Computer Engineering VS Electrical Engineering?

[Volume]

It took me a bit to decide on what section to post this thread in, but here goes...

I'm looking to finish up an Associate of Engineering Science degree at my community college, and to transfer out to a 4yr school as a Junior.

I'm having trouble deciding whether Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering are right for me. I've looked on job postings for the bigger computer hardware manufacturers and some require a EE and some a CE for what seem to be pretty similar job descriptions.

What I'd like to see myself doing in the future is designing computer hardware or its components. This is were the name Computer Engineering seems obvious. But what about EE? Wouldn't there also be a wider job market for EE?

Any help is greatly appreciated, ESPECIALLY if you have experience in either field. Thanks!

 

[l0calh05t]

In general, EEs are pretty scarce (at least in europe), so it shouldn't be too difficult to find a job. So I'd go for EE (also because EE is fun!).

 

[PurduEE]

You'll need to take a look at the course catalog to get a sense of what classes you are required/can take in each major, but my personal experience is that EE is a better degree to hold. I was a CEE at Purdue (Computer and Electrical Engineer), but dropped the 'C' when it was just confusing to employers. I was told on a number of occasions that I didn't meet their requirements because I was not an EE. I'm still not sure what a CE really is and what things they do that EEs can't - some employers will have this confusion as well. Realistically, it's not like most EEs aren't doing work in computer-related fields or on computer-related tasks.

At the end of the day, I switched to EE to avoid the hassle, graduated a semester earlier because I didn't have to take 2-3 computer engineering classes, took a job in ROM BIOS at Compaq and worked for about 8-10 years at Compaq, Dell, AMD and various other computer companies. I don't think being a EE or a CE will define what you do after you graduate or the direction that you take your career. However, this is my experience and others may have a different view.

 

[mtrupi]

In general, EEs are pretty scarce (at least in europe), so it shouldn't be too difficult to find a job. So I'd go for EE (also because EE is fun!).

In the US it depends a lot on your location and the current job market. Also, a very small percentage of graduates actually have a job in design and development. If you want to do board level design the EE degree will likely open up more possibilities. You must know at a minimum POL power design, micros/CPLD/FPGA's, and transmission line effects. If you want chip design the CE might be better. You need Verilog and/or VHDL plus the back end processes. If you want to be a computer architect the CE degree should help but an EE can easily go down that path as well. And you need to be able to relocate if necessary.

 

[dhc014]

Computer Engineering gives a better background in software while Electrical Engineering tends to focus on hardware design. As a computer engineer, you should be able to do any job that an EE can do, but some companies don't recognize what a CE degree means as readily as they do a EE degree. A CE major can often take a Computer Science (software development) job too, but so could an intelligent EE. I know CE majors who are doing nothing but hardware development and others working purely with software.

CE tends to give you a broader background while EE goes into great detail.

Of course this is just my experience, and it could be different at other schools.

 

[engiNURD]

... I'm still not sure what a CE really is and what things they do that EEs can't...

... I don't think being a EE or a CE will define what you do after you graduate or the direction that you take your career. ..

In my experience, and as stated already, CE's tend to be more software, and EE's more hardware. For example, at my company, most EE's can't program in C, which is used quite frequently in the embedded development field.

Though, I agree, what you graduate with won't define your career. I know many people with great careers but with unrelated degrees. I know a DBA with an Econ degree, a graphic artist who does web programming all day, and even an EE doing software programming -- and those are just a few of my friends, lol. I've also got quite a few engineering friends who are now doing IT stuff. ... whatever pays the bills.

... What I'd like to see myself doing in the future is designing computer hardware or its components. ...

You'll have to get more specific. If you want to design hardware for the embedded field, EE is your best bet. Amongst my friends and I, I've found that its easier to get a CE job rather than EE. But again, even if you don't decide to pursue a career in what you graduated with, as long as you can convince an employer you're the best person for the job, they'll give you a chance.

Again, this is just my personal experience and others' will, of course, be different.

... As a computer engineer, you should be able to do any job that an EE can do...

I disagree, but I think it depends on the program. My CE program hardware classes didn't go into much detail into hardware as my friends' EE classes did, and I had a lot less EE classes than CE. So, while some may be able to do both, I think most are less prepared for the other's job.

 

[BillParrish]

As a computer engineer, you should be able to do any job that an EE can do...

I too have major diffficulty with that statement. But I am biased.

CE its all about computers.

EE , if it has electronics in it you can do it. Much wider field. But careful, you can expect your brain to explode at least twice if using 2nd order Bessel functions are something that annoys you.

