Computer Enginnering

[superflymx6]

Do both Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Here is a link to most of the class you would take if you do ECE or CPE.

LIST OF CLASSES

I have taken:

ECE: 200, 206, 211, 212, 220, 301, 302, 303, 402, 406

I am taking now ECE435

Will be take:

ECE: 403, 407, 492, 456

Oh yea, I know Java too, big deal!:roll:

You can take a look there and read up on some of those. You can click around on that site and read up on what some of the teachers are doing in their research and such and see if any of that interests you. I really like 212 because you got to design logic circuits on the breadboards. Also 406, we were able to use Verilog to design a microcontroller(thats was tough).

 

[vtohthree]

I just wrote a novel about my experience in college. How I started out with an engineering major and switched to business, but I scrapped it all. To keep it short, you'll know after 2 years of college, whether or not you want to do it or if you will stick with it. I still dream of it, but life had to move on. Get ready for a lot of math, science, and related courses involving math and science. Work hard, and be dedicated, thats all I can say for any thing in life, but especially engineering(unless math is your strong point). And good luck.

 

[Richardito]

Originally posted by: vtohthree
I just wrote a novel about my experience in college. How I started out with an engineering major and switched to business, but I scrapped it all. To keep it short, you'll know after 2 years of college, whether or not you want to do it or if you will stick with it. I still dream of it, but life had to move on. Get ready for a lot of math, science, and related courses involving math and science. Work hard, and be dedicated, thats all I can say for any thing in life, but especially engineering(unless math is your strong point). And good luck.

I'm sorry that you gave up on college. All the people that I know which took that route regret it for the rest of their lifes. I graduated as a Chemical Engineer (after changing from Computer Engineering) and I've always been very weak in math. I also got my MBA a couple of years ago and I felt like a genius in the math-related clases in relationship to my class mates (social sciences majors, bussiness majors, etc.). So, even if you are weak in math you can be an engineer if you want it bad enough.

 

[fatty4ksu]

Chem E's = pvssys:thumbsdown:

 

[vtohthree]

" quote:
Originally posted by: vtohthree
I just wrote a novel about my experience in college. How I started out with an engineering major and switched to business, but I scrapped it all. To keep it short, you'll know after 2 years of college, whether or not you want to do it or if you will stick with it. I still dream of it, but life had to move on. Get ready for a lot of math, science, and related courses involving math and science. Work hard, and be dedicated, thats all I can say for any thing in life, but especially engineering(unless math is your strong point). And good luck.



I'm sorry that you gave up on college. All the people that I know which took that route regret it for the rest of their lifes. I graduated as a Chemical Engineer (after changing from Computer Engineering) and I've always been very weak in math. I also got my MBA a couple of years ago and I felt like a genius in the math-related clases in relationship to my class mates (social sciences majors, bussiness majors, etc.). So, even if you are weak in math you can be an engineer if you want it bad enough."




Ok, I guess from re-reading what I wrote, it appears that I gave the impression of quiting college. So your comment is forgiveable. I switched majors to business economics, as I wrote in my really long paragraph that I scrapped. I was giving him advice as to whether he really wants to do engineering or not and that he would find out if he wants to stick with it after 2 years of taking related courses. You will know what you like and do not like, and it is your decision to make the shot if it implies, I would suggest a major change rather than a bitter and forceful drive(if it implies to you).

 

[jasonja]

I graduated with a BS is Computer Engineering. At the school I attended the EE and CE students take the same identical courses for the first 2 years.. after that the CE folks would take more C++ programming, networking, and other computer related courses while the EE folks would take more analog type electronics (RF, power systems, etc). During the first two years we all took the same Digital Logic, Circuit Design, State machines, etc. I know several people that flipped from CE to EE and vice versa after the first two years, some even dual majored by staying a fifth or sixth year (not me... I had enough and needed to work!)

