Computer VS Electrical Engineering??

Edwards Finance > Computer Engineering

Q. Can anybody please tell me the difference between these two engineering fields? Starting next semester, I'll have to choose which field to enroll in. I would like to know what kind of stuff I'll be learning in these two fields. Also If you can, please also indicate what kind of job will I be doing after I graduate. And the prospective job opportunities for them.

A. -Until only about 30 years ago, there were no CSs, only EEs. The field of CS developed as EEs designed more complicated computers, and it became necessary to specialize in the niche field (CS) or in the broader field (EE). Both fields include computer programming to a significant degree. Computer Scientists generally design computers and other digital logic devices, using especially FPGAs and ASICs. They work with VHDL and Verilog as design languages. Although a good electrical foundation is required, CSs are not necessarily expected to understand the deep electrical details about signals, propagation, and impedance. CSs tend to design the more complicated digital integrated circuits, some using many millions of transistors. Electrical engineering covers a broad range of fields, covering DC power supplies, the national power grid, audio amplifiers, consumer electronics (radios, TVs, etc), and higher frequency radios (like cell phones and satellite systems). EEs generally use schematic diagrams as design tools, but more recently have been moving into VHDL and Verilog also. EEs are often called upon to evaluate system characteristics like stability. "Electronic EEs" tend to design the not-so-digital integrated circuits (like op-amps) and often do product implementations. The other EE fields also have their specialists. -You did describe the Computer Engineering degree, but Computer Science is not an interchangeable term for it. The CS guys are actually the pure programming and algorithms group, who concentrate on crazy stuff like neural networks and databases and whatnot. The computer engineering major is like an EE without as much focus on analog, and a pretty good low-level programming toolkit. In retrospect it would have been more fun for me, instead of the EE major. Just wanted to make sure there was no confusion, and the poor guy doesn't end up sitting in a chaotic systems class wondering when the teacher's going to say something about VHDL! -Is possible that you wrote computer science when you actually meant computer engineering (or the like)? I really don't think designing digital logic, or the other activities you described, is the bailiwick of a typical, employed CS major. Or am I mistaken? -You're confusing CS (Computer Science) with CompE (Computer Engineering). CompE is pretty much a specialization within EE, much like power or RF. It's just sexier for the colleges to have a different department name. > Computer Scientists generally design computers and other digital logic > devices, using especially FPGAs and ASICs. The difference is that CompEs design computers and EEs design "other digital logic", *sometimes* using FPGAs and ASICs. High-end computers/microprocessors are generally full custom designs and not really ASICs (and certainly not FPGAs). > They work with VHDL and > Verilog as design languages. Although a good electrical foundation is > required, CSs are not necessarily expected to understand the deep > electrical details about signals, propagation, and impedance. CSs > tend to design the more complicated digital integrated circuits, some > using many millions of transistors. I disagree here completely. It's pretty hard to design a computer/microprocessor without paying attention to these "details". Signal propagation and power distribution is a huge part of computer design. A computer engineer may have a different emphasis, to be sure. An architect (generally a computer engineer, or an EE with a lot of computer engineering experience) will be doing things like analyzing the trade-offs between cache sizes, organization, and speeds, for instance. While the cache designer (could be a CompE or EE) will certainly have to understand the "deep electrical details". > Electrical engineering covers a broad range of fields, covering DC > power supplies, the national power grid, audio amplifiers, consumer > electronics (radios, TVs, etc), and higher frequency radios (like cell > phones and satellite systems). EEs generally use schematic diagrams > as design tools, but more recently have been moving into VHDL and > Verilog also. EEs are often called upon to evaluate system > characteristics like stability. "Electronic EEs" tend to design the > not-so-digital integrated circuits (like op-amps) and often do product > implementations. The other EE fields also have their specialists. Sure, EE is a very broad field, which really includes CompE. In fact I intentionally went EE angle and took all the course work that a CompE degree required. I then sold myself as both. I think this is still a valid strategy, though perhaps dual degree is even a better idea these days. You can then go after either position. > Can anybody please tell me the difference between these two engineering > fields? Computer engineering is computer oriented with some generic system design theory. Electrical is more general, dealing with everything that has to do with electricity, including computer hardware and a little programming .There exist much overlap when dealing with computers and the lines can blur. The best bet is to look at the courses involved in 3rd & 4th year, and talk with the professors who teach courses that you think may be interesting. This is the best way to do it as some course outline have not been updated in 30 years (too much paperwork for the prof). > Starting next semester, I'll have to choose which field to enroll in. I > would like > to know what kind of stuff I'll be learning in these two fields. Also If you > can, > please also indicate what kind of job will I be doing after I graduate. And > the > prospective job opportunities for them. You may be thinking backwards, you should determine the industry or industries that you're interested in. From there determine whether a BSc. EE or BSc. CE is best. Finally nothing beats experience, if you're an electrical engineer with hardcore computer experience you will beat out a computer engineer who has no experience for a computer eng based job (or vise versa).

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