Computer Engineering – College of Engineering & Applied Science

A computer engineering degree prepares you to master computer science and electrical engineering in order to analyze problems and design solutions related to computer hardware, software, networks and equipment.

Computer engineering blends these two fields. When you earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at UWM, you’ll understand how computers function in society at the smallest level and at a system-wide level.

With a broad and strong technical understanding of computers through mathematics and engineering, you’ll be prepared to start your career in a growing field that is constantly improving the capability of computers in nearly all industries, with consideration of the cost, safety, environmental, social and human factors.

NEW Diversity in Tech Education Scholarships

A select number of full-ride scholarships are available annually to incoming freshmen who graduate from a public or private high school in the city of Milwaukee.

The Anu and Satya Nadella Scholarship is exclusively for students pursuing computer science, computer engineering, data science or information technology majors.

Application Deadline December 1: Learn More

Jump to Program Details

Program Type

Major

Program Format

On Campus

Meet Josh.

He chose UWM because it gave him the most opportunities and was the right fit. UWM’s location meant this Computer Engineering student could take advantage of paid internships at Aurora Health Care, Northwestern Mutual and even an international engineering co-op opportunity with Foxconn.

What to expect

Increased speed to graduation

Our new and redesigned curriculum makes it easier and faster for you to complete your degree. You’ll also find greater flexibility in the electives available to customize your experience.

What makes our program stand out

A computer engineering degree will provide you with a strong and broad technical background in computer science and electrical engineering.

It is recommended that computer engineering degree students specialize in one of the following areas:

Computer architecture & hardware
Computer networks & operating systems
Embedded systems and firmware
Imaging & image processing
Sensors & Internet of Things

UWM Computer Science laptop requirement

Learn more

Honors

You will be eligible for these honors in the major during your studies and upon completing your degree.

Students at UWM have many opportunities to earn honors recognition.

UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science program provides many opportunities to pair classroom learning with hands-on experiences outside the classroom. The college’s location in Wisconsin’s largest city, with a broad network of industry partnerships, gives you easy access to well-paid internships and co-ops, as well as other important opportunities to enhance your resume.

Did you know?

95.1 percent of our graduates launch their careers or continue their education upon graduation.
_{SOURCE: UWM First Destination Survey for the College of Engineering & Applied Science, December 2021}

Our students have had many hands-on opportunities to develop their skills and to determine what type of career experience they would like after graduation, while often earning a significant paycheck over summer breaks and even during the academic year.

Here are some of the businesses where our computer engineering degree students have had internships, co-ops or begun their careers:

Astronautics Corporation of America
Dematic
GE Healthcare
Intel
Microsoft
Milwaukee Tool
Northwestern Mutual
Quad
Rockwell Automation
Tesla

In your senior year, you’ll team up with other students to complete a Capstone Project, during which you’ll use what you’ve learned in class to complete an experience similar to an employer request. Past students have created online games, apps, management software and more.

Some students elect to work with Northwestern Mutual, who mentors many of our students in their Capstone Projects. This partnership –between the college and a Fortune 500 company in downtown Milwaukee – was created because computer science technologies are evolving so quickly, industries are having a hard time finding people with the exact skill set they need. Other local employers that work with our Computer Engineers include Milwaukee Tool and Rockwell Automation.

The Computer Society

Encourages education enrichment in computer science and related fields; provides opportunities for social activities with faculty members.

Data Science Club at UWM

A medium for collaborative and interdisciplinary discussions, support and awareness of best practices in the diverse and rapidly growing field of data science.

Game Design & Development

Members come together and construct projects and ideas from all sides of gaming.

Google Developers Group at UWM

Members explore programming technology and enhance their skills in computer-related categories.

Robotics Association at UWM

Members design, build, test, program and compete in robotic competitions against universities from around the world.

Women in Computing

Dedicated to promoting diversity in computer science and tech through outreach; provides professional, academic and social support to women interested in computer science and technology.

For full descriptions and contact information for all electrical-engineering and other engineering-related student organizations and clubs, click here.

Big Data Analytics and Visualization Lab

This lab is focused on developments of new computational approaches and software tools for various types of massive data processing, data mining and visualization using both knowledge-based and data-driven techniques.

Biorobotics Laboratory

This lab works with previously gathered data in order to create a design whose aim is to assist disabled individuals.

Connected Systems Institute

This lab works with students, faculty and private sector partners to help ensure that industry has the talent it needs to benefit fully from Industrial Internet of Things connectivity.

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

This lab strives to enhance people’s health and well-being by designing software that will help identify health problems early, suggest a plan of action, and provide evidence that justifies that plan.

Resource Rooms

UWM students have a wealth of additional resources available to them within the College of Engineering & Applied Science. From computer labs and tutoring resources to teaching labs and spaces to create or collaborate. Details here.

We’re a top tier R1 research university and our students have the opportunity to work with faculty engaged in cutting-edge research in areas such as:

Object-oriented programming
Cryptography
Computational robotics
Intelligent dialog systems
Artificial intelligence
Extensible languages

Undergraduates in Electrical Engineering also have the opportunity to get paid to do research with UWM’s SURF (Support for Undergraduate Research Fellows) Program which fosters a win-win situation for both faculty and students.

Both graduates and undergraduates have the opportunity to participate in the annual Student Research Poster Competition to see who can best represent their research visually on a poster and verbally by describing it to judges.

This optional, elective course is co-taught by an engineering professor and an art professor. As part of an interdisciplinary student project team of engineers, artists and designers, you will learn how to work in teams, present ideas professionally, deliver presentations and take an idea from concept to design to prototype. Your team will be sponsored by an industry member, who will provide engineering a mentor to the team. More detail here.

Directed by the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center, the UWM Student Startup Challenge is an optional, co-curricular program that fosters our students’ innovative and entrepreneurial ideas. You can work alone or as part of a team as you gain the skills that come from entrepreneurial experience.

Where You’ll Work

Computer engineers work for large corporations, small startups, academia and the government. Industries that rely on computer engineers include: automotive, aerospace, healthcare, financial services, computer manufacturing, security systems and transportation.

What You Might Do

Plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems
Design and build a computer network to transfer data
Oversee the day-to-day operation of a computer network
Embed computers into other machines
Incorporate computers into building materials or fabrics
Design faster, smaller, more capable hardware
Create the applications or systems that run on a computer or another device