Computer Science vs Computer Engineering?

[Ann.without.an.e]

Can anyone give me the run down on how these are different?  Does one need to be a super star, unbelievably high stats student to get into computer engineering just as you do with other engineering fields?  Is it easier to get into computer science?   

 

 

[regentrude]

Here is a good comparison:

https://www.lewisu.edu/experts/wordpress/index.php/computer-science-vs-computer-engineering-whats-the-difference/

 

And you don't have to be a "superstar unbelievably high stats student" to get into engineering or comp sci. Not sure where you get this idea from.

At our state system's STEM campus where the majority of student majors in engineering disciplines, the average ACT score is 28 - so not "unbelievably high stats". Solid math skills are a must, though.

Edited January 29, 2017 by regentrude

[Ann.without.an.e]

Here is a good comparison:

https://www.lewisu.edu/experts/wordpress/index.php/computer-science-vs-computer-engineering-whats-the-difference/

 

And you don't have to be a "superstar unbelievably high stats student" to get into engineering or comp sci. Not sure where you get this idea from.

At our state system's STEM campus where the majority of student majors in engineering disciplines, the average ACT score is 28 - so not "unbelievably high stats". Solid math skills are a must, though.

 

 

nm

Edited February 5, 2017 by Attolia

[regentrude]

So here is my run down on DS.  He isn't homeschooled any longer.  He is at a rigorous, college prep, private school.  DS is the kid who needed something other than me for High School.  He loves it there.  He is a B student.  Because he is a B student, he can't get into AP classes.  He has also struggled with some health issues that put him behind in math so he is in 10th grade and only in Geometry this year.  I think he will be a great tester, but he isn't going to look that strong on paper, especially only getting through Pre-cal in 12th when the school goes beyond AP Calc BC.  I know that engineering programs in general are much more difficult to get into and he really wants to go into computer engineering?  I really don't know what to tell this kid.  I don't think he will be competitive.  Not with the math level he will be completing vs what is available.  Not with the AP classes he will have taken vs what is available.  He also tests way above average in English, Reading, etc and math is not his strongest subject.

 

Find a school with a good engineering program that is not highly selective. Not all are.

You can get into engineering programs without APs.

 

Make sure he catches up on math. He should be aiming to place into calculus at college - he does not need to have taken calc in high school. But he does need to be solid in math - a student who struggles in math should major in neither comp eng or comp sci.

[Julie of KY]

A good student (not stellar) with solid math skills should be able to get into a good engineering program - not the most competitive ones, but still very good.

 

Computer science is heavy on the programming/software side of computers. Computer Engineering is much closer to Electrical Engineering and is heavy on the hardware/digital components of the computer and designing the computers themselves.

[Lilaclady]

Will he also consider going the cc to 4 year university route? That will give him time to solidify his plans. Our local universities have 3+2 transfer arrangements with the local cc and some liberal arts colleges.

[Frances]

Will he also consider going the cc to 4 year university route? That will give him time to solidify his plans. Our local universities have 3+2 transfer arrangements with the local cc and some liberal arts colleges.

Many students where I live do this for engineering because the local CC is known for excellent teaching of the first two years of the engineering curriculum and the class sizes are significantly smaller, not to mention the cost savings. The students usually then transfer to one of the two state universities with engineering programs.

[Ann.without.an.e]

Will he also consider going the cc to 4 year university route? That will give him time to solidify his plans. Our local universities have 3+2 transfer arrangements with the local cc and some liberal arts colleges.

 

 

Many students where I live do this for engineering because the local CC is known for excellent teaching of the first two years of the engineering curriculum and the class sizes are significantly smaller, not to mention the cost savings. The students usually then transfer to one of the two state universities with engineering programs.

 

 

We just really don't have a very good CC, in my opinion.  There is a state university that isn't as competitive that is a reasonable driving distance where he can live at home and major in Computer Engineering and that is definitely an option.  I can't imagine it being as difficult to get into engineering there?  Not sure though.  Obviously we need to do a lot of research.  

