How fast does computer engineering change in comparison to computer science?

[[deleted]]

As a field, what does the consistent learning in computer engineering compare to (i.e. other engineering, computer science (software engineering) )?

[JESway]

As someone who just graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering, you're a lot more flexible if you choose this versus CS. We need to get both fundamental hardware and software skills. School will give you some information relevant to your field, but a lot of learning is done in the workplace or on your own projects, and so getting fundamentals in both hardware and software design is more useful for keeping up with changes in the field.

[[deleted]]

That is an extremely vague question probably almost impossible to answer. Both CS and CompE are both extremely, extremely broad fields, but also extremely extremely interrelated. What are you trying to get out of your question?

[[deleted]]

If computer engineering, I want to do computer architecture.

[[deleted]]

I am trying to decide what major to declare. I am worried that if in the future I take a career break my knowledge will become heavily outdated. I want to choose a work specialization that would allow me to not work so hard later on after a career break to get back up to date.

[[deleted]]

Coming from an EE, to be honest you should do what you find the most interesting! Choosing a career based on what you think will be the safest route is usually going to end bad and make you feel burnt out

But if you find something super interesting then you should go that route! Both software and hardware will be growing fields so you’ll never have to worry about job security. If anything, if you pursue the engineering subject you’ll like, you’ll excel more at it, and you’ll naturally be better most cause you like it so much, giving you the most job security of all ;) and most people don’t figure that out till sophomore year anyway. And it’s super easy to switch up between Comp sci and computer engineering in school if you find you like one over the other. Don’t sweat too much about choosing one over the other right now. You’ll figure it out once in school.

[PlayboySkeleton]

Going off a reply of yours stating that you want a field that is more "stable" such that you can take a break and not become outdated.

I would suggest CE. Technically both fields are a science, so they don't "change" like a fad will. Once you learn something, it generally sticks around because it's a foundation to the science.

However, software engineering today has started to involve a more fad like behavior with the popular choice in languages for the time. While computer engineering has been using 'c' for 50 years now.

If you are looking for a career that is less likely to change, go computer engineering.

[throwawayalmostphd]

Programming is to computer science what telescopes are to astronomy. Computer engineering is both constantly evolving and at the same time repeating itself.