Computer Science or Electrical Engineering

[Zarick]

Going back to college.. Im 28 now.

Im not sure if I like working with electronics or Working with software more.
I thought about compture engineering, but I like the idea of EE or CS more. Opinions?

 

[Darien]

Im not sure if I like working with electronics or Working with software more.

You can always start as a computer engineer and see which side you like more.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: Darien

Im not sure if I like working with electronics or Working with software more.

You can always start as a computer engineer and see which side you like more.

I'd recommend that

I'm studying EE here and most of my U1 classes are the same as Comp Eng. they even take "Fundamentals of EE" and we take "Intro to Comp Eng"

 

[gopunk]

you can always switch if one doesn't turn out to be what you like

 

[Zarick]

This is one of those things where Im telling my family.. okay.. we gonna live dirt poor for 2 to 3 years while I get my degre.
So I kinda wanna avoid switching.

 

[Darien]

normally computer engineering, electrical engineering and computer science will have the same fundamental courses.

Physics
Calculus
some sort of basic EE course
some sort of basic CS course

some things will deviate from early on, but you can always make that up later. For example, EE majors might have to take some sort of chemistry or material science class.

At USC, depending on if you're CS or EE, you have to take CS105 or EE105 -- both are really intro courses to the field. Computer engineers can take either, depending on what they feel like.

EDIT: you can always major in comp. eng. and emphasize in hardware or software.

 

[Noriaki]

Originally posted by: ZarickIm not sure if I like working with electronics or Working with software more.

I don't see how anyone but you can make that decision...

I know you said you like the idea of EE or CS better...but if you are unsure I think CE is the best place for you. First year of CE and EE are close enough at most universities that it's easy to switch (at my university first year CE and EE are identical I think...at least first term is identical).

And in CE you will cover enough of the Math and Programming stuff that swapping into CSc shouldn't be to difficult. But seriously...no one but you can decide whether you'll like EE or CS more.

 

[The Wildcard]

Both subjects are pretty abstract, but I think Computer Science is the more abstract of the two. So depending on how you think or what you like, keep that in mind. With computer science, you are working with code. You also need to know alot more math than a electrical engineer needs to know as well, which increases the abstractness.

Basically, with electrical engineering, at least you can be working in labs, building circuits wtih a bredboard, so it's more tangible.

 

[Noriaki]

Originally posted by: The_WildcardYou also need to know alot more math than a electrical engineer needs to know as well, which increases the abstractness.

Well...EEs do alot of pretty advanced calculus that CS majors don't touch.
CS majors need to know an assload of Graph theory...I have no idea if EEs do that or not, but I would guess that they do.
We (CS majors) also have a bunch of Abstract Math theory that EEs probably don't do.

I'm not entirely sure what an EE's program looks like, but I've got EE and CE friends, and they go far more advanced in the calculus area than I did. Even as a Major/Honurs in Computer Science, there is not nealry as much calculus as an EE has.

I guess it's all applied Calculus though. CS has way more theoretical math than EE does. CS is after all just Math in a clever disguise. There is a lot of Graph Theory, Discrete Math, Logic and Combinatorics and that kind of stuff...but all that stuff is fine. Calculus stinks

 

[whiteboyatcal]

Here at UC Berkeley Electrical Engineering and Computer Science are the same major (EECS). Cool huh?

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: whiteboyatcal
Here at UC Berkeley Electrical Engineering and Computer Science are the same major (EECS). Cool huh?

not really. you cant focus in one or the other if its like that.

 

[whiteboyatcal]

Yes, you can focus in one or another. We have different options within the major itself. For examply, I am Option 1 which is Electronics. There are other options for Computer Software, Computer Hardware, Networking, etc. The last option is also an unspecified option where you can make up your own program. Although it's hard to initially get accepted to EECS, you can change your option easily just by checking a box on a paper and turning it into your advisor. This allows a lot of flexibility if you aren't sure what exactly you are interested in.

