The programming of the communications protocols used is typically done by Computer Engineers. Conversely, some ECEn programs are decidedly CS-ish - BYU's current ECEn Department includes 4 faculty with PhDs in Computer Science from other universities. Both CEN and CS study the use of the digital computer as a tool that makes possible much of modern technology and the overlap between the two fields is significant. There are philosophical as well as practical answers to these questions. They also build computer-based systems such as those found in cars, planes, appliances, electronics, phones, communication networks, and many, many other products. This is very electronics- and circuits-intensive design work. To start with, we will discuss the common courses between the two degree programs to show this commonality. Close. The design and analysis of those motors would likely be done by Electrical Engineers. At the intersection between CEN and CS are courses in computer architecture (the basic construction and low-level programming of computers) and operating systems, which are as likely to be found in either or both programs. Deciding between Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering- Help. The Boeing Company. Computer engineers research how to build all varieties of computing systems from smartphones to integrated circuits. The choice of which to pursue largely comes down to your interests. The development of the means of encoding those communications onto radio waves is also done by Electrical Engineers. Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design and application of equipment, devices and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the latter half of the 19th century after commercialization of the electric telegraph, the telephone, and electrical power generation, distribution and use. CS curricula can be said to concentrate more on the computational process at an abstract level as opposed to how the computation is accomplished with metal and silicon (wires and transistors). Brigham Young University Happily, however, that will likely not happen until your 3rd or 4th semester of study. At that (later) time you likely will have enough experience with the curriculum to make an informed decision. So, what are some things you might use to make this decision? The emphasis here is more on dealing with the complexities of higher transistor-count chips. Some CS programs are decidedly CpE-ish and some are not. If you are at the start of your career, however, deciding whether to pursue computer science vs computer engineering can be challenging. In other words, computer engineers build computers such as PCs, workstations, and supercomputers. You can learn more about these here. It includes building computing systems and technological devices. People who pride themselves on being computer engineers are proficient in computer science, and they can also be involved in hardware or software development. Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) consists of three eight-month academic sessions either following first-year Engineering or following a transfer program from first-year Science. There are philosophical as well as practical answers to these questions. You will find them taught in CpE and in EE. Item 2 may be done by electrical engineers but also by physicists. Top Electrical Engineering Companies To Work For. nections between electrical engineering and computer technology, but also from the traditional emphasis in electrical engineering curricula on physical sciences per- tinent to information processing; the extensive exper- ience in teaching mathematically oriented subjects re- The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers undergraduate programs leading to the BS in electrical engineering, engineering physics, and computer engineering, and the BA in electrical engineering and society. Electrical and computer engineering involve the same core subjects. It could be easy to get confused by the variety of computational programs available. The current job market is very strong for both Electrical Engineers and for Computer Engineers. VLSI integrated circuit design - logic level. Other branches of CS are concerned with the use of computing systems to solve a vast array of problems from managing airline reservations, to computer animation, to producing systems software (languages, compilers, operating systems) to make computing systems usable. Computer science professionals also need to be able to communicate with their teams, but their work tends to involve more problem-solving skills. As you see, there is a definite continuum with few precisely defined boundaries. microprocessors) and software development—each which drive computing advances in industries ranging from aerospace to healthcare. Computer engineering exists at the intersection of technology and innovation. That said, remember the point above - the lines are fuzzy at times and there are certainly exceptions to this statement. This draws heavily on physics, particularly solid-state physics. Computer engineering is also a term that can be used to describe a person who has a background in electrical engineering. Computer Engineering (CpE) grew out of Electrical Engineering (EE) and so it should come as no surprise to you that the two degree programs share much in common. Students should have sufficient background in high school mathematics so that they can take first-year calculus in … Computer engineers build hardware while computer scientists generally do not. Some Skill Sets Cross Over the Boundary. A long-established and highly regarded aeronautics firm, the Boeing Company continues to be the top provider of jetliners for passenger and other commercial transport purposes. You know what I mean. Likewise, if you have taken no Control Theory, you won't be attractive to recruiters looking for that skill.Numerous recruiters have mentioned that the course selection a student shows on a transcript is crucial. These systems might consist of custom digital circuits to perform some task, or they might be software-programmable