goals may dictate; to instill in students a commitment to lifelong education and to ethical behavior throughout their professional careers; and to make students aware of the global and societal effects of technology. To meet these objectives, the faculty has designed a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes fundamentals in the basic sciences and the humanities, integrates classroom and laboratory experiences in engineering, with advanced instruction in mathematics, statistics and computational science. The curriculum requires students to use modern engineering tools and computer technology, to work individually, and to practice teamwork.
The first two years of the computational engineering curriculum emphasize fundamental material along with engineering sciences, while the third and fourth years provides further depth in mathematics, algorithms, computer languages, and experimentation. The major offers technical electives in the third and fourth years where students may choose an industrial track or a post-baccalaureate track. The industrial track focuses on the applications of computer methods in industry, while the post-baccalaureate track prepares students for graduate study and research.
Program Outcomes
Computational engineering graduates should demonstrate:
- An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
- An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data
- An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
- An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
- An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
- An ability to communicate effectively
- The broad education necessary to understand what impact engineering solutions have in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in lifelong learning
- A knowledge of contemporary issues
- An ability to use techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
Program Educational Objectives
Within a few years of graduation, computational engineering graduates should:
- Contribute to the economic development of Texas and beyond through the ethical practice of computational engineering in industry and public service
- Exhibit leadership in technical or business activity through engineering ability, communication skills, and knowledge of contemporary and global issues
- Continue to educate themselves through professional study and personal research
- Be prepared for admission to, and to excel in, the best graduate programs in the world
- Design systems to collect, encode, store, transmit, and process energy and information, and to evaluate system performance, either individually or in teams
- Use their engineering ability and creative potential to create technology that will improve the quality of life in society
Portable Computing Devices
Students entering computational engineering are required to have access to a portable computing device capable of running the software tools required for undergraduate engineering analyses (MatLab, Word, Excel, etc). This device does not need to be brought to campus on a daily basis, but individual courses may require that the device be brought to certain lectures, labs, and/or exams. Once admitted, students will be informed by the Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Department office about specific device requirements.
Curriculum
Course requirements include courses within the Cockrell School of Engineering and other required courses. In addition, each student must complete the University’s Core Curriculum . In some cases, a course that fulfills one of the following requirements may also be counted toward core curriculum or flag requirements; these courses are identified below.
In the process of fulfilling engineering degree requirements, students must also complete coursework to satisfy the following flag requirements: one independent inquiry flag, one quantitative reasoning flag, one ethics and leadership flag, one global cultures flag, one cultural diversity in the United States flag, and two writing flags. The independent inquiry flag, the quantitative reasoning flag, the ethics and leadership flag, and both writing flags are carried by courses specifically required for the degree; these courses are identified below. Courses that may be used to fulfill flag requirements are identified in the Course Schedule .
Courses used to fulfill technical elective requirements must be approved by the computational engineering faculty before the student enrolls in them.
The student must take all courses required for the degree on the letter-grade basis and must earn a grade of at least C- in each course, except for those listed as Remaining Core Curriculum Courses. He or she must also maintain grade point averages of at least 2.00 in the major area of study and in required technical courses as described in Academic Standards , and a cumulative University grade point average of at least 2.00 as described in General Information .
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Computational Engineering Courses | ||
| COE 111L | Engineering Computation Laboratory | 1 |
| COE 211K | Engineering Computation | 2 |
| COE 301 | Introduction to Computer Programming | 3 |
| COE 352 | Advanced Scientific Computation | 3 |
| COE 371 | Applied Mathematics I | 3 |
| COE 372 | Applied Mathematics II | 3 |
| COE 373 | Systems Engineering Design | 3 |
| COE 374 | Senior Design Project (writing flag and independent inquiry flag) | 3 |
| Aerospace Engineering | ||
| ASE 320 | Low-Speed Aerodynamics | 3 |
| ASE 321K | Computational Methods for Structural Analysis | 3 |
| ASE 330M | Linear System Analysis | 3 |
| ASE 333T | Engineering Communication (writing flag and ethics and leadership flag) | 3 |
| ASE 347 | Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| ASE 375 | Electromechanical Systems | 3 |
| Chemistry | ||
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I (part II science and technology) | 3 |
| Engineering Mechanics | ||
| E M 306 | Statics | 3 |
| E M 311M | Dynamics | 3 |
| E M 319 | Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| Mathematics | ||
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus (mathematics; quantitative reasoning flag) | 4 |
| M 408D | Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| M 427J | Differential Equations with Linear Algebra (quantitative reasoning flag) | 4 |
| or M 427K | Advanced Calculus for Applications I | |
| M 427L | Advanced Calculus for Applications II | 4 |
| M 362K | Probability I | 3 |
| Mechanical Engineering Courses | ||
| M E 210 | Engineering Design Graphics | 2 |
| M E 320 | Applied Thermodynamics | 3 |
| Physics | ||
| PHY 103M | Laboratory for Physics 303K | 1 |
| PHY 103N | Laboratory for Physics 303L | 1 |
| PHY 303K | Engineering Physics I (part I science and technology; quantitative reasoning flag) | 3 |
| PHY 303L | Engineering Physics II (part I science and technology; quantitative reasoning flag) | 3 |
| Other required courses | ||
| Approved technical electives | 6 | |
| SDS 322 | Introduction to Scientific Programming | 3 |
| SDS 329C | Practical Linear Algebra I | 3 |
| Rhetoric and Writing | ||
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing (English composition) | 3 |
| Remaining Core Curriculum Courses | ||
| E 316L | British Literature (humanities; in E 316L, 316M, 316N, and 316P some sections carry a global cultures or cultural diversity flag) | 3 |
| or E 316M | American Literature | |
| or E 316N | World Literature | |
| or E 316P | Masterworks of Literature | |
| American and Texas government (some sections carry a cultural diversity flag) | 6 | |
| American history (some sections carry a cultural diversity flag) | 6 | |
| Social and behavioral sciences (some sections carry a global cultures and/or cultural diversity flag) | 3 | |
| Visual and performing arts (some sections carry a global cultures and/or cultural diversity flag) | 3 | |
| UGS 302 | First-Year Signature Course (in UGS 302 all sections carry writing flag; in UGS 303 some sections carry a writing flag) | 3 |
| or UGS 303 | First-Year Signature Course | |
| Total Hours | 122 | |
*Degree pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board at the time of publication