Electrical engineering vs. computer engineering vs. computer science: developing three distinct but interrelated curricula

Abstract

In 1993, the University of Kansas merged the Department of Computer Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the School of Engineering. The resulting department, called the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), resides in the School of Engineering and brings together the broad fields of electrical technology computing, telecommunications and information science. Among other things, the merger enabled the consolidation of courses, enhanced classroom experiences for the students, and expanded research opportunities. The EECS Department now offers three Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical engineering, computer engineering and computer science, as well as masters and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering and computer science. This paper first describes the philosophy we applied in developing the three programs as they now stand. We then describe the curricula themselves. We point out where the curricula are the same, where they are only similar and where they are distinctly different. Finally, we discuss future changes that we anticipate in the programs. We feel that the merger has created the opportunity for significantly improved teaching and research. This paper shares some of our experience and ideas.