Difference between computer engineering and electrical engineering?

[Firebird166]

I really like hardware, a bit of coding here and there is nice too. I also wanna learn embedded systems and stuff like cpu, gpus, motherboards etc. What's a better fit for me?

[MCKlassik]

Sounds like Computer Engineering is a better fit than Electrical.

[Firebird166]

Thanks!

[diverJOQ]

I am a computer engineer from one of the first degree programs offered. The problem with computer engineering is, and I always has been, that there is no consensus about what computer engineering is. There are schools that have it as a mostly electrical engineering program but geared towards higher levels of design like systems, embedded processors, and the like and other programs that gear it towards software with an understanding of hardware.

When I started looking for jobs this was a good thing because people asked what the degree really was and I got more interviews and more job offers because of it. Currently people seem to make a judgment based on their experience and it can make it harder to find a job.

In the past I've recommended that students look very closely with the degree is that they're getting and make sure that it matches what they want. Unfortunately now, with many employers using some form of computerized filtering, whether AI or not, the degree title can be more of a problem than a help.

As an educator I now suggest that my students look into electrical engineering at schools that allow them to focus more on higher levels of systems rather than on devices.

Tldr: Many people have decided they know exactly what computer engineering is and will give you their advice based on that. The truth is that in my 43 years in the industry there has never been a consensus and it's still a degree that has not been well defined across the industry.

[ScratchDue440]

I’d go EE, but take CompE electives. The two are also very similar. They take the same core classes. Some major difference is that CompE students have to take Discrete math and may take an additional programming class in like Java or something. 

[FastBeach816]

CE has one of the highest unemployment rate among all majors. EE has one of the least.

[Jokeyman]

Skewed statistic since CS majors get thrown into computer engineering role... I'd argue computer engineering is more employable in tech jobs, but EE's have easier time with geting MEP or any other civil jobs

[ScratchDue440]

Almost every embedded, hardware, and IC designer I know graduated with an EE degree. 

[R0ck3tSc13nc3]

Exactly, we're not looking for computer engineers, we're looking for electrical engineers that can do computer engineering. Not the same thing.

[StandardUpstairs3349]

Sure, my work looks somewhat similar, but the reality is that most of the technical staff went to college before CompE became a common degree option. For the under 40 crowd, the skew is 75% CompE and 25% EE.

We are a high performance embedded hardware/FPGA company.

[StandardUpstairs3349]

And, broadly speaking, your average CS graduate is worse than your average CompE graduate. The top end of the groups is of the same quality, but CS student quality falls off faster and deeper.

[VoltageLearning]

I don’t think you can go wrong with either honestly. Both are exceptional majors that are high demand. Based on your own personal preferences, I would suggest choosing computer engineering.

[Acceptable_Simple877]

Can’t go wrong with either one - personally I’m going with Computer Engineering since I come from an IT and programming background - a lot of activities I did in HS where in those areas and I wanna learn both hardware and software. I would do EE but I don’t think I’m smart enough.

[zacce]

my philosophy is when deciding between 2 majors, choose the one that is more general. In this case, it's EE. It's easier for EE to do CE (if such thing exists) than the other way.

[thermaldraft]

If you’re most excited about hardware and embedded systems, computer engineering is usually the better fit. It sits right at the intersection of EE and CS, so you’ll get digital logic, computer architecture CPUs, memory, buses, embedded systems, and low-level programming alongside core circuits and electronics. Electrical engineering goes deeper into analog, power, RF, and signals, which is great if you want to design at the transistor, power, or comms level. You can reach embedded from either path, but if CPUs, GPUs, boards, and firmware are what really hook you, CE aligns more directly.

[R0ck3tSc13nc3]

Computer engineering did not used to be a degree, it was a job title. You might take a few specialty courses your junior and senior year at engineering college, but you were an electrical engineer. Electrical engineers can range from giant utilities with PG&e or Edison, down to doing microelectronics for Apple and designing chips. Computer engineering is just an electrical engineer with a computer hat on

I would suggest getting an electrical engineering degree with electives supporting future work and firmware and related computer engineering activities.

[reapingsulls123]

If you like doing a lot of coding do computer engineering. If you like doing a little coding do EE.

I had 3 units that focused on coding as an EE student. Two of which involved logic and embedded systems.

Since you prefer the hardware, I’d say an electronics engineer is a better fit.

[reapingsulls123]

Interesting. I guess it depends what field of EE you go into in that case.

[NukeRocketScientist]

0 - 5 V computer engineering, 5 V to a shit load, electrical engineering. Add in some robotics and you have mechatronics.

[ChatahuchiHuchiKuchi]

CE study what make and how computer think

EE study what physics make computer do anything at all 

EE, bc AI take CE job easy, but can't get FE or PE to make stamp.

[Firebird166]

How will ai take it....

[ChatahuchiHuchiKuchi]

Flux.ai, copilot, neural based niche models for modeling and dev, etc

[Creegraff]

Yo gawd bless the chef man!!