Computer Engineering v. Computer Science

[fels]

I'm a high school senior, trying to figure out what to do with life, and I'm not sure whether to go with a major in CE or CS.

I'm interested in web and computer programming, but the physics behind computer hardware also interests me... and as I understand it, CS is more software oriented, CE is more hardware.

This leaves me in a weird position where I don't know which major to go with, so I figured I would ask the Neowin community...

I'll be attending the University of Nebraska- Lincoln if that makes any difference...

Thanks

[:: Lyon ::]

  Quote

CS is more software oriented, CE is more hardware

You got that right

Well I took Computer Science because I loved computer games (I know it's wrong, but since then I started to love making programs, web applications, etc). I'm not so much into tinkering electronics (I always hated those subjects about electric currents, AND-OR-Gates, etc)

So I guess it depends on what you really like lol sorry not helping much..

[hjf288]

Depends on how deeply you wish to know how a computer works..

You will learn alot of the fundamentals even from taking Comp science but to go deeper I.E. Logic gates, silicon/circuit design, etc Engineering maybe your forte...

One disappointment of studying at University for me though is that the one I attend, they barely teach anything that I dont already know (Apart from ASP/ASP.NET, Writing in "Plain English") :p

[+Mystic MVC]

gdfgdfgdfg

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

What about a double major in Computer Science and Computer Engineering? :yes:

[Edge00]

I attend West Virginia University and I have friends who study both CS and CE, you are correct that CS = software and CE = hardware. FWIW (from a microbiology grad student) from my experience in talking to them and knowing what courses they take there does seem to be some overlap between the two curricula.

If you want to get an idea of what the differences between the two majors are try looking up the course catalog on their website. You can actually see what courses are required by the university to achieve a degree in the particular major, see which one has courses that seem more interesting to you.

Here is the link for their course catalog

[Rudy]

I also went for CS since I couldn't stand the hardware stuff (although I did have a good time building stuff with an HC11). In university I learned (or "mastered") C/C++, and other languages. Unfortunately my current work is all Java based but I still like it :) (not a bad language, it was really easy to pick up but I enjoy programming in C/C++ a lot more).

I've heard some people who took CE complain about the fact that they don't learn enough software programming but I can't really comment on that

[Astra.Xtreme]

I started out in Computer Engineering and then switched over to Electrical Engineering this year since I'm not a big fan of programming. At the University I attend, Computer Engineering is considered a mix of Software and Electrical Engineering.

In the long run, I think CE would be a better choice for the sake that you can become a certified Engineer and there isn't as many people in that field. Less people equals more demand in that area. If you can do Software Engineering though, do that. That is even more in demand.

My only advise would be to go on the University's website and download the most recent curriculum. On there each major should be broken down to what classes you will take and when you take them. Then you should be able to get a description of what you will be doing in each class. This is very very important because a lot of people switch their majors in college and then get behind in classes when they switch. Save yourself the money and frustration and make sure you are 100% sure of what you are getting yourself into.

Also, I hope you like programming as you will be eating and sleeping it for the next 4 years. :D

Here's my University's CE cirriculum. Description of classes is at the end:

CE is on page 123

[9UnknownMen]

I started out as CS major before transitioning to CompE. The fact that the avg starting salary was about $12k higher at my shcool helped but it was more to do with economy back then.

Main difference you'll have to endure off the bat is way more math in the core curriculum. I had to take Cal 3 & 4 along with DiffEQ after I switched. Also you have to take cal based engineering physics which is no walk in the park compared to Chem or what ever other science core CS allows you sub for.

Can't say I regretted it. I got the pick of the Co-Op offers and even though my GPA took a hurting it payed off in the end. With CS you're pretty much pigeonholed into the codemonkey lifestyle if stop at undergraduate and R&D/Academia if you continue on.

Btw, I'm not a fan of the Big12 but I do pull for the huskers when they're playing. ;)

Edited January 19, 2009 by 9UnknownMen

[Laurë Veteran]

  David R. said:

I'm a high school senior, trying to figure out what to do with life, and I'm not sure whether to go with a major in CE or CS.

I'm interested in web and computer programming, but the physics behind computer hardware also interests me... and as I understand it, CS is more software oriented, CE is more hardware.

This leaves me in a weird position where I don't know which major to go with, so I figured I would ask the Neowin community...

I'll be attending the University of Nebraska- Lincoln if that makes any difference...

Thanks

There is nothing weird about that!

Have you looked at the curriculum of those courses at that School in any detail yet?

Do that first, then look at the future jobs prospects... if both subjects interest you equally (and you don't want to do the double major option) then you might as well go with the one that leads to more $$$ at the end..

[ekw]

I faced this dilemma 3 1/2 years ago when i was a senior in HS.

