What is Computer Engineering #2

Laxmi Baral 

http://parks.slu.edu/myos/my-uploads/2013/05/14/electrical-engineering.png?w=240

  

Few weeks ago in the blog titled “What is Engineering #1” we discussed what Computer Engineering (EpE) is. We also talked about the differences and similarities between Computer Engineering and Computer Science (CS). As I mentioned in the previous blog; CpE is a mixed between Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. Today we shall compare and contrast Electrical Engineering (EE), and Computer Engineering.

Electrical Engineering primary deals with technology and electricity. Electrical engineers work on things such as tiny microchips to a huge power station, and everything in between.

Both EE and CpE share some common curriculum. Both CpE and EE students will have to take some sort of introduction to programming class, where they learn how to write loops, if statement, statement, function, and how to declare an integer, character, and so on. They will learn how to program embedded systems. By the time that students are done with this class, students will be familiar with the language of C. Both majors will also have to take series of circuit analysis class. This is to get you familiar with capacitor, resistor, and inductor circuit. 

https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/280/medium800/leds_trinket-circuit.jpg?1450848724, https://www.google.com/

EE students will take more advanced circuit analysis classes as they progress in their respective major. This class is lot of math as you learn how to find and set up an equations for any of the previous mentioned circuits. They both take some sort of signals course, where they learn about the math behind signals. This is one of the most math intensive math class, as it the math behind signals is a very important concept to know. They will both take and electronics course, where they learn about transistor. Now, this is really important to CpE majors. Transistor are used in computer, because when a transistor consist of high voltage, it is given the value “one”, and if the transistor contains low voltage, it is given the value “zero”. These ones and zero called bits, make up the processor or a computer. They both take an embedded systems class where they learn to program things such as a micro controller. To do well in this class, students have to be good at circuit analysis, and programming.

With that being the similarities, let's take look at some differences. EE majors will take a power class, where they learn about things such as motors and generators. EE majors also take a class of radio communication, with the focus on AM and FM waves. EE also take more electronics classes, with focus on analog electronics, CpE majors do not learn about this. Lastly, EE take a class on electromagnetism, where they learn about how to represent electromagnetic waves mathematically, this is math and physics intensive.

Now, CpE majors take more programming classes. They learn more than just the C language, they might learn Java and/or Python. Through these classes, you will learn more about programming and algorithms. They also take discrete math, where they learn about things such as graph theory, and equations where the variable only takes on integer values. The basis of learning graph theory is learn about connectivity; how computer networks and topologies are connected all the way to your suggested friend list for Facebook. They also take a computer architecture class, where they learn about how the CPU works, and what goes into making the CPU. CpE majors also take intro to Computer Networking class, where the learn about the architecture of networks or how computer connected share resources together.

Citations
MajorPrep, Electrical Engineering Vs Computer Engineering: How to Pick the Right Major, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIkTkNZO2no,14 May 2017,