What is the difference between computer-engineering and computer-science?

I have both of these degrees (fyi don't do both, bad idea). In Uni, the difference is basically:

• Comp E will typically require a lot of Electrical Engineering courses. That's kinda it.

As a result, you tend to get some more exposure to the underlying hardware as a CompE, and have fewer time left over for more pure CS courses (though you'll have to take a lot of those too).

In the industry, it varies. A CompE can pretty easily get a job doing something that a pure CS major would do, and then there's not much difference. There's also more hardware-focused jobs (embedded, chip design, comm, etc) for a CompE. That said, a pure CS major may have an easier time getting a normal software programming job due to having more pure CS courses. Hard to say.

Let's make things even more complex... Many schools offer a combined degree such as "Electrical & Computer Engineering." For me - that meant that I took all of the core EE classes but my electives were almost completely filled with courses in digital electronics and programming. I had to complete almost the entire CS course load (minus their elective requirements) in addition to the EE core course load. Ultimately I was interested more in HW, but I had a pretty strong programming background going into school already. I believe the combination set me up well for my ultimate career in the PC industry.

In my experience working with and hiring many CS/CE/EE/ECE students and professionals over the years I would generalize their skills as such (with the obvious caveat that these are *generalizations* and many individuals would cross these boundaries):

CS - Strictly programmers (and often the best application and web layer programmers), typically don't have the strongest understanding of the underlying "what's happening inside the computer" and don't necessarily care.

CE/ECE - Will group them for the most part, typically good programmers and understand more about how their SW is running inside the PC. Often better at lower level problems like firmware development and security.

EE - Typically much stronger at HW than SW, although frequently do have some programming skills. Often better at embedded and microcontroller type applications (or system design) than raw application or web development.

“Computer Science” is an umbrella term which encompasses four major areas of computing: theory, algorithms, programming languages, and architecture. ... “Computer Engineering” typically focuses specifically on computer hardware and software. It is an integration of computer science and electrical engineering

PIck a school that has both.

The core classes are fundamentally the same.

The CompE has electric thrown into it as Daniel stated.

In the order of 'level of difficulty' from highest to lowest.

Engineering (computer, software)
Computer Science
Business Admin in Computer "something"