College Majors: Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering vs. Electrical Engineering vs. others?

[dude8604]

I don't know what to study in college. I'm only a junior in HS, but I'm starting to think about colleges. I'm interested in computers, especially programming, networking, and hardware. I'm interested in designing software as well as hardware. How are these degrees different and are there any others I should pursue?

 

[PsychoAndy]

I don't know what to study in college. I'm only a senior in HS, and i've been thinking about colleges. I'm interested in anything that isn't liberal arts. I'm also pretty sure I have you beat in the "no idea of what to do right now" area

Computer Science is software. Computer Engineering is developing hardware. Electrical Engineer is stuff relating to eletrical components in things. I think.

 

[Ameesh]

i suggest that you take a few classes in both and that will help you decide, i went into college as a computer engineering student and left with a computer science degree, i decided i hate analog circuits and i didnt veer want to work with them, digital is fine just a little tedious.

 

[notfred]

this topic should go on the same list as abortion, Mac vs. Windows, religion, etc....

 

[PrincessGuard]

I thought there was a thread asking this exact same thing, but a search came up with nothing...

Every school has different definitions, but in short:

Electrical Engineering = signal analysis, analog/digital circuits, device physics, electromagnetics.
Computer Engineering = logic design, low-level programming, digital circuits, computer architecture.
Computer Science = programming languages, algorithm analysis, compilers, databases.

There is a lot of overlap. Once you actually start your programming or circuits classes, though, you'll quickly discover which aspects you hate the least

 

[BMdoobieW]

Do Civil Engineering (transportation engineering to be specific)! I love it because, as they say in the industry, it is a lot of hokus-pokus, and you get power over the thing that most people value the most: their cars and their ability to move freely. Bwah ha ha ha ha ha.

 

[Deeko]

heh, you kinda hit all 3 computer majors.

CS is mostly programming.
CE is mostly hardware design.
IST is like IT work...dumb CS IMO

 

[Storm]

Heres another thread on the issue

 

[MikeMike]

and it/network admin may be up there for you too, lots of programs and networking stuff i think i might do that (junior in hs)

 

[HappyPuppy]

Consider that there are many experienced IT/IS people out of work. Corporations are steadily outsourcing work overseas. I only see the prospects and pay getting worse. The choice, of course, is yours.

 

[CrazyDe1]

why does one of these threads pop up every week?

 

[MikeMike]

possibly because people search for only exactly what they are going to title their topic, and not everything possible

 

[jasonpetras]

My take as a Comp Engineer: you can't go wrong as a CE. In all markets (up and down) and jobs, you have to stay flexible. As a CE you have a good EE background (circuits: analog and digital) and the ability to pull a programming job when things get thin (or viceaversa). At my college there were only a few classes different in CE and EE, but a world of difference between CE/EE and CS. Since you can learn any language or digital concept from a book now, it is easy to read yourself into a new project as CE. Without a classroom and a lab it is very difficult to get good exposure to both the math and equipment necessary for good EE/CE work. So basically, with CS you would be stuck programming.

Just my take

Jason

 

[Yossarian451]

I am a HS senior, and I was kinda stuck in one of those, "which do I choose?" modes, and I lookd into it and talked to some people. I finally came down with a includes everything Computer Engineering Electrical Engineering track, which basically is computer engineering with all the electives filled with EE classes. It doesn't leave much room to wiggle but it does give me a good taste and exposure so I can decide what specifically I would want to do for graduate school. Just my $0.02 worth of thinking and decision.