computing systems consisting of digital circuits combined with software.In contrast, after receiving the same foundation, Electrical Engineers focus less on digital or computing systems and more on other topics including electronic circuits, electromagnetics, optics, signal processing, and semiconductors.All of these sub-topics are important in their own right. For example, the software might process the data to identify obstacles in the path of the robot or identify other features from the camera feed. While seemingly a step in the right direction, an answer of "VLSI" is not much more helpful than "something technical having to do with circuits." Then, you have a better chance of making a good decision. If you took technical elective courses outside the department they would likely have come from Physics or possibly Mechanical Engineering.As you can see from this description, after receiving the foundation, Computer Engineers focus to a large extent on using that foundation to help them design and analyze digital computing systems. The main difference between electronic and computer engineering is that electronic engineers place more focus on the diodes, circuits, semiconductors and other small components that are used for a computer's circuit board.Computer engineers have a working knowledge of these items and may even work with these components in their daily jobs. Be Aware of Multiple Meanings. Computer Engineering degree. Computer Engineering (CpE) grew out of Electrical Engineering (EE) and so it should come as no surprise to you that the two degree programs share much in common. Much of the above discussion may not make sense to you until you have had some experience in the core classes for these two majors. Point out the differences between the degree requirements. The technical electives you would likely have taken would have further focused on digital computing systems, the circuits that go into them, and the software that runs on them. Both electrical engineers and computer engineers are involved in developing, programming, and enhancing electrical circuits, systems, and devices. Courses in digital logic design and processor interfacing which build on an engineering student’s knowledge of electronics and circuits are typically found in CEN programs. Deciding between Electronic Engineering vs Computer Science. Circuit complexities are lower (fewer transistors) because the goal is to develop integrated circuit building blocks with nearly optimal speed/size/power characteristics. The differences are those of emphasis. Electrical and computer engineers work in a variety of fields including biomedical engineering, the aerospace industry, and intellectual property law. ), computer engineering is engineering applied to computers and computer-based systems. Computer engineers focus mostly on the design, implementation and applications of computers and computer-controlled equipment, including computer architecture and software engineering. Deciding between Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering- Help. Electrical engineers create, research, design, develop, manufacture, and market new devices. The difference is in the 400-level electives courses.The use of technical electives means that neither degree will lock you out of courses from the other degree program (provided you satisfy the prerequisites). Electrical Engineering and Electronics and Communication Engineering may sound similar but are completely different and deal with the different aspects of electricity and transmission of electricity altogether. Find those resources and carefully study them to help you make the best decision possible. Computer Engineering and Computer Science – Similarities and Differences. Computer Engineering integrates electrical with computer science. It is possible that the robot may need to wirelessly communicate with either other robots or with a base station. There is a big argument to be made for following your passion rather than automatically choosing the career with the highest salary. 1. The impact of computers has nowhere been more revolutionary than in electrical engineering. College of Education and Human Development, College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture, Experiential Programs Innovation Central (EPIC), Coordinated Operating Research Entities (CORE). They include things such as advanced digital systems design and testing, electronic circuits, electromagnetics, VLSI design, CAD tools, systems performance modeling and analysis, etc. The use of the term vs. in the title of this document is misleading --- there is no competition between the degree programs. 5,564 open jobs for Computer engineering intern. At the heart of a robot is typically a full-fledged computing system which runs a specialized operating system and multiple applications programs. Computer science majors follow the Arts and Sciences curriculum while Computer Engineering majors follow an Engineering curriculum. Eventually, the cost of switching will become prohibitive as you realize you have taken a number of classes which will not apply to the other major. So many engineers these day's generation fall under the software field or study Computer Science. I'm in doubt between Electronic and Computer Engineering and Computer Engineering (in terms of software). Prospective students searching for Chemical Engineer vs. Electrical Engineer found the following related articles and links useful. Students considering a career centered on computers and computing often ask for clarification about the difference between computer engineering (CEN) and computer science (CS). Robots are typically powered by electric motors powered by batteries. Basically, electrical engineers are involved in the design and manufacture of a wide range of electrical products as well as generating electrical power etc. A robot needs the ability to sense its surroundings using cameras, RADAR, Laser rangefinding, etc. When you visit a faculty member to get some counsel on your program of study the first question asked will be: "what do you want to do?" 0. Both are very good fields, your interest is the main thing to consider. Mechanical vs Electrical Engineering . 