Software Engineering Major: Pros & Cons

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the considerations of pursuing a Software Engineering major, particularly in conjunction with a minor in Electrical Engineering (EE) or financial mathematics/finance. Participants explore personal experiences, career aspirations, and the perceived value of different engineering disciplines.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about continuing in Mechanical Engineering (MechE) and considers switching to Software Engineering (SE) with a minor in EE or finance, citing a desire for a career in computational finance or an MBA.
  • Another participant questions the appeal of Electrical Engineering (EE) and Computer Science (CS), seeking insights from those who may have developed a dislike for these fields.
  • A participant asks for clarification on what aspects of EE are appealing, noting that the original poster has not detailed why they believe EE would be a good fit.
  • One participant argues that a minor in EE may not significantly enhance job prospects in the industry, suggesting it might only marginally improve resume visibility without providing meaningful skills.
  • A later reply mentions that at their university, a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E) combines software engineering with a minor in EE, indicating a specific academic structure that may influence perceptions of the fields.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the value of a minor in EE and the appeal of various engineering majors. There is no consensus on the best path forward, and the discussion reflects a range of personal experiences and opinions.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express concerns about the relevance of certain engineering degrees in the job market, while others highlight the importance of engineering as a foundational background. The discussion does not resolve the effectiveness of combining software engineering with other disciplines.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering a major in Software Engineering or related fields, individuals exploring career paths in engineering or finance, and those interested in the intersection of technology and management.

Lacero
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Hi,

What does anyone think about a Software Engineering Major with a minor in EE or a minor in financial mathematics / finance. I am currently a MechE major but don't like it. I could go full out EE/CompE, but I'm scared of the unknown and time is running out for uncertainty.

Ultimately, I would like to get a Ms in Computational finance or an MBA. Engineering is nice, but I hear that in the real world, you do very little after a certain point and it turns into management (not good if you only have engineering skills). Best to keep it as a hobby or risk recking the interest (Like MechE).

Also there are few engieering opportunities where I'm from, but family want me to do something like engineering as a background for school, I agree. It's a challenge and it "opens doors". Plus its a ton of fun.

Safe majors are EE,CompE,MechE. I don't know about SE...
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Ok, Is there anyone who is start to dislike EE or CS?

If so could you please tell me why?
 
What do you actually like about EE? You have expressed dislike for ME, but you haven't really mentioned why you think EE is a fit for you.
 
A minor in electrical engineering will do essentially nothing for you in industry. It might make some people take a longer look at your resume, but it won't actually prepare you to do anything meaningful.

- Warren
 
Embedded systems? I say this because at my uni, a B.S.E is basically the software engineering from the science/cs facualty + a minor in EE from ECE. I don't know why it is that way. They have "software engineering" Bsc and "software engineering" B.S.E
 

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