Message from the Chair of Computer Engineering

It's my pleasure to welcome you to the Computer Engineering program as you navigate the choice among different engineering degrees as career options. 

Computer engineering deals with the design of computing and embedded systems, from smartphones to integrated circuits to robotics, for cutting-edge high-tech applications ranging from aerospace to radars and from telecommunications to networking. This major is about designing new and improved devices, using principles and techniques from physics, computer science and electrical engineering. Computer engineers are able to design high-tech devices using their deep knowledge of computer architecture, software, microprocessor design and embedded systems. 

As a student in our computer engineering program, you will have opportunities typical of large universities with a smaller campus feel. Students here are known by their names, and our faculty, lab engineers and staff strive to provide the best possible educational experience, while creating an equitable environment where everyone feels welcome. The School of Engineering and Technology is also equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories in several computing and engineering fields that enhance the learning experience of our students. The software tools our students use are major programs and tools used in the high-tech industry in the state of Washington as well as world-wide. 

Career options for computer engineering graduates abound, given that a computer engineer is able to integrate hardware and software with the ultimate goal to efficiently design new technology. It's our mission to provide you with the fundamental knowledge and skills you need to be a responsible, productive and successful computer engineer. Our Computer Engineering degree is designed to foster learning, knowledge and skill development through several hands-on laboratory sessions that culminates in a major, one-year long senior design experience where students work together toward the goal of designing a complex system or device that meets desired needs with realistic economic, environmental, social, political, and ethical constraints. 

The experiential learning for our electrical and computer engineering (ECE) students is further enhanced by several student organizations. The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) student chapter at UW Tacoma is instrumental for students to develop engineering design skills and build a network of professional interactions. Moreover, ECE students have the opportunity to boost their professional experience through internships. Research opportunities are also available to students in cutting-edge research areas through undergraduate research as well as independent study courses, to cite but a few. 

Job opportunities for computer engineering graduates are expansive and continuously growing by virtue of their versatility in adapting to new and emerging technologies from  both hardware and software perspectives. Upon graduation, a computer engineer is able to find employment in a multitude of roles ranging from Network Architects to Software Developers, from Hardware Engineers to Embedded System Developers. Our electrical and computer engineering graduates work in high-tech companies such as Amazon, Boeing, Facebook, Intel, HP, Microsoft, T-Mobile, power utilities, Texas Instruments, and governmental agencies. 

I hope you have a chance to visit our School and our facilities as you navigate the choice among different engineering degrees. Please feel free to contact us to learn more about our computer engineering degree and what it can offer to you. 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Massimiliano Laddomada

Professor and ECE Chair 

School of Engineering and Technology