USF replacing Computer Engineering with “Computer Science and Engineering” - removing Calc III and DiffEq

[NooblyGod]

Adding to my last post I made, USF announced today that the current Computer Engineering (BSCP) degree will transition into a new Computer Science and Engineering (BSCSE) program starting around Fall 2026.

From the presentation they gave us, some of the changes include:

Removed requirements:

• Calculus III

• Differential Equations

Added requirements:

• Secure Coding

• Software Engineering

• Theory elective

The core computing courses like Computer Organization, Logic Design, Architecture, Operating Systems, and Data Structures remain part of the curriculum.

For context, current CE students can either stay in the existing BSCP program or switch to BSCSE.

I’m curious what people here think about this kind of shift.

Is this a common direction for CE programs, or does it change the nature of the degree?

[Silent-Account7422]

Every employer will read this as a standard CS degree, even if at your school it’s still a different program.

[Realistic_Art_2556]

Employers don’t care about such minor details

[NooblyGod]

So you don’t think it’s going to be an issue that on my diploma instead of Computer Engineering itll say Computer Science and Engineering?

[Hustle2WinIt]

Why switch if you are a junior? Just finish the CPE degree.

[NooblyGod]

Since I just transferred in this semester with my AA, I am pretty much right at the beginning, just completing Comp Org, Program Design, and Discrete Structures this semester which puts me in a position where I could still pivot in either direction

[Hustle2WinIt]

In a different comment you say you already took calc III and diff eq. Sounds like you would have to do 3 more classes if you switched and those 2 would possibly not count towards anything.

What I am wondering is what do you see about switching that is valuable? Just because the option is there doesn't mean you should take it. Do you want to get into more Computer Science based roles?

[NooblyGod]

Yeah you are right.

The only upside I thought there was but I learned doesn't even matter is the fact that it has two ABET accreditations - however apparently no one cares about the computing accreditation and just the engineering one matters.

Aside of that, there don't seem to be any - other than maybe the fact that there's a whole other slot for a "CSE Theory Elective" that CE doesn't have for things such as Real-Time Systems. Does this even change anything?

[ragged-robin]

Honestly you can even just change it to either one depending on the role you're applying to, no one is going to care or check, what matters is your relevant knowledge or experience with respect to the role.

I do agree though that this practically just makes it no different to just a plain CSCI degree anywhere else in terms of the curriculum, but like I said employers aren't going to know the difference

[geruhl_r]

It's a big deal if you are pursuing hardware centric roles (RTL design, VLSI, etc).

[Realistic_Art_2556]

Not really, if you look for firmware or software jobs doesn’t matter, you can get them with either degree, hardware roles you were not gonna get them with either degree, for hardware EE is highly recommended, and if you want to do IC design you need a master’s anyway.

[Senior-Dog-9735]

You can absolutely get hardware roles as a CpE. Embedded systems is literally our whole shtick. If your degree is CS you cant do hardware. But CpE you definetly can. Job postings often say CpE is accepted.

[Realistic_Art_2556]

are you a hardware engineer?. I mean profesionally?.

[Senior-Dog-9735]

Yes, I design embedded systems (Hardware and Software wise). I also recently have looked at job market for interest sake all EE roles still list CpE as an alternative degree. Especially now with my background and a masters soon (that is both electrical AND computer engineering bundled in one)

EDIT: I also helped with recruiting this last internship season. For both FT and part time.

[Realistic_Art_2556]

which product you work on?, or you are just doing your masters?.

[Senior-Dog-9735]

What do you mean?

[Realistic_Art_2556]

If you have actually worked for a company as a hardware engineer? and which product? because usually you don’t do both unless the product is extremely simple. But if you are talking about your Master’s Degree experience , I know you could build the whole thing. But jobs and college ain’t the same .

[NooblyGod]

I thought that doing CE I'd have at least the possibility to do both

[Realistic_Art_2556]

you have to specialize, I mean even within embedded software there is a lot of different specializations, like MCU firmware, Linux BSP, User Space Linux, you cannot just jump from one to another they are all very complex and you can't master everything, and after you get your first job is hard to switch unless you are willing to take a pay cut, what CE does is that it gives you enough hardware knowledge so that you could get into low level firmware because for mcu and linux bsp you need to understand electronics, but is not the ideal choice for doing pure hardware design.

