<p>What is really the difference between these two ? anybody who is either of them please throw some light on this. Any difference in job opportunities on graduation ?
I was looking at Purdue for my D and it has Computer Engineering in its Engineering school, Computer Science in the college of Science and there is also a major in Computers in the college of Technology.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.acm.org/education/education/education/curric_vols/cc2001.pdf[/url]”>http://www.acm.org/education/education/education/curric_vols/cc2001.pdf</a></p>
<p>Put very shortly, CS studies computation and CE studies computers.</p>
<p>Put a little less shortly:
CS (the major) usually studies a variety of things related to producing software to solve computational problems. This can include mathematical subjects such as discrete mathematics, algorithmic analysis, and formal language theory. It can also include subject areas such as computational physics, mathematics, or bioinformatics. Usually also included is some instruction in the business of making software (software engineering) as well as some hardware-related stuff (digital logic circuits, architecture, organization, etc.)
CE (the major) starts at architecture and basic hardware-related stuff that the CS majors also get, and then goes lower into what is also recognized as EE territory. This isn’t to say that CE majors don’t study computation or software, but the focus is shifted.</p>
<p>The link to the ACM is a good one. The best way is to see what ABET and ACM say about the matter… since anything beyond what they say (they make the practical rules) is just academic.</p>
<p>That document might be with a sticky on the forum or an eventual CS/CE/CIS/IT forum.</p>
<p>In general,</p>
<p>Computer Science deals with the algorithms, programming, and theoretical analysis of computer software. In the industry, this generally equates to anything from IT to Software Engineering. I would say that you want to work for a pure software company, you would benefit more from a Computer Science major. I don’t really know too much about a Computer Science post-graduate program, but I’d expect you’d be playing around with encryption, algorithms, other computer theory, etc.</p>
<p>Computer Engineering deals with the hardware and software architecture of computer systems, as well as electrical systems in general. At most universities, you are taking an Electrical Engineering curriculum with an emphasis on Digital Systems, Computer Organization, and Software Engineering. In the industry, this major is suited towards Computer Hardware Engineering jobs, as well as Software Engineering jobs (especially software jobs that involve knowledge of hardware and Electrical Engineering, such as working with embedded systems). </p>
<p>That was my somewhat objective analysis. My personal opinion, on the other hand, is that Computer Engineering is a great major if you plan on working with hardware at all. It’s also very easy to jump into Electrical Engineering jobs (that’s actually my plan now; I’m a Computer Engineering major, but I’m planning on going into Signal Processing). Employers often seek Computer Engineers for Software Engineering jobs that need a lot of hardware know-how.</p>
<p>The Computer Science major is optimal for pure software jobs. A Computer Engineer might necessarily have built up his coding skills as well as a Computer Science major (Maybe the Computer Engineer is more skilled in Digital Systems design, for example), so jobs that require a high rigor of coding might be ideal for a Computer Science major.</p>
<p>I was having the same trouble with this, and even though I have a brief idea of the two, I’m not sure which I want to major in but I think I’m leaning more towards Computer Science. Which electives should I take if I wanted to get a feel of Computer Engineering if I major in Computer Science? I suppose the curriculum is very similar?</p>
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<p>The similarity of the curriculums vary from school to school, but on average, I would say the curriculum is NOT similar. A Computer Engineering major is very similar to an Electrical Engineering major. If you wanted to get a feel of Computer Engineering, I would recommend taking some courses involving Digital Systems, as well as maybe some Embedded Systems and Circuits courses.</p>
<p>In CS, your take less math intensive courses (though still some math). CE is serious math, such as M.V. calculus and Diff. Equations. Personally, i am going to try to major in CS.</p>
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<p>It depends on the program. My son’s CS program requires Calc 3, Stats, Discrete Structures I, II. Some upper-level courses require math courses like linear algebra, number theory, etc. Our son has also taken differential equations and linear algebra for fun.</p>
<p>my school requires more math for CS than it does for most of its engineering programs</p>
<p>uflorida</p>
<p>I’ve seen many threads saying that Electrical Engineering is very similar to Computer Engineering…and that I guess it’s “suggested” that one majors in Electrical Engineering and minors in Computer Science…How about the opposite?</p>