I went down the software route because I always found it more interesting in projects and in my software classes and now I'm a software engineer with a well known hardware company. Most of my co-workers graduated as Computer Science majors but a few of them have other strange majors in things like Aerospace Engineering. I work closely with hardware guys who develop ASICs and can tell you that many of those guys spend most of their time writing code too. Almost all hardware today is designed via software programming languages and in many cases is all simulated with C/C++ emulators. I've found that my CE degree has worked at well for what I do now.

 

[DarfBomb]

Interesting thread, It may be able to help a guy in my situation...

I have just graduated from high school and will be attending MTU in the fall for their computer engineering program(which I am looking forward to). What I want to do with my life is create schematics and such for microproccessors, chipsets, etc. I was thinking of of also going for a PHD in EE after working for a few years as a CE (give me time to pay off student loans ). From what I've read it seems like the CE degree will be enough to get me a start some where drawing up schematics. Can anyone confirm this or suggest what else would help me out?

Any feedback would be appriciated

 

[jasonja]

Originally posted by: DarfBomb
Interesting thread, It may be able to help a guy in my situation...

I have just graduated from high school and will be attending MTU in the fall for their computer engineering program(which I am looking forward to). What I want to do with my life is create schematics and such for microproccessors, chipsets, etc. I was thinking of of also going for a PHD in EE after working for a few years as a CE (give me time to pay off student loans ). From what I've read it seems like the CE degree will be enough to get me a start some where drawing up schematics. Can anyone confirm this or suggest what else would help me out?

Any feedback would be appriciated

CE or EE can lead to a field in ASIC design, in either case you will have the ability to take courses that interest you or slant you towards your career choice. An internship will do the most for you... in college you will learn the basics, when you graduate you most likely learn more in your first year on the job then you did thru all of college (in the field you work in anyways). But today ASICs are not simply "drawn" up with schematics... they are programmed using computer programming like languages and simulated using software. If you like to draw be an artist or architect, if you want to design microprocessors be ready to learn how to program.

 

[kojava]

In my computer engineering program at the school that I went to, the real "Computer Engineering" means working in the computer architecture field. Sure...there are people who graduate with CE and work as Software Engineers or Software/Hardware Interface Engineers and what not but I don't consider them computer engineers. If you want to know more about what are the typical design problems that computer engineers work on check out "Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach", by D.A.Patterson. It's pretty much the standard text on computer architecture these days.

 

[WaxHaX0rS]

CTho, you have a PM.

 

[CTho9305]

Replied.

 

[soccerballtux]

Hey thanks so much to everyone currently in this field that replied with their take of the whole matter. It was really helpful to me and several others I can see as well.
Thanks everyone. (But I don't mean to close up this thread.)

 

[CTho9305]

One thing I think I should mention: working for a "cool" company doesn't mean you have a good job. One of my friends at a company with probably the longest lines of people at the job fairs is really dissatisfied.

Some quotes from AIM conversations (note that this company calls him an "intern" rather than a "co-op", but he doesn't know of any "co-ops" there) :

xxxxxx: although you might want to disclaim that working at a cool company isn't always cool ;-)
xxxxxx: I mean
xxxxxx: I don't think my job's any cooler than the janitors that work for <company>

xxxxxx: I am a jack of numerous trades
xxxxxx: apparently I do everything full time employees can't be bothered with

xxxxxx: if <company> offered me twice my salary to keep doing my present job
xxxxxx: I don't think I'd take it

 

[Megamixman]

Another thing to mention is to get into Math early. I started to learn programming in 5th grade and that was with visual basic. I was designing basic circuits, such as counters and registers starting 7th grade. I made my first PCB in 9th and now I?m the process of an RF design. All this and I?m still not done with High School. Sure I got started really early, but it is also because i got interested in math early on. I got ahead and one thing led to another. If anything, Math is the foundation for any engineering job.

