Some of our incoming first year engineering students have. Would you rather have invented the automobile or the internet. Comparing the bse in software engineering to the basc in computer engineering. The objective of a software engineer is to understand a problem within a computer and create software that eases the problem. Computer engineering is a very flexible major because of having experience on both the hardware and software side so you can cater your career path based on. University of waterloo coronavirus information website. I will be officially transferring to a noncoop honours computer science degree. Is uwaterloo good for software engineering, computer. Feel like you dont belong at uwaterloo computer science. Software engineering is one of the most indemand and fastest growing occupational fields in the country. Comparing the bse in software engineering to the bcs in computer science.
Software engineering basically takes computer science and combines it with engineering. In my first year, i was enrolled in software engineering. Working computer engineers design computers and the basic software that runs them, including both personal computers and the embedded computer systems that run cars, aircraft, videogames, etc. Nov 04, 2014 a systems engineer in it does some of the same work as a software engineer in that he or she develops software components. Computer engineering courses are taught by faculty from both the computer science and the electrical engineering departments. Mar 30, 2016 cpsc and software engineering programs cover extremely similar topics and their career paths are nearly interchangeable. Uws math, engineering and cs circles are super competitive. Mar 27, 2017 uws math, engineering and cs circles are super competitive. Should i go into software engineering or computer science at the. Two professors from the university of north texas weigh in sharing their views and comparison of the two fields.
The software engineer then converts the design documents into design specification documents, which are used to design code. Computer science consists of different technical concepts such as programming languages, algorithm design, software engineering, computerhuman interaction and the. Computer science vs software engineering which major is. Search 425 computer engineering jobs now available in kitchener, on on, the worlds largest job site. University of waterloo faculty of engineering campus tour waterloo engineering at the university of waterloo is canadas largest engineering school and a pipeline for top. But, i have heard computer science students have so much free time that they can make very, very good personal projects for coop, subsequently giving them a higher chance of getting employed. I am passionate about technology, entrepreneurship and helping others. Im a student suck between these two schools, mcmaster apparently is more social than waterloo which apparently is dead, however, waterloo grads are more employable.
Computer science vs software engineering which one is a better major. Is software engineering s employment rate really higher than computer scientists. Im currently in grade 12 and will be applying to the software engineering program. What is the difference between computer science, computer engineering, and software engineering. When i was attending, you needed to maintain a 65% major average, and every class kept its averages under 70%. Weve surveyed waterloo engineering students to find out what makes them tick. U of t tops in canada, among global best in computer. Coop is where study terms alternate with paid work terms to help students gain up to two years of work experience in their career field. Computer engineering is more focused on hardware than computer science or software engineering, so its less directly related to a typical software developers job. Im just going to add to some of the answers that are already up here and dive into a bit more detail with the help of some friends from both majors. Cpsc and software engineering programs cover extremely similar topics and their career paths are nearly interchangeable.
The cheriton school of computer sciences software engineering research group is comprised of two research subgroups software architecture group swag waterloo formal methods research group watform groups contact person. All engineering programs at waterloo are bunched into cohorts. Im not really sure what the differences between the two programs are and i would really appreciate it if you guys could help me understand what they are. Search 260 software engineer jobs now available in waterloo, on on, the worlds largest job site.
Computational mathematics vs computer science waterloo. Now i was wondering if i get rejected from the first 2 will the third option give me the same opportunities as the first one. Computer vs software vs cs a professor in waterloo. Bo peng computer science 2018, university of waterloo. Comparing the bse to the basc ce software engineering. A computer science major with one software engineering overview course or one or more project courses using software engineering processes and methodology is likely a better choice, although in some schools, the software engineering major is less selective and can be used as a back door into a major that resembles computer science. Hey guys so i am looking for advice i am attending iowa state in the spring and i am not sure which major to go with computer engineering or software engineering yes they are two seperate degrees at iowa state. At the end of first year, students may switch programs if they desire. Computer engineering vs software engineering college. That infrastructure can include the build, test and production environments used to deliver software as a. Visit our software engineering portal for more information on the software engineering program. Find links to abet accredited programs in computer engineering and computer science as well as programs not accredited by abet.
