I know which jobs, but not which major. CE or EE?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the decision-making process for choosing between a major in Computer Engineering (CE) or Electrical Engineering (EE). Participants explore job availability, job roles, and personal interests related to both fields, with a focus on hardware design and programming aspects.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a strong interest in hardware creation and testing, particularly in circuit design and processor development, leading them to favor an EE career.
  • Another participant suggests that the interests align more closely with Computer Engineering, noting that an EE degree could still accommodate these interests.
  • There is a mention of a specific university offering a specialization in computer engineering, indicating that program structure may influence the decision.
  • A participant shares anecdotal evidence of a high starting salary for a graduate in computer engineering, suggesting potential financial benefits of that path.
  • Concerns are raised about the difficulty of switching majors between CE and EE, with a question about the job market differences between the two fields.
  • One participant proposes that relevant experience may be more critical than the specific degree when applying for jobs, suggesting flexibility in major choice.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on which major is more suitable based on personal interests and job market considerations. There is no consensus on which major is definitively better, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of choosing one over the other.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not reached a conclusion on the job market differences between CE and EE, and there are varying assumptions about the relevance of specific coursework and experience in securing jobs.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering a major in Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering, individuals interested in hardware design and programming, and those exploring career paths in engineering fields.

Timb0Slice
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I've spent hours reading forum after forum researching job availability, job salaries, and what jobs go with which. I am still torn between the two. I am currently finishing up the last of my Gen. Ed. classes at a community college and am working on signing up for classes for my college.

Originally I wanted to deal with programming and software. However, after taking an introductory CS class that dealt with simple C++, I was intrigued at first. But after some time I found it to be tedious and became much less interested. In the physics classes I have taken I was very interested in the circuit portions of it. Which has lead me to believe I would be more content with an EE career.

Jobs that interest me are ones that involve creating and testing hardware, which I understand involves some programming. Designing circuits, designing processors, and figuring out how to make something smaller, faster, or more power efficient sound like something I would love doing. I love trying to figure something out and I sometimes refuse to give up until I do.

I'm most curious on what jobs fit this criteria and how to go about getting these jobs. So far IC design, working with processors, and working with FPGA sound like things I might enjoy.
 
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That would be more along the lines of computer engineering, though it is possible with an electrical engineering degree. Check what concentrations EE has at your university. Mine offers a computer engineering specialization.
 
I have thoroughly looked into both computer engineering and electrical engineering. The issue for me right now are what jobs incorporate the things I enjoy doing as well as if I should major in CE or EE.
 
I would second Computer Engineering. Sounds like you would do fine with an EE degree too. I knew someone whose son went to GA Tech for computer engineering and had a starting salary of $ 96k after just a BS.
 
However, I hear that it is much more difficult to switch from a CE to an EE rather than the other way around. I know there is only a few classes different between the two. Is there a noticeable job market difference between them?
 
Depends what jobs you're applying for. You could always minor or double major in EE. I doubt most companies would care either way as long as you had relevant experience.
 

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