450 Engineering Building As you take courses in electronics, digital logic, computer organization, and signals and systems you hopefully will begin to understand what parts of these two degrees are attractive to you and can then pursue the corresponding major. A significant theoretical branch of CS is concerned with proving properties and limits of computing systems using these abstract models. Your choice of courses can have a dramatic impact on your career path. Therefore, you’ll probably find system operations and computer architecture courses in a computer engineering degree as well. You can often make the switch between degrees with minimal penalty for a number of semesters. Electrical engineering specializations. If you took technical elective courses outside the department they would likely have come from Computer Science (CS).If you were to choose EE, you would have received additional mathematics training. Department advisers and faculty members can help answer many of your questions. They simply represent different emphases in your course of study. Get the right Computer engineering intern job with company ratings & salaries. The purposes of this document are the following: The last point is perhaps the most important in that you need to understand that if you are uncertain, you can postpone your decision (with minor modifications) until you are well into the program of study within the department. On the contrary. ... Archived. Computer Science is traditionally more concerned with the theoretical underpinnings of computation and of programming; thus one typically finds courses in programming, algorithms, numerical analysis (how do you guarantee a number produced by a computer program is accurate), and the theory of computation (what can and cannot in principle be computed) in Computer Science departments. The good news is that if you are a student at BYU, you generally may not have to decide which path to follow until you have been in your program of study for a few semesters. This high level control is based on sophisticated mathematics techniques and is typically developed by Electrical Engineers (although, in recent years, control theory is increasingly found in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering). You will have completed three courses in circuit design, a course in linear system theory and signal processing, and will have completed a significant engineering project as a part of the Capstone course.If you were to choose CpE, however, you would have received additional training in computer programming, computer architecture and organization, and networking. The design of that specialized computing system would likely be done by Computer Engineers. Any given person familiar with EE, CS, or CpE may take issue with the insights provided here. One such set of application programs would take data in from the cameras and other sensors and operate on that data. At my school the difference between EE and CpE was primarily Analog vs Digital. However, computer engineers usually write the programs for computer-based systems. For example, the statement that the goal of the CpE degree program is to prepare students to design computing systems does not imply that having an EE degree rather than a CpE degree will preclude you from doing so. At this point the emphasis is clearly on managing complexity of chips or systems containing many millions of transistors. Does this mean CS doesn't include the study of computer architecture and digital logic? I am attending Clemson University next semester and I can't quite make up my mind on which field I want to major. Computer engineering programs largely developed in engineering departments strong in electrical engineering. These courses will likely be both very theoretical comparing to … The design of those components may be done by Electrical or Computer Engineers, but more commonly would be done by Mechanical Engineers. Electrical engineers concentrate on the laws of physics that govern electricity, magnetism and light to develop systems and services. Search Computer engineering intern jobs. Since engineering is the application of the principles of basic science to the solving of problems within constraints (that is, building things! You could specialize in the following areas of electrical and electronics engineering: power generation and supply, communications and media, computer systems and robotic systems. However, computer scientists certainly know enough about hardware to analyze computer system operations and to interact with hardware engineers. Electrical & Computer Engineering They may simply feel they are not representative of what that person has encountered in the work force. A dynamic professional field, computer engineering offers varied career paths in both hardware engineering (e.g. Electrical engineers apply electrical, electronic and magnetic theory to obtain solutions for problems related to the development, design and operation of electrical hardware and software, control systems, electrical machines and communications systems. The design of those actual physical sensors would typically be done by Electrical Engineers. Thus, Computer Scientists often view a computing system in terms of what it can do rather than how. A common complaint is that the process engineers don't really understand the design they are manufacturing and that the designer does not sufficiently understand the silicon technology being used. This higher level of abstraction precludes much attention to the physical detail in the building blocks employed. Computer engineers typically design not only the hardware, but also much of the software in computer-based systems. If you have taken no Computer Architecture courses, don't expect to find employment designing the next generation CPUs for Hewlett Packard. Early on you will be taking core classes that are required for both majors. Talk to recruiters and see what skills they are looking for in candidates. Students in CS, CE, or Electrical