I think you've oversimplified the situation. I'm finishing up a CEng degree and I know many, many CS majors, and there is a great deal of overlap. Though it's been my personal experience that it's easier to move from CEng to CS than the other way.
CEng is not four years of Math. Neither is CS. Though you do need to have at least a competant grasp of mathematic concepts to do either. I'd say CEng is more differential equations and CS is more probability/statistical type stuff; though I've only taken a couple of high level CS courses, so I don't know it for sure.
90% of jobs can be done by either a CSc or a CEng, and 5 years after you grad it won't really matter, it'll be your exerience that counts.
I agree with the 5 years after school it won't matter which degree you got; you'll keep learning and you're interests will determine the jobs you take and where your career goes. As for the 90% part, I'm assuming there's an unmentioned quailfier of "programming jobs". You're average CEng has had at least a decent exposure to programming languages and skills and can handle most programming tasks. More theoretical computer science projects would pose a greater challenge to CEng and I would guess that most CS might be daunted by the task of dealing with designing hardware (I've known some who downright hate even dealing with it on the job).
My advice to anyone contemplating this question:
- If you like working with software already and are into/good-at problem solving/algorithm stuff, go with CS.
- If you like dealing with hardware/system design and/or low-level (ie. Assembly) programming go with CEng.
- There is also the option of not deciding right away, if your chosen school allows it, getting a taste for each and then deciding. OR you could be semi-masichistic and just do both:)
Whatever you decide to go with, just remember:
Good, Quick, Cheap: Choose Two
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I think you've oversimplified the situation. I'm finishing up a CEng degree and I know many, many CS majors, and there is a great deal of overlap. Though it's been my personal experience that it's easier to move from CEng to CS than the other way.
:)
CEng is not four years of Math. Neither is CS. Though you do need to have at least a competant grasp of mathematic concepts to do either. I'd say CEng is more differential equations and CS is more probability/statistical type stuff; though I've only taken a couple of high level CS courses, so I don't know it for sure.
90% of jobs can be done by either a CSc or a CEng, and 5 years after you grad it won't really matter, it'll be your exerience that counts.
I agree with the 5 years after school it won't matter which degree you got; you'll keep learning and you're interests will determine the jobs you take and where your career goes. As for the 90% part, I'm assuming there's an unmentioned quailfier of "programming jobs". You're average CEng has had at least a decent exposure to programming languages and skills and can handle most programming tasks. More theoretical computer science projects would pose a greater challenge to CEng and I would guess that most CS might be daunted by the task of dealing with designing hardware (I've known some who downright hate even dealing with it on the job).
My advice to anyone contemplating this question:
- If you like working with software already and are into/good-at problem solving/algorithm stuff, go with CS.
- If you like dealing with hardware/system design and/or low-level (ie. Assembly) programming go with CEng.
- There is also the option of not deciding right away, if your chosen school allows it, getting a taste for each and then deciding. OR you could be semi-masichistic and just do both
Whatever you decide to go with, just remember:
Good, Quick, Cheap: Choose Two