Changes Made:

1. ECE 442(3 credits) will not be offered after Spring 2007. It has been removed from the CpE program.

2. ECE 492/493 (1+2=3 credits) has been added to the CpE program, and together will now make up the capstone course for computer engineering. The projects in ECE 492/493 are 3-4 student team projects. Teams may consist of all CpEs, all EEs or a mix of EE and CpE students. Note, ECE 492 has a prerequisite that requires you to have completed 90 credit hours applicable to the BS CpE degree prior to enrolling in ECE 492. (I.e. Even counting the ECE 492 semester courses, there can be no more than 30 credits left in order to earn the degree.)

3. ECE 447 will be reduced in "intensity". It will still have labs/projects but they will be more "structured" and less "open ended". The labs will be learning experiences but should be less time consuming.

4. The Computer Science Department is modifying and retitling CS 112, to read "Introduction to Computer Programming" and to be taught using a language initially allowing "procedural programming" (basically non-object oriented programming).

5. The Computer Science Department is modifying and retitling CS 211, to read "Object-Oriented Programming" and focusing on object oriented programming (most likely still JAVA).

6. The Computer Science Department is retitling CS 310, to read "Data Structures".

Effects on students and actions to be taken:

1. The CS Department actions will have no effect on CpE students' degree requirements. This information is provided so that you will understand the new names when you see them. CPE students still need to take CS 112, CS 211 and CS 367. (If you started at Mason prior to Fall 2005 you have the option of taking either CS 310 or CS 367, but CS 367 is strongly recommended.)

2. If you have completed ECE 447 and ECE 442 you do not need to do anything other than to follow the regular catalog/Bluebook requirements of your degree.

3. If you have completed ECE 447 but not ECE 442, you should take ECE 442 in Spring 2007 and then follow the rest of the regular catalog/Bluebook requirements of your degree. If you can not take ECE 442 in Spring 2007 contact Dr. Sutton to discuss an appropriate substitution.

4. If you have completed ECE 442 but not ECE 447:

   • You must plan on taking the two semester ECE 492/493, Senior Advanced Design Project I/II, (the "new" computer engineering *capstone course*).
   • You will still need to take ECE 447. (Recall the "reduced intensity".)
   • ECE 492/493 will serve as one of your three Technical Electives.

5. If you have not completed ECE 442 or ECE 447 and you can not take ECE 442 in Spring 2007:

   • You must plan on taking the two semester ECE 492/493, Senior Advanced Design Project I/II, (the "new" computer engineering *capstone course*).
   • You will still need to take ECE 447. (Recall the "reduced intensity".)
   • ECE 492/493 will serve as a "substitute" for ECE 442.
   • You will still need to take three approved Technical Electives.

6. If you feel this is a hardship for you, please prepare a short document explaining how this is a hardship, what you would *like* approved for you, and send it to Dr. Sutton.