[Ann.without.an.e]

A good student (not stellar) with solid math skills should be able to get into a good engineering program - not the most competitive ones, but still very good.

 

Computer science is heavy on the programming/software side of computers. Computer Engineering is much closer to Electrical Engineering and is heavy on the hardware/digital components of the computer and designing the computers themselves.

 

 

I would say his skills are solid.  A local Uni that isn't as competitive might be a good option?

[StephanieZ]

 

 

DD (double majoring in Computer Science and Math) considered Computer Engineering and what we determined was that computer engineering tended towards more of a hardware focus whereas computer science was more software focused. Personally, I googled up the topic and found plenty of articles with details, but that was the essence.

 

At dd's college (U Alabama), Computer Science and Computer Engineering are both within the College of Engineering. So far as I can tell, there isn't any difference in "getting into" the programs. Her school has more of a weed-out approach to qualifying for various degree programs.

 

Which would actually be harder to the student seems more student related. My dd is very strong in and LOVES math (and electrical stuff!), loves everything computer science, but hates physics (swears she's bad at it, which is nonsensical) and also disliked the standard 100 level intro to engineering class (which was easy for her but boring and annoying). So, for her, after a semester or two, it was easy for her to choose her major (CS) based on what types of courses each major would have the rest of her degree program and what sorts of jobs each would lead to. So, for her, CS is "easier". For other kids, the computer engineering would seem easier.

 

For instance, for my kid, the math-heavy parts in the CS curriculum are a piece of cake, while she works her butt off on the programming aspects (being pretty much a computer novice when she arrived at college compared to many CS students who've been programming for years) whereas some other kids who are very strong in CS in general really struggle with the math-heavy content. 

 

Both are hard majors. I don't think one is clearly easier than the other. For an "easier" related major, consider MIS (Management Information Systems), which is a computer-related major based within the business college (at most places). At Alabama, kids who get weeded out of CS often head towards MIS. Note, though, that MIS is not an easy major either, in the grand scheme of things, but is just typically easier than CS (or Computer Engineering). MIS is generally easier for most students due to the various business courses replacing various hard science/math/engineering courses required for CS or any engineering degree. 

 

FWIW, at U. Alabama anyway, it's very easy to come up with a first year plan that keeps several options open -- just choose courses that count towards both (all) options as much as possible, while also making sure to take courses that help the kid CHOOSE among the options, even if that means s/he might have one or two "wasted" courses . . . (Nothing is a waste if it helps the kid chart their destiny!) For dd, that's what we did, and it worked out very well for her. By the middle of her first year, she was 100% certain that CS was her major, and by early in her 3rd semester, she had also added the math major (after having added a math minor a few weeks into her first semester). 

 

 

[Ann.without.an.e]

 

 

FWIW, at U. Alabama anyway, it's very easy to come up with a first year plan that keeps several options open -- just choose courses that count towards both (all) options as much as possible, while also making sure to take courses that help the kid CHOOSE among the options, even if that means s/he might have one or two "wasted" courses . . . (Nothing is a waste if it helps the kid chart their destiny!) For dd, that's what we did, and it worked out very well for her. By the middle of her first year, she was 100% certain that CS was her major, and by early in her 3rd semester, she had also added the math major (after having added a math minor a few weeks into her first semester). 

 

 

I am hopeful DS will have a school like this!  Where he can keep it open at first.  I know with several schools around here, you can't go engineering unless you initially apply to the engineering school which is more difficult to get into unless you are in very high levels of math and DS is a little behind.

[Gratia271]

Find a school with a good engineering program that is not highly selective. Not all are.

You can get into engineering programs without APs.

 

Make sure he catches up on math. He should be aiming to place into calculus at college - he does not need to have taken calc in high school. But he does need to be solid in math - a student who struggles in math should major in neither comp eng or comp sci.

