Computer Engineering vs Computer Science

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>I'm a senior in HS, heading to College next year. I'm trying to decide between CS and CE. </p>

<p>A little bit about myself. I took a programming course during High School and I liked it a lot. I've also built several computers with my brothers, and I enjoy that a lot too. I have interests that would point to both CS and CE. My interests are computer hardware, programming, video games, app development, and robotics. </p>

<p>I have been looking at the requirements for a CE major at the college I'm attending, and I notice that it requires a fair bit of CS. The CE major requires Intro to Programming, Algorithm, Data Structures, and Operating Systems, Programming Languages, AI, HCI, and Computer Vision can all be taken as electives for CE.</p>

<p>I'm thinking that CE might be a better choice for me, because I can learn about hard and software, whereas a CS major would only teach me about the software side. Am I correct in my evaluation? </p>

<p>I'm thinking that I might do a CE major, and chose to take more CS classes as my electives as opposed to EE classes. But is there a problem in doing this? Am I spreading myself too thin by doing this? Will employers feel that if I don't take EE electives, that I'll just be a jack-of-all-trades, who isn't well versed in enough in Hardware and Software?</p>

<p>Also just going off this, can a CE major with a few extra CS classes, become a software engineer, a software developer, a game programmer, or an app developer?</p>

2

<p>I am starting to think I should do one of these too. I’ve heard more CompE majors end up in programming jobs than hardware, but can’t confirm. I assume there are kinds of programming jobs that are better suited for a CS major just because you are taking a lot fewer classes on it, but experience and internships seem more important in this stuff. I know programmers without any degree. </p>

<p>If you want to do games, some schools have special degrees or concentrations. GA Tech has an entire computational media department I think. </p>

<p>Personally, I am leaning toward CompE just because it’s easier for me to get into that program thanks to a weird technicality. But I share your plight and await qualified input as well.</p>

3

<p>Have you checked which would give you more flexibility in choosing the courses you want:</p>

<ul>
<li>CE major with additional CS electives.</li>
<li>CS major with additional CE electives.</li>
</ul>

<p>(May be different for each school.)</p>

<p>Also, is there a selectivity difference between the majors at the schools you are considering?</p>

<p>For industry software jobs, you may want to include operating systems, algorithms and complexity, networks, databases, security, and software engineering in your CS course selection.</p>

4

<p>UCBalumnus</p>

<p>I think it would be easier to do CE with CS electives because a CS student would have to take certain physics and EE courses to satisfy the prereqs for most CE courses. Whereas many CS courses just require the intro to programming, data structures, algorithms, as prerequisites. </p>

<p>Can a CS major with CE electives work as a Computer Hardware Engineer?</p>

5

<p>Does either degree have better job outlooks? Which field is projected to grow more? Computer Hardware or Computer Software?</p>

6

<p>Software by a ton.</p>

7

<p>That’s what I thought too. </p>

<p>What about in terms of research? Which field offers more room for innovative research? </p>

<p>I feel that it should be CS. I remember reading that processors won’t be getting much faster. On the other hand software has been evolving a lot recently. But I think robotics could be a huge field for CE.</p>

8

<p>Processors double in complexity every 12-18 months. Moores law. Intel just developed the first 3d transistor. </p>

<p>It just depends on what your interests are. A lot of those CS jobs will be industry related for business (think web design and apps) and not cutting edge technology. Not to mention a lot of hardware and software jobs will take people with other degrees. EE’s, CE’s, and CS grads can apply to some of the same openings. </p>

<p>Research is research. Someone might make a discovery that could change everything. Things are getting smaller and power consumption seems to be driving the main focus in hardware now a days. Consumer wise, CS is the money maker now a days. But who knows what the future holds. </p>

<p>Follow what interests you and forge your own path.</p>

9

<p>Processors double in complexity over 18 months due to advances in the semiconductor fabrication process done by hardcore EEs with PhDs. A dusting of embedded/architecture experience as a computer engineering undergrad will not really put you on the forefront of that. I would just follow the money and go CS…</p>

10

<p>I also want to add that I want to work in the technology industry. I have a broad definition of what I mean by this. I would like to work in either hardware technology or software technology. So I wouldn’t mind working with computer hardware or doing something more software related like app development, video games, websites, software, etc. However, I don’t want to do something like becoming a programmer at a hedge fund or something like that.</p>

<p>I know that a lot of CS people don’t work in the tech industry, and take their skills to other fields like finance and banking. Is this because it’s hard for CS people to get jobs at software companies or internet companies, or is it because they want to go to finance for the money? </p>

<p>JamesMadison, so CE’s do very little research and development? Would a masters degree allow CE’s to do more in R&D? I’m interested in researching and developing new technologies as well. But maybe that’s not something someone only with a BSE would do?</p>

<p>Can anyone explain what type of research is done in CS and CE?</p>

11

<p>Andy, here is a thread I found from a while back where TomServo and Auburn give interesting explanations of what CompEs do and what their theoretical niche is:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/803011-what-can-computer-engineer-do.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/803011-what-can-computer-engineer-do.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Tom is still an active poster and one of the best ones, so hopefully he will comment if things have changed at all, but this is the best feel I’ve actually gotten for why it is this degree specifically exists.</p>

<p>(He also goes into modest detail about the Simpsons.)</p>