We spend a lot of our days using computers. They’re almost universal in office jobs, and you may need one to complete your schoolwork. You might use them to play games, work on creative projects, write or use social media. But the personal computer is just one corner in the world of computing.
If you have a smartphone, that’s a computer that sits in your pocket every day. They’re also in cars, planes, medical devices, digital cameras, kitchen appliances and even on your ceiling if you have a smart light fixture.
With this electronic expansion, more and more industries need people who understand how this technology works. In other words, computer engineers.
Over most of the next decade, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for computer hardware engineers will grow by 7%. That’s faster than the average of all professions, which sits at just 4%. This need is especially pronounced in California, which BLS data shows has the most working computer hardware engineers of any state.
There’s clearly a need for people with this skill set, but is computer engineering right for you? We’ll explore the discipline a little more and explain how it’s different from similar engineering fields to help you decide if this is the major you want to pursue in college.
What exactly is computer engineering?
Computer engineering sits at the intersection of electrical engineering and computer science. It calls upon the principles and theories of both of those fields to design, build, implement and maintain the hardware (and sometimes the software) of computing devices as well as technologies controlled by computers.
The most clear-cut example of this is the personal computer, whether it is a desktop, a laptop or a mobile phone. These devices rely on component technologies like motherboards, graphics processing units, controllers and so on.
At one company, computer engineers might work to improve these technologies and create a better product. At another company, they might instead adapt technologies to a specific purpose, like embedding a computer into an electric bike.
Computer engineers are primarily trained to deal with hardware, but programming is also a fairly common skill to have. How much a computer engineer codes depends on their company and sub-field. For example, they might be the ones designing and programming specific components of a larger device.
“A typical problem they solve is writing software codes to control microcontrollers that go into various gadgets and devices, like your microwave oven or your iPhone,” said Vivek K. Pallipuram, an associate professor in University of the Pacific’s electrical and computer engineering department.
Pallipuram considers this flexibility one of the major upsides of studying computer engineering. If you’re mostly interested in hardware, you can tailor your education to focus on electrical engineering. On the other hand, if you really like coding, too, then you can take more computer sciences courses instead.
While we’re covering computer science and electrical engineering, let’s talk about their relationship to computer engineering.
Computer engineering vs. computer science
From the perspective of a college student, these two majors start off similarly. In either degree program, you would start with programming courses and foundational mathematics, especially discrete math.
Once you’ve completed those basic courses, though, these majors start to diverge. In computer science, you move into more advanced topics in software development and maintenance, like programming languages, operating systems and application development.
As a computer engineering major, you can still take some of those classes as electives. But the bulk of your education moving forward will focus on more advanced mathematics, some physics and electrical engineering. You’ll apply principles from those fields into the design, creation, innovation and maintenance of computing systems.
Computer engineering vs. electrical engineering
Understanding the principles of electrical engineering is key to your success as a computer engineer. In fact, the two are so closely tied that many universities house both in the same department. What separates the two?
Electrical engineering is a vast field of study. Our world is heavily reliant on electrical systems and electronics, and electrical engineers work in nearly every field you can imagine: transportation, telecommunications, power generation and distribution, manufacturing and many, many more.
Studying electrical engineering means you’ll go even further into mathematics and physics, learning to apply them to power systems, control systems, communications systems and beyond. In other words, you’ll get a broader education.
There is plenty of room in electrical engineering to choose your own path, and you can think of computer engineering as one of those specializations. Rather than focusing on a broader view, you’ll go deeper into the topics relevant to computers in particular. On top of that, you’ll gain cross-disciplinary experience in coding that isn’t generally taught to electrical engineers.
So, if you’re trying to decide between the two consider this: are you especially interested in working with computers and computing systems? That’s the realm of computer engineers.
Jobs
Deciding which degree you want is only half of the battle. The other half is using your education to step into a career. Depending on how you structure your education, there are a number of different jobs you can consider in the working world.
Hardware design
Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, test and implement the hardware design of computing systems. These engineers build the right system for the job at hand, whether that is a personal computer, a system for power networks, telecommunications electronics or others.
You’ll work closely with other engineers, programmers and other professionals to design the right piece of equipment for an end user.
Computer network architect
Computer network architects and engineers design, create and/or maintain internet and communications infrastructures for companies and other organizations.
Unlike a home network, a business network is often complex, especially if there are offices over several floors, several locations or across continents. Things get even more complex when you factor in printers, information security protocols, virtual private networks and other common features.
Computer architects use their expertise to design and install the right technological solution for a particular company’s needs. Even after a network is up and running, companies will still need computer engineers to maintain, improve or solve issues with their network’s hardware and software.
Embedded software engineer
As technology has gotten smaller, product designers have been able to include more computers in their work. With a smartwatch, you can wear a computer on your wrist. If you have smart light bulbs, you can use your phone or a remote to control their color and intensity. Some electric bikes even have embedded computer systems, providing anti-theft measures and diagnostic abilities.
As an embedded software engineer, you’ll call upon both your computer engineering and programming backgrounds to create code appropriate to the hardware embedded in these technologies.
These engineers work across a wide variety of industries, so you can pursue your interests in consumer products, medical technologies, commercial operations and more.
Why study computer engineering at Pacific?
If you’re considering a degree in computer engineering, Pacific can give you a personalized and hands-on education. With a project-oriented curriculum and the option of a dual-degree program, you’ll have the experience that employers are looking for in entry-level hires.
With an average class size of 24 students and a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, you’ll get a lot of one-on-one time with your professors. That was one of the reasons Pallipuram came to teach at Pacific.
“When I interviewed, I saw how much they value student-centric education, and I saw how much personalized education the professors gave to undergraduate students. I thought that was something remarkable,” he said.
This goes beyond after-class and office hours discussions, too. Some undergraduate students at Pacific participate in their professors’ research, sometimes even publishing in journals or presenting at large conferences.
Although not every student gets involved in research, every Pacific computer engineering student will gain practical experience through project-based classes, the Cooperative Education (CO-OP) program and a senior project.
“We focus on providing our students not only the science behind those engineering concepts, but also we provide them the skills that are necessary for them to succeed in industry,” Pallipuram said. “Some of our CO-OP employers have told our students, ‘Oh, wow, you have used all these tools in your undergraduate curriculum? That’s totally awesome. We don’t even have to train you.’”
The CO-OP program, a requirement to graduate, is a full-time, paid internship that typically lasts from six to eight months. Before applying, you’ll take a class to learn about resume-building and interviewing skills. You’ll then apply to positions posted on a job board exclusively for CO-OP students.
Before graduating, you’ll use all your classroom and internship experience to tackle a senior project. As part of a team, you’ll design, create, test and optimize some kind of computerized device.
Pallipuram recalled some particularly impressive projects from recent years: A rover which used deep learning and computer vision to roam a kiwi orchard, identifying and pollinating the appropriate flowers. Another team designed a solar-powered device that took in carbon dioxide and then released oxygen, essentially giving users some benefits of an indoor tree.
Finally, Pacific also offers an accelerated path to a Master of Science in Engineering through a dual-degree program. Students on this path can take graduate courses while earning their undergraduate degree, potentially earning both in as little as five years.
Studying computer engineering
As technology advances, we’re seeing an expansion in the uses of computers and computerized systems. The growing employment for computer engineering is obvious in Silicon Valley, which is a relatively short car ride away from Pacific’s campus, but the study’s applications can be seen across many industries and areas in California and across the U.S.
If you’re interested in the nexus of hardware and software, then Pacific’s computer engineering degree can give you the tools and experience needed to enter this exciting and expanding field.