The Field - Preparation - Specialty Areas - Day in the Life - Earnings - Employment - Career Path Forecast - Professional Organizations
The Field
Computer engineers analyze, design, and evaluate computer systems, both hardware and software. They might work on system such as a flexible manufacturing system or a "smart" device or instrument. Computer engineers often find themselves focusing on problems or challenges which result in new "state of the art" products, which integrate computer capabilities. They work on the design, planning, development, testing, and even the supervision of manufacturing of computer hardware -- including everything from chips to device controllers.
They work on the interface between different pieces of hardware and strive to provide new capabilities to existing and new systems or products. The work of a computer engineer is grounded in the hardware -- from circuits to architecture -- but also focuses on operating systems and software. They may also focus on computer networks for the transmission of data and multimedia. Computer engineers must understand logic design, microprocessor system design, computer architecture, computer interfacing, and continually focus on system requirements and design. It is primarily software engineers who focus on creating the software systems used by individuals and businesses, but computer engineers may also design and develop some software applications.
Preparation
Students studying computer engineering may choose to focus on specialty areas including artificial intelligence (intelligent systems for applications such as robotics, language understanding, knowledge acquisition, reasoning, computer vision, and pattern recognition), computer systems (the design and analysis of computers including the topics of VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) systems, computer architecture, computer networks, and integrated circuits), or systems and computations (including the integration of both hardware and software into a coherent system). They must have strong analytical stills and be detail oriented. In addition, they must work well in team situations as they are often called upon to work in a group setting with other engineers and with others outside of engineering.
"Computer Engineering Overview"
Prepared as part of the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center (www·careercornerstone·org)
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering vs. Information Science
Most four year degree programs in computer science and computer engineering are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Typically these degree programs reside in the university’s College of Engineering. The computer engineering degree program resides in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, or the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, or it may be a stand alone Department of Computer Engineering. In some cases, such as, MIT and University of California at Berkeley, these degrees are offered in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Typically there is considerable overlap in the computer science and the computer engineering degree programs. The major difference between the two accredited degree programs is that an engineering design component is required in the accredited computer engineering degree program.
Information science degree programs are tailored to prepare students for careers in the application of computers in business. Therefore these degree programs typically reside in business colleges and are not accredited by ABET. Although there are a few ABET accredited programs offered in engineering colleges. In addition to computer science courses in programming, computer organization and operation, computer networks, databases, these degree programs require courses in business and management, and fewer courses are required in mathematics and the sciences than in computer science and engineering degree programs.
Computer Engineering Programs
A bachelor’s degree in engineering is required for almost all entry-level engineering jobs. Accredited computer engineering programs usually provide broad studies in electrical engineering and computer science. It is important to select a program that is accredited in Computer Engineering.
Admission Requirements
Admissions requirements for undergraduate engineering schools include a solid background in mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus) and science (biology, chemistry, and physics), and courses in English, social studies, humanities, and computer and information technology. Bachelor’s degree programs in engineering typically are designed to last 4 years, but many students find that it takes between 4 and 5 years to complete their studies. In a typical 4-year college curriculum, the first 2 years are spent studying mathematics, basic sciences, introductory engineering, humanities, and social sciences. In the last 2 years, most courses are in engineering, usually with a concentration in one branch. For example, a computer engineering program might include courses in computer hardware, microcomputers, software engineering, digital signal and image processing, electromagnetic fields, electronic devices and circuits, and computer organization and design.