Also if you are interested, see if there is someone in your community that would be willing to help you out. I was lucky, because my Dad and his friend are in a wide variety of fields. No matter what I got interested, there was someone who was very knowledgeable in that area and could guide me. That gave me a huge advantage, but that doesn't mean that your 'mentor's so to say have to such a direct connection to you. Ask your parents to ask their friends, and so on. Even if in the end you can only communicate by email, you still have contact to someone that can guide you.

 

[gar3555]

At my university, they switched things up a bit in the last couple of years, now Comp Engs have 3 options that you can declare and specialize yourself in. They are embedded systems, architecture, and networking/graphics. I went with embedded systems, but ended up getting both it and networking/graphics, most classes I took in embedded system that were Comp E classes dealt with programming w/ chips such as the Siemens C167, the MPC 555, the HC11 to name a few. We also had theory classes on this, like real-time OS, and such. The people in architecture, get offered a different variety of courses including AI, and things like that..lots more theory based stuff. It just depends what your interested in. I was more into real world apps of Comp E, that's why I went the way I did. I guess what I'm saying is there are many options within this major, and it just depends on your interests.

 

[MikalCarbine257]

Hey guys, sorry to but in but I am in the same position as L1nVx. I love computers, and I want to major in Computer Engineering. I know how to assemble them and a lot about them, etc, etc, but I really want to design circuits and hardware. I LOVE math and I am taking AP Calc for my Senior year at highschool. I have never programmed, I know basic HTML and I am taking an intro into java next year. As for circuit design, I have not had any experience in that field. Anyone recommend anything or have any input? I am currently in the process of looking for colleges to attend next year.

 

[Megamixman]

Start with the basics, Passive Components. Understand what they do and the basic principles that apply like Ohm's Law. Then I would say move on to basic logic. Understand gates, registers, etc. Start designing basic digital logic circuits and understanding what they do and how it works. You should be able to trace signal changes as they occur in order. In that I mean, if bit 7 changed from a 0 to 1, then which signals would it affect and how would that cascade? Now that you understand this, move on to basic microcontrollers. Learn the difference between functional units, and understand things such as TTL levels, CMOS levels, how to switch between the two. Learn to use more complex logic IC's, bus transceivers. I basically jumped from this point, back to Analog, specifically RF. Oh and somewhere in there, I suggest you learn basics of PCB design. Understanding that will help a lot, because schematics have to be designed with the limits and follies of the physical PCB's in mind. Right now, I?m learning how a professional PCB is made, so that I can understand how to avoid things like acid traps for my PCB design.

 

[Jon855]

Originally posted by: L1nVx
I shouldn't blow my brains out now or i'll go crazy ... even tho i'm a senior and need to pick a college heh...

I could say you could go to www.rit.edu I think it's really awesome and ofc MIT if u're one of the upper geeks. www.rit.edu is where attend.

 

[Ahkorishaan]

University of Hartford. Hands down. It's the professors, and their willingness to try new things, and pioneer new teaching strategies that sets this school apart. Our engineering program has focuses on what are important to new engineers, Writing and interpersonal/teambuilding skills. The school really treats its undergrads well. We go to conferences as Freshmen, we meet people and network as Freshmen, and up. We are given opportunities some Graduate students don't even get. I've met the President of Bose, Pratt& Whitney, been in pilot programs for the National Science Foundation, my classmate is working on with Nasa on a next generation Space Suit, and as a freshman, I was allowed to create my own 400 level Independant Study course, and present my findings to the entire local academic community. How many of the big tech schools can say that they offer these things to their undergrads? Not too many.

And! and. Age and seniority mean nothing there. If you are a promising student willing to work your arse off, you could be any age, even a brand new freshman, like I was, and you will get grants, and you will get unbelievable opportunities to do some really cool stuff. (I'm under an NDA for the 'really cool stuff' so I can't say anything about it) But it's going to change the way the first two years of classesa re taught in the Hartford Engineering program.

We have a professor, Dr. Adrezin, who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He is an awesome teacher, and the best mentor I've ever had in my life. I can't say enough for the staff of the University of Hartford. They are top of the line professors, who honestly love to teach, and love their students.

