Computer Engineering M.E., M.S.

Online master's in computer engineering

CSU's computer engineering master's degree offers a customizable curriculum that you can tailor to meet your interests and career goals, with the flexibility to study online.

Knowledge for our connected world

From autonomous vehicles to smart cities, we live in a hyper-connected world. A degree in computer engineering will allow you to have an impact well beyond your computer screen. As devices and systems become “smarter” and more connected through the Internet of Things (IoT), computer engineers hold the key to understanding, advancing, and protecting the security of next-generation technologies.

The M.E. and M.S. programs are coursework-only degrees focused on fundamentals of innovation, from artificial intelligence to big data to robotics. Heavy emphasis is placed on computer system design and exploration, architecture of mobile and warehouse scale computers, network programming, and internet protocols.

Students in CSU's online master's in computer engineering program will learn:

• Up-to-date industry trends and technology capabilities.
• To apply creativity, in-depth knowledge, and information gained to their own careers – in many cases having access to knowledge that is not broadly known yet due to innovative faculty research.
• Information that will provide specific depth in their area of focus such as high-performance computing, embedded systems, networking, etc.
• To identify, formulate, and solve advanced engineering problems using fundamental computer engineering principles, methodologies, and tools.
• To combine theory and mathematics to create simulations/prototypes using modern modeling software – the same as what is used in industry.
• To understand the ethical, economic, environmental, and societal impacts of their work.

Join a community of innovation and excellence

As an online student, you will be part of ECE’s close-knit department – a community that thrives on innovation and diversity in thought. Whether online or on campus, computer engineering graduate students learn from faculty who are pushing the frontiers of engineering and science.

ECE professors are responsible for 35% of the university’s issued patents since 2015, and they are a leading contributor to CSU’s research environment, an enterprise that has grown by nearly $100 million in the last decade. The department’s research runs the gamut, from developing satellites designed to improve our understanding of the conditions inside hurricanes to microscale nuclear fusion to the development of virtual non-invasive medical biopsies. This variety in research means that no matter what field you work in — or wish to pursue in your future career — you will learn from faculty at the forefront of technology and innovation.

In addition to being the headquarters of the Engineering Research Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology, ECE is home to the CSU Information Science and Technology Center (ISTeC), the CSU-CHILL National Radar Facility, and the Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere. The ECE department is also part of national and international collaborations through LaserNetUS, a Department of Energy Consortium of ultra-high-power lasers, and LIGO, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Detector Scientific Collaboration.

Online students take the same engineering courses from the same faculty and receive the same computer engineering degree as students in our on-campus program.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering maintains strong ties with leaders in the field by working closely with industry partners to meet the needs of employers through curricular input, classroom lectures, and on-campus events.

Choose from two degree options in an accredited online engineering program

• Master of Engineering (M.E.) – Computer Engineering Specialization
• Master of Science (M.S.) in Computer Engineering

Program curriculum is highly customizable. These master's degrees are non-research oriented and focus on enhancing the expertise of computer engineering professionals. Review the requirements and curriculum to learn more.

Get qualified for recommended admission

You can earn a guaranteed admission recommendation from the department, if you meet the conditions below.

Admittance conditions for a guaranteed recommendation:

• Complete two classes from the master's degree curriculum with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and with no less than a 2.7 in any course. You can take up to 9 credits as a non-admitted student.
• A Bachelor of Science from a regionally accredited institution in electrical engineering, computer science, or related field (minimum 3.0 GPA) is required.
• International students must hold degrees equivalent to U.S. bachelor's degrees, and should be among the top students in their classes. Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology (B.S.E.E.T.) degrees are not accepted. International students must have passing scores in any one of the English proficiency exams (TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE).

If you do not meet all the requirements, online students may still be eligible to take coursework before being admitted to the graduate program. Contact an ECE advisor to discuss individual exceptions to these guidelines. The Department can review and admit students with unofficial transcripts. Students will however be required to submit their official transcripts during the first semester of attendance, if they had not included them in their application.

Learn more on the Applied Podcast

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Sudeep Pasricha, a professor with joint appointments in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Systems Engineering at CSU. Dr. Pasricha is also Director of the Embedded, High Performance, and Intelligent Computing Lab. We discuss the rapid ongoing evolution of artificial intelligence, especially as it pertains to computer engineering, data centers, energy, sustainability, and AI ethics.

Computer engineers are in demand across virtually every industry, including areas such as medical machines, communication equipment, and hardware manufacturing. These fields are emerging as part of the new global economy, and having the right skills to not only compete, but to engage, is vital for professional engineers. This master's degree will help you advance your career by equipping you with skills and exposure to applied research.

The online master's programs prepare students for a wide variety of computer engineering careers in diverse industries, including, but not limited to:

• Machine learning and AI
• Computer chip design
• Embedded and loT system design
• Power and energy
• Space and aerospace
• Government and military sectors
• Healthcare systems
• Communication equipment and hardware manufacturing
• Computer networks, information systems, and cyber security
• Natural resources and the environment
• Biosciences, biomedical engineering, and health sciences

Computer engineering master's graduates are consistently in the top five most coveted degrees for employment according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook report.

