Computer Science or Computer Engineering

[andy9o]

Starting at Georgia Tech next semester, and he's trying to decide on a major. Likes programming, so leaning towards Computer Science. Being a Computer Engineer, my views are skewed, so, looking for some unbiased (or at least not my own bias). Thanks in advance.

Thanks to all the useful input, really appreciate you guys taking the time.

 

[TheStu]

If he really really likes programming then CS is for him. If he has any interest at all in being something other than a code monkey, i would recommend Software Engineering if GT offers it. SE goes through the entire software creation process from getting requirements to writing the code, and beyond (support). Computer Engineering was something that I had considered (I was EE, transfered to SE) but it wasn't entirely for me.

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: TheStu
If he really really likes programming then CS is for him. If he has any interest at all in being something other than a code monkey, i would recommend Software Engineering if GT offers it. SE goes through the entire software creation process from getting requirements to writing the code, and beyond (support). Computer Engineering was something that I had considered (I was EE, transfered to SE) but it wasn't entirely for me.

I would think any good CS program should cover the software development life cycle. For instance, in one class I had, groups had to start with scenarios and a list of requirements, through UML diagrams and code skeletons, writing of the code, testing, etc.

But I agree with you that if they are really interested in that to maybe go the Software Engineering route as that probably has a little more concentration than CS (unless you take those type of classes as CS electives).

 

[Special K]

<insert obligatory "engineers suck, CS/EE sucks, you will never amount to anything as an engineer" post here>

 

[toolboxolio]

If he made it into GT, then I vote he goes the engineering route.

But, atm... either title doesn't mean much against the other since it is all about what you know for yourself.

I know more qualified 15 year olds for 60k+ jobs than the people I went to school with.

 

[torpid]

I don't think most CS programs focus much if any on business level stuff like requirements, use cases, etc.

I can't answer this poll without knowing what he wants to do. If I did I'd be going on the small shred of info that he likes programming.

I personally prefer comp sci because I don't like working that closely with hardware and would imagine it would be more likely you'd end up doing proprietary device creation and less theoretical stuff.

 

[Savij]

Computer Engineer. It's easier to go to CS if you decide you hate it rather than going into CompE from CS if you decide that's what you want to do.

 

[toolboxolio]

Originally posted by: Savij
Computer Engineer. It's easier to go to CS if you decide you hate it rather than going into CompE from CS if you decide that's what you want to do.

Good advice.

 

[scorp00]

I'm a Computer Engineer who's now doing CS type stuff. I'm sitting here programming all day in java/vb/sql. I'd definitely go engineering at GT, they have a good engineering program.

 

[mlm]

Originally posted by: clamum
I would think any good CS program should cover the software development life cycle. For instance, in one class I had, groups had to start with scenarios and a list of requirements, through UML diagrams and code skeletons, writing of the code, testing, etc.

The classes that did that at Texas were run out of the department

I think they're trying to get a Computer Software Engineering program going, but nothing has happened yet. That would definitely be the best of both worlds.

 

[andy9o]

Originally posted by: Savij
Computer Engineer. It's easier to go to CS if you decide you hate it rather than going into CompE from CS if you decide that's what you want to do.




That what I've tried to tell him, but he's 17 and stubborn.

edited because I forgot to quote

 

[andy9o]

Originally posted by torpid:
"I don't think most CS programs focus much if any on business level stuff like requirements, use cases, etc.

I can't answer this poll without knowing what he wants to do. If I did I'd be going on the small shred of info that he likes programming.

I personally prefer comp sci because I don't like working that closely with hardware and would imagine it would be more likely you'd end up doing proprietary device creation and less theoretical stuff."

He did some programming in HS and liked it (Java). His kick now though, is that he's interested in Artificial Intelligence. He seems to think that CS is the direction to go for said field.

edited because, again, forgot to quote.

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: mlm

Originally posted by: clamum
I would think any good CS program should cover the software development life cycle. For instance, in one class I had, groups had to start with scenarios and a list of requirements, through UML diagrams and code skeletons, writing of the code, testing, etc.

The classes that did that at Texas were run out of the department

I think they're trying to get a Computer Software Engineering program going, but nothing has happened yet. That would definitely be the best of both worlds.

Really? Why was that? How dare they learn real-world applications! Haha.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: andy9o
He did some programming in HS and liked it (Java). His kick now though, is that he's interested in Artificial Intelligence. He seems to think that CS is the direction to go for said field.

it is.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

I'm a CS major at Georgia Tech.

Likes programming, so leaning towards Computer Science.

Well, sounds like you've already decided then. CompE is the hardware side of things, though there is some overlap of course. In CS you get some exposure to lower level/hardware things, in CS2110 and 2200 at GT at least.

Originally posted by: TheStu
If he really really likes programming then CS is for him. If he has any interest at all in being something other than a code monkey, i would recommend Software Engineering if GT offers it. SE goes through the entire software creation process from getting requirements to writing the code, and beyond (support). Computer Engineering was something that I had considered (I was EE, transfered to SE) but it wasn't entirely for me.

I don't like the Software Engineering course I'm taking this semester. You'll love it if you love enormous amounts of paperwork with all the giant project planning, requirements, etc documents. In one semester it's hard to get the point across that a process which involves much time spent on such documents is valuable, since it's useful for very large projects but these won't fit into implementation at the end of the semester.

I enjoy making things work, not doing a ton of paperwork talking about the project when I could just do it.

I don't think most CS programs focus much if any on business level stuff like requirements, use cases, etc.