 

I agree about the struggling students' comment.  I have a family member in this situation, and it is quickly turning into a disaster.  That said, Attolia, It just sounds like your son got a little behind due to illness--- totally different story.  One option is to hit PSAT out of the park, compete for NMF and select school with automatic $$$.  There are some really good ones.  Some schools that are not "selective" can offer phenomenal mentorship of students.  One other possibility is a minor in Comp Sci/Engineering paired with something in humanities or business if he is interested in going that direction.  It can be a great segue to advanced degrees, like law, or MBA for business leadership. I don't know if any of that is of interest, but just throwing it out there.  DH is IT executive, and I can say (at least from his personal experience) that a combination like that is far more powerful long term in the business world.  It does depend on what career trajectory someone ultimately chooses, though.

 

 

[JanetC]

Here is a good comparison:

https://www.lewisu.edu/experts/wordpress/index.php/computer-science-vs-computer-engineering-whats-the-difference/

 

And you don't have to be a "superstar unbelievably high stats student" to get into engineering or comp sci. Not sure where you get this idea from.

.

At our state flagship (one of the best in US for these fields) you absolutely need to be a superstar to get into either CS or CE. Bioengineering is actually the worst though.

 

It really does depend on the school and how it allocates students to majors.

[GoVanGogh]

Question:

We attended a college fair last month and a recruiter told us that computer science falls under liberal arts while computer engineering doesn't, meaning that computer science requires more college classes in humanities area and computer engineering requires more classes in math and science.

Is that generally true?

Recruiter was suggesting for our 2e son with a physical disability that computer engineering would be a better fit, as it would require less writing in college. He excels in math and sciences. Writing is an awful struggle due to his disabilities. (He can type well and taking advanced programming classes now, but writing a term papers for history would be torture.)

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[Kassia]

Question:

We attended a college fair last month and a recruiter told us that computer science falls under liberal arts while computer engineering doesn't, meaning that computer science requires more college classes in humanities area and computer engineering requires more classes in math and science.

Is that generally true?

Recruiter was suggesting for our 2e son with a physical disability that computer engineering would be a better fit, as it would require less writing in college. He excels in math and sciences. Writing is an awful struggle due to his disabilities. (He can type well and taking advanced programming classes now, but writing a term papers for history would be torture.)

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

I think it depends on the program and the school.  Some computer science degrees are done through the engineering school, some are through arts and sciences or even the business school.  

 

My three sons all attend(ed) the same university.  One completed a computer science degree that was through the arts and sciences college.  He had more general education requirements than his brothers who are finishing up their degrees from the engineering college (one is majoring in computer science and engineering, the other in electrical and computer engineering).  The son of a friend of mine actually earned his computer science degree through the business college of his university.  I don't know what his graduation requirements were, but I have to assume that he did not complete as many engineering/math/science classes as someone with a computer science degree earned through an engineering college.  

[*LC]

Does one need to be a super star, unbelievably high stats student to get into computer engineering just as you do with other engineering fields?  Is it easier to get into computer science?

 

 

 

A young man we knew where we use to live is majoring in computer science at regionally ranked university that has an accepted 85 percent of applicants. He actually was no admitted for fall admittance, and he received admission under a special program that he had to be admitted to & fulfill the requirements before being admitted to college. He is now a senior doing a computer science internship. At this point, he is currently interviewing for post-graduation jobs.

 

Find a school with a good engineering program that is not highly selective. Not all are.

You can get into engineering programs without APs.

 

Make sure he catches up on math. He should be aiming to place into calculus at college - he does not need to have taken calc in high school. But he does need to be solid in math - a student who struggles in math should major in neither comp eng or comp sci.