The university i go to, is basically a mix of comp sci classes + electrical engineering.

Then during the late junior to senior year, the university takes all that theory junk and put it into practice.

(such as electives on ASIC/FPGA)

well, i made my choice because i really like programming (I think i learned to like it during college, you probably will have to do the same) and my curiosity into electronics was insatiable. Thus i chose CompE as my major, but so far im debating whether i should just double major (CS and EE), because stuff like energy aren't included in CompE (And apparently energy will become a major industry in the next 10 years).

Then again if you dont know anything about CS or CompE it may dissuade you to stay in that major as u progress through college.

Keep in mind there is no rush to choose your major. I have friends that were undecided, and ended up happy in their overdue chosen majors.

[fels]

Thanks everyone. Just getting so many insightful responses in a short time makes me feel much more confident.

  Mystic said:

No way! I'm currently attending there and I'm a freshmen. I'm in the business college right now (CBA) for management, but next year will start my focus in MIS (management information systems). Not sure what advice to offer you, just thought I had to post. :p

Go Huskers!

  Anaron said:

What about a double major in Computer Science and Computer Engineering? :yes:

That's actually very interesting... I'll see how viable it is, but I'm amazed that I didn't think of that before. The quick look I've taken at the curriculum seems like if I go that route I'm only a few credit hours from a math major too... triple major FTW?

  Edge00 said:

If you want to get an idea of what the differences between the two majors are try looking up the course catalog on their website. You can actually see what courses are required by the university to achieve a degree in the particular major, see which one has courses that seem more interesting to you.

Here is the link for their course catalog

Thanks for the link. I've had a little trouble navigating UNL's website, and that was one of the elusive items. I must have just been way off in my navigation attempts.

  9UnknownMen said:

Btw, I'm not a fan of the Big12 but I do pull for the huskers when they're playing. ;)

The Gator Bowl was pretty exciting... a little too exciting, maybe.

Right now I have a pretty decent scholarship offer from the College of Engineering, and I don't want to lose that by transferring to the College of Arts and Sciences for a CS degree... That makes double(triple) majoring even more appealing. Has anyone else attempted double majoring CS and CE? Is it extremely difficult?

[kylejn]

  David R. said:

I'm a high school senior, trying to figure out what to do with life, and I'm not sure whether to go with a major in CE or CS.

I'm interested in web and computer programming, but the physics behind computer hardware also interests me... and as I understand it, CS is more software oriented, CE is more hardware.

This leaves me in a weird position where I don't know which major to go with, so I figured I would ask the Neowin community...

I'll be attending the University of Nebraska- Lincoln if that makes any difference...

Thanks

I've been both. Electrical and Computer Engineering is a whole lot of circuits, voltages, currents, and so forth. Computer Science, at least for me, was 95% programming with a little bit of hardware thrown in there for good measure. I was an ECE major for about a year and a half before I switched to CS, and while I don't particularly like either of them, CS is probably the better of the two.

But, really, don't worry about your major. Just pick something you can tolerate for four years; it's going to be completely meaningless when you get out into the real world. At least that's what people keep telling me since I've been stressing about having absolutely no desire to do a CS-related job, but feel unqualified to do anything else. *shrugs*

[Astra.Xtreme]

  Quote

it's going to be completely meaningless when you get out into the real world.

Wow, that's a terrible statement to make. In our generation, it is absolutely all about education. The more the better.

You could be a lot less deserving than somebody else for a job, but if you have your Masters over somebody with only a Bachelors, you will get the job. Just how it works in big business.

You have to find a mix of something you will enjoy and something that will suit the style of living you want to have.

[DanManIt]

Go for whatever you think you would liek the most. Science is software oriented. Engineering is hardware oriented

[DigitalE]

I'm going to be majoring in Computer Engineering at Iowa State University :)

[kylejn]

  Escalade_GT said:

Wow, that's a terrible statement to make. In our generation, it is absolutely all about education. The more the better.

You could be a lot less deserving than somebody else for a job, but if you have your Masters over somebody with only a Bachelors, you will get the job. Just how it works in big business.

You have to find a mix of something you will enjoy and something that will suit the style of living you want to have.

No, I mean, yes, education is important and having a degree will definitely help secure a good job, but what that degree is actually in doesn't matter that much for many careers. That's what I meant. College is mostly just to show that you can do something for four years and stick with it to the end, so I've been told.

[MtnDewCodeRedFreak]

I major in Info Tech at my uni - currently achieved senior status this semester - may grad this Dec 2009.

Programming - ugh not my thing. Networking, oh yes!

I'm taking a class this semester related to computers - Fundamentals of Electricity and Electronics (ECT174). The remaining 5 classes are electives - History, Tech Writing, Spanish II, etc.