I have been looking into the university of waterloo, which does offer. Computer engineering, software engineering, or computer. Thanks for reading, and good luck choosing a university and your major. Software engineers produce lengthy design documents using computer aided software engineering tools. Im deciding between computer engineering and software engineering, but i notice that some universities only have computer science and computer engineering. Should i go into software engineering or computer science at the university of waterloo. Computer engineering, also known as computer systems engineering, is a course the combines electrical engineering and computer science that is required. Together, they have the largest number of software engineering faculty in canada, and their research programs are internationally renowned and respected. It focuses more on the application than theory in comparison with computer science, but it still contains science courses due to. I just got accepted to computer engineering, and i was just wondering the prospects of getting a job, the types of jobs, the course load, homework, and just any tips in general. Jan 06, 20 im applying to universities the deadline is the 16th and ive decided on engineering, and narrowed my choices down to 5 universities. While there is a distinction between the heavy maththeory based computer science and the applicationbased software engineering, both fields teach adequate skills to go into software development or algorithm research. However, i cannot decide between the two programs or schools.
Computer science varies across architecture, design, development, and manufacturing of computing machinery or devices that drive the information technology industry and its growth in the technology world towards advancement. How hard is software engineering in university of waterloo. Its very easy to get lost in all of that, and start to question your own selfworth. Computer science consists of different technical concepts such as programming languages, algorithm design, software engineering, computer human interaction and the process.
Should i go into software engineering or computer science. Graduates of the computer engineering technology program are able to design, build, test and repair a computerbased system or any part of one. And yet, there is enough of an overlap to ensure that both kinds of students will find plenty of opportunity in a wide range of careers in the computer field. You see the computer science is software and computer engineering is hardware theme play out once again in this table. Computer vs software vs cs a professor in waterloo engineering. Bo peng is a software engineering student at the university of waterloo. Frequently asked questions software engineering university of. Software engineering cheriton school of computer science. Jul 24, 2019 the whole software design process has to be formally managed long before the first line of code is written. Graduates of the computer engineering technology program are able to design, build, test and repair a computer based system or any part of one. How hard is software engineering in university of waterloo im quite worried about the software engineering program in university of waterloo. Waterloo fails a lot of studnets majoring in computer science. I wanted to ask the engineering professionals out there, in terms of reputation and employability which one is better, or are the equally well regarded.
Nov 27, 2018 pursuing computer science in college would require studying algebra, mathematics and statistics in school while a computer engineering degree would need you to focus on physics and robotics. In addition, software engineering bse students also take computer engineering ce courses and the engineering core, thus satisfying the requirements to be a ceab. Computer science vs software engineering which major is best. Dont confuse computer science with software engineering. In fact, comp eng students can do a software engineering option minor. Professionals in the two fields often compete for the same positions. Personally, i chose the university of waterloo because of its renowned faculty of engineering and its excellent coop program. Computer engineering graduates might want to get a masters degree in the field of computer engineering to advance their career or get higher salaries. Engineering programs are only offered with the coop program while some. The ece option spans a very broad spectrum of technology, from the atomic level for engineering new materials to the large hardware and software systems that are used to build the internet.
Computing is used to solve problems, manage information, create smart technologies, explore the world, and connect to other people. Computer engineering jobs in kitchener, on with salaries. Computer engineering with salaries and workforce demand for stem science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates at an alltime high, two redhot majors that prospective students must be familiar with are computer science and computer engineering. After the first year which is quite similar, software engineering takes a deeper and more computer sciencecentric view of the material and focuses less on hardware, while computer. That is the easiest way to distinguish the two fields. There are distinctions in their education, however, and in the future, there may be distinctions in what roles they are allowed to perform. The whole software design process has to be formally managed long before the first line of code is written. While the programmes are different, the pool of coop jobs for computer engineering, software engineering, and computer science are quite similar. Oct 20, 2016 computer engineering is a very flexible major because of having experience on both the hardware and software side so you can cater your career path based on your interests. Joanne atlee group members paulo alencar joanne atlee daniel berry donald cowan nancy day michael godfrey mei nagappan chengnian sun richard trefler.