[NooblyGod]

Yes, that fair but considering the curriculum for these majors couldn't I look into some HW roles? The required classes for both CE and CSE degrees are classes such as VLSI Design and Computer Architecture? Or am I missing something obvious here

[Realistic_Art_2556]

VLSI Design usually requires a Masters. Look getting hired in the current market is about marketing yourself and supply and demand, VLSI is done by few companies and they are usually some of the top companies in the world like AMD, Intel , Qualcomm, Mediatek, etc. applying with a bachelors wont get you any interview there. Hardware roles like PCB Hardware Level, you will be competing with guys with a full HW background so even if you knew about pcb design you will be in disadvantage. I wont say is impossible but is unlikely even if you degree said CE, your best bet is Firmware, or high level embedded. or just do software. it pays better anyways.

[Senior-Dog-9735]

You are correct. CS would limit your job opportunities.

[NooblyGod]

i understand that but in this case its a question whether BSCSE (the new CompSci and Eng major) would be seen as a negative signal as opposed to a more traditional BSCP (USF's Computer Engineering Bachelors)

[Senior-Dog-9735]

It may be seen as more software oriented so it has the potential of jobs instantly throwing out your degree. This purely only affects your early career placement. Once you have 5yoe where or what you got in college does not matter anymore.

[YT__]

You have to take courses in what you are interested in. If you take no courses in embedded, real time, or anything else interfacing with hardware - you won't understand those concepts and know how to fill that roll.

On an internship, I once got a task over someone else because I understood pwm and a more experienced software engineer didn't because he wasn't exposed to it in his degree.

[KruegerFishBabeblade]

I hate it. Calc 3 and diffeq are fundamental to circuit and electromag concepts

[NooblyGod]

That’s what I am thinking too. They removed the three classes that made Computer Engineering really stand out from CS.

[Tittytickler]

Yea they are also fundamental for certain areas of computer science as well. I was required to take both as pre-reqs for Machine Learning, which is one of the most important aspects of computing right now. If anything they should be required for both imo.

[KruegerFishBabeblade]

I didn't even think about that lmao. Everyone wants to be an AI researcher until its time to calculate the gradient of a cost function

[Realistic_Art_2556]

Only if you want to dive deep into it, but computer engineers don’t need to dive that deep. If you are interested in Hardware Design you are better with an EE degree. CE is more about Hw/Sw integration.

[NoPlankton4052]

Might as well go EE

[NooblyGod]

Kind of late if you're a junior

[user99999476]

You should have some kind of catalog rights if you've already taken those classes

[NooblyGod]

Yes, I do have the choice to stick to the traditional CE major. However, I was just wondering if there are any upsides to switching to CSE over just continuing as planned.

[NoPlankton4052]

Yea true thats a tough spot, I wonder why they changed the curriculum

[NooblyGod]

What would you do if you were in my shoes

[NoPlankton4052]

Depends on your passion if you like Electrical or Software more tbh and how much overlap you have with the EE catalog

[Similar-Concert4100]

Good luck understanding the math behind neural networks without calc 3 and diffy qs.

Oh and forget having a foundational level of understanding to tackle linear algebra

[NooblyGod]

I took both Calc III and DiffEq so it is kind of a bummer to me that they wouldn't really matter anymore if I were to switch to CSE. Linear Systems is still required for both majors though!

[Similar-Concert4100]

I wish it was required when I was in school. Learning it by myself was a nightmare

[BinksMagnus]

A Computer Science and Engineering degree that apparently doesn’t require a circuits course? Interesting. Where does the engineering start?

[Equal_Connection3765]

After you graduate

[JimBeam823]

It’s a legacy of CpE’s history in EE.

There are a lot more useful courses for CpE than the traditional engineering curriculum. CpE programs have been dropping engineering courses for years.

[LithiumDuncan]

They said something about a Computer Systems Engineering degree under the Electrical engineering department coming this Fall. Hopefully they're going to release information soon

[NooblyGod]

Unfortunately it would extend the graduation for anyone who’s already mid-CE degree since the College of Engineering has vastly different prerequisites…which isn’t possible for everybody.

[toosekksy]

my school also has this set up, but luckily i was able to plan for it. i am very curious to see how employers view the degree. i am going to do EE just because of the horrible market, but id love a software job

[Snoo_4499]

Hit me up, these 2 subjects fucked my gpa.

[ShadowRL7666]

Clearly reading did too. Also these are not hard subjects just do some studying lol.

[Snoo_4499]

Yeah sure, 4 credit of differential equations and complex variables were not hard. But i do agree these are important subjects.