<p>Hello, I'm interested in both the hardware and software aspects of computers, so Computer Engineering sounds like the perfect major to go into. However, my main concern is job opportunities. The BLS reports that Computer Engineering will have only 9% growth in the next decade. Does it mean CompE might not be a good field to go into? Also, I've looked into a few job listings and almost all of them ask for either a CS or a EE degree. Does it mean employers prefer CS or EE than CompE?</p>
<p>Right now CS has the most job growth, my kid apply to Comp E but is changing to CS. Luckily, it’s easy for her to change to CS because it’s within CSE department. Defense and hardware companies prefer EE but not the Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn type of companies. The type of companies that have multiple PEs, where stock options might have potential to go more.</p>
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I’ve heard CompEs can do CS jobs, is that right?</p>
<p>Yes, you don’t need schooling for CS jobs. But the education will help you pass the interview questions. I’m referring to the Google, Facebook, type of companies, not defense related companies where they hire anybody with a belly button. 
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Larger engineering companies often employ several different types of engineers for different positions. It’s quite common to prefer EE majors for some of these positions and CS majors for others. For example, you mentioned Google. Google’s website shows 6 pages of open positions for “hardware engineers.” Many of these jobs say they require a BS/MS in “Electrical Engineering or equivalent disciplines,” suggesting they would prefer EE or CE majors over CS majors for such positions. The “equivalent disciplines” suggests they would also welcome qualified comp eng majors. They obviously also have software engineering related positions for which they’d prefer someone who had more of a software background. Similarly more hardware focused companies usually also have a good portion of the staff whose focus relates to software or FW.</p>
<p>Regarding the OP’s questions, you might contact the career center at your college and find out what companies and types of jobs computer engineering majors at your college often choose. I’d expect most companies would not dismiss a qualified candidate because their degree said comp eng, rather than EE/CS with a related concentration. However, if you have specific companies in mind, you could get confirmation at those companies. </p>
<p>When considering the BLS job growth estimates, it also helps to consider how rapidly the number of graduates in that field is growing (or number entering from other markets, such as overseas). For example, the BLS predicts a tremendous growth in petroleum, but there has also been a tremendous growth in the number of petroleum majors, which will likely continue for as long as petroleum majors tend to have much higher starting salaries than other engineering fields. I’d expect the supply and demand to eventually better balance each other out, leading to petroleum not being anywhere near as hot as it is now in ten years, even if job growth keeps up with BLS estimates. Other fields show a similar pattern. In areas where tech majors are in high demand, the number of tech majors grows rapidly. Stanford is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, likely the area of the country where CS is hottest, so they’ve had a tremendous growth in CS majors in recent years. The number of CS majors at Stanford has more than quadrupled over the past several years, making CS Stanford’s most popular major, overtaking the typical pre-med major of human biology. Students entering Stanford 10 years ago wouldn’t have anticipated the degree of CS growth, and students 10 years from now will likely have similar surprises.</p>
<p>I’d suggest following your interests. If you like the type of job fields that are common for computer engineering majors at your college, then continue with computer engineering. If you prefer a different tech field, then switch to a different field. CE, EE, and CS are all quite practical choices with solid career prospects. A particular engineering field might have a #% predicted larger job growth than another engineering field, but does that really matter if you’d be miserable working in the alternative field?</p>
<p>I’m aware that Google hires CE/EE because my ex-boss who has a EE Phd from Stanford is working there either as a VP or General Manager. However, what I was trying to communicate is for every 1 of EE/CE type of job at Google, there are probably 10 more CS jobs. And if the Google thing doesn’t work out, there are a lot more companies that are looking for the same skills set.</p>
<p>This is the same as years ago when I had the hot job skills in CE vs ME, I was bombarded with calls from recruiters while an ME like my brother was lucky to find a few job offers. If you have no inclination either way, pick one that gives you the most bang for your brain cells. Like I told my daughter when she was undecided between engineering majors is that if she had to bust her brain cells through college and exams, she might as well studying something that will pay off for her hard work. She was thinking of Aerospace engineering, like a lot of kids, she didn’t know what that entails except it sounds cool.</p>
<p>But just to be clear, I’m always lean toward her working in Silicon Valley not San Diego. So your local preference might be different.</p>
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Google’s website shows 6 pages of open jobs for “hardware engineers” vs 17 pages of open jobs for “software engineers,” suggesting a ~3 to 1 ratio, almost the same ratio as the number of CS and number of EE majors on Payscale. </p>
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There are also a lot more companies that are looking for a EE/HW skillset.</p>
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A Georgetown study published last year found the following unemployment rates for new grads by major, across a large number of colleges. Not everyone will have the same experiences as your 2 person sample from many years ago.</p>
<p>Computer Science – 8.7%
Mechanical Engineering - 8.1%
Electrical Engineering - 7.6%</p>
<p>in Silicon Valley?</p>
<p>A lot of colleges don’t even offer Computer Engineering, and others combine it with EE, usually as ECE (such as Carnegie Mellon and Georgia Tech). Computer Engineering is less generally applicable than EE or CS, so those majors will afford more flexibility.</p>
<p>If you definitely want to stay connected to hardware I would major in EE or ECE, and include as much programming as you like in your electives. Some colleges also have minors or certificates in computer engineering or computer science that could augment the basic EE degree. Even without that, the things you excel in and show interest in will be part of the package you sell to an employer in addition to the degree name on your diploma.</p>
<p>Food for thought for CS major from the CEO of code.org and amazing opportunities.
Google I am hadi partovi cofounder of codeorg reddit because the link I provide does not work</p>
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<p><a href=“Partovi twins quietly emerge as top Silicon Valley angel investors – The Mercury News”>Partovi twins quietly emerge as top Silicon Valley angel investors – The Mercury News;
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If I generally want to work in the computer industry, will the CS degree offer me more flexibility than the CompE degree? I always thought it was the other way around.</p>
<p>What computer industry do you mean? Look at the job openings for companies that interest you. You’ll likely see lots of openings for many types of engineers and for CS. Even at Intel and AMD there will be variety, not just CompE.</p>
<p>If you enjoy CompE then major in CE. If you want a programming job and are worried about career prospects then take your universities Algorithms course. Half the programming interview questions those companies give are from that class.</p>
<p>Well 9% growth sounds reasonable. Lots better than decline. </p>
<p>Because computer engineering is not as common as EE or CS, it will not be listed explicitly in as many job ads. However, a lot of job ads ask for either EE or CS, or sometimes EE or CS or equivalent. A computer engineering major should definitely feel free to apply to adds that say either EE or CS, or to EE ads. </p>
<p>I’m an engineering manager, and I hire EE and CS grads, and tend to ask for “EE or CS or equivalent” in my job descriptions. I don’t bother to list CompE, but would happily review a resume from a CompE grad, as fitting into the “equivalent” category. </p>