Engineering challenges of the 21st century are varied, complex, and cross-disciplinary. Ranging from the nano-scale to mega-projects, they are characterized by sustainability concerns, environmental and energy constraints, global sourcing, and humanitarian goals. In the face of global competition, dwindling natural resources and the complexity of societal needs, the leaders of technological enterprises will be those who can innovate, are inventive and entrepreneurial, and understand how technology is integrated within society. Computer Systems Engineering at NYU Shanghai is designed to create technological leaders with a global perspective, a broad education, and the capacity to think creatively. Students enjoy a learning environment conducive to creativity which is at the heart of tomorrow’s technological innovations and enterprises. Today the products of computer engineering touch nearly every part of our lives. They let us chat with friends via web cams, send emails from cell phones, and withdraw cash from ATMs. But laptops and information networks aren’t the only products computer engineers develop; they reconstruct genomes, design robots, and develop software to make businesses more efficient.
The Computer Systems Engineering program draws upon courses across an array of disciplines. The liberal arts core provides the intellectual breadth, a “license to learn,” preparing students to thrive in a multicultural globalized world and learn and adapt quickly in areas that evolve with ever-increasing swiftness. Students not only gain a firm grounding across various science and engineering fields that underscore the technical component of an engineering education, but also draw upon courses across the curriculum to develop an understanding of cultural, political, economic, environmental, and public safety considerations. In their courses, Computer Systems Engineering students are involved in the design process and the progression of technological inventions from concept through product development and market introduction.