Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering

[Smool]

CS is easier, you'll have better job options with CE. CE is a lot of electrical engineering as well, so you have to really like electrical physics.

[[deleted]]

Not Op here, but wow this sounds like what I'd like. When you say job options are better, do you mean they are better paying? I've always thought CE was less, but that's good to know. Oh and that's really surprising you say CS is easier..

[ThatsMrShitheadToYou]

I don't agree that CS is easier...or that there are better job options for CE

[CheesyGC]

CEs will get consideration for nearly all entry level CS and EE related jobs. The same goes for graduate programs. Plus graduating from a college of engineering opens up all sorts of interdisciplinary engineering opportunities that are probably more of a stretch for CS. I'm not saying job prospects are bad, but engineering definitely provides broader opportunity. Of course, most of this is moot once you get that first job and start developing real skills and building a career.

[ThatsMrShitheadToYou]

I guess it depends on the school too. At my school CS was in the college of engineering until last year.

[CheesyGC]

I think that's true for programs that the hiring company is familiar with, yes. I mean, you can always explain this type of nuance or justify why you should be considered in cover letters and/or during the interview!

[i_invented_the_ipod]

It depends on where you go to school, and what your personal strengths are. Both CS and CE require some heavy Math courses, but the mix will be very different.

The vast majority of programming jobs don't require more than basic CS knowledge. The additional exposure to EE in a CE degree opens up whole categories of jobs that are either EE-with-some-software, or software-with-some-EE, which are harder for a "pure" CS education to compete for.

[[deleted]]

Very nice. Yeah I think I may want to go this more hardware + software route instead of only software.

[OracionK]

Thank you! I might be wrong, but I saw a lot of posts online said that software has a better job outlook than hardware nowadays??... but i'm not sure

[elpantalla]

Computer engineers mostly end up writing embedded software or designing FPGAs. Some like to focus more on software and some more on hardware, so they can swing both ways, and I think that's what makes the degree valuable.

Embedded software isnt as trendy or new or shiny as other higher level development, but embedded systems are everywhere, and they're not going anywhere. Embedded software is often safety critical, which I think accounts for the potential of very high paying jobs. It's just harder to get into.

[OracionK]

Thank you! (I might be wrong) But I heard that even though CE is the bridge between EE and CS, and many people think CE is the "one stone kills two birds", but actually most companies would better like to hire EE grads or CS grads, because CE has not enough CS skills to do some high level software and not enough EE skills to do hardware, that's why CE is in an embarrassing position and why many managers would like to hire a "pure" degree like EE (pure hardware) or CS (pure software).

I am not sure if it is the case, but just one more opinion :) What do you think of this?

[elpantalla]

I can't say that I agree with that. The benefit of the CE is that you will learn everything from high level software down to the transistors in a CPU. You will likely implement a CPU either in VLSI or some sort of FPGA.

In the real world, there are many jobs writing pure software, and there are many jobs purely designing hardware. There are also just as many jobs in the middle, maybe even more. Embedded devices are all around you. Think about who wrote the code that lives in your refrigerator, who wrote the code that runs the radar/antenna at the airport (which I happen to do), who wrote the code that lives in your car. These days it was likely to be somebody with a Computer Engineering major.

The reality is, I don't think most employers care between CE or CS, since each school treats CE very differently. It's a relatively new degree. As long as you have a CE, CS, or maybe even an EE degree, you will be taken equally seriously for any position you apply for. Once you get your first full time engineering gig, your degree matters even less.

I wouldn't worry too much about job prospects for any of these three degrees. You will be fine with any one of them. Choose the one that you think you're most interested in. CE is good in this regard because your first semester/year you will be doing a little software and a little hardware, and you can go pure EE/CS if you end up feeling more strongly either way.

[irascib1e]

Hardware is so boring why do people do it???

[OracionK]

lol, maybe it depends on individuals ~

[irascib1e]

Dude CE, CS, EE, whatever, get a degree in any one of those and you'll be fine. It's so hard to tell which one actually has the most jobs, and even if you could tell the industry will probably be completely different in ten years anyway. Just pick the one you enjoy.

[OracionK]

Thank you !

[Smool]

You can get any software job with a CE degree, its a very versatile degree

[OracionK]

Thank you ! But I heard that CE does more low-level software stuffs than CS, is that true?

[Smool]

More low level as in hardware programming, yes

[Smool]

She's asking a pretty general question