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Is it much more competitive to become a software engineer or software developer?
Currently in senior year of high school and debating whether to major in computer engineering or computer science.
#computer-software #computer-engineer
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Timothy’s Answer
As the other comments have suggested, there isn't a practical difference between software developer and software engineer. The titles are merely whichever the company chooses to use. Job postings for every software engineering position I've ever applied to have listed a requirement for "Bachelors in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or a related field". I hold a Computer Engineering degree and have never had my degree choice questioned, and I highly doubt Computer Science graduates have theirs questioned.
That being said, Computer Engineering and Computer Science are different educational backgrounds and approaches that both are fully capable of becoming a Software Engineer with their degrees. Computer Science is more directly related to software engineering, but I've never met a computer engineer whose background wasn't sufficient for a software development job. What you choose should depend entirely on what interests you about software development, and what you think would be valuable to learn formally.
Computer Engineering focuses on low level software (C, Assembly), basic electrical circuits, digital circuits and hardware (microcontroller programming), hardware design (includes functional programming, usually verilog), computer architecture (my capstone was processor design), and a host of other lower level computer essentials such as compilers, encryption, and operating systems. Anything higher level you're interested is usually available as electives like machine learning, object oriented programming, etc.
Computer Science depends heavily on the university but usually focuses on higher level software development such as object oriented programming, algorithms, and web development, and only covers lower level software in fundamentals courses but doesn't have the same depth into the inner workings of computers. You might see compilers and operating systems which are common classes.
Overall both degrees are very similar but have different focuses, both allow you to easily shore up any missing skills to become a software engineer with electives, and both are fine paths to take. I would recommend you choose whichever interests you more, and be sure to get a broad education with both low and high level languages as well as algorithms, compilers, and object oriented programming. Both degrees will cover some part of that directly with electives offering the missing pieces.
That being said, Computer Engineering and Computer Science are different educational backgrounds and approaches that both are fully capable of becoming a Software Engineer with their degrees. Computer Science is more directly related to software engineering, but I've never met a computer engineer whose background wasn't sufficient for a software development job. What you choose should depend entirely on what interests you about software development, and what you think would be valuable to learn formally.
Computer Engineering focuses on low level software (C, Assembly), basic electrical circuits, digital circuits and hardware (microcontroller programming), hardware design (includes functional programming, usually verilog), computer architecture (my capstone was processor design), and a host of other lower level computer essentials such as compilers, encryption, and operating systems. Anything higher level you're interested is usually available as electives like machine learning, object oriented programming, etc.
Computer Science depends heavily on the university but usually focuses on higher level software development such as object oriented programming, algorithms, and web development, and only covers lower level software in fundamentals courses but doesn't have the same depth into the inner workings of computers. You might see compilers and operating systems which are common classes.
Overall both degrees are very similar but have different focuses, both allow you to easily shore up any missing skills to become a software engineer with electives, and both are fine paths to take. I would recommend you choose whichever interests you more, and be sure to get a broad education with both low and high level languages as well as algorithms, compilers, and object oriented programming. Both degrees will cover some part of that directly with electives offering the missing pieces.
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Dave’s Answer
In my experience the titles of software engineer and software developer are interchangeable. I have held both titles at different companies and my job duties were effectively the same across the board.
As Mark said there is likely a wide difference between software engineer and computer engineer.
You may also ask a few companies if you can do a job shadow with an employee for a day so you can sit with both a software engineer and a computer engineer to experience a little of what the positions are like to help you decide what interests you more.
As Mark said there is likely a wide difference between software engineer and computer engineer.
You may also ask a few companies if you can do a job shadow with an employee for a day so you can sit with both a software engineer and a computer engineer to experience a little of what the positions are like to help you decide what interests you more.
Updated
Mark’s Answer
Many schools, and companies mix and match these terms. As Michael said, there is a difference. If you go to an engineering school, your computer science major will look a lot different then if you go to a liberal arts school.
Also a software engineer is different than a software developer. There is also computer information science degrees.
You will need to research each program at each school. See my action steps.
If you can, visit some companies that interest you and spent a day touring the departments and ask HR about company titles.
Interview employees and hear their title and the actual work they do and ask what degree they got
For schools you are interested in, see what they offer. Learn the nuances of their different degree
for example, Computer Science may be more theory and Comp engineering more hands on. (but it highly depends on the school
Determine the kind of job or company you may like and ask the college admissions dept what majors gets those jobs.
Also a software engineer is different than a software developer. There is also computer information science degrees.
You will need to research each program at each school. See my action steps.
Mark recommends the following next steps: