Pro Tip
Still unsure if a degree in computer engineering and related studies is your calling? Take the career test
Computer Engineering and Related Studies is a degree category that consists of the following common degrees:
- Read more about Computer EngineeringComputer engineering is a discipline that integrates electrical engineering and computer science to further advancements in digital technology, computer networking, and computer systems. Becoming a computer engineer requires a university education that can take from four to seven years to complete. During the first two years of a bachelor’s degree, students complete computer engineering prerequisites and general education courses. The last two years are focused on computer science, electrical engineering, and mathematics. Many employers prefer engineers with a master's degree, which means two more years of schooling. Finally, if professional goals include applied research or a career in academia, a PhD in computer engineering may be the answer.
- Read more about Computer Software Engineering
Degree programs in computer software engineering teach students how to apply engineering principles to software development. Students learn how to design, build, test, implement, and maintain software applications that allow end users to accomplish tasks on their computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices.
The typical curriculum exposes students to several programming languages, introducing them to the wide array of tools and techniques available to them. Students of software engineering can expect to take courses in discrete mathematics, algorithms, software architecture, network fundamentals, database architecture, and computer security. Most programs begin with core engineering classes like mathematics, chemistry, and physics.
- Read more about Computer Hardware Engineering
Computer hardware is the collection of physical, tangible objects that constitute a computer system, including the monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer data storage, hard disk drive, graphic cards, sound cards, memory, and motherboard.
Computer hardware engineers work closely with software engineers and computer programmers to make sure that all of these components are compatible with current software, which is the set of instructions that can be stored and run by hardware.
Students of computer hardware engineering learn how to create schematics of computer equipment to be built, make models of new hardware designs and test those models, analyze test results and modify designs as needed, and update computer equipment so that it will work with new software. In short, they learn to build the machines which together with software form usable computing systems.