What Degree Should I Pursue for a Career in IT and Game Design?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the best degree to pursue for a career in IT and game design, exploring options such as Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science. Participants share their perspectives on how each degree aligns with various career aspirations in technology and gaming.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a fascination with computers and seeks advice on whether to major in Computer Engineering or consider alternatives.
  • Another suggests that Computer Engineering is a strong choice but recommends Electrical Engineering with a focus on Digital Electronics for a deeper understanding of how computers work.
  • A participant questions which degree would be better suited for the stated career goals of IT and game design.
  • One reply advises checking for dual degree programs, noting that while they may extend the time to graduate, they can provide additional qualifications.
  • Another participant cautions that double majoring in two challenging engineering fields may be difficult.
  • A different viewpoint argues that for game design or IT roles, a pure Computer Science degree is more appropriate than Computer Engineering, while also clarifying the distinctions between the degrees.
  • It is noted that Electrical and Computer Engineering degrees may have similar core content, but Computer Science is more aligned with mathematics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views on the best degree to pursue, with no consensus reached on a single preferred path. Some advocate for Computer Engineering, while others argue for Computer Science or Electrical Engineering depending on specific career goals.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying assumptions about the relevance of different degrees to specific career paths, and there are unresolved considerations regarding the feasibility of dual degrees and the challenges of double majoring.

Ryan H
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Alright, I've always had a fascination with computers, as I'm sure many people out there have. My question is, what should I major in while in college so that when I graduate, I have the ability to do anything from designing video games, to being an IT guy for a major company? At the moment I'm planning on Computer Engineering, should I stick with that, or should I alter my plans?
 
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Computer Engineering is probably your best bet...

However, if you really want to know HOW a computer works and not just WHAT a computer can do... go for a degree in Electrical Engineering with focus in Digital Electronics or Computing...

Cheers...
 
That's the other major I was thinking about, but which would be better for what I want to do? (Stated in post #1)
 
Check with the school that you are planning on attending to see if they have a dual degree program in those areas. My university had dual degrees in a couple of different areas. It added anywhere from a year to year and a half, but it meant having two degrees when you were done.
 
I don't know... trying to double major in 2 challenging engineering fields will be very difficult.
 
For what you stated... IT guy or computer game designer...

I'd definitely go with Computer Engineering.

Cheers...
 
If you want to design computer games or do IT work, you will have absolutely no use for a computer engineering degree -- you want a pure computer science degree. If you want to be able to design digital logic, design processors, or otherwise build or analyze hardware, then you want a computer engineering degree. If you want to work with analog electronics, power, radio, or other such technologies, you want an electrical engineering degree.

In many schools, electrical and computer engineering are not much different. Generally, fields and power classes are swapped out for programming classes, but the core of the degrees is often the same. Computer science is quite different, however, and is closer to mathematics than either of the engineering degrees.

- Warren
 

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