WHat can be done with a Computer Engineer degree?is it worth it?

I know exactly one person who has a degree in Computer Engineering. He works for H-P, designing servers, I think. It appears that the demand for storage is accelerating, so he'll probably be okay for a while. He knows how to program, but I suspect he concentrates more on hardware and system and scaling issues.

I know a few people who have degrees in Computer Science. They work as programmers, but are not extraordinarily productive, because they are always trying to design compilers, even if that's not what is needed at the moment. They are perceived as thinking that regular programming, and regular programmers, are beneath them.

I know a few more professional Programmers. Most have degrees, but not in CS or EE; mostly math, physics, or biology. I've seen reports that music majors are also strongly represented in the ranks of programmers. Which is logical, if you consider the parallels between musical composition and programming.

I know a few people who graduated from CS/EE departments. So far as I know, most have founds jobs as EEs.

I've done a little of both, and I'd suggest that programming and engineering require different mindsets. You'll have to figure out for yourself what's right for you, but I suggest that you keep your options open; you may have to change careers, more than once, in your lifetime.





Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

I have a degree in EE and CE. I don't do either. I do mostly embedded software, control algorithms, application support and magazine articles. Was it a waste? Hardly. I use Laplace and z transforms all the time. I use the physics I learn my senior year of high school and my freshman year of college. I have EEs that design the hardware. The EEs program FPGAs now and have to worry about CE and UL tests. The basics are very basic. Any body can get a low frequency circuit to work. My EE and CE training is handy because I can see the whole picture so I have major say in the hardware that is used. I may a be a strange case. My company makes motion controllers and we specialize in hydraulic motion controllers. I can model hydraulic systems with the best of them. Hydraulics is a lot like electricity if you think about it except the flow ( current ) is proportional to the pressure difference ( voltage difference ) squared. I never would have thought I would be doing what I am doing now 20 years ago. My advice is to get the EE or CE degree. Just be flexible and learn what ever is necessary. Don't let the title on your degree limit your options. Knowledge and flexibility is key. If you are flexible then you will end up where you belong and do your best.

I get confused about those wacky fluid resistors sometimes, too:

Hydraulic flow is proportional to the square root of the pressure difference.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

I think you need to look at what you REALLY WANT to do, rather than the degree, per se. CE ostensibly relates to the theory and practice of computer architectures, which is still a burgeoning field. The standard, single-processor designs are not able to meet the ever-increasing demands of computer throughput, due to the limitations of the I/O of the processor. Therefore, multi-processor and cellular processor architectures are begining to appear in commercial processors.

But, if you really don't have interest or aptitude, you'll be miserable.

TTFN

Hey guys!!
THank you very much for all the comments.
I have decided to changem my career to CE. Because i belive i will have more exposure to different things. This way, at the end of my college career i will know what i would like to do... being either Computer Engineering COmputer Science or Electrical engineering.