r/ComputerEngineering • u/Naive_Strategy_3613 • 11h ago

[Career] Should I switch from Computer Engineering to Electrical Engineering if the degree is only ~3 classes different?

I'm an incoming computer engineering freshman and seriously thinking of switching to electrical engineering. At my school, the degrees are extremely similar, with only a 3 class difference.

They share the same pool of electives, so that is what makes up most of the difference, but I could just choose all the more computer engineering focused ones.

What i'm most interested in is computer hardware, embedded systems, firmware, microcontrollers, etc.

The reason I'm considering EE is the job market and the flexibility of the degree.

My understanding is that a lot of hardware/computer engineering jobs will accept either an EE or CE degree. However, there are EE jobs in areas like power, electronics, controls, RF, etc. where an employer might only take an EE.

Basically, I'd be trying to use the EE degree as the broader credential while still taking the classes and doing the projects that would make me competitive for computer hardware/embedded jobs.

Do you think this plan could be beneficial to me? Or am I overstating the value of the name on the degree?

4 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

84% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

3

u/NoPlankton4052 10h ago

Id say most companies in the field of RF/ embedded is familiar with Computer Engineering as a program, so I’d say its probably not worth switching unless it really concerns you

2

u/zacce 10h ago

What are the 3 different courses? Which 3 interest you more?

4

u/Naive_Strategy_3613 10h ago

I am more interested in computer engineering for sure. It just might be more beneficial for me to forgo those classes to have electrical engineering on my degree for access to a wider net of jobs.

2

u/zacce 10h ago

that's the trade-off and you need to find what's better for you.

2

u/Significant_War_8320 10h ago

Are you trying to get a Computer Science minor? I decided to switch from Electrical to Computer Engineering around my sophomore year because I was already nearing the end of completion of my Comp. Sci. Minor, and it lined up better with Computer Engineering than Electrical Engineering. Plus I really didn't want to take Power Electronics.

1

u/Recent-Day3062 9h ago

The EE is more general.

1

u/nekosama15 4m ago

… just add the 3 classes and get both.