Would Computer Engineering hold me back in becoming a programmer?
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Carson Dyle
Diamond Member
- Jul 2, 2012
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Why would you study computer engineering instead of computer science, if programming is your goal? Comp Sci is a much easier degree, FWIW.
Not really as long as you can demonstrate the knowledge they require. You wouldn't receive as much programming training in college with that path though.
Took 1 semester for me to realize comp sci wasn't my thing. I hate Java.
RampantAndroid
Diamond Member
- Jun 27, 2004
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I started out as a CE major, hated the EE prof at my small college and went CS. I continued to do the non-EE CE classes though - digital design and whatnot (learning how to make a full adder, reduce complexity and such, in the second class it was put to use, with FPGAs and simpler microprocessors/controllers like a 8086 and an 80251.)
Now, I work at a large Software company...and honestly, the CE stuff helped me in that it made me learn assembly, and learn it well...but I also did that in Compiler Design. If your goal does not involve EE work, then I'd say skip CE. CE is a TON of work compared to a straight EE or CS major as every CE program I've seen is quite literally EE and CS majors combined, with only one or two requirements removed. It can easily become a 5 year major.
My advice, is make sure your college makes you do projects - designing, implementing, testing...and also make sure your college teaches some amount of C code, and assembly. Compiler design is quite frankly the best course I took. Not too long later I had an internship working on BluRay and HD DVD players where I was reading through assembly and changing values in the registers on a MIPSII system.
Now, I work at a large Software company...and honestly, the CE stuff helped me in that it made me learn assembly, and learn it well...but I also did that in Compiler Design. If your goal does not involve EE work, then I'd say skip CE. CE is a TON of work compared to a straight EE or CS major as every CE program I've seen is quite literally EE and CS majors combined, with only one or two requirements removed. It can easily become a 5 year major.
My advice, is make sure your college makes you do projects - designing, implementing, testing...and also make sure your college teaches some amount of C code, and assembly. Compiler design is quite frankly the best course I took. Not too long later I had an internship working on BluRay and HD DVD players where I was reading through assembly and changing values in the registers on a MIPSII system.
It probably wouldn't matter as long as you knew what they wanted you to know. That being said those first interviews out of school tend to be broadly generic and if you are going for a high level software job you may not have as much grounding as a pure CS person to answer the question.
I think the question is what do you want to study? In the spectrum of CS to EE none of them is a dead end it is just a matter of what you want to do.
I always think of CS, CE and EE as being on a venn diagram and lo and behold I found a venn diagram:
http://www.cpe.virginia.edu/ugrads/pdfs/2017_pdf/Curriculum comparison 2017.PDF
I think the question is what do you want to study? In the spectrum of CS to EE none of them is a dead end it is just a matter of what you want to do.
I always think of CS, CE and EE as being on a venn diagram and lo and behold I found a venn diagram:
http://www.cpe.virginia.edu/ugrads/pdfs/2017_pdf/Curriculum comparison 2017.PDF
postmortemIA
Diamond Member
- Jul 11, 2006
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CprE will lead you to an truly engineering job - usually with hardware companies like Intel, Qualcomm, etc. You will do low level software there. CS on the other hand will lead you on programming job with modern languages and/or Web technologies. Ymmw.
CE does tend to lead to more low level software (low level as in closer to hardware, not lower skilled), like firmware. Though if you supplement a CE degree with extra learning you shouldn't have trouble with anything. The opposite may be a bit more difficult (CS going into more engineering jobs).
purbeast0
No Lifer
- Sep 13, 2001
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one of the developers at my first job out of school majored in EE. i'm not sure exactly what that entails, but my point is that it's not a computer science major and he landed a developer position.
granted, he's still at that job and its 10 years later, so he's probably not marketable at all since he doesn't have many skills outside of the technology they use there, but if you just keep up and have a will to learn you can be fine.
i'm a cs major but my title is "software engineer". pretty much the same thing as a "software developer" and what not. my job is pretty much developing for the most part.
granted, he's still at that job and its 10 years later, so he's probably not marketable at all since he doesn't have many skills outside of the technology they use there, but if you just keep up and have a will to learn you can be fine.
i'm a cs major but my title is "software engineer". pretty much the same thing as a "software developer" and what not. my job is pretty much developing for the most part.
Most programmers don't have degrees in computer science. At least not if my lifelong informal sample is accurate.
Ruptga
Lifer
- Aug 3, 2006
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MrDudeMan
Lifer
- Jan 15, 2001
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As a computer engineer, I can answer with a resounding no (Note: see my last sentence for a different answer...). Of course, it depends what you put into it, but knowing more about hardware can make you a much more well-rounded programmer in a lot of ways. I worked at Intel as a hardware design engineer and I did just as much programming as circuit design to be honest. Now I'm running my own business doing embedded design, firmware, etc. and I basically spend most of my day programming.
CE is a hard degree, but it was worth it for me. It really depends what you plan to do, which is also hard to know before you actually go do it. Unfortunately, the work isn't really all that exciting if you go to a big company and it's pretty much impossible to know if you'll like it until you're already committed. I ended up disliking it after 5-6 years because I want to think outside of the box and big companies aren't big on that unless that is specifically your job description.
To answer your question in a single sentence, computer engineering can either push you forward or hold you back in terms of being a programmer depending on how you spend your free time.
CE is a hard degree, but it was worth it for me. It really depends what you plan to do, which is also hard to know before you actually go do it. Unfortunately, the work isn't really all that exciting if you go to a big company and it's pretty much impossible to know if you'll like it until you're already committed. I ended up disliking it after 5-6 years because I want to think outside of the box and big companies aren't big on that unless that is specifically your job description.
To answer your question in a single sentence, computer engineering can either push you forward or hold you back in terms of being a programmer depending on how you spend your free time.
Drako
Lifer
- Jun 9, 2007
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I like working on controllers, low level interaction with the hardware, CE is essential to that work, if you are doing web design, then not so much.
If you want to do something you like you need to try some things.
OTOH some jobs want total focus on what they need, without hiring a consultant expert in that area, which long term has to suck.
If you want to do something you like you need to try some things.
OTOH some jobs want total focus on what they need, without hiring a consultant expert in that area, which long term has to suck.
Obsy
Senior member
- Apr 28, 2009
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If you want to do software then why don't you major in Computer Science? One, you'll be a better software developer; two, you could use the extra time from a less strenuous major to become a great computer scientist (more projects/reading texts like 'The Art of Computer Programming'). Or you could nef more.
Carson Dyle
Diamond Member
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sdifox
No Lifer
- Sep 30, 2005
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no. If anything you should have an edge because you understand how the hardware works.
Carson Dyle
Diamond Member
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A web developer??? LOL! Why don't you just get that degree and become a janitor?
Why would you want to get such a degree and not use your hard-earned education?
Ooooh, a web developer. No, you need an advanced degree for that. Something related to the little energy things that orbit atoms, or whatever.
- Nov 9, 2013
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I want to be qualified for a wide range of computer related jobs....and Web devolpers seem to make decent money.
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm#tab-1
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm#tab-1
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Out of curiosity, are you still in HS and trying to decide on a course of study for college / university?
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- Nov 9, 2013
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I already graduated high shool,I am currently in Job Corps doing culinary arts training.
I plan on being a part time cook while Im in college.
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