Engineering Electrical vs Computer Engineering

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the differences between Electrical Engineering (EE) and Computer Engineering (CompE), particularly regarding their focus on hardware and software. While EE is often associated with telecommunications and hardware design, CompE is viewed as more specialized in software and computing systems. However, both fields overlap, especially in areas like circuit board design, making either a viable choice for someone interested in hardware. The consensus suggests that EE may offer broader opportunities, as it encompasses aspects of CompE. Ultimately, the decision should align with specific career interests in hardware development.
dougouk
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Hi, I am a grade 12 student, applying for uni for the coming September.
And yet, I'm still having trouble with deciding my course.

Electrical and Computer Engineering, I am confused with the two.

From wiki and other places I see that Electrical is more concerned with telecommunications and computer is concerned about just computer. But then there are ppl around me that say electrical eng is more concerned with the hardware of electrical devices where computer eng is more concerned with software. Is that true?

I'm looking to work with electrical devices like Ipad, tablets, mp3, laptops... and I want to focus on mainly the HARDWARE. If my interest lies in the hardware of modern-day electrical devices, is it right to choose computer eng?
 
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dougouk said:
From wiki and other places I see that Electrical is more concerned with telecommunications and computer is concerned about just computer. But then there are ppl around me that say electrical eng is more concerned with the hardware of electrical devices where computer eng is more concerned with software. Is that true?

Both are true, depending on what you want to get into.

I'm looking to work with electrical devices like Ipad, tablets, mp3, laptops... and I want to focus on mainly the HARDWARE. If my interest lies in the hardware of modern-day electrical devices, is it right to choose computer eng?

What do you mean by "hardware" ? If you want to design the exterior case, you'd be better served with mechanical engineering. If you want to design the circuit board or electronics, either electrical or computer engineering would probably serve you well.
 
fss said:
Both are true, depending on what you want to get into.



What do you mean by "hardware" ? If you want to design the exterior case, you'd be better served with mechanical engineering. If you want to design the circuit board or electronics, either electrical or computer engineering would probably serve you well.

Either computer or electrical? Wouldn't one be better than the other?
 
Electrical > computer cause electrical can also do computer. From what I've heard, computer engineering is just a subset of electrical engineering. So anything computer engineering can do, electrical engineering can also do but electrical is broader. Computer is more specialized though. Do electrical engineering. It does seem more marketbale.
 
I think you should do electrical engineering...
Computer is engineering is part of electrical engineering or you can say its sub branch of it...
 
More accurately, computer engineering is a subset of electrical engineering mixed with a subset of computer science.

So when the EEs start working on power transmission and three-phase motors, the CompEs start reading about compiler design and operating systems.

(If CompE was a strict subset of EE, there would be very little point to it.)
 
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