Caeer Oppurtunities: Comp Eng vs. Comp Sci?

[nkwu]

I only vaguely know the difference between Computer Engineering and Science, but what really is important to me is the career oppurtnities that you can get from it/courses you take. I can find the courses that I have to take through course calendars, but Unveristy brochures suck and don't give me the information I need.

So, I was owndering what oppurtinities that cOmputer engineering and computer science have, and which ones are unique to each one. Also what oppurtunities are equal to engineering and science.

Thanks to all thsoe that can help.

Also, anybody who took that Engineering course @ UT with the 2 year MBA course thrown on . I forget the program name, but I know you have to have a 74% average in Univeristy. If anybody has taken, oris enrolled in this program, how was your experience.

[carabunny]

"career opportunities" is the correct spelling...

just wanted to correct ya. i'm in psych/philo so i can't help you. sorry.

[danku]

Engineers will always be regarded as higher educated people than Computer Science. An engineering degree is more impressive than a computer science degree.

Computer Engineering is more hardware related I believe while Computer Science is more software related.

Engineers will have to take more maths, physics and electronic courses than computer scientists.

Me myself I recently graduated from Computer Science and I'm still looking for a job. I believe there are more opportunities for Computer Engineers.

[f00kie]

The Jeffrey Skoll program is the one you mentioned where you get an MBA with just 2 more years.

[Chris78]

That is becaue the Engineering degree is a "professional" degree.

[ph4tb0i]

I think in terms of finding a job, it is equally hard for both computer engineering and computer science. The thing you also have to remember is computer engineering is still not accredited by the Professional Engineering Board of Ontario, so if you do decide to take Computer Engineering, it may be a harder road for you to get your license as a professional engineer (i think UofT might be getting the accreditation for their program soon, i'm not sure). If you like software, then either computer science or computer engineering should be right for you, but make sure you have a passion for the stuff before you get into engineering, or else you will regret it for life. If you like hardware, then I would recommend you go into Electrical Engineering instead (also do note that the Electrical Engineering program is fully accredited in most universities).

To answer your question about the difference between a comp eng and a comp sci, it's basically like this (well this is from a friend of mine who goes to UofT, 4rth year comp eng). You have the computer science person that will know how to code in a specific language. However, the computer engineer (or software engineer) will be the person that actually comes up with the language in the first place... So this is why computer engineers will be more prestigious than computer scientists (not to mention it's a lot harder to get that engineering degree as well) Hope that helps..

[kawai]

I think in terms of finding a job, it is equally hard for both computer engineering and computer science. The thing you also have to remember is computer engineering is still not accredited by the Professional Engineering Board of Ontario, so if you do decide to take Computer Engineering, it may be a harder road for you to get your license as a professional engineer (i think UofT might be getting the accreditation for their program soon, i'm not sure). If you like software, then either computer science or computer engineering should be right for you, but make sure you have a passion for the stuff before you get into engineering, or else you will regret it for life. If you like hardware, then I would recommend you go into Electrical Engineering instead (also do note that the Electrical Engineering program is fully accredited in most universities).

To answer your question about the difference between a comp eng and a comp sci, it's basically like this (well this is from a friend of mine who goes to UofT, 4rth year comp eng). You have the computer science person that will know how to code in a specific language. However, the computer engineer (or software engineer) will be the person that actually comes up with the language in the first place... So this is why computer engineers will be more prestigious than computer scientists (not to mention it's a lot harder to get that engineering degree as well) Hope that helps..

No, CE at UofT and UW and other schools have been accredited for PEng since forever, check here (http://www.ccpe.ca/e/acc_programs_2.cfm) for whether your engineering degree is accredited or not but here is the list for CE:

COMPUTER ENGINEERING
Alberta: 1983-
British Columbia: 2000-
Calgary: 2002-
Concordia: 1983-
Manitoba: 1987-
McGill: 1993-
McMaster: 1981-
Memorial: 2002-
New Brunswick: 2001-
Ottawa: 1990-
Queen's: 2002-
Royal Military: 1983-
Toronto: 1994-
Victoria: 1988-
Waterloo: 1989-
Western Ontario: 2001-

You become a PEng once you get the degree 4years of experience + ethic tests + $$$

Don't go to CE if you are just planning to program, it's a waste of time. Ask yourself why do you need PEng for a programming job. I just believe that after all the insanity they put you through, EE is worth much more.

In my year, there is a massive exdous of CE going to EE, I wonder why

[supernerd]

I think its so sad that CS is always equated to "software" and "programming". Computing Science. Its about being a scientist, not a programmer. Although its pretty hard to go through a good CS program without becoming being a decent programmer, CS can be so much more than just programming. I think what sets CS apart is that it is about understanding the line between what is computable and what is not.

As for Engineering, well, I think Chris78 said it best: "the Engineering degree is a 'professional' degree".

With that said, I honestly don't think it matters if you want to work in the software industry. Many companies view the two fields in a very similar light -- they're both 'university-grade programmers'. I've met a mix of CS,SE,CE, and even EE, in all sorts of software-oriented positions...

[nkwu]

Thanks, I always found simplifying it to one side being hardware, and one side being osftware, over simplistic. All of the replies put everything in a better perspective for me.

Looks like choosing my program is gonna be a bit harder.


and has anyone taken/cponsidering taking the Skoll program?(thanks for giving me the name), I am very interested in it and was wondering if its worth it to go to UT for that program.

[m77m7]

This is pretty far from the truth. Your programming language analogy is not true and its not the reason why comp eng's are allegedly more prestigious. Its very difficult to differentiate the two without generalizing them as "software" and "hardware", because the explanation is long. Both CE and CS requires logic, math, physics, and complex problem solving but in completely different ways (with many similarities as well).

A comp sci grad can easily learn some/most of the stuff that comp eng people learn and vice versa.

To answer your question about the difference between a comp eng and a comp sci, it's basically like this (well this is from a friend of mine who goes to UofT, 4rth year comp eng). You have the computer science person that will know how to code in a specific language. However, the computer engineer (or software engineer) will be the person that actually comes up with the language in the first place... So this is why computer engineers will be more prestigious than computer scientists (not to mention it's a lot harder to get that engineering degree as well) Hope that helps..

[Tharyn]

I was in CompE at Waterloo, and just recently transferred to EE, I just realized that I can't stand programming, while I'm good at it, I don't enjoy it and don't want to waste my time focusing on it and taking more courses, Power Systems is where it's at!

Also, a lot of employers see as CompE ~= CS, which is a shame especially if you want to get into the hardware end of CompE.

--Mark

[m77m7]

Is it because that most jobs around the GTA are mostly software related? there are very limited engineering opportunities in the area. The US is where its at for eng jobs.

I was in CompE at Waterloo, and just recently transferred to EE, I just realized that I can't stand programming, while I'm good at it, I don't enjoy it and don't want to waste my time focusing on it and taking more courses, Power Systems is where it's at!

Also, a lot of employers see as CompE ~= CS, which is a shame especially if you want to get into the hardware end of CompE.

--Mark

[Headhunter]

Computer engineering is more esoteric, computer programmers are really plentiful. My advice: pick the one you enjoy more. Trying to go through life doing something you hate is no way to live...

"career opportunities" is the correct spelling...

And also the name of a Jennifer Connelly movie from the 90's! It's pretty stupid, but she looks great in a tight T-shirt.

[divx]

comp eng is harder than comp sci

[longo]

I was under the impression that computer engineers dealt with software that was needed for hardware (ie drivers) and computer science dealt with software for applications (ie windows applications, games)