 

 

The young man I mentioned is at a liberal arts school without an engineering department. His school only requires three semestes of math (statistics, calc 1 and calc 2) but, according to their course of study, they expect students to need two semesters of math before calc and statistics. I do not think he took calc in high school; I know he did not take AP calc if he took it all. We did not live there when he was in high school, but I still talked to his mom regularly.

 

Will he also consider going the cc to 4 year university route? That will give him time to solidify his plans. Our local universities have 3+2 transfer arrangements with the local cc and some liberal arts colleges.

 

 

My son looked at this at a liberal arts school near our home. If he took the required courses, it allowed straight transfer, without needing to be accepted, to one of our state flagships. Looks like NCSU has something similar: https://www.engr.ncsu.edu/academics/undergrad/admission/partnerships.php

 

 

Question:

We attended a college fair last month and a recruiter told us that computer science falls under liberal arts while computer engineering doesn't, meaning that computer science requires more college classes in humanities area and computer engineering requires more classes in math and science.

Is that generally true?

Recruiter was suggesting for our 2e son with a physical disability that computer engineering would be a better fit, as it would require less writing in college. He excels in math and sciences. Writing is an awful struggle due to his disabilities. (He can type well and taking advanced programming classes now, but writing a term papers for history would be torture.)

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

 

That would not be true at the school my kids attend. They both took their history/English requirements through dual-enrollment, I know back in the day I never wrote a history term paper.

 

I think it depends on the program and the school.  Some computer science degrees are done through the engineering school, some are through arts and sciences or even the business school.  

 

My three sons all attend(ed) the same university.  One completed a computer science degree that was through the arts and sciences college.  He had more general education requirements than his brothers who are finishing up their degrees from the engineering college (one is majoring in computer science and engineering, the other in electrical and computer engineering).  The son of a friend of mine actually earned his computer science degree through the business college of his university.  I don't know what his graduation requirements were, but I have to assume that he did not complete as many engineering/math/science classes as someone with a computer science degree earned through an engineering college.

 

Yes, you will find some schools even offer both a BA and BS in computer science. The BA in arts and sciences or liberal arts and a BS through the engineering department. The requirements are different. My daughter has a friend who is graduating with a BA in computer science from the liberal arts college at top 10 school and she needed less than 10 computer science classes as well as only calc 2. At my kids' school, a CS degree requires twice the number of CS classes and math classes than the friend needed. (I also have heard of a CS degree through the business school.

[Lanny]

IMO if one is Hardware capable, it makes them much more attractive and useful to potential employers. A Hardware person (Electrical Engineering Major, etc.) can do Software. Most Software people (Computer Science Major, etc.) cannot do Hardware.  The 2 are very closely related. Hardware is junk, without the Software (Firmware) that makes it run.  On one project I was involved with, working under contract to a very large Aerospace company in the PNW, I was in the Software group.  I believe that was the *only* project I ever worked on where the Hardware person I was working with was incompetent.  The Software Group ended up redesigning the Hardware he had designed, because he had no clue as to why it did not work, or when he would be able to get it working..  He had a young Engineer assigned to work with him and I felt sorry for her. She probably knew more, and had more common sense, than he did.   It depends upon what one is doing on the job.  I worked  closely with  Hardware (Avionics, etc.) and was constantly reading manuals about how the Hardware worked and trying to figure out what I needed to do in Software, to get it to work properly.  I must stress to you that in addition to being strong in Math, one must be solid in Physics and one must like Physics.   If not, don't go into Engineering...

 

Question: After the student in question graduates from university, what kind of work does he envision himself doing? He needs to think about that.  That will make the decision for him...

[Lanny]

For Engineering (and probably/possibly for C.S.) IMO the university having ABET accreditation for the Major is critical.  When I worked under contract to that Aerospace company, the first time, I was told that they had a list of approximately 50 universities.  If someone had graduated from a university that was not on their list, their Badge did not have the title "Engineer" on it. This is the URL for the ABET web site:  http://www.abet.org/wp-signup.php?new=abet.org