MS in Computer Engineering
Florida Institute of Technology
Key Information
Campus location
Melbourne, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 semesters
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 1,241 / per credit *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* per credit hour
Introduction
Today’s ever-increasing digital society demands computer engineers who can research, design, implement, and manage every aspect of electrical systems and their components. This can include detailed knowledge of computer architecture, software, wireless communication, signal processing, electromagnetics, fiber optics, and physical electronics.
A master’s in computer engineering from Florida Tech provides the type of high-level engineering training that gives graduates the skills they need to enter the technical workforce. Businesses in every major industry from aerospace to communications to the medical industry, electronics, and computing demand employees who are prepared for complex work environments where they can provide sound engineering solutions.
Why Pursue a Master's in Computer Engineering at Florida Tech?
Graduates of Florida Tech with a master’s in computer engineering are prepared for the highly competitive technical workforce, skilled in a number of areas related to computing and electronics.
With a master’s degree, graduates have the expertise they need to begin their career in just about any industry including the aerospace, automotive, medical, railway, and nuclear industries, as well as non-electrical industries such as computers, communications, and energy. Florida Tech engineering and technical degree programs empower future leaders.
Experienced, Respected Faculty
Professors in the master’s in computer engineering program bring many years of experience in the field to the classroom, where they mentor students to succeed, encouraging them to develop new ideas. Small class sizes ensure personalized attention from professors who get to work one-on-one with students, mentoring them in classroom study and relevant, topical field research. Florida Tech’s program is built on its reputation of over 50 years of excellence in engineering education.
Desirable Location
The 130-acre campus is located on the Space Coast (so named because of the presence of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral just north of us). While many students in the computer-engineering program are working professionals, Florida Tech’s proximity to more than 5,000 high-tech corporations and government and military organizations in the Florida High Tech Corridor—one of the largest high-tech workforces in the nation—makes Florida Tech an ideal choice for a master’s in computer engineering. This workforce also provides an abundance of internship and employment opportunities.
Curriculum
Flexible Curriculum
Graduates with a computer engineering degree develop in-depth technical expertise in electronics, as well as the needed expertise for their particular degree program. Florida Tech’s master’s in computer engineering is uniquely flexible, allowing students to design their degrees to their specific interests. This could include such areas as semiconductor modeling, machine learning, wireless communication, computational electromagnetics, and more. This advanced technical proficiency not only prepares students to begin their careers but also to have a solid foundation prior to entering a doctoral program.
Curriculum that Transfers to the Workplace
As technological innovations continue to develop, employers demand employees with advanced expertise reflective of the issues currently facing their industry. Florida Tech consistently updates degree programs like the master’s in computer engineering to give students a robust topical curriculum that reflects prevailing trends, theoretical applications, and best practices in the industry.
Curriculum
To earn the Master of Science in Computer Engineering, students are required to complete three core courses (nine credit hours), five specialization courses for 15 semester credit hours (may substitute approved electives), and six semester credit hours of thesis or approved electives.
A student may choose courses from one of the specializations below or meet with a faculty advisor to create a program plan.
Core Courses (9 credit hours)
- ECE 5520 Computer Architecture
- ECE 5534 Computer Networks 1
- ECE 5565 Embedded and Real-Time Systems
Embedded Systems (9 credit hours)
The embedded systems specialization focuses on the engineering of hardware/software systems. The educational program provides students with the necessary skills to unify hardware and software engineering, spanning microprocessor-based systems, system-on-chip design, parallel and distributed systems, and resource-constrained devices. Special emphasis is placed on the development of large-scale, secure, and dependable real-time systems. The following courses must be taken in addition to the core courses.
- ECE 5540 Cloud Computing
- ECE 5575 Programmable Gate Arrays
- MTH 5051 Applied Discrete Mathematics
- Restricted Electives Credit Hours: 6
Machine Intelligence (9 credit hours)
The machine intelligence (Ml) specialization focuses on models and computational methods for automated inference and reasoning, and applications of Ml in real-world application domains. The specialization area is structured in a manner that provides the necessary theoretical foundations of models, such as support vector machines, neural networks, and other probabilistic models, and their associated learning algorithms; and the applications of such models and techniques in a variety of domains with a particular emphasis on speech recognition, among others. The following courses must be taken in addition to the core courses.
