Which school is better for Computer Engineering? SFSU or UC Merced

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

I am deciding between these two colleges for Computer Engineering. I know UC Merced focuses on software more than hardware because they do not have electrical engineering. From my understanding, CSU’s are more hands on learning and prepare you for a job. UC’s are more theoretical, but I was wondering if I could do side projects on my own and with others in order to get the hands on experience (internships also). I visited UC Merced the other day and heard some really good students got jobs to google, NVIDIA, etc. right out of undergraduate. I got waitlisted at Cal Poly Pomona, so there’s another choice just in case they take me off the waitlist.

Also, I got into the EOP program at San Francisco State

So the main things I would like to know are:

  • Can I still learn theory on my own if I go to San Fran?
  • Can I have enough hands on experience and internships at UC Merced?
  • Would it be possible for me to learn hardware (electrical engineering) on my own at UC Merced?
  • Which degree is better: Computer Engineering, or Computer Science & Engineering?
  • Is it better to learn theory or hands on to get a good, fun job?
  • Which school is overall better for Computer Science and Engineering?
  • Cal Poly Pomona Computer Engineering?

Lastly, price and location are not factors that I am considering (I like all three campuses)

2

SFSU has the usual junior/senior level CS theory courses (CS 510, 520):
http://cs.sfsu.edu/courses.html

UCM has a computer architecture course (CSE 140) and some grad-level EECS courses (e.g. EECS 250, 252) of interest:
http://catalog.ucmerced.edu/content.php?filter[27]=CSE&filter[29]=&filter[course_type]=-1&filter[keyword]=&filter[32]=1&filter[cpage]=1&cur_cat_oid=3&expand=&navoid=119&search_database=Filter#acalog_template_course_filter
http://catalog.ucmerced.edu/content.php?filter[27]=EECS&filter[29]=&filter[course_type]=-1&filter[keyword]=&filter[32]=1&filter[cpage]=1&cur_cat_oid=3&expand=&navoid=119&search_database=Filter#acalog_template_course_filter

3

Thank you