 

[Utterman]

I thought that someplace let you get both EE and CE since it was pretty much just an extra semester of work to get both.

 

[kherman]

Originally posted by: Zarick
Going back to college.. Im 28 now.

Im not sure if I like working with electronics or Working with software more.
I thought about compture engineering, but I like the idea of EE or CS more. Opinions?

I have a BSEE and do sfotware now. If you do a bachelors in EE and a minior in CS, you will be a VERY highly marketable software engineer.

Regardless, remember. CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs

 

[The_Dude8]

Originally posted by: kherman

Originally posted by: Zarick
Going back to college.. Im 28 now.

Im not sure if I like working with electronics or Working with software more.
I thought about compture engineering, but I like the idea of EE or CS more. Opinions?

I have a BSEE and do sfotware now. If you do a bachelors in EE and a minior in CS, you will be a VERY highly marketable software engineer.

Regardless, remember. CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs

i regard not doing a CO-OP while getting my BS in EE, i just graduated last may, and haven't found a job yet.

 

[cressida]

yikes ... I better do Co op then.

 

[weezergirl]

I recommend doing EE with a CS option as well. I don't really understand why you want to focus on one, especially if you are unsure. Why not get the best of both worlds? You will be more marketable when looking for a job as well. And if you DO decide you like one better than the other...it's easy to switch without having wasted your time since the beginning year you basically take all the same classes anyway.

And definitely do internships or co-ops. That's how i got my full time offer for December!

 

[SuperTool]

Go into EE, and then when you can't handle it transfer to CS. I've seen it a million times, no shame in it.
Just make sure you stop transfering at CS, and not transfer to Operation Research or some humanities major

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: The_Dude8

Originally posted by: kherman

Originally posted by: Zarick
Going back to college.. Im 28 now.

Im not sure if I like working with electronics or Working with software more.
I thought about compture engineering, but I like the idea of EE or CS more. Opinions?

I have a BSEE and do sfotware now. If you do a bachelors in EE and a minior in CS, you will be a VERY highly marketable software engineer.

Regardless, remember. CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs

i regard not doing a CO-OP while getting my BS in EE, i just graduated last may, and haven't found a job yet.

I didn't do coop. If I did, I would have graduated a semester later. I got out of school in Dec 2000, and got many great offers, right before the whole house of cards collapsed. If I graduated in May 2001, I would have been in trouble. Just do internships, and you'll be fine.

 

[kherman]

Originally posted by: weezergirl
I recommend doing EE with a CS option as well. I don't really understand why you want to focus on one, especially if you are unsure. Why not get the best of both worlds? You will be more marketable when looking for a job as well. And if you DO decide you like one better than the other...it's easy to switch without having wasted your time since the beginning year you basically take all the same classes anyway.

And definitely do internships or co-ops. That's how i got my full time offer for December!

Also, remember this. It doesn't cost you anymore, but you will be more marketable and get a higher starting salary $BLING$ $BLING$

 

[kherman]

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: The_Dude8

Originally posted by: kherman

Originally posted by: Zarick
Going back to college.. Im 28 now.

Im not sure if I like working with electronics or Working with software more.
I thought about compture engineering, but I like the idea of EE or CS more. Opinions?

I have a BSEE and do sfotware now. If you do a bachelors in EE and a minior in CS, you will be a VERY highly marketable software engineer.

Regardless, remember. CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs CO-OPs

i regard not doing a CO-OP while getting my BS in EE, i just graduated last may, and haven't found a job yet.

I didn't do coop. If I did, I would have graduated a semester later. I got out of school in Dec 2000, and got many great offers, right before the whole house of cards collapsed. If I graduated in May 2001, I would have been in trouble. Just do internships, and you'll be fine.

] if (Internship == CO-OP) // similar to anyways ...
] println("I was assumeing correctly");
] else
] println("DOH!)";

Employers see internships and CO-OPs as the same thing. REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE!