Computer Engineering/Computer Science

I was doing some research and found that Computer Engineering consists of 50% of Electrical Engineering and 50% of Computer Science. I am not sure what I want to do currently, but would it be worth it to major in Computer Engineering with a minor in Computer Science? I know a lot of these classes will overlap, but that way, I can have knowledge of the hardware and the software side of computers. I have a curiosity for how everything operates as a whole, so I thought I may be interested in learning about both.

If I do a major in Computer Engineering and a minor in Computer Science, what type of jobs will I be able to get? Software development or something? I want to live in central Virginia if possible, but I’m fine with living somewhere else on the East coast.

Also, how do these differ in terms of course load? I want to learn about both, but I also don’t want to kill myself. I am used to having a difficult curriculum. Right now, I have the most difficult curriculum offered at my high school which is also a magnet school where I live.

Since you’re interested in Virginia, lets use Virginia Tech as an example.

You can review the curriculum for both majors.

https://ece.vt.edu/undergrad/curriculum

https://www.cs.vt.edu/files/CS%202019%20checksheet.final_.pdf

VT will also go into more details explaining the majors, and the type of careers for Computer Engineers and CS majors.

https://ece.vt.edu/undergrad/aboutcpe

A lot of your questions are answered on the college’s website. Check out a few more (Purdue, etc), and then come back with some more specific questions! :-bd

@Gator88NE Yes, I searched on those sites for that school specifically. So far, what I’m noticing is that I will have more knowledge on the programming side if I major in Computer Engineering with a minor in CS.

I notice that their computer engineering major has many specialties such as software engineering and computer programming. If I do decide to work in the programming industry, would getting a computer engineering degree with a specialty in software engineering or computer programming be better? Would having a minor in CS help or not so much in terms of the skills I would have?

Have you ever coded before? For some, it’s a highly creative, joyous experience. At the other end of the spectrum, there are folks (like my son), who’d rather have both eyes poked out than sit in a cubicle writing code day in and day out.

@eyemgh Yes, I have. I have spent quite some time learning on my own. I’ve done basic coding like small programs, but I guess its better than nothing, you know?

My take, and others should chime in, is that if you’re really into coding, you choose CS or SE. If you’re into hardware you tolerate the code as a tool, like many other engineers do, a means to an end. It seems like your interests would declare one way or the other.

My son for example, is a ME with a concentration in Mechatronics. He knows Python, Assembler, one of the Cs, maybe one or two other programs, and a host of other programming like tools like Revit, AutoCAD, 3dsMax, MatLab, LabView and Solidworks. He’s not pounding out code day in and day out.

My gut tells me you won’t need a contingency as one direction or the other will rise to the top as a clear favorite once you get a little deeper into it.

All of the engineering fields have a lot of flexibility built into them, and that includes computer engineering. With that major you could go into hardware or software positions, or blending of the two. If you’re on a design team for Cisco, working to design the next generation border session control, your team will be developing hardware, with the thought of how software can take advantage of it’s functions. It’s a “blending” of the two.

@eyemgh So going to @Gator88NE 's point about how these degrees are flexible, would doing a Computer Engineering degree with a concentration in Software or something be the best and most efficient route rather than doing Computer Science and being limited to Software?

Practically speaking, there are a lot more software jobs out there than hardware.

@Gator88NE is way more qualified than I to answer that. My take though is that you’ll get plenty of programming without worrying about a CS minor. Whether or not you decide straight CS/SE or Computer Engineering depends completely on how interested you are in the hardware side of things.

@yousee, it could also be that there are more SEs and CSs competing for the more abundant spots, making it moot. Not certain though.

@eyemgh My view, based on my limited sample size, is from the CEs I’ve talked to at work. Some switched to software because that’s where the jobs were, others aren’t really doing anything with either software or hardware, more systems-type stuff. The OP should also look into the composition of the CE program at various schools. There may be more variability than something like ME because many good schools are not going for ABET accreditation for CE.

@youcee How hard is it to switch to software if I have a Computer Engineering degree?

For that first job, it probably depends on how many programming classes you’ve had. After that it won’t matter. We have people that were math majors, Econ, etc.

Most CE and EE programs have a good amount of software built into a curriculum so a CS minor isn’t necessary in most cases. Also CE is usually sufficient for a “software” engineering job. Most of what you need for software engineering is learned in the beginning lower div classes. At Ucla for example 80% of what you need for a software job is learned in the first two classes. Everything else is highly specialized.

Thank you guys… After much time and thought, I am leaning towards Computer Engineering as it is more broad than CS. CE will dive into hardware and software. I think I can take more CS classes if needed.

Now if I was interested in a management or a more business oriented position, would a minor in business, management, or finance help?