computer engineering

[narreth]

I'm a high school junior that was interested in material engineering/chemical engineering until recently i thought "hey i like computers why don't i do CS or comp eng.

Anyway, I did some searching on google etc; but what exactly does a computer engineer do?
what are the chances of winding up at intel/amd?
Is it possible to do computer engineering or computer science with little to no programming experience before entering college?

 

[setphen1]

Right now I'm at GaTech for Computer Engineering so I know a little bit about it.

For starters, Computer Engineering(this is highly dependent on where you go though) is very very similar to Electrical Engineering. So think like embedded systems work and stuff. As cool as it sounds to work for someone like Amd/Intel I wouldn't base my whole path on getting to a company with that kind of name. Figure out what you want to do and search from there.
And don't worry about the programming part. You go to school to learn that stuff for a reason. It would certainly help to have some, but everyone still have to take the fundamentals of programming class. If you wanted though just take some course at a local CC just for some exposure just to see if you even like it at all. Trust me its not for everyone.

 

[gorcorps]

It's possible to do comp sci with not much programming, but it would help. That's pretty much your college courses right there. Chances of ending up at amd/intel doing what? Comp Sci guys are mostly software as opposed to hardware if that's your only degree. (at least at my school - colorado school of mines)

If I were you I would push towards a materials engineering degree with focus in semi-conductors and the like, and a minor in comp sci. THEN you have a good chance with a hardware company.

 

[narreth]

Most likely I'm applying to GATech, actually !

 

[Ricemarine]

AFAIK, you would have to take the programming courses at the college or a community college. Also, from what I've heard from a person going to Georgia Tech, only college credits count, no AP or IB (someone clarify if I'm wrong).

You should also read up on the companies you think are cool and see if they actually are...

 

[TehJustinator]

Computer Engineers usually do things involving actual circuitry, etc. similar to an electrical engineer. Where I work, we have electrical engineers/computer engineers doing work involving designing PCBs and some doing FPGAs/PLDs. You can become a programmer even with an electrical engineering/computer engineering degree or do embedded programming with a computer science degree. It really depends on what electives you take (or tracks your school offers) and knowledge you possess in that field.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

There are so many career options for a computer engineer. You can do anything from software design to logic design. By the time you graduate the field will have changed significantly too.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I say if you want to do hardware, I'd suggest you going into EE at least. It's offers a wider selection of careers, especially because it's such a wide field. Everyone in their high school years goes "Oh computers, what fun, I wanna work on that stuff." What they really think is what we enthusiasts love: CPUs, Video cards, etc. Yes, it's nice to get into Intel, AMD or whatever, but honestly, EE goes a lot further than this. I remember my good friends and I talked about this, and so many of us have gone separate ways even in engineering. I always wanted EE, but here I am as a materials engineer, and I'm looking at the possibility of semiconductors or biomedical devices. Even amongst my EE friends, there are some who went with communications/navigation while some are doing analog circuitry and others are doing just software. Where was all that talk about AMD/Intel?

Honestly, don't restrict yourselves to computers just because we're all computer enthusiasts here. There's plenty more out there than you may realize. I never thought I wanted bioengineering stuff, but at times it's interesting. Defense contractors are huge too when it comes to demand for EE and other engineers.

 

[Rumpltzer]

If you want to work at Intel or AMD, you're gonna want to go with materials science/engineering, chemical engineering, or electrical engineering. Computer engineering might also get you there, but it'll be on a smaller road.

CS isn't what you think it is. It's twisted logic crap, and I regret taking it as a minor in undergrad.


I'm an EE/PhD. From my experience as an intern at Intel and from my day-long interview with Intel PTD, I'm going to suggest that you don't want to work for Intel. They treat you like crap and tell you that it's the "Intel environment".

Did you get that? They've actually given a name to treating their employees like crap. You know that's gotta be a bad sign...



No one knows what *fill in the blank* engineering is when they apply to college.

Good luck!

 

[narreth]

Well I don't live in the U.S. so CC courses aren't really possible

 

[Ns1]

like computers =/= CE or CS


<----former CS major

 

[narreth]

I'm not totally sure how the US college system actually works. Is it possible for me to stay on my material eng/chem eng. stream and take a couple CS/ CE courses to see if I like it?

 

[TehJustinator]

Originally posted by: narreth
I'm not totally sure how the US college system actually works. Is it possible for me to stay on my material eng/chem eng. stream and take a couple CS/ CE courses to see if I like it?

Of course.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: narreth
I'm not totally sure how the US college system actually works. Is it possible for me to stay on my material eng/chem eng. stream and take a couple CS/ CE courses to see if I like it?

You can pretty much do anything as long as

a. it fits in your schedule
b. there are seats in the class
c. you have the money to do it

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Ns1
like computers =/= CE or CS


<----former CS major

CS is math and logic applied to programming. There is a big different between a code monkey and a computer scientist.

The EE part of CE is more like electromagnetic physics than anything else you've been probably been exposed to in high school. T

 

[Rumpltzer]

Okay, if you're not in the US, then where are you? Are you planning on going to undergrad in the US? Most of the advice you're getting here (I think) is applicable to the US higher education system and may not apply to wherever you might be.