- ECE 5258 Pattern Recognition
- ECE 5268 Theory and Applications of Neural Networks
- MTH 5411 Mathematical Statistics 1
Embedded and Wireless Networking (9 credit hours)
The embedded and wireless networking specialization focuses on computer networking and communications for a variety of systems including next-generation wireless local- and wide-area networks, ad hoc, and sensor networks, and specialty networks (satellite, avionic). Particular emphasis is placed on networking aspects including medium access control, routing and transport protocols; quality of service, energy efficiency, and mobility management; and security and applications for intelligent and resource-constrained embedded network devices. The following courses must be taken in addition to the core courses.
- ECE 5113 Wireless Local Area Networks
- ECE 5118 Wireless Sensor Networks
- MTH 5411 Mathematical Statistics 1
Speech Recognition (9 credit hours)
The speech recognition (SR) specialization introduces students to techniques for speech recognition and language modeling used in the rapidly developing field of automatic speech recognition and natural language processing. Advanced SR topics include acoustic-phonetic modeling, robust speech recognition, processing paralinguistic information, and multimodal processing. In addition, the specialization area examines most modern aspects of modern natural language theory, such as probabilistic modeling of pronunciation and spelling, probabilistic parsing, and semantic analysis, among others. The following courses must be taken in addition to the core courses.
- ECE 5526 Speech Recognition
- ECE 5527 Search and Decoding in Speech Recognition
- MTH 5102 Linear Algebra
Recommended Electives
For all computer engineering options, courses in the remaining specializations and those listed below are recommended. Students opting for the thesis option may include six credit hours of ECE 5999 Thesis in Electrical or Computer Engineering:
- CSE 5290 Artificial Intelligence
- CSE 5656 Theory and Applications of Complex Networks
- CSE 5694 Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
- ECE 5245 Digital Signal Processing 1
- ECE 5248 Advanced Filtering
- ECE 5256 Digital Image Processing
- ECE 5259 Medical Imaging
- ECE 5525 Speech Processing
- MTH 5101 Introductory Analysis
- MTH 5102 Linear Algebra
- MTH 5412 Mathematical Statistics 2
- MTH 5425 Theory of Stochastic Signals
Program for Graduates from Other Fields
A student admitted to this program is expected to have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent, with an undergraduate major in an engineering discipline, mathematics, or the physical sciences, and an academic and/or professional record indicating a high probability of success in graduate work. Preparatory courses required to provide a student with the background necessary for successful graduate study in computer engineering are listed below. Depending on the individual’s background, other courses (e.g., differential equations and linear algebra) may also be required. Proficiency in these areas may be demonstrated by either successful course completion or by passing an equivalency examination. When possible, a student will be notified of deficiencies at the time of acceptance. In addition to the preparatory work described, all degree requirements listed above for the master of science degree must be fulfilled.
- ECE 1552 Computer Design
- ECE 2112 Circuit Theory 2
- ECE 2551 Software/Hardware Design
- ECE 3111 Electronics
- ECE 4112 Digital Electronics
Total Credits Required: 30
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Career Outlook
The US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides information about a variety of computer engineering industry segments:
- The employment of electrical and electronics engineers is projected to grow 4% percent through 2022, with similar growth for electro-mechanical engineers, as these professionals continue to develop and apply emerging technology in new applications.
- The employment of computer hardware engineers is projected to grow by 7% through 2022. Software engineers will experience higher growth, as high as 22%, as innovation happens more in software and application development than in computer hardware. As mobile and wireless technologies continue to explode, careers in computer engineering for graduates interested in software will be plentiful.
- Computer network architects will also experience generous growth of 15% through 2022, related to the expansion of corporate wireless and mobile networks.
Additional employment growth will also come from the demands of cybersecurity concerns, new technologies in online record keeping, cloud computing advances, and changes in the systems and processes in the financial industry.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides information on careers in computer engineering as well as hundreds of other occupations, including entry-level education, overall working environment, and employment prospects. Visit the website for more information.
Facilities
English Language Requirements
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