<p>Does a computer engineering degree cover everything a computer science degree covers and more? Excuse my ignorance, but it certainly seems like that is the case. I have been looking at job posting in the information technology and software development field, and the education requirements ask for a CS degree or a CE degree. Would it it be better for me to go for the engineering degree since it offers me more versatility and a greater chance of finding employment. I say this because with an engineering degree, I could also work designing hardware. However, I do prefer working on software. What does a CS degree have that a CE degree does not? I really don't mind taking more math and science classes.</p>
<p>When schools offer both as distinct majors, usually the computer engineering major has more of a hardware emphasis, with courses in digital systems, computer architecture, integrated circuits, and the software courses more related to hardware like operating systems. But there can be considerable overlap between the majors. Computer science majors may have hardware courses as requirements or electives.</p>
<p>Check the curricula for each major at each school to get an idea of what it includes.</p>
<p>If you think about it, computer science can always be learned on your own. Once you know a couple languages learning more gets way easier. If you did computer engineering, you would learn the stuff you really can’t do on your own. I think computer engineering is the better option.</p>
<p>CS tends to have a focus in software engineering and algorithms, utilizing lots of discrete mathematics to design or use optimal data structures to speed up codes greatly. You can end up covering extra areas in parallel programming, machine learning, graphics, computational sciences and more. There is a drastic difference in CE vs. CS, even if some courses overlap in the two. CS uses software as a tool, but that’s not all it is about.</p>
<p>There is a spectrum of topics between Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Computer Engineering is somewhere in the middle. In the case of Computer Engineering, there are aspects of Computer Science that you won’t cover and aspects of Electrical Engineering that you won’t cover. </p>
<p>It’s important to realize that these are not mutually exclusive fields. I think if you are are interested in both Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, then Computer Engineering is a good place to start until you determine what you like. This way you can make forward progress on both while you are figuring it out. Then if you prefer one over the other (CS or EE), you can veer that way, or just stick with CE. </p>
<p>However, if your love is CS, CE will leave important aspects out, and you should stick with CS.</p>
<p>Computer Engineering is subfamily of EE. Don’t know why people assume that it is a mix of EE and CS. It is not. CompE is a focus on electronics components i.e. If you think your not going to be studying analog devices as CompE you are sadly mistaken. An EE uses the same types of software and computer languages (assembly,embedded) as a CompE. Can a CompE get a job as a software engineer? Yes, but a person with a BS in Computer Information Systems can get a job as a software engineer. Think of Aerospace Engineering in relation with mechanical engineering.</p>
<p>The EEs and CompEs i graduated with are not anywhere close to a CS in terms of programing ability. In fact, i would say the programing skills between the EEs and CompEs i know are about even. So this myth that CompE is just an EE who can program well is bogus.</p>
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<p>Let me adjust this. Programming can be learned on your own. A good academic foundation in computer science can always help. Knowing in general how languages work (from a Theory of Programming Languages course) and how operating systems work in general (from a Theory of Operating Systems course) goes a long way in tuning your mind to learn new technologies quicker.</p>
<p>You can Make your CE degree more software more programming for example I took all of the programming sequence at our school! I also chose software classes as my electives! I switched over from CS to CE because of my advisor! She told me the CE degree gave me more options and she tailored it to where I took all the software engineering classes and programming classes as electives and some were already required in the degree! So if you are somewhere in between like I was try my route it’s working for me! Best of Luck!</p>
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<p>Yes it is. </p>
<p>Look at an example of an EECS department
<a href=“Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan”>Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan;
<p>At MIT EECS there are 3 different variants between EE and CS including one that straddles both. That is equivalent to computer engineering.</p>