<p>Im currently a junior in high school. I am very good at math and science. I have looked into either majoring in computer science and computer engineering. I think i am leaning toward engineering because of a more hands-on focus opposed to theoretical thinking. I am interested in applying valuable information into the real world opposed to developing software or code for engineers to actually apply. Can anybody tell me the major differences between the two and potential careers i could get with these majors? Also how do the salaries of these two disciplines compare?</p>
<p>I would like to work for some major companies (google, intel, facebook, amazon etc.) i would also really like to work in a major city (new york city, chicgo etc...) </p>
<p>Also i would really like to use a lot of math in my career. I don't just want to study it in college and then never use it in my job, i heard computer science is like that. (I REALLY LOVE MATHHHHHHHHH!) so what one of these two careers would use the most math and apply it to real world problems?</p>
<p>At schools where there is a distinction, computer engineering is usually more hardware focused, while computer science is usually more software and theory focused.</p>
<p>From this I can tell that you really have no idea what each role entails (not that you should; it’s hard to know this stuff just by reading descriptions you find on Wikipedia).</p>
<p>ucbalumnus is correct, of course. A hardware focus usually entails learning more about computer architecture and how to design and implement things at the lowest level (e.g. a processor) using various hardware design languages. You’re also likely to do more low-level coding (closer to the machine; i.e. C).</p>
<p>Software/theory, on the other hand, is where all the high-level concepts live. How to build software, how different types of programming languages work, algorithms, data structures, etc.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that there is going to be a ton of overlap here. There are some courses that everyone will end up taking, regardless of the CE/CS distinction.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Roughly equivalent.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That’s doable with either major. The interview process will be the same at most of the major companies and will involve a lot of algorithms and problem-solving.</p>
<p>As far as general career opportunities go, CE will bias you a little towards hardware-ish things. But overall I think you’d apply to a similar set of companies in either case.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That’s entirely dependent on your specific job. Graphics programming, for instance, will rely heavily on algorithms and linear algebra. Standard web development might not require any math at all.</p>
<p>sumzup- thank you for your very detailed response it helped a lot. </p>
<p>So if i get into computer engineering will i have more hands on type work where i will be actually working with my hands and putting things together and using CAD and things? </p>
<p>Do computer scientists apply their findings/algorithms (whatever they are called) to really world problems or do they just develop it and then engineers find out how to apply it? </p>
<p>Something that interests me is internet security. Where i prevent hackers from getting into a system. Does this job actually exist or is it just in the movies? And if so what would be the job title of this, and what type of degree should someone get if the were interested in this? </p>
<p>With computer science you will most likely be programming</p>
<p>With computer engineering you will be more likely to be designing circuits</p>
<p>Sometimes comp. engineering can be described as a balance between electrical engineering and systems computer science (the low-level programming stuff). In the end you might favor one over the other and that’s what you’ll want to do.</p>
<p>Let’s be clear about things. CE is usually a blend of CS and EE (electrical engineering) (this depends on your school and doesn’t always apply. For example, Stanford doesn’t even offer CE. They only offer CS or EE).</p>
<p>In EE you won’t be using CAD - that’s for mechanical engineers. You will be spending a lot of time using software to design circuits. The only “hands-on” part of EE is that during some of the classes you take you might be setting up a PCB/wires by hand. But in an actual job, you will mostly be using software to design things - you won’t actually be building anything. My brother, for example, does circuit design (he was an EE grad), and all he does is “code” circuits using a design language called Verilog.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>CS can be theoretical or practical. It’s up to you. Your distinction here between scientists and engineers is misleading because CS encompasses both the creation of algorithms and the implementation of algorithms. In other words, both the scientists and engineers in your example are doing work that is best described as “CS” work.</p>
<p>I want to be extra clear about something. Neither CE, CS, nor EE are hands-on (in the literal “hands putting things together” sense). </p>
<p>That being said, I think the ability to write some code and run it and see the results in front of you can be very “hands-on” in a non-literal sense. I think being able to write a mobile app in a month and see the results on your iPhone or Android can be very gratifying.</p>
<p>colorado_mom- I really enjoyed algebra because i really like working with numbers and solving equations apposed to the vocabulary in geometry. I also like calculus and trig but my favorite was probably algebra 1 and 2. I also really enjoyed physics almost as much as math.</p>