Engineering and computer occupations are expected to grow from 7.3 million to 8.2 million jobs between 2016 and 2026, an increase of 853,600 (11.7%) jobs over the 10-year period. This growth rate is higher than the growth rate projected for all occupations. (Source: U.S. Science and Engineering Workforce: Recent, Current, and Projected Employment, Wages, and Unemployment, November 2017)

Computer engineers are consistently listed at the top of the salary range with incomes of $111k-$134k for mid-career professionals, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Payscale.com.

Learn to apply in-depth knowledge, creativity, and research experience to analyze, design, develop, and improve computer systems. Students will gain experience in state of the art design tools, methods, and theories applicable to computer engineering.

Requirements

Students complete 30 semester credits, 21 of which must be completed after formal admission to Colorado State University. This degree is coursework only; neither a thesis nor oral exam is required.

• Minimum of 21 credits earned at Colorado State (must be at 500-level or higher).
• Up to 15 credits of coursework may be taken outside of the electrical or computer engineering discipline, subject to approval by the M.E. advisor and the Graduate Admissions Committee.
• For M.E Students, no independent study, research, internship, supervised college teaching, or practicum credits may be credited toward the degree.
• A maximum of 6 credits of 400-level undergraduate courses can be used toward the degree. Up to 8 credits at the 400-level are permitted when at least one course is a 4 credit course. Remaining credits must be in 500-level or higher courses. 400-level courses are only accepted toward the degree when taken after formal admission.
• Students may request up to six credits of 500-level coursework to be transferred from other regionally-accredited institutions; a committee will review the request and make a determination. Grades must be ‘B’ or higher in transferable coursework and not be part of an earned degree.

Curriculum

Master of Engineering (M.E.) – Computer Engineering Specialization

Select 30 credits from the following courses.

Master of Science (M.S.) in Computer Engineering

Select 27 credits from the following courses and complete an MS Plan B-Portfolio.

• ECE 412 – Digital Control and Digital Filters (3 cr.)
• ECE 421 – Telecommunications (3 cr.)
• ECE 452 – Computer Organization and Architecture (3 cr.)
• ECE 455 – Introduction to Robot Programming/ Simulation (3 cr.)
• ECE 456 – Computer Networks (4 cr.)
• ECE 512 – Digital Signal Processing (3 cr.)
• ECE 519 – Network Centric Systems (3 cr.)
• ECE 520 – Optimization Methods- Control & Communication (3 cr.)
• ECE 528 – Embedded Systems and Machine Learning (3 cr.)
• ECE 532 – Dynamics of Complex Engineering Systems (3 cr.)
• ECE 544 – Silicon Photonics for Computing Systems (3 cr.)
• ECE 545 – FPGA Signal Processing/Software-Defined Radio (3 cr.)
• ECE 554 – Computer Architecture (3 cr.)
• ECE 560 – Foundations of Fine Grain Parallelism (4 cr.)
• ECE 561 – Hardware/Software Design of Embedded Systems (4 cr.)
• ECE 611 – Nonlinear Control Systems (3 cr.)
• ECE 612 – Robust Control Systems (3 cr.)
• ECE 658 – Internet Engineering (4 cr.)
• ECE 580C6 – Storage System- Device to System Perspective (3 cr.)
• ECE 695 – Independent Study (3 cr.)

All courses are delivered online via our learning management system, Canvas. Courses allow you to watch recorded, campus-based lectures and engage in course content and communicate with peers online. Courses are asynchronous, allowing you to study at the time that best fits your schedule.

Although the online format of this degree offers flexibility, it still requires the same amount of work and time as an on-campus graduate program. Depending on your learning and studying style, expect to spend nine to twelve hours per week on a three credit course.

This online program allows you to earn your degree while maintaining your busy work and family schedules.

As a student in this program, you receive the same education, learn from the same faculty, and earn the same regionally accredited degree as students on campus. Additionally, you can expect:

• The Opportunity to Gain a Competitive Edge: Keep up with the pace of innovation by having access to the latest research and trending advancements in the field. Our program prepares you with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the ever-evolving demands of the profession in areas like communication equipment, hardware manufacturing, medical machines, and more.
• A Degree with Broad Applicability: The skills you learn in this program are applicable to any industry that uses information, which could include: transportation, healthcare, mobile device market, and more. Such a wide range of relevant industries gives you the flexibility to pursue an array of employment opportunities.
• Instruction from Expert Faculty: Be at the forefront of new technology and industry developments by learning from faculty who incorporate their active, and often internationally recognized, research projects and industry expertise into the curriculum. Faculty research interests include robotics, radar technology, communications and signal processing, distributed and embedded system design, and more.
• A Customizable Curriculum: Our coursework-only electrical and computer engineering degree allows you the flexibility to choose courses that best suit your educational and professional goals.
• Career Enhancement Opportunities: Extend your educational background beyond an undergraduate degree to better take advantage of career opportunities in electrical engineering and computer engineering. An advanced degree from a highly recognized research institution and a specialized skill set that spans across disciplines can help you stand out to current and future employers.

Learn more about CSU's rankings and accolades.

Application Deadlines

Note: Application dates published on the electrical and computer engineering prescreening site are for campus-based applicants only.