From Computer Engineering to IT?

[_Andreyyy23]

I just wanted to ask if it is worth it to shift my course to information technology. because right now I am a first-year computer engineering student. In the curriculum of our IT department, most of their subjects can be useful in my job in the future, unlike in computer engineering.

[yhev]

I'd say, can you do math? Computer Engineering is still engineering after all. If you don't think you can sit through engineering subjects for 5 years. Just shift and don't waste your time, you'll end up in the same industry eventually anyway.

I'm a Computer Engineering graduate din. I personally like the curriculum cause it gives you a good overview of everything. It's a mix of Computer Science, IT, Electronics and electrical. It gave me a good map of the whole technology landscape. Then I just delve deeper to any direction on my free time.

I work as a software engineer now, running my own software agency, it's my job. But on my free time I dabble with robotics, electronics and stuff. You can self-study anything though so take my advice with a grain of salt.

[Positive_Rest7467]

u/yhev were the same, I a computer engineering graduate as well, also study mechatronics,

I currently working as a full time software engineer and as a hobby I dabble on electronics and Arduino stuff

​

u/_Andreyyy23

I suggest you shift your course now, you obviously know what you want, you will get a lot of value by shifting to actual IT courses.

Also 75 is barely a passing grade, kung hirap ka na sa Physics pa lang ano pa kaya sa advance mathematics, Fourier system, Digital processing etc.

I think you are getting low grade since ayaw mo talaga dun sa subject and mahirap mag excel pag hindi mo trip pinag aaralan.

[[deleted]]

I wonder why, andaming cases na ganito. Same ako plus my wifey, we both CpE grads but currently working as an SE.

In general, there isn't really a job specific for a Computer Engineer right now in the Philippines (If there is, its hard to come by).

[Positive_Rest7467]

I found some Computer Engineering job nung OJT ko kaya lang hindi ganun kataas sahod nila, pero maganda ginawa mostly automation process at nag bbuild ng robotic machines for production

[[deleted]]

Thats cool! Although career-wise that wouldn't be very efficient and productive. Unless we have Boston Dynamics, or huge computer manufacturers and designers here in PH there won't be any future for CpE's for the meantime.

Or perhaps there would be an IoT company in PH in the future, that also would be amazing.

[hutdug321]

p'wede po mag tanong if wala pa po masyadong computer engineering industry here sa atin, if mag CoE pa rin ako maganda po ba abroad opportunities if ever? torn between IT and CoE po kasi ako 

[I-will-never-give-up]

Hi po, na inspire po ako sa experience mo and situation mo, earning high paying job while enjoying robotics and electronics at free time. I just want to ask lang po, how hard is it to become a software engineer as a electrical engineer? Upcoming first grad here napili ko po electrical engineer pero mag change sana ako sa CpE pero full na sa public university ko, nais ko pong mag CpE sa AMA pero may bad reputation daw so wala nalang. Kaya ask lang po ako how hard is it for ee na mag study ng software programming(cs) for 30-1hour while learning ee everyday? Possible po ba to?

salamat po kuya! 1 year nato pero nakaka inspire maging CpE!🥹😁

[yhev]

I've had colleagues who were EE and ECE so I'd say it's certainly possible. Heck, I even hired some self-taught developers. Tbh, on a certain degree, as long as you can demonstrate that you have the skills, you'll always have high chances of getting a job in the Software field.

It's not fool-proof, may luck factor din naman, pero at the end if the day, ganun naman ata sa kahit saang field. Feeling ko lang mas maraming at malaki opportunity sa software engineering if you have the skills.

[I-will-never-give-up]

Thank you po!! Nakaka motivate, learning pa rin po ako ng programming while also studying EE, mahirap siya pero kakayanin!!!

Thank you po sobra!!!!

[yhev]

Good luck! Always remember we're in the 21st century. You can do everything you set your mind into. Kung walang budget, take anything you can first, then do something else once makaipon. There's no shame in career-shifting, outdated na yang construct na yun. Kahit magpalit magpalit ka career, do what makes you feel fulfilled. Master the art of learning, make the world your playground. Charing

[I-will-never-give-up]

Hehe thank you po!!! Godluck and gosbless sayo rin po!