Engineering will all study programming and basic computer operation. Sub-micron device (transistor) development, modeling. Computer engineering, on the other hand, is a field at the intersection of electrical engineering and computer science. Hi all, I was told to post here from r/engineering. This is what we do in room 487 CB in those white bunny suits. Integrated circuit manufacturing (also called fabrication or processing). Provo, UT 84602 Remember, the line between EE and CpE is fuzzy at best. These building blocks include logic elements (gates and flip flops) as well as analog components (amplifiers, DACs, ADCs, static and dynamic memory cells). As a computer science major, you would spend your education taking classes in subjects such as algorithms, computer progra… The second year is common to both Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. Both disciplines study the inner workings of computers and both study hardware as well as software aspects of computer systems. You would have then focused your studies on electromagnetics (electromagnetic waves) followed by a variety of topics such as control system theory, communication theory, advanced analog electronic circuits, and advanced electromagnetics (including antennas and fiber optics). The design, analysis, and operation of electrical and electronic systems are now dominated by computers, a transformation that has been motivated by the natural ease of interface between computers and electrical systems, and the promise of spectacular improvements in speed and efficiency. (801) 422-4012 To help make this a bit more concrete, consider the design of a robotic system such as a mobile ground robot. Don’t feel badly if this is the case with you. In EE there is no end of intense abstract theoretical concepts (try fields and waves, electromagnetics, microwaves, etc.). Both degree programs follow a common core of physics, mathematics, statistics, chemistry, digital electronics, linear circuits, electronics, and introduction to computer programming.After finishing either program you will have received an introduction to computer programming and data structures, and you will have built a solid foundation of mathematics, statistics and probability, physics, and chemistry. Faculty can be a great aid in helping you understand the bounds of your interest area and devising a program of study to help prepare you in that interest area if you choose to do so. As mentioned previously, computer engineering is considered to be a sub-discipline of electrical engineering. Many CS departments at U.S. universities were offshoots from math departments in the 1970s, and the emphasis on providing a rigorous mathematical foundation for the computing disciplines is still evident in many CS curricula. We took all of the same classes and split off so EE could do more in Radio Waves and Electromagnetic stuff while CpE could do more programming and system/circuit design. For example, assume you have heard of company X and you understand they do the design and manufacture of VLSI integrated circuits and you decide you are interested in that field for whatever reason. The key thing is to meet with the department advisor and map out a path to graduation in one of the majors. The design of the antenna for producing the radio waves used for this communication is done by Electrical Engineers. The reason is that the term VLSI itself refers to a broad range of topics including: Item 1 above can be the task of physicists, chemists, chemical engineers, or manufacturing engineers, as well as electrical engineers. I don't have much programming experience, but I did take an introductory class and I'm not doing as well as i had thought, but I still think if I work hard enough I can so well in it! Computer engineering students, on the other hand, are somewhere between computer science and electrical engineering. The BYU ECEn department publishes flowcharts on its website (ece.byu.edu) that can help you understand its two degrees’ requirements and map out a course of study. Items 3, 4, and 5 are very much within the scope of both EE and CpE with Item 3 more of an EE topic and Item 5 being more of a CpE topic. Help you as a student understand why you might choose one degree over the other. The requirements outlined in the above table include only required courses. Other layers of software are responsible for controlling the robot by planning its path through its environment. Both degrees require the same number of credits. If you enjoy learning complex theory, then computer science could very well be the choice for you. Many can be found in the business world where their technology and their problem-solving, time-management, … Large, complex, and sophisticated computer-aided design (CAD) tools are required to accomplish this work. Point out to you as a student when you need to decide which degree program you wish to take. Students in the Electrical Eng… It does. The design of the actual algorithms to do that obstacle identification or RADAR processing would likely be done by an Electrical Engineer, but the implementation of those algorithms in software is often done by a Computer Engineer or Computer Scientist. Using the above VLSI example again, it is clear that if you eventually decide that VLSI (at any of the 5 levels given) is where you want to work, you will benefit greatly by taking courses across the whole range. Thus, your choice should not depend so much on that as on what you want to do. Often, this is done using canned building blocks (gates and flip flops) developed by circuit level VLSI designers. Give to ECE, PROVO, UT 84602, USA | 801-422-4636 | © 2020 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. VLSI integrated circuit design - circuit level. However, built into the requirement structure are limitations on how many courses you can take from the other degree program. The difference between these two degrees is the difference between the two colleges: the aim of science is to deepen a basic knowledge of a specific field, while the aim of engineering is to combine innovation and technology.