 

[engineereeyore]

Being basically in your exact shoes earlier in life, I would have to agree that electrical engineering is what you want to do for a few reasons. Computer engineering is nice, but as stated previously, you do more programming typically than you do designing. Second, if you get tired of computers, which is very likely, you have a lot more options available to you if you have a degree in electrical engineering as opposed to computer engineering. There are a few other things you can do with a computer engineering degree, but not nearly as many other things as you can with an ee degree. Third, it also depends on how far you want to go in college. If you're stopping at bachelors, definitely ee. If masters, maybe ce bachelors and ee masters. If Ph.d, same as masters, but you'll want a masters of science, not masters of engineering. Believe it or not, it does make a big difference to a lot of schools.

Just a few things to think about.

 

[engineereeyore]

Oh, and as for schools, I'd have to recommend the one I currently attend, Utah State University. Nice school in the middle of the mountains. Micron, well know for manufacturing ram, is located in Boise, Idaho, about 4 hours north, and they hire very very heavely from USU. Also, IBM, HP, and NASA hired a lot of USU students (we have a "NASA" center here called the Space Dynamics Lab that puts more student projects into space than any other university). Tuition is currently only about $1600/semester for residents. Really good bang for your buck, but I am some what biased.

 

[trend]

PM if you aren't overwhelmed with info already.


I have developed embedded systems a corporation in GA

I have worked in both the hardware and firmware and software side.

anyways.. PM and give me your ICQ/AIM/MSN contact info and we can talk

 

[Paul Stamatiou]

Hey, I'm a computer engineer right now and I can say that I got started early with electronics kits such as those from http://www.velleman.be , http://www.jameco.com , http://www.digi-key.com and taught myself how to solder when I was seven. Now that I have finished my first year, I can say that it is pretty demanding.. even if you truely love it, there will be some parts about computer engineering that are kind of boring... I know that my circuit theory class was like wtf everyday... but I'm hoping my DSP class this year will be better, as I actually get to build and test stuff out and walk around campus with a breadboard, I'll look so cool

edit: I forgot to mention, pick yourself up a small little Basic STAMP or one of those java powered ones from Parallax, Inc.... I had one growing up and built and programmed countless little projects on it, great learning tool

http://www.parallax.com/

 

[OCedHrt]

I'm a CS at UCDavis and I have to say..I have no idea what I'm going to do And I'm almost a senior.

 

[GustySoul]

L1nVx,

I have a few thoughts / experiences to share as well.

I spent 8 years getting 3 degrees in these fields (C. Sci & C. Eng x 2). I agree with everything posted here. Remember Computer Engineering is still a new field, and is different for every school. 15 years ago most places didn't even have a "Computer Engineering" degree. In several schools it literally jointly administered by the C.S. and E.E. departments.

As others have said, it can be incredibly broad, but you could say it typically encompasses everything between "machine"-level computer science and discrete/digital electrical engineering.

I had little experience with more abstract C.S. concepts such as Artificial Intelligence, nor more fundamental E.E. concepts such as Electromagnetism. I mostly focused on architectural principles and their implementation via digital logic. We did lots of block-diagram circuit design and then implementation using Hardware Description Language (hardware programming).

We had a couple courses where we physically worked with real components (wires & integrated circuits), but most of the time it was design, then prototyping in FPGAs (programmable logic circuits).

There is a good learning curve, but I think a good start would be some assembly-code programming. (Pick-up an intro book on x86 assembly - or even just search the web.) This makes you start thinking about how data is transferred between registers and the basic flow of microprocessors, plus all you need is your computer.

Now on my soap-box? It's great that you're preparing early, but remember there are a TON of experiences waiting for you in your first few years of college. Most people have no opportunity to experience these things in high-school, so branch out, try new things, and find-out what you like. I think it's a mistake to try to plan out your whole college career from day 1. I think it?s one of the best times in your life because there are so many new things that are open to you. Work hard, but never forget to enjoy your time there.