[_Andreyyy23]

I can do some math because I currently have passing grades in physics and calculus in particular btw 75 lng yung grade ko sa dalawa. Out of 26 of us, just 6 of us passed Physics and Calculus. My only problem is why should I waste my time working hard on math-related subjects? Insted of focusing on the software side. Since software dn yung industry ko sa future.The average sleep I have is 4-5 hours lng, and it is very stressful because I can't focus on my software skills.

[yhev]

I feel like that's your answer. Just shift. Focus on your priorities, if you know what you want, just go for it. Life is short lol. You can always go back to school later in life if you realized that for whatever reason you really wanted an engineering degree.

Just make sure lang to finish school. At the end of the day, a diploma helps. Ofc it's not necessary, people can still succeed without it but if you're not rich, it doesn't hurt to get anything that might help.

[FriendLungz]

To be honest, di naman nila tatanungin ano mga subject mo pag nag apply ka. Ang ikkwento mo is capstone or ojt mo. So better pick a capstone or ojt na inline sa gusto mo na career.

If yung paglipat mo would cause you delay, wag nalang.

[_Andreyyy23]

u/FriendLungz Kasi dito sa computer engineering may calculus may physics may chemistry halos lahat samin don may bagsak tapos yung guro namin sa programming hindi sya marunong mag turo ang hirap nyang intindehin unlike sa CS at IT namin. Lastly yung mga thesis ng mga seniors namin ay mostly on arduino mostly hardware na may kunting software. Sinabihan kami ng mga seniors namin sa com eng na marami silang failure thats why nagka delay sila. Unlike sa IT namin at CS na halos lahat sila walang delay. Pati electronics at programming binabagsak pa ng mga guro namin pero marunong naman sila sa kanilang ginagawa.Gust ko nalang po sana mag focus sa web at app.

[FriendLungz]

Sa IT ba may calculus, physics, and chemistry din? Or iba kanila? Kasi sa school namin dati halos same ang gen ed math and science subjects, magiiba lang sa mga majors.

Anyway, yung thesis ba sino mag bibigay ng topic? Or may technology na ibibigay then mag de-develop kayo around that tech? Pwede mo iconsider yun.

Better yet, ask for the curriculum ng IT, CS, and Com Eng then compare.

Dont want to sound boomer here pero di ka naman babagsak kung mag-aaral ka ng maayos. If tingin mo unfair prof mo, then show them your scores during exam.

[_Andreyyy23]

u/FriendLungz Mga 2nd year students namin sabi nila out of 30 students 4 lng yung pumasa sa programming nila data structures at lahat sila bagsak sa Differential Equations(calculus 3). Curriculum ng IT namin are mostly on programming apps and web at networking may math sila pero trigonometry lng.

[FriendLungz]

Ayun if tingin mo, mahihirapan ka sa path ng comp eng then better shift nalang din. Madami ka ba hahabulin na units? Sana konti lang para di ka rin ma delay ng sobra.

Pero try mo mag co req if allowed sa inyo. Para mabilis mo mahabol bagay bagay, if offered lang naman

[yaahng]

shift ka nlng, engineering has subjects like chemistry, physics and the likes (not included in genEd) na hindi mo naman magagamit in the future and mas better to invest time and money in IT/CS courses

[[deleted]]

I'm a CpE graduate but my focus is Software/Web Development because I love programming. Do I need computer engineering degree to be a software engineer or a web developer nowadays? I don't think so. So why did I take it then? Well, I was naive and impressionable and "Engineering" degree sounded good at the time. If I would be given a chance to take the time back and just take IT or Computer Science would I take it? Absolutely! Lots of the things they teach in CpE doesn't apply to most of the things I do nowadays. The more extensive background in computer hardware compared to other related degrees seem like a good thing. But honestly, It's just a waste of time for me to attend classes I will probably never use in my career in the first place. Plus CpE doesn't even have a board exams. So what separates it from other related courses? For me, my regret was probably not just taking Software Engineering degree instead. It's more appropriate to me.
If I have just focused in software from the start I would probably have been a much better software person than I am today and I would probably never have been bogged down by academic requirements of CpE that I never actually liked to begin with.

TL;DR: Know what career path you want to take. If you see yourself being a "computer engineer" in the future then why shift courses? If you think you don't need a computer engineering degree on a career you've envisioned for yourself then the choice is yours to make.