Bill Parrish BSEE.

 

[AngryArtichoke]

I agree with the statement about the CE having a software background. It really matters what YOU want to end up doing. I'm 3/4 of the way done with my EE degree. I used to be a CE major, but I can't stand programming. Some schools, like OSU, have combined the programs into one because they are so similar. It's now being called an ECE degree.

 

[-=Antimatter=-]

It depends entirely on the school.

In general, as an EE you'll learn more about circuit design (mixed signal/analog), IC design and manufacturing, electromagnetics (maxwell's equations and beyond), power, and wireless/RF/antennas.

As a CE, you'll be doing more VHDL, computer system architecture, assembly programming, FPGA design and implementation, embedded computing, digital signal processing, and high-level programming as well (C++, MATLAB, and others). You might also get into signal processing and coding for communications like wifi and other wireless systems.

If you want to design things like CPUs and Northbridges, I'd go with CE. For PCB design, power delivery, and mechanical design you'll have to look elsewhere. CE's don't make computer products on their own, there are mechanical engineers, CAD designers, and tons of Electrical Engineers on the projects as well.

 

[steakman1971]

I currently work for a major software firm. I work with CS, EE, CE, etc. We are software-only. They are more interested in your employment experience (when hiring) than anything. Of course, if you aren't located in India - they likely won't hire you!

I think I'd go with EE. Depends on your interests. If you like programming a bit more, go CE.

I started off in a similar manner. I went to a community college and got an AS degree in computer engineering (not a lot different from the ee program they offered). I then got a BS degree in Computer Science.

Pick your first few jobs with care. They don't define you totally - but they definatetly influence your career choices.

Example: I coop'd for an engineering firm when I was at the community college. They hired me when I graduated. I worked there for about 5 years. If I could go back in time, I think I would have tried working for a few other companies. (Then again, the pay was good and I did end up with a good job).

There may be some advisors you can talk to at the college. Get their input as well. Some advisors have real world experience. Others, well, ... everything is theoretical.

 

[Volume]

I was talking to a CE at work the other day, and he told me that if I go EE I should consider specializing in communications (cell phones, etc.) and that the market for it should be pretty good. I don't specifically have to go into computer hardware, but I figured that it's something I'd have a personal interest in given my background in hobbyist system building, gaming, etc.

When I made the ambiguous statement of wanting to design computer hardware, that's all I'm really saying. I don't know if I want to design boards or chips, I just know I'd rather do things on the hardware end than mostly on the software end (though I'm fine with the fact that some programming is sometimes required).

Right now I'm still leaning toward EE, seeing as how it seems to dig a little deeper into the physics of the subject and I think education in that can lead to more possibilities in research/development type positions down the line (in the sense that it opens up a wider range of electronics companies).

 

[steakman1971]

You'll also need to consider the part of the country you might need to live in to get a job designing hardware. Some areas of the country will have more jobs than others.
I live in the midwest. My career choices (software development) are more limited than other areas of the country. This is something to keep in mind.
Note: I don't know the job market for what you are interested in doing.

 

[Volume]

You'll also need to consider the part of the country you might need to live in to get a job designing hardware. Some areas of the country will have more jobs than others.
I live in the midwest. My career choices (software development) are more limited than other areas of the country. This is something to keep in mind.
Note: I don't know the job market for what you are interested in doing.

I also live in the Midwest and would move out in a heartbeat.

 

[PurduEE]

I also live in the Midwest and would move out in a heartbeat.

That's good, since the Midwest is slowly dying as far as I can tell. I moved to Texas after I graduated from college and I'm still here 12 years later. If I'd stayed in Ohio (where I grew up), I would have worked someplace like where I co-oped - 20-25 engineers writing software and designing hardware for high-speed junk mail printers... Advancement occurs when the person above you dies. I imagine that's why the building was only 3 stories - at 5 you'd get too many jumpers.

 

[Volume]

That's good, since the Midwest is slowly dying as far as I can tell. I moved to Texas after I graduated from college and I'm still here 12 years later. If I'd stayed in Ohio (where I grew up), I would have worked someplace like where I co-oped - 20-25 engineers writing software and designing hardware for high-speed junk mail printers... Advancement occurs when the person above you dies. I imagine that's why the building was only 3 stories - at 5 you'd get too many jumpers.

Haha, well put.

I'd probably like to move closer to Chicago or another city (I live in the suburbs).

 

[DanniBoy]

I double majored EE and CE (CpE). To me it is like getting an EE degree with a specialization in computers, that's all.