"Computer Science and Engineering" or Computer Engineering

<p>I have been admitted to UC Davis for Computer Science and Engineering major as a junior transfer. However, I’m scared of the heavy GE courses load for CSE major which will take me 4ever to graduate. Should I switch to Computer Engineering major( ECE department)?Moreover, I’m not sure which major( CSE or CE) is better at Davis. I like doing both HW and SW. Thanks for your advice:)</p>

<p>If your stronger in programming and prefer software over hardware, then choose CompSciE. But if your stronger in circuits and prefer hardware over software, then choose CompE (it should be thought of as computer/electrical engineering or CompEE).</p>

<p>Just think of CompSciE as mostly programming w/ a minor emphasis on hardware. Then think of CompE as mostly Electrical Engineering hardware courses w/ a minor emphasis on programming. I feel CompE is much more difficult than CompSci. CompE is really EE in disguise. That's why at all universities, they are both in the same department, ECE (electrical and computer engineering).</p>

<p>I am much stronger in computer science than I am in EE, and enjoy programming much more than studying circuits, but I want to take on the more difficult challenge of tackling EE, so I chose Computer Engineering as my major. To me, computer science is much easier compared to EE. The reason why is that in EE courses, you got those nasty hard ass lab classes whereas in CS, it's basically working on stuff on the computer.</p>

<p>So as far as CSE vs. CE, just think of it as Computer Science vs. Electrical Engineering, respectively.</p>

<p>CSE = lots of computer science + very little electrical engineering</p>

<p>CE = lots of electrical engineering + very little computer science</p>

<p>Hi CEMan,</p>

<p>Thanks for your advice. I'm also from Bay Area. Hopefully will see you at Kemper Hall next Fall--We will be studying in the same building hehe :)</p>

<p>Actually I'm much better at Math & Circuits than programming. However, since CSE program at Davis has very significant studying in Security& Network which I'm aiming for. Also 2 UCD advisors whom I talked to before said CSE was one of the toughest major at UCD to get in ( don't know if it's true). That's why i went for it............</p>

<p>:D </p>

<p>Yeah I'm a transfer also. So it looks like we may be in the same building. If you go to the UCD bookstore, they sell this thing called the "Undergraduate Engineering Bulletin 2004-2005". It is located next to the college catalog and class schedule. It's filled with great info. It breaks down all the engineering majors and all courses you'll need to take for your major. With this catalog, you can easily see all the difference in courses required for the 2 majors. What's helpful is that they have course descriptions for all engineering courses also, so you'll have a good idea of what you're getting into.</p>

<p>I like programming alot, and it can become difficult in advance stages, but in general, I have a much easier time in those type of classes than I do in hardware classes, although so far I've only had Circuit Analysis. But for programming, I've taken Java, 2 classes of C++, and a Pascal class, and they didn't really give me any trouble. It was just time consuming. I'm currently taking an intermediate C++ class right now, and it's still managable.</p>

<p>Hey I think we're opposites than. I can handle software better than hardware, but you can handle hardware better than software. So I'm going into a field that's gonna be tougher for me, and you'll be going into a field that's gonna be tougher for you. If you like to get into security and networks, go for it. :)</p>

<p>Have you taken the equivalent to UC Davis Engr 6 at your school yet? My cc doesn't offer it. It is supposed to be a basic intro class for all engineering majors. The course name is called Engineering Problem Solving. It's a course using MATLAB.</p>

<p>CEMan,</p>

<p>Why do you take Pascal? Isn't it a requirement for transfer?</p>

<p>Uh! I got A in both first 2 classes of C++. I'm taking the last C++ class- Data structure right now. It's little confusing but doable .</p>

<p>I just checked upper division courses for both CSE and CE: about 75% upper division classes are the same except CE has to deal with bunch of senior design projects and CSE has to do some Software engineering project :) :) :)</p>

<p>Pascal was just a class I took in high school back in the day. It was my very first programming class. I don't think anyone uses Pascal anymore these days as it's a useless language anyway.</p>

<p>If you got A's in your programming courses, then you're well set for whichever major you end up with at Davis.</p>