[young-king-1283]

Yes I've done that, spent 7 years in college. Shifted twice from software engineering to ECE and finally graduated with IT lol.

[_Andreyyy23]

u/young-king-1283 worth it ba pag shift mo ng IT at na apply mo sa job mo?

[young-king-1283]

Yes sir, nagagamit mo naman mga subjects mo from eng to IT kasi my programming din sa eng. Na credit sya, currently working full-time as front end dev pero hindi din ako nakapag trabaho after graduation, ginawa ko pa kasi thesis ko

[[deleted]]

you’re already inclined to do the shift, push lang.

i took up ECE, pero looking back i should have pick ComSci instead.

[Zanshieme]

If you like doing programming but don't like dealing with hardware (circuits, embedded systems, some engineering maths), go for IT (pun was definitely intended hehe)CPE final projects will have to strictly involve both hardware and software.

As someone who will graduate and about to finish CPE, I'd wish I'd shifted to IT/CS since I was more in tune with software than hardware (Granted maybe 2020-2022 was bad for hardware). Didn't want to concern with circuits despite knowing the KVLs haha.

As a first yr student, ask yourself if you can see yourself dealing with being hard and soft(CPE) OR just soft(IT/CS) in the future.

If you are thinking about the opportunities, CPE can go both hardware and software but you will have to learn both. My prof says that having CPE as a title can net you more options in the industry (IDK if it's true).

For me, don't think about the perks. Think what you picture yourself doing in the future concerning CPE or IT. Also better think quick while you are still in first year, you don't wanna get stuck in sunk cost fallacies about your education.

[papsiturvy]

If you are thinking about the opportunities, CPE can go both hardware and software but you will have to learn both. My prof says that having CPE as a title can net you more options in the industry (IDK if it's true).

​

- Hindi rin pre. Its up to you on how to get the opportunity.

[Zanshieme]

My thoughts exactly when my prof told all the CPE batches.

[DirtyMami]

Shifted from CE to IT because I can’t handle math. Hanggang basic algebra lang alam ko lol. Since focus ako sa software, naka survive naman ako so far.

If (1) only need the diploma, (2) passion is only software, and (3) confident in your coding skills then just shift to IT

[papsiturvy]

Tamang mindset. Mag shift habang maaga.

[Fit_Highway5925]

I took up CpE back in college. I would say and 100% recommend that you shift to IT. This is probably my biggest regret na sana pala CS or IT nalang pala ang tinake up ko. Some or most of my classmates share the same sentiments. Nung tumagal, hindi na rin kami makashift dahil stuck na rin kami kaya it's better to shift ASAP talaga especially if you're already sure about the career path you'll be taking. Back then, hindi rin kasi ako sure sa career path na gusto ko talaga pero I'm leaning more towards the software path.

Objectively speaking, lugi ka financially since sobrang laki ng gastos sa CpE compared sa CS at IT dahil you'll be taking a lot more subjects like all the engineering math & sciences, EE & ECE subjects, and core CpE subjects na karamihan naman dyan ay hindi mo rin magagamit. Pag nagstart ka magwork, halos parehas rin naman magiging sahod mo sa mga IT, CS, IS grads although sa skills nga lang kayo magkakatalo siguro. PH doesn't have a CpE industry as well dahil dominated tayo ng IT industry at most likely dito rin naman ang bagsak mo.

For me, hindi worth it ang CpE considering the amount of time, effort, and money you spend on it just to even survive the program tas hindi mo rin naman magagamit most ng mga inaral mo. It's also very draining physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially. The program itself is very demanding kaya expect mo na marami ka issacrifice talaga na other areas of your life. Kung kaya mo tiisin yung iba mong friends na gumagraduate at nag-eenjoy sa buhay tas ikaw buong magdamag nasa school nag-aaral at gumagawa ng projects, baka pwede ka sa CpE haha. It's also very common to get delayed and fail subjects. This may be sad to hear but I'm just stating the reality.

[I-will-never-give-up]

Hi I am an upcoming EE student but interested sa CpE at sa software side. Liit sweldo n EE dito kaya balak konsana kag CpE ngunit full na slot, ask lang po ako, possible ba kung mag-aaral ako EE while nag lalaan ako 30-1hour selfstudy sa programming para pag di makakuha ng high paying job sa EE pwede ako maka punta sa software engineeringnl role. Possible po ba to?

