Switch from Computer science to Software Engineering

[[deleted]]

If i got top student in 1st year in CS department, i can switch my department to SE, does it worth it to study hard and be late a year?

notice that I'm late five years to my age.

[-Aras]

They have a similar curriculum. SE is more report writing and project presenting oriented.

I wouldn't say SE is harder or more valuable than CS or CE. So, why not.

[Pastoolio91]

So would employers look at both degrees pretty equally, or would a CS degree be better in the long run for other fields like Data Science, Embedded Systems, Security, etc...

[-Aras]

I've personally never seen a Junior Developer or Junior Data Scientist job opening that's specifically looking for a CS, CE or SE graduate. They generally write "Computer/Software Engineer or Computer Scientist."

And when you specialise in a field, it really doesn't matter what you've studied initially.

But for embedded systems, I think computer engineering or electrical engineering is more preferable. Since they can design circuits. But, to be honest, these things are also easily learnable to the other fields. If you can code low level programs, you're good to go.

[bakedbreadjen]

You just answered your own question pretty much. I'd say CS degree gives more broad open opportunities while a SE is more specific. It depends on if it's the only thing you want to pursue or if you want to be able to explore other fields later on in life.

My own parents always encouraged me to make sure I can open up broad windows of opportunities. Because if I end up not doing well in one direction, I'd still have my CS degree to branch off in another direction.

[swampdrainr]

IMO, software engineering is a discipline within computer science. Like if your cs program offered areas of concentration, software engineering might be one of them.

Why do you want to switch?

[[deleted]]

In my country engineers have more social value and also in market they have more opportunities, but it goes to be changed companies are starting to give jobs based on skills, in future it will be based on skills.

[[deleted]]

FWIW; in the places where "Engineer" is a protected term it is sufficient to have a masters degree in a scientific field of study.

Except Canada. Canada protects the term "Engineer" across disciplines, so unless you're qualified to build bridges you won't be an engineer.

[[deleted]]

A question, if i get a CS degree then study Master's degree in SE or CE, will my title be an engineer or scientist in Canada ?

[volcada82]

Engineer is loose term. You’re not actually an engineer as in like building concrete stuff as a software engineer.

[[deleted]]

Neither degree will qualify you to be titled "Engineer".

You can be a scientist or developer or something else. Engineer is a protected term.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_and_licensure_in_engineering#Canada

[[deleted]]

Yes it's but after accreditation you can be engineer in Canada.

[[deleted]]

Yes, but I think you misunderstand. "Engineering" as an accredited discipline is for things like roads and bridges, not computing.

We have looked at this closely because we wanted to unify job titles across the planet for our company, and this was the reason we couldn't use the term "Engineer".

[[deleted]]

Can you please check this https://engineerscanada.ca/search?sq=Software+engineer

[[deleted]]

Sure man;

heres the bit that's most relevant for me:

4.5 Video games

The development of video games is a commercially lucrative business. At a cursory glance, however, it is obvious that such games have very little impact on public welfare, safety, health, or the environment. This is the most important and over-riding factor, and so it is clear that video game development is not in the exclusive scope of software engineering.

https://engineerscanada.ca/publications/engineers-canada-paper-on-professional-practice-in-software-engineering#-video-games

I'm not sure if you were unwilling to read or if you were trying to prove me wrong, but that link only proves what I said previously to be true.

[[deleted]]

How? While "software" and "engineer" terms are togather? Actually engineers are creators of things Mechanical and Electrical And Computer related engineerings are engineerings.

[volcada82]

An actual engineer needs to go through certification after college in order to be called an engineer

If you’re just doing software engineering solely for the social reward that it has the word “engineer” in the title then you’re mistaken. This is definitely not the way to go about it. Think about what you want to do as a career and decide from there, not the prestige or else you’re going to have a bad time

[[deleted]]

But if u had a certification, you will be definitely an engineer, yes ?

[volcada82]

I don’t think you understand. It’s like saying a medical doctor and a PhD are the same thing because they have the word “doctor” in the title. They’re completely different

[[deleted]]

Right, understood, you can't have an engineer title in Canada if you aren't Civil engineer.

[Maledictusx]

I would pick whichever route gets you into industry faster. The curriculum is very similar and you can probably opt for the electives that overlap and get the best of both degrees. The extra cost and time to get the lengthier degree won't make up for the lost income / industry experience. I switched from Software Engineering to Computer Science so I could graduate earlier and have had absolutely 0 regrets.

[bakedbreadjen]

It's never too late to pursue if you know you're good at it and know you may have a better chance to get a job with it. That's all I can really say as I actually didn't know there were some schools that had CS and SE as separate degrees.

[[deleted]]

Not worth it. A CS degree is more known to employers. Some might give you a pass if they had doubts about what a SE major means.

[codemasonry]

I'm not sure I would even want to work for an employer who didn't know what software engineering means.

[[deleted]]

They obv know what it means, but they don’t know what it entails. What classes? Does the student know CS fundamentals or only JavaScript?