Departmental Brochure

The computer engineering program begins with Fundamentals of Engineering in the freshman year and ends with a team-driven interdisciplinary Senior Design Project. The Fundamentals course introduces students to the mindset and vision of engineering, the tools and skills that will support subsequent education, and the significance of successful engineering design and its ramifications. The Senior Design Project caps an intellectually attractive and rewarding undergraduate career which transforms students into skilled engineers able to contribute to their discipline and to the prosperity of the nation. Between these two "book-ends" of engineering education, advanced courses in the major further develop the students' knowledge and skills in computer engineering.

The main concern of the engineering faculty is to create an effective learning environment for their students, and so empower them to achieve the program learning goals and professional objectives.

Course of Study

Computer engineers are involved in all aspects of computer and network technology. They develop and implement software systems and design and integrate computational systems.

It is the primary goal of the computer engineering program at Fairfield University to make sure that its graduates are able to practice with skill their chosen profession, and be alert to the societal implications of their work.

Computer engineering students obtain the tools they need to take the lead in creating the next generation of computer technologies. The 132-credit curriculum is distributed over computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, and the liberal arts. Sequences of general and major electives, as well as a senior project, customize the program to the needs of the student.

Students are exposed to high-tech areas in three broad computer engineering domains: signal processing, visualization, and computer systems. Topics include networking, computer graphics, image processing, multi-media programming, visualization, and display techniques. Students become skilled in object-oriented design while using state-of-the-art facilities. Graduates of the program are active in the areas of hardware and software design and information technologies, and take the lead in the research and development of new computer systems and applications.

At Fairfield, we have established four educational objectives that computer engineering graduates are prepared to achieve in their professional career. They are as follows:

• Domain Knowledge: Graduates are enabled to apply their in-depth understanding in areas of computer systems within constraints of performance specification, budget and scheduling.
• Professional Practice: Graduates are able to implement their engineering design know-how, problem-solving skills and aptitude for innovation, as they work in the framework of multi-disciplinary teams.
• Life-Long Learning: Graduates maintain their professional expertise in their chosen fields and broaden their professional knowledge with formal and/or informal continuing education, and through their professional societies.
• Engineering Citizenship: Graduates practice the ethics of their profession consistent with a sense of social responsibility and the promotion of justice for all, and remain active in service to society.

The Computer Engineering program includes a core of liberal arts courses that allows students to view their studies in the context of the big picture, transforming them into thinking citizens and lifelong learners. The core includes: philosophy, engineering ethics, literature and composition, history, religious studies, social sciences, and fine arts.

Engineering Student Society

All Fairfield engineering students are invited to join the Engineering Student Society. This group organizes monthly meetings, field trips, and provides the means for bonding among engineering students.

Study Abroad

Fairfield University offers opportunities for semester- and year-long study abroad. Contact the Study Abroad office at (203) 254-4000, ext. 4332, for more information.

Mathematics Minor

Computer engineering students hone their mathematical skills with a series of seven math courses that earns them a mathematics minor, as well. The program includes a four-course sequence of calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, and applied probability and statistics.

Research and Internships

As early as the completion of the sophomore year, and particularly at the end of the junior year, students may be placed in a summer internship. Internships may be continued throughout the year with special permission from the dean and the chair of computer engineering, and may earn academic credit to the intern.

Life After Fairfield 

Demand for computer engineering graduates has been consistently strong. This need should persist as computer technology continues to advance at a rapid pace. Computer engineers are sought out by all sectors of industry, as well as by government agencies and academic institutions. Our graduates are active in the areas of hardware and software design and information technologies, and lead in the research and development of new computer systems and applications. Many are also pursuing advanced graduate work.

Profile

Dr. Evangelos Hadjimichael
Dean

"Our programs are about real-world learning for real-world engineering work environments. We've made it a priority to establish professional relationships with nearby industries. As a result, our curricula are dynamically responsive to the trends happening out in the field. This adds a real richness and relevance to our programs."

For further information, please contact:

School of Engineering
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT 06824-5195
Tel: (203) 254-4147
E-mail: acastelot@mail.fairfield.edu
www.fairfield.edu/engineering