Any engineering majors in here?

[SgtStedenko]

I am starting college next fall majoring in computer engineering at Iowa State University. How much work is it compared to other majors? Any websites with information on the types of things I will be learning? Any information you can give me about the program would be very helpful. Also, was it easy for you to get a job once you got out of college? Thanks for your time.

 

[thawolfman]

Welcome to Anandtech

And no, I can't help

 

[notfred]

Computer Engineering is more work than almost any other major.

You'll take a lot of math, physics, programming, circuit design, other difficult classes.

 

[Maetryx]

I'm a civil engineer. We're know as the guys that took the "easiest" engineering classes. Of course, the easiest engineering class is way harder than the hardest english or sociology class.

 

[Krakerjak]

Take your current free time, divide that by 100 and you'll have how much free time you have while getting your engineering degree.

You gotta be comitted, and well, smart. It also depends on what engineering major you take.
Im on the electrical engineering side, computer control.

Don't get me wrong though, its great fun and very interesting.

 

[SgtStedenko]

I bet it's very interesting, that's the primary reason I am taking it. I know it's going to be hard but why not aim high right? I am a senior in high school taking AP Calculus which is not too bad. Math is definitly my favorite subject.

 

[Zebo]

Computer Engineering is more work than almost any other major.

That's right the only ones I can think of harder would be Pure Physics or EE. Maybe Chemical E.

Your gonna do more work the first year then most do all 5.
Think Calc 1 & 2. Physics 1&2 (Newtonian then optics calc based not that easy HS stuff). Two entry level progamming clases probaly tought in Java today or C++. Some chemistry. Then all the GE requirements.

Then it's gets even more demanding the subsequint years. Are you up to it?

Keep a full load, get above a 3.0 if you want fortune 100 jobs.

 

[tigerbait]

Originally posted by: Maetryx
I'm a civil engineer. We're know as the guys that took the "easiest" engineering classes. Of course, the easiest engineering class is way harder than the hardest english or sociology class.

I'd say that Industrial Engineering is probably easier than Civil.

I'm graduating in December in EE. Doing the job search thing right now.... coming up empty. :| SgtStedenko, be a business major; enjoy college.

 

[SgtStedenko]

Why business? Because it is easy? I want something challenging, something that I like(Computers, and math), and something that I can be proud of.

 

[miniMUNCH]

I'd have to agree with Notfred...CompE is a hard work load as is Chemical Engineering.

As previously mentioned...it's breadth of knowledge required to become a decent Engineer in those fields.

FI: For ChemE I took:

3 years Math...freshman Calculus, diff eq., multi. calc. (2 classes), linear algebra, numericals methods (two class), process dynamics and optimizattion (linear programming, etc.)

3 years Chemistry...full year general, full year of Organic Chem (with lab), full year of Physical Chemistry (no lab thank god!)

General Engineering Stuff: mechanics of materials, Intro to EE, basic drafting skills, machining/welding, computer programming (C/C++)

ChemE: year of thermodynamics, reaction kinetics and reactor design, transport phenomena (applied physics basically: fluid dynamics, heat transfer, mass transfer), kinetic processes in materials, unit operations (distillation, membrane/ion separation, etc.), chemical process design, numerical simulation.

Every ChemE class had a lab with it that was more work than the lecture. Plus I had two senior projects , one group and one that I did by myself (both took a good 150-200 hours of work on my part which really isn't too bad when you spread out the time).


Computer Engineering is the same kind of story just different subject materials (one of my friends was a CompE...he is doing quite well for himself right now).

 

[tigerbait]

Originally posted by: SgtStedenko
Why business? Because it is easy? I want something challenging, something that I like(Computers, and math), and something that I can be proud of.

I wasn't serious about majoring a business. Do whatever you like. But yes, computer engineering will be quite challenging. I'm just aggravated with everything. I busted my ass for this EE degree, I'm graduating in 3.5 years with a 3.6 GPA, and nary a job offer in site.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: miniMUNCH
I'd have to agree with Notfred...CompE is a hard work load as is Chemical Engineering.

As previously mentioned...it's breadth of knowledge required to become a decent Engineer in those fields.

FI: For ChemE I took:

3 years Math...freshman Calculus, diff eq., multi. calc. (2 classes), linear algebra, numericals methods (two class), process dynamics and optimizattion (linear programming, etc.)

3 years Chemistry...full year general, full year of Organic Chem (with lab), full year of Physical Chemistry (no lab thank god!)

General Engineering Stuff: mechanics of materials, Intro to EE, basic drafting skills, machining/welding, computer programming (C/C++)

ChemE: year of thermodynamics, reaction kinetics and reactor design, transport phenomena (applied physics basically: fluid dynamics, heat transfer, mass transfer), kinetic processes in materials, unit operations (distillation, membrane/ion separation, etc.), chemical process design, numerical simulation.

Every ChemE class had a lab with it that was more work than the lecture. Plus I had two senior projects , one group and one that I did by myself (both took a good 150-200 hours of work on my part which really isn't too bad when you spread out the time).


Computer Engineering is the same kind of story just different subject materials (one of my friends was a CompE...he is doing quite well for himself right now).

And that why I went Straight BioChemisty (and made about 15K less upon graduation)... It's really almost overload if you try and finish in four. kudos to you. Most people have no idea some think ITT is just as good.

 

[J0hnny]

I'd think Electrical Engineering would be the hardest. If you're good at math but like to build things, be a Mechanical Engineer! I can't program for my life, nor do I want to start, so in my opinion, computer science would be one of the hardest majors.