Also, I spent the first two years of undergrad taking math, chemistry, physics, and all that other requisite stuff. My first "eningeering" class was circuits and it wasn't until the second half of sophomore years. I'm not sure that you can just dabble into CS/CE to see what it's like without having those first two years.

My undergrad was at UIUC. It might be different elsewhere...

 

[KillerCharlie]

Just make sure you go to a school with a broad engineering and science program. There's a good chance your interests will change once you start.
If you're considering GA Tech, though, then that's not an issue.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
Okay, if you're not in the US, then where are you? Are you planning on going to undergrad in the US? Most of the advice you're getting here (I think) is applicable to the US higher education system and may not apply to wherever you might be.


Also, I spent the first two years of undergrad taking math, chemistry, physics, and all that other requisite stuff. My first "eningeering" class was circuits and it wasn't until the second half of sophomore years. I'm not sure that you can just dabble into CS/CE to see what it's like without having those first two years.

My undergrad was at UIUC. It might be different elsewhere...

The first two required courses for my ECE degree were Intro to EE (first half of circuit theory) and Intro to CE (transistors to gates to ... to computer to assembly programming).

My first required course for my CS degree was Fundamentals of Programming. This class assumed we knew the basics of programming already. It made sure we were up to speed on the basic techniques (recursion, etc). It also introduced the basic data structures (linked lists, trees, heaps, etc).

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
Okay, if you're not in the US, then where are you? Are you planning on going to undergrad in the US? Most of the advice you're getting here (I think) is applicable to the US higher education system and may not apply to wherever you might be.


Also, I spent the first two years of undergrad taking math, chemistry, physics, and all that other requisite stuff. My first "eningeering" class was circuits and it wasn't until the second half of sophomore years. I'm not sure that you can just dabble into CS/CE to see what it's like without having those first two years.

My undergrad was at UIUC. It might be different elsewhere...

UW requirements for CE
Basically, by the time I'm done with HS, I'll have taken out the engineering physics series, the visual literary arts requirements, possibly the individuals and societies, the calculus series + Linear algebra (if I don't drop it...), with Technical Writing and the 100 level CSE classes (Java I & II).

I'm finishing off other requirements in case I don't get in CE, since EE requires more such as Chemistry + Differential Equations + Vector Calculus.

 

[narreth]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
Okay, if you're not in the US, then where are you? Are you planning on going to undergrad in the US? Most of the advice you're getting here (I think) is applicable to the US higher education system and may not apply to wherever you might be.


Also, I spent the first two years of undergrad taking math, chemistry, physics, and all that other requisite stuff. My first "eningeering" class was circuits and it wasn't until the second half of sophomore years. I'm not sure that you can just dabble into CS/CE to see what it's like without having those first two years.

My undergrad was at UIUC. It might be different elsewhere...

Yes, I'm planning on doing undergrad at a US college like GATech/RPI/WPI/Cal Poly/Rice/MIT (applying but i most likely will get rejected)
Anyone know how hard it is to get into some of these schools? Collegeboard lists the SAT scores etc; but has no information on the other factors like extracirriculars.

 

[duragezic]

I am graduating with a BS in Computer Engineering this spring. I'll be doing software development as my first job. My other offer was a little different, but still doing software.

Agree with the above: You can take at least a years worth of general engineering courses without getting specifically into Electrical, Computer, etc and not fall behind.

Actually I read the rest of the thread, and I agree with pretty much everything else said. You aren't required to have basic programming skills upon entrance to a CpE or CS program, but it will help you. Here you can take an accelerated Intro to CS class that replaces two separate semester classes. It doesn't matter what language, just knowing some basics will get you a better grade and allow you to be pounding beers on nights when the rest of the freshman CS kids are in the labs.

Places like AMD or Intel hire Computer Engineers, but I bet it is very tough to get hired there. See this thread: How hard is it to land a job at such places like Intel/AMD/ATI/NVIDIA ?

I don't have the experience or knowledge so I didn't bother applying at any such places. To do any design, you'll need a more advanced degree probably. I'd also think they hire mainly from a few select schools. So it certainly is possible, but I bet it is very difficult. You might be better off as a EE with either (a) a digital design concentration or (b) as a physics/semiconductor concentration. EE semiconductor physics is something I don't hear many people going into but definitely a good choice if you like physics and such more.

A friend of mine graduated last semester as an EE with a Materials Science minor. Either he had classes or he knew about mining and materials and such. He had no relevant experience and like a 3.0 GPA, and he had a bunch of offers, one he took for almost $70k. So the material engineering is definitely sought after and lucrative. I don't think many new grads join mining and related companies, sort of like the railroad companies, so you can actually make awesome money and have a job for sure with things like that.

So I guess in conclusion, there are lots of good engineering degrees to major in, some relating to computers a lot, some just a little. You can always play with computers or write some software on the side, even if you do something not at all related to them.

