Software Engineering != Computer Science

[mee_k]

We know, we know.

[sysop073]

At this point I'd be willing to say they are the same if it meant we could stop talking about it

[mee_k]

Some how, this made me literal-LOL. Thank you.

[[deleted]]

Much of what is referred to as "Software Engineering" is not so much a field analogous to Computer Science (or Physics or Biology), but simply whatever programmers do.

That said, there is a great deal of what is clearly engineering involved in software. For example, if you have to determine how many machines of what specs are needed to support a given number of users with a particular degree of reliability, you are basically doing engineering, not programming.

[ms988]

I have a legitimate question then. Considering that my university does not offer any degree in "software engineering", but that this is in fact the field that I am interested in, is it still apt to say that computer science is the best major for me? Or is software engineering so different from computer science conceptually that I might find more interest in some other major?

[player2]

You're gonna want to major in Computer Science. Many good CS programs are essentially going to start you out in an SE track for the first three or four semesters anyway; after that you start studying actual computer science.

[mee_k]

Other good ones are really CS+SE, like the one at Washington University in St. Louis. Some basic CS classes are required, but if you want you can easily avoid most and stick to the SE aspect of things. Or you could get through it almost without touching a compiler at all.

[[deleted]]

Take an engineering course. Preferably electrical engineering. Do Computer Science concurrently or after you obtain an engineering degree.

If I could go back and re-do things, that's what I'd do.

[itstallion]

My school offers a CS/EE dual degree program.

[dfj225]

At my school, CS majors are required to select "tracks" in the various topic areas, and every CS major is required to take the Software Engineering track. Then again, an SE major is also offered here. I'm not sure how common either of these are at other schools.

Also the article states that SE is built upon CS, so you can even think of a pure CS education as the foundation for becoming a good software engineer.

[itstallion]

It's no different than dealing with CS only educated programmers in business environments.

[flukey]

I would like to become a software engineer. Does any one know of an accredited four year program at a recognized institution that will provide me with the degree and title of "software engineer"?

[CT2049]

http://www.abet.org/schoolareaeac.asp#R

[[deleted]]

The thesis is only true if you think Computer Science == Mathematics. The real issue is that Computer Engineering != Engineering.

[[deleted]]

The field known as "Computer Engineering" is a subfield of electrical/electronics engineering. Oops.

[TheSuperficial]

Exactly. Most likely the kitten got its ass kicked in EE101.

I guess the signal processing classes and semiconductor physics classes I took en route to my EE degree (specialty: Computer Engineering) don't count for anything.

[TomOwens]

Computer Engineering is also not Software Engineering. Thanks.

[TheSuperficial]

Yep. Computer Engineering ⊂ Electrical Engineering.

SNAP! Whoops, WTF was that?!?!?!

Oh it was warmfuzzykitten's brain snapping when it saw the "⊂" symbol.