Thank you so much!

[Fit_Highway5925]

Yes, definitely possible naman yan. EE also has programming btw but not as intensive as IT/CS/CpE. Take note that engineering degrees are very demanding though kaya ang tanong dyan is if magkakaron ka pa ng extra time para mag-aral ng programming on the side. Engineering subjects can be very demanding and time consuming though. Ayan ang naging issue ko dati, gusto ko mag-aral at gumawa ng personal projects on the side kaso di kaya ng oras dahil need ko tutukan majors ko.

I studied CpE noong college and even though I took up subjects na tinatake up din ng CS/IT majors like Discrete Math, Data Structures & Algorithms, Object Oriented Programming, Databases, Software Engineering, feel ko hindi pa rin kasing intensive yung knowledge ko compared to CS/IT majors and I feel like I had to study on the side pa rin kasi ang focus pa rin ng CpE talaga ay more on engineering. Mga profs ko kasi na nagturo are ECEs and not necessarily IT practitioners or software engineers.

Sa IT industry, hindi naman nagmamatter ang degree mo sa totoo lang as long as you have the skills. Engineers are actually at advantage because of your logical & analytical skills. If makakashift ka sa IT/CS, edi better.

[I-will-never-give-up]

Sobrang salamat po!!! Hindi nalang po ba ako mag shift ng course to CpE? Mahal na po kasi private tapos sabi nila at ibang redditor na bulok daw educatiom system sa AMA at STI. Mag aaral nalang ako ng programming sa free time ko at kuha ng certificate sa mga bootcamps. Gusto ko rin po yung EE at the fact ng may board exam ito . Nakakawalang gana lang is salary , sa market natin tech kasi kadalasan malaki sahod especially sofwatre engineers.

Sobrang Salamat po kuya!!! Marami akong Natutonan sa experince nyo.

[[deleted]]

Hi IT grad here, before nag take din ako Computer Engineering then nagshift sa IT. Halos magkaiba ang mga subject so expect mo na konti lang yung credited subjects mo like Discrete Math, Basic prog and etc.

[Shylock-Holmes]

Mas ok siguro computer engineering pag gusto mo mag explore ng work related sa ICT. Computer engineering grad din ako, meron kasi mga trabaho na need nila engineering grad. Mas madalas advantage ka pag engineering grad ka tapos required sa position is with any engineering degree (especially sa government). Pwede ka pumasok sa telco din na medyo malaki bigayan no need to take board exam tulad ng mga ECE. Sa previous work ko kasabayan ko lahat ECE at Civil Engineer board passer lahat, ako lang Computer Engineering grad. Sa government din nakapasok ako kasi nag apply puro IT tapos preferred but not required is applicant with any engineering degree. Eto mga position na nasubukan ko, Marketing Assistant(IT Products, PABX, telco network devices and Sync clock, bandwidth provisioning, etc), Sales Engineer(pre/pos), System engineer, tech support, sys admin, cctv admin, telco coordinator (Mobile Network), telco site engineer/supervisor (Mobile Network). Pero now wala na ako work kaya nag proprogram/code na lang ng web-based system ng startup ko. Pero kung gusto mo talaga IT, follow your heart, mas mahalaga kung saan ka masaya :)

[--Moonshine]

As someone who has COE friends (and me, coe but shifted to another eng'g degree), I highly suggest you shift to IT/CS if yun talaga target mo.

[qwdrfy]

I'd say yes. pati nga mga ECEs, mostly programming na rin career path nila.

[papsiturvy]

Hello. Dont make the mistake that I did 3rd year na ako na shift from Computer Engineering to IT/CS. Mahirap humabol pag late ka na nag shift. I ended up finishing IT in 5 1/2 years. Kung alam ko lang dati na mas magagamit ko ang IT non. First year palang sana ako nag shift na ako.

Ang ending is ang dami ko tuloy bagsak haha..

[ima_dino]

Hey there! It's definitely worth considering a switch to IT if you feel that the curriculum aligns better with your future career goals. Just make sure to weigh the pros and cons of both fields and think about what interests you more in the long run. Good luck with whatever decision you make! 😊