 

[mcmilljb]

I think any one considering engineering, in any field of it, should consider meeting with all the programs at their potential colleges to see what they have to offer. Also consider meeting with the college's career advisors. They will help you get setup a plan.

Also consider that all engineers will take Calculus for 3-4 semesters, Physics for 2 semesters, general college education courses (English, extra sciences, fine arts, social science and other various courses). The key is to knock those out first while taking some intro courses to see where you actually have interests. The disappointing thing is they do tend to make intro courses boring.

Computer engineering is starting to become to branches from what I have seen. You have software and hardware. I did most of the first 3 years of EE as a CE. I just did not do their lab courses and some of the other EE required courses. I could have subbed my CSCE electives for EE courses. And I would have taken more EE, but I had to waste time taking social sciences and chemistry (They used the same book I used in high school!).

 

[mcmilljb]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
Okay, if you're not in the US, then where are you? Are you planning on going to undergrad in the US? Most of the advice you're getting here (I think) is applicable to the US higher education system and may not apply to wherever you might be.


Also, I spent the first two years of undergrad taking math, chemistry, physics, and all that other requisite stuff. My first "eningeering" class was circuits and it wasn't until the second half of sophomore years. I'm not sure that you can just dabble into CS/CE to see what it's like without having those first two years.

My undergrad was at UIUC. It might be different elsewhere...

UW requirements for CE
Basically, by the time I'm done with HS, I'll have taken out the engineering physics series, the visual literary arts requirements, possibly the individuals and societies, the calculus series + Linear algebra (if I don't drop it...), with Technical Writing and the 100 level CSE classes (Java I & II).

I'm finishing off other requirements in case I don't get in CE, since EE requires more such as Chemistry + Differential Equations + Vector Calculus.

Ouch on the UW requirements, but they are a top 10 CSCE program. I went to Univ of SC, and I did about the same except we didn't (and still don't) have a hardware or software specialization. Those help guide people into doing something useful instead of just picking random things. UW's credit system seems a little weird. I'm used to the system of having 3 credits for a course that's 3 hours a week and an extra hour for a lab extension. I had to have 121 credits for graduation so looking at 180 is a bit scary lol.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
If you want to work at Intel or AMD, you're gonna want to go with materials science/engineering, chemical engineering, or electrical engineering. Computer engineering might also get you there, but it'll be on a smaller road.

CS isn't what you think it is. It's twisted logic crap, and I regret taking it as a minor in undergrad.


I'm an EE/PhD. From my experience as an intern at Intel and from my day-long interview with Intel PTD, I'm going to suggest that you don't want to work for Intel. They treat you like crap and tell you that it's the "Intel environment".

Did you get that? They've actually given a name to treating their employees like crap. You know that's gotta be a bad sign...



No one knows what *fill in the blank* engineering is when they apply to college.

Good luck!

Sorry but this is complete BS. Intel was easily the best place I've ever worked. None of my peers thought any differently than I did.

As an intern I was treated just the same as a regular employee with all of the same benefits, bonuses, lunches, free t-shirts, etc. I made my own schedule in terms of when I came to work and when I left with no set lunch time. Team building days once a month where everyone got the day off to go hiking, mountain biking, or something similar were also great, and don't forget about the Intel sponsored white water rafting trip for every Intern at the site.

I worked closely with 5 interns from 4 other sites who all had the exact same experience. Every person I worked with liked their job and had only normal, trivial complaints. There was none of this stuff you are saying about treating their employees like crap and earning a name for it. Yeah the turkey bowling contest we had during Thanksgiving week really put me in a sour mood, especially because I got paid to roll turkeys around at 2 liter bottles of coke (bowling pins) in one of the larger meeting rooms for about 2 hours. Oh and the free pizza every Thursday for the entire 8 months I was there really pissed me off.


OP, I have 2 suggestions. First, ignore the dumbass I just responded to. Second, you should decide what you have a passion for and go with it. I was in the exact same boat as you when I was a junior in high school, and I mean this very literally. I didn't know what I wanted to do, posted a thread about it saying I potentially wanted to work at Intel, AMD, HP, etc., and then followed it through. By my senior year in college, I got an internship at Intel and got where I wanted to go. You can do it pretty easily if you put your mind to it. Yes, getting the internship was hard and not many will be picked by one of the high tech companies in this business, but if you want it bad enough you will get it.

 

[slackwarelinux]

Originally posted by: narreth
Is it possible to do computer engineering or computer science with little to no programming experience before entering college?

Sure, it is possible. Most of the freshman CPEs/CSs I've met had some programming experience, but it isn't required. The CPEs I've seen who didn't start out with any sort of programming experience had a harder time initially, but they were up to speed by the first quarter (or another major). You'll have an easier time in the beginning if you have experience,

If you want some experience with programming/electronics or are interesting in learning a bit about what some CPEs might do, I recommend playing with/learning to program microcontrollers with the C programming language. My favorite is the Atmel AVR series, a good starting point might be the Arduino development board.

Microcontrollers would expose you to basic electromagnetism (capacitors, resistors, solving basic circuits), programming, and a bit of logic design (glue logic, bitwise operations).