My rank:
EE
ChE
ME
CompE
CE

It also depends on the Bachelors degree...is it a Bachelors of Science in (Field of Engineering) or a Bachelors of Engineering in (Field of Engineering).

A BE degree is worth like 2 BS degrees.

 

[tigerbait]

Originally posted by: J0hnny
It also depends on the Bachelors degree...is it a Bachelors of Science in (Field of Engineering) or a Bachelors of Engineering in (Field of Engineering).

A BE degree is worth like 2 BS degrees.

never heard of a BE degree... do a lot of schools offer that?

 

[SuperCyrix]

Of course, the easiest engineering class is way harder than the hardest english or sociology class.

Yeah I agree 100% I hate the way my philosophy and sociology professors always use to refer to the people in their field as
great thinkers. WTH does that make us engineers? Brain dead non thinkers? Must be great seeing all their great student thinkers graduate and saying "would you like to supersize that" while the average engineer student will have a starting salary of around 50K now.

CE seems pretty tough because you do have to take a variety of classes. ECE majors who specialize in Comp Eng takes pretty much the same course so that's an alternative you might consider. I think most of them end up writing firmwares, bios, etc...and work heavily with assembly language and C++. Let me warn you something in advance though. Check to see if your school's CE BS degree is accredited. If it's not, you'll have a tough time getting into grad school.

 

[AvesPKS]

Originally posted by: notfred
Computer Engineering is more work than almost any other major.

You'll take a lot of math, physics, programming, circuit design, other difficult classes.

Almost being the key word......No offense to any CPE.

EE is probably one of the hardest at my school, Illinois Tech (IIT).

 

[SuperCyrix]

Also, was it easy for you to get a job once you got out of college?

The struggling job market has caught up to even engineers now. Yes it's pretty tough finding a job right now even
if you are an engineer. Hope you graduate in better times.

 

[Talon02]

Mechanical Engineering here, Calc 1&2, Physics 4, Chem 4, and a bunch of other stuff.

it's so fun

but it is interesting

 

[Draknor]

Ooo yeah - engineering major discussion, gotta jump in

I'm a senior CompE at Bradley in Peoria (but my gf is an ME at Iowa State, so I've been there a few times ). Haven't looked too hard for a job yet, but I got some people I'm going to contact as the winter starts setting in... So can't really comment on that yet (although, I have had 3 summers of decent internships, making some very decent money!). But I'll go into some other observations...

1. You like math, you said? Let's hope it stays that way
2. GenEds will kill you if you are not careful (not because they are hard, but because EEs/CEs (and probably other engineering majors) typically don't care very much about them, and so procrastinate on homework & studying for them, which does bad things for your GPA in the end. Speaking from experience here
3. If you are going to do CompE, you will do programming. And you will either love programming or hate it - there's usually not much of a middle road here
4. The good side of #3 is that embedded systems programmers are in hot demand, even now (or so a recruiter told me a few weeks ago). "Embedded systems programming" = programming the little microcontrollers inside of control systems
5. A good EE friend of mine (running his own consulting business & doing very well at it), said the best things about doing the EE program (and if ISU is like Bradley, the CompE & EE programs are very similar) are the discipline, the analytical skills, and the problem-solving techniques you learn. With these tools, you can go just about anywhere and be successful. I'm considering checking into biomedical technology/engineering after graduation, and my EE background will give me a good headstart over any biomed majors.

So, if you're up to the challenge (and it sounds like you are), I'd heartily recommend going CompE. Good luck, have fun, and don't waste too much time gaming

 

[quirky]

im doing a CE. its not soooo hard, but definately challenging. I guess it depends on the person. if you dont think you can enjoy studying 2-6 hours every day then dont be an engineering major. also, you HAVE to have Very Very good test taking skills. tests in programming courses really make you think whereas in biology or somethign its just pure memorization.

i hav a question about getting jobs. do companies put a lot of emphasis on yoru gpa your do they not care so much? i predict that ill graduate with a 3.4-6

 

[PrincessGuard]

Originally posted by: tigerbait

Originally posted by: J0hnny
It also depends on the Bachelors degree...is it a Bachelors of Science in (Field of Engineering) or a Bachelors of Engineering in (Field of Engineering).

A BE degree is worth like 2 BS degrees.

never heard of a BE degree... do a lot of schools offer that?

From a quick Google, it looks like BE degrees are more prevalent outside the US.

 

[J0hnny]

BE degrees are offered at many universities in the United States. Hint: Search "Bachelors of Engineering" instead.

A BE degree is the hardcore engineering degree. You learn the required basics first 2 years (Adv. Calc, Chem, Adv. Physics) but then you'd differentiate into your core engineering major where you'll be learning nothing but your major. Anyone taking a BE degree CANNOT double major because of the intense course load. Most students that graduate with a BE go on and obtain their PE licenses (Professional Engineers - certified witha stamp!).

 

[J0hnny]

Oh yeh, Civil Engineering is lucky because that field is on a hiring blitz!

 

[bolido2000]

Computer Engineering is pretty hard compared to other majors. The EE courses are just friggin' hard. CS is ok until you have to do programming assingment. Try to learn more about programming besides schoolwork. Went to a job fair today and no one is hiring

 

[brtspears2]

EE .... bad ... I dont know why I'm in it.

Oh yea, now I remember. Business majors just seems to be too easy, and humanities majors just seem to get a degree to line up at the unemployment office.