Major map compass icon
2021-2022

Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science: Engineering (Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway))
Brightpoint Community College
Program description

Computer engineers are responsible for developing the powerful computer systems that have become a part of our everyday life. Applications for computer engineering span the spectrum from high-performance, general-purpose computing systems such as desktop workstations used in all facets of business, to small microprocessors embedded in larger systems and functioning as controllers. These latter applications, known as embedded systems, can be found in control systems for trains, aircraft and automobiles; medical equipment; telecommunications systems; and consumer electronics and appliances. This explosive growth of computer systems in use in almost every new appliance or vehicle has resulted in a strong demand for engineers trained in the development of these systems, and all indications are that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future.

Career opportunities

Computer engineers (or computer hardware engineers) research, design, develop, test, and oversee the manufacture and installation of computer hardware, including computer chips, circuit boards, computer systems, and related equipment such as keyboards, routers, and printers.


This field should not be confused with computer software engineers, who design and develop the software systems that control computers. The work of computer hardware engineers is similar to that of electrical engineers in that they may design and test circuits and other electronic components; however, computer hardware engineers do that work only as it relates to computers and computer-related equipment. They work on the design, planning, development, testing, and even the supervision of manufacturing of computer hardware -- including everything from chips to device controllers. They also focus on computer networks for the transmission of data and multimedia. The work of a computer engineer is grounded in the hardware -- from circuits to architecture -- but also focuses on operating systems and software. Computer engineers must understand logic design, microprocessor system design, computer architecture, computer interfacing, and continually focus on system requirements and design.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Computer engineer
  • Computer network architects
  • Computer systems engineer
  • Controls engineer
  • Hardware design engineer
  • Mechatronics engineer
  • Microsystems engineer
  • Network engineer
  • Product engineer
  • Test engineer
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • College Professor
  • Lead Research Scientist
  • Research & Development Engineer
  • Senior Embedded Software Engineer
  • System Architect
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Review requirements of Engineering Admission Agreement
Completion of associate degree (A.S. in Engineering or A.S. in Science) 
Minimum GPA of 3.0 
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
Earn a minimum grade of "B" in all your math, science and engineering classes

Highest level of math required
  • MATH 201 or higher
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
Additional tuition/fees
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 3.0+ cumulative GPA to declare

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2021-2022

Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Engineering)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Attend Tyler Orientation.
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Register for SDV course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your ENG and MTH classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus or in your community.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Browse careers related to Computer Engineering through the career coach.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and explore Career Pathways at VCU.
  • Understand how you will fund your education. Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Use the career coach to take a career assessment.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
Experience Year 2
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival).
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Attend Tyler Orientation.
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Register for SDV course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your ENG and MTH classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus or in your community.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Browse careers related to Computer Engineering through the career coach.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and explore Career Pathways at VCU.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Understand how you will fund your education. Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Use the career coach to take a career assessment.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival).
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2021-2022

Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Engineering)

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
MTH 263 Calculus I (earn minimum grade of "B") MATH 200 4 Major (Ancillary)
EGR 121 Foundations of Engineering (earn minimum grade of "B") Note: students must complete both EGR 121 and EGR 122 to receive credit for EGRE 101. EGRE 1XX 2 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
CHM 111 General Chemistry I (earn minimum grade of "B") CHEM/Z 101 4 Major (Ancillary)
CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking SPCH 121 3 Major (Ancillary - substitute for SPCH 321)
MTH 264 Calculus II (earn minimum grade of “B”) MATH 201 4 Major (Ancillary)
EGR 122 Engineering Design (earn minimum grade of "B") EGRE 101 3 Major
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
ECO 201 Principles of Macroeconomics (students who complete both ECO 201-202 will fulfill the ECON 205 requirement) ECON 211 3 Major (Ancillary)
EGR 126 Computer Programming for Engineers (earn minimum grade of "B") EGRE 245 3 Major
MTH 267 Differential Equations (earn minimum grade of “B”) MATH 301 3 Major (Ancillary)
EGR 251 + EGR 255 Basic Electric Circuits I + Electric Circuits Laboratory (earn minimum grade of “B”) EGRE 206 4 Major
PHYS 241 University Physics I (earn minimum grade of “B”) PHYS 207 4 Major (Ancillary)
ECO 202 Principles of Microeconomics (students who complete both ECO 201-202 will fulfill the ECON 205 requirement) ECON 210 3 Major (Ancillary)
MTH 265 Calculus III (earn minimum grade of “B”)- counts as technical elective credit for the major MATH 307 4 Major (Technical elective)
EGR 261 + EGR 263 Signals and Systems + Signals and Systems Laboratory (earn minimum grade of “B”) EGRE 335 4 Major
PHY 242 University Physics II (earn minimum grade of “B”) PHYS 208 4 Major (Ancillary)
Humanities PHI 220 Ethics PHIL 201 3 Major (Ancillary)
EGR 270 Fundamentals of Computer Engineering EGRE 254 4 Major
John Tyler credits transferred to VCU 66
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
CMSC 312 Introduction to Operating Systems 4 Major
EGRE 207 Electric Circuits II 4 Major
EGRE 246 Advanced Engineering Programming 3 Major
EGRE 306 Introduction to Microelectronics 4 Major
EGRE 337 Statistical Information Processing 3 Major
EGRE 347 Applied Object-oriented Programming 3 Major
EGRE 364 Microcomputer Systems 4 Major
EGRE 365 Digital Systems 4 Major
EGRE 426 Computer Organization and Design 3 Major
EGRE 428 Introduction to Integrated Systems Design 2 Major
EGRE 429 Advanced Digital Systems Design 2 Major
ENGR 402 + ENGR 403 Senior Design Studio (Seminar) and Senior Design Studio (Seminar) 2 Major
Select one of the following sequences: EGRE 404 + EGRE 405 OR EGRE 406 + EGRE 407 4 Major
Technical electives (see VCU advisor for course options) 13 Major
MATH 211 Mathematical Structures 3 Major (Ancillary)
Open electives 6 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 64
Bachelor's degree total 130