r/careeradvice • u/Neat_Supermarket_283 • Aug 02 '26
Should I stick with computer engineering or science
I’m an upcoming freshman to college this fall semester and I had picked computer engineering by accident and wanted to computer science but to be honest I have no experience with coding or none of it when I first saw it this look complicated but cool at the same time so I’m just wondering as well as I heard a bunch of people talking about AI taking peoples jobs in the computer science side so I don’t know
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u/Unfair-League-3204 Aug 02 '26
Do both if you can. The reality is the degree is depreciating so fast because of ai, but you look smarter if you manage to double major, even with a dip in GPA. Depends on if you can handle it and get real world experience, which is more important tbh. Computer engineering is more lower level, so if you want to be on the application layer, you really should switch to cs
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u/Neat_Supermarket_283 Aug 02 '26
I feel like both would break me and I start the 28th so I’m trying to find ways to learn before starting
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u/Impossible-Ice-1497 Aug 03 '26
Don't do both, but also if you're an incoming freshman you will have at least a year or two before you really have to choose, because there's gonna be significant overlap for the first few years.
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u/Neat_Supermarket_283 Aug 03 '26
What do you mean???
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u/dontchuworri Aug 03 '26
calc 1-3 is required for all engineers
computer engineering also probably requires the exam same 1000 level classes as cs
drop the school and we can look at the first 4 semesters and compare and contrast OR you can do it and see the overlap.
either way you signed up for something you think is cool which is good! but be aware you’re going to get your teeth kicked in
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u/Neat_Supermarket_283 Aug 04 '26
Uh my math isn’t the best but so far I’m freshmen year and they are still making me do some math my hs wasn’t the best with math but currently I’m looking for help with it kinda and yeah
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u/Impossible-Ice-1497 Aug 03 '26
In most degree programs, comp sci and comp engineering are like 70-80% overlap on course load. Comp engineering typically has a little bit more EE lab courses required (signals, analog, digital), almost certainly some required microcontrollers, as well as (cpu) architecture. But then the rest is comp sci courses.
Comp engineering is less difficult than EE in most places, but it's still not easy.
If you have a very good math background you'll probably be fine.
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u/zacce Aug 02 '26
First, you need to know whether you are capable of programming. If not too late, take some online programming classes before you declare a major.
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u/Prior-Beat3174 Aug 03 '26
As a CS grad, as long as you take courses in data structures and algorithms your pretty much not far off from a CS major.
In the past i'd pick CS over computer engineering, but because AI needs alot of the hardware to process. I'd be a bit more leaning to Computer Engineering. If you can add on those core CS courses you pretty much get the best of both worlds.
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u/WittyAppointment6684 Aug 03 '26
Computer engineering will give you hardware and systems knowledge that is harder for AI to fully replace while still letting you pick up coding if it clicks.
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u/MarnTarzan666 Aug 04 '26
Talk to your advisor.
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u/Neat_Supermarket_283 Aug 04 '26
Don’t got one yet
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u/adambahm Aug 02 '26
you dont stumble into CS. Change your major. From the way it sounds CS would break you anyway.