You'll get exposure to those topics in CS at GT.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: andy9o
Originally posted by torpid:
"I don't think most CS programs focus much if any on business level stuff like requirements, use cases, etc.

I can't answer this poll without knowing what he wants to do. If I did I'd be going on the small shred of info that he likes programming.

I personally prefer comp sci because I don't like working that closely with hardware and would imagine it would be more likely you'd end up doing proprietary device creation and less theoretical stuff."

He did some programming in HS and liked it (Java). His kick now though, is that he's interested in Artificial Intelligence. He seems to think that CS is the direction to go for said field.

edited because, again, forgot to quote.

Do they offer an informatics degree at GT? It sounds like he'd be into that.

 

[torpid]

Why would it be harder to go from CS to CE than CE to CS? I don't see why that would be. You have common classes in both cases and in both cases the later classes require the earlier classes.

If he likes AI he probably needs a masters or more. AI is not a major focus of comp sci, at least not at the school I went to. There were one or two electives at most about AI. I took one of them and it was very much a survey style course, not specialized at all.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: torpid
Why would it be harder to go from CS to CE than CE to CS? I don't see why that would be. You have common classes in both cases and in both cases the later classes require the earlier classes.

If he likes AI he probably needs a masters or more. AI is not a major focus of comp sci, at least not at the school I went to. There were one or two electives at most about AI. I took one of them and it was very much a survey style course, not specialized at all.

last I heard, CS majors did not have to take circuits or electronics. Am I not even sure if they have to take physics. You are right though...if you wanted to get in to AI, you probably would need to get a masters to be taken seriously.

Personally, if I was in his shoes, I'd do a CE with a CS minor.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

With the threads cirriculum he can focus on AI here for one of his two threads, take up the Intelligence thread.

http://www.cc.gatech.edu/content/view/692/144

 

[George P Burdell]

Let your brother join up as a CoMPuter Engineering major. He can switch to CS later (even after 4 semesters) without losing any credits. That'll give him the time to know what he really wants to do.

About CS:
Good: It's what he wants to do.
Bad: After graduation, he'll be a code monkey.

CMPE
Bad: CMPE at Tech is essentially EE with a handful of CS courses thrown in. It's not exactly what he wants. But he can do AI courses (or whatever he likes) instead of optional ECE courses.
Good: When you graduate, you have access to the EE job market as well as most of the CS job market.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: torpid
Why would it be harder to go from CS to CE than CE to CS? I don't see why that would be. You have common classes in both cases and in both cases the later classes require the earlier classes.

If he likes AI he probably needs a masters or more. AI is not a major focus of comp sci, at least not at the school I went to. There were one or two electives at most about AI. I took one of them and it was very much a survey style course, not specialized at all.

last I heard, CS majors did not have to take circuits or electronics. Am I not even sure if they have to take physics. You are right though...if you wanted to get in to AI, you probably would need to get a masters to be taken seriously.

Personally, if I was in his shoes, I'd do a CE with a CS minor.

Yeah but CE majors don't have to take certain CS classes either. I did have to take two classes that were strictly engineering related for my CS degree way back when. Building a simple CPU in autocad and that sort of thing.

 

[interchange]

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
Let your brother join up as a CoMPuter Engineering major. He can switch to CS later (even after 4 semesters) without losing any credits. That'll give him the time to know what he really wants to do.

About CS:
Good: It's what he wants to do.
Bad: After graduation, he'll be a code monkey.

CMPE
Bad: CMPE at Tech is essentially EE with a handful of CS courses thrown in. It's not exactly what he wants. But he can do AI courses (or whatever he likes) instead of optional ECE courses.
Good: When you graduate, you have access to the EE job market as well as most of the CS job market.

Take it from a Georgia Tech B.S. CmpE holder, do not do CmpE at Georgia Tech. Like the esteemed Mr. Burdell says, CmpE is virtually EE at Georgia Tech. The degree focuses more on digital design and computer architecture than EE and has very little CS to it (one extra CS course: Languages and Translation). There are definitely minimum required hours course loads that could afford you either a EE degree or a CmpE degree. I was only 1 class away from getting a EE instead. Here's why I wish I did:

To most companies, CmpE and CS are basically the same thing, as CmpE at most schools is much more computer science heavy. Most do not realize that a Georgia Tech computer engineer has more digital design training than a EE. Many will think you are at a major disadvantage when applying for these positions. Instead, be a EE if you want to work with hardware or a CS if you want to work with software.

 

[mlm]

Originally posted by: clamum

Originally posted by: mlm

Originally posted by: clamum
I would think any good CS program should cover the software development life cycle. For instance, in one class I had, groups had to start with scenarios and a list of requirements, through UML diagrams and code skeletons, writing of the code, testing, etc.

The classes that did that at Texas were run out of the department

I think they're trying to get a Computer Software Engineering program going, but nothing has happened yet. That would definitely be the best of both worlds.

Really? Why was that? How dare they learn real-world applications! Haha.

Haha, yeah, god forbid we learn something that will help us the minute we step out of school :disgust:

I don't know their reasoning. I think it was because CS should stick with programming logic?? That's just silly though.

 

[JDub02]

At my school (Bucknell), Computer Engineering encompassed all of Computer Science, then added digital logic/hardware design (EE) courses and a couple other engineering courses to meet all of the requirements of an engineering degree.

A CS friend of mine told me that a person with a CS degree will get 95% of the jobs a person with a CompE degree will. But those other 5% are the highest paying.

Don't know if that's true or not.

<-- BCSE (Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering) currently in the nuclear field.

 

[andy9o]

Thanks to all the useful input, really appreciate you guys taking the time.