There is significant overlap between software engineering and computer science degree programs. Frequently asked questions why should i take the ece major. Software engineers produce lengthy design documents using computeraided software engineering tools. Computer science vs data science find out the best 8. Just got accepted to computer engineering at waterloo. Differences between software engineering and computer. University of waterloo faculty of engineering wikipedia. For some students, software development might actually be their dream career, and thats awesome for them.
Frequently asked questions division of engineering science. I also got accepted into mcmaster for engineering, which i plan on specializing in software engineering. Computer engineering, software engineering, or computer science. This is a perennial question and generates a lot of interest from potential applicants. Following your undergraduate degree, you can continue your studies in graduate school or pursue your professional designation.
Not to say that waterloo computer science is a bad program far from it, but it is not innately better than comp. Pursuing computer science in college would require studying algebra, mathematics and statistics in school while a computer engineering degree would need you to focus on physics and robotics. I know that software engineering has an excellent coop placement rate. I had a post on this topic and there is some very good discussion in the comments section that follows. Bo peng about blog contact computer science 2018, university of waterloo. Graduates of this program will earn a bachelor of software engineering bse degree. The software curriculum has more emphasis on computer science. To understand the difference between computer science and software engineering majors, lets take a look at their respective curricula at the. Explore computer science vs computer engineering and what each can offer students interms of an education and professional opportunities. Aug 31, 20 what is the difference between computer engineering, software engineering, and computer science. Software engineering basically takes computer science and. It is highly competitive, but from day one i was exposed to everything practical, labs, pilot plants, and you name it.
Whats the difference between computer science and software engineering majors. But systems engineering also involves specifying, building, maintaining and supporting technical infrastructure. Computer science, engineering and technology at the university of toronto are ranked among the best in the world in the latest prestigious subject rankings released today by times higher education the u of t placed 22 nd in computer science among 300 universities surveyed worldwide, and 29 th in engineering and technology out of 500 universities, the reported. As an engineer and a computer science graduate from u waterloo, i can guarantee you that u waterloo is the mit of canada. Computer science would steer you more towards the direction of software engineering, whereas computational math leads you more towards fields around applied math ie biomedical, climate. What is the difference between computer engineering, software engineering, and computer science. Software engineering at the university of waterloo is an independent, interdisciplinary program supported by both the faculty of mathematics and the faculty of engineering. After the first year which is quite similar, software engineering takes a deeper and more computer sciencecentric view of the material and focuses less on hardware, while. Software engineer jobs in waterloo, on with salaries. Software engineers master the fundamentals of engineering like their colleagues, but specialize in the design and development of computer systems and software. On completion of your degree in computer science you can apply for a career as a software engineer or developer. A systems engineer in it does some of the same work as a software engineer in that he or she develops software components.
Software engineering is the field of studying, devising and building a practical solution to a problem. Our bachelor of software engineering degree is an accredited computer science degree, and bse students take many of the same cs core courses as bcs students. It focuses more on the application than theory in comparison with computer science, but it still contains science courses due to being offered by the engineering department. Computer science vs computer engineering vs software. Faculty of engineering computer and mathematical sciences. Feb 06, 2018 to understand the difference between computer science and software engineering majors, lets take a look at their respective curricula at the university of waterloo in canada, which has one of. How to get into waterloo engineering september, 2018. Im applying to universities the deadline is the 16th and ive decided on engineering, and narrowed my choices down to 5 universities. Challenging since most of the required courses are extre. I chose university of waterloo for this because it has one of the best computer science programs in north america. Difference between software engineering and computer.