Computer Engineering Major
The field of computer engineering will take you deeper into the hardware and software that runs our world.
If you enjoy solving problems, creating new things and consider yourself an independent thinker, computer engineering would be a great fit for you! As a computer engineering student at MVNU, you will not only be equipped with state-of-the-art knowledge and skills in engineering, but also a Biblical worldview.
Computer engineering is a natural path for students interested in embedded and real time systems, utilizing principles from the fields of computer science and electrical engineering to create hardware (physical components) and firmware that are used in a wide range of areas: computer system design, medical devices, communication systems, self-driving cars, consumer electronics, and many more. This major focuses on hands-on activities through extensive use of laboratory sessions and in-class exercises, and students get to work on actual hardware and industry tools, and not just simulations.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics1, about 4,500 openings for computer hardware engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Based on their data, the projected growth of computer engineering jobs is expected to be 2% by 2029. Thus, the job outlook for future computer engineers looks stable and promising!
- Practical experience and service-learning — Supported by MVNU faculty, students apply the knowledge they learn in the classroom to help solve real-world problems, fulfilling MVNU’s motto: "To Seek to Learn is to Seek to Serve." Education at MVNU is highly hands-on, with many courses having a lab or project component.
- Advising relationships — You'll begin interacting with the faculty within your chosen discipline during your first day of classes, and develop mentorship relationships with them that often continue well past graduation.
- State-of-the-art facilities — MVNU’s Department of Engineering is located in The Stephen W. Nease Center, a newly renovated building in downtown Mount Vernon. The 10,824-square-foot facility houses the university’s Engineering program and a community makerspace, in partnership with Knox Labs Inc. It includes advanced laboratories as well as contemporary project work areas and study spaces.
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Dr. Patrick Majors, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
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Dr. Yuan Meng, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Dr. Jose Oommen, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Department Chair
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Dr. Baonhe Sob, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Check out the catalog for a complete list of the requirements, courses, and objectives for the Computer Engineering program.
All MVNU students are invited to participate in our many other service and learning trips.
MVNU has many endowed scholarships available for students of a wide variety of backgrounds and majors.
According to the popular job website Indeed.com, computer engineers have several career options. They can work in hardware development, software development or opt to work in a blend of hardware and software development. The common computer engineering positions include:
- Database administrators for those interested in data integrity and protection.
- Software developers in the embedded space and computational science area, and also as multimedia programmers for those interested in programming.
- Computer hardware engineers, FPGA development engineer, design, test and verification engineer for those who like to work on microprocessor, SBCs, cluster computers, or supercomputer, including emerging quantum computing systems.
- Computer network architects for those who like to work on communication and networking equipment.
A degree in computer engineering can lead students into a diverse array of well-paid and fast-growing job opportunities including database/systems administrators and network architects, computer hardware engineers, firmware developer, and management analysts. Computer engineering currently ranks among the top 10 majors in demand for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Almost every industry recruits computer engineering graduates, including healthcare, clean energy, robotics, manufacturing, and aerospace. According to Talentdesk, the top careers in computer engineering earn above the national average, with annual salaries ranging from $79,199 to $185,099.
