Etched into the landscape of Richmond, the VCU College of Engineering provides students access to a vibrant and culturally diverse city full of potential. We focus on developing close partnerships with public institutions and private businesses to provide our students with unique learning and job opportunities.

Undergraduate students in computer engineering will:

• Become a well-rounded engineer, developing skills in a broad range of computer engineering specialties applicable across industries like manufacturing, healthcare, government and defense.
• Specialize in electrical or computer engineering by curating your curriculum through choosing technical electives from other engineering disciplines as well as computer science, mathematics and physical or biological science. 
• Develop your teamwork, leadership, mentoring and project planning skills through our graduate-level Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP).
• Access a dedicated Career Services department that provides internship and employment opportunities.
• Connect with industry experts through our partnerships with public and private institutions.
• Collaborate with engineers outside your study field and gain important interdisciplinary experience valuable to employers.

Reference the VCU Bulletin for a full list of computer engineering classes. Below are a few interesting courses from the program:

Electric Circuits (EGRE 206): Gain foundational knowledge in electrical circuit theory and its application to practical direct and alternating current circuits. You’ll discuss Kirchhoff's Laws, fundamental principles of network theorems, transient and steady-state response of RC, RL and RLC circuits by classical methods, time-domain and frequency-domain relationships, phasor analysis, and power.

Microcomputer Systems (EGRE 364): You’ll learn about computer organization, microprocessor instruction sets and architectures, assembly language programming, and the function of computer memory and I/O subsystems. In the lab, you’ll have the opportunity to study the workings of a simple computer system in detail using simulation models and real hardware. You will write and execute assembly language programs and make use of commercial design automation tools.

Advanced Digital Systems Design (EGRE 429): Explore theoretical and practical foundations for advanced embedded systems design and cyber physical system applications. You’ll cover topics that include: introduction to cyber physical systems; cyber physical systems theory; FPGA and system-on-a-chip design environments; designing, developing and implementing cyber physical systems using FPGA and system-on-a-chip technology; real-time computing and operating systems; real-time sensor networks; engineering design standards; and verification and validation of complex designs.

An undergraduate degree with a concentration in computer engineering can facilitate career advancement in a number of industries such as:

• Automobile
• Aerospace
• Communication
• Construction
• Cybersecurity
• Defense
• Energy
• Healthcare
• Manufacturing

Consider possibilities like:

• Cyber Security Analyst: Scan for vulnerabilities to validate security controls in order to provide guidance for improving security systems.
• Research and Development Project Engineer: Support research and development teams with all aspects of the product development process, driving improvements and efficiency by generating technical documentation standards and procedures. Create design solutions by applying engineering methods with good documentation processes, develop solutions that integrate software and hardware platforms, improve operational efficiencies and support designs with prototype, analysis and testing results.
• Nuclear Energy Systems Engineer: Provide innovative solutions through hardware and software design of equipment, electronic circuits, control systems or electric power systems. Facilitate system upgrades with power plant and instrumentation and control modifications. Design and implement robotic control systems.
• Communication Engineer: Plan, develop, test, release and support wireless networking systems with innovative spectrum-sharing methodologies that can be used in a variety of wireless systems. Lead lab and field experimentation efforts, including radio frequency hardware prototype experimentation, signal collection and analysis.
• Machine Learning Engineer: Apply machine learning models, tools and techniques to imagery, video, signals and other data products. Lead teams in the development of machine learning solutions for customers. Perform data collections and running simulations to create, curate and label machine learning data sets.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides valuable insights into the field of computer engineering, including salary trends, projected job growth and industry demand. As you research and consider your educational options, take advantage of these resources to align your academic path with promising career opportunities.

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Through our Career Services team, VCU College of Engineering graduates have many opportunities to network with alumni and industry professionals. Our students work at companies like:

• Cisco
• Intel
• Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
• National Institute of Standards & Technology
• NAVSEA
• Occam Systems
• Serco
• Woodward, Inc.