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| Computer Science vs Software Engineering | | |
Vijay GarG
Computer science is the study of algorithmic processes, computational machines and computation itself. As a discipline, computer science spans a range of topics from theoretical studies of algorithms, computation and information to the practical issues of implementing computational systems in hardware and software.
Whereas, Software engineering is the systematic application of engineering approaches to the development of software.
Computer Science helps you understand how computers work, and in Software Engineering, you put that knowledge of Computers into practical use in order to build software systems.
Computer Science and Software Engineering will cover the foundational computer science and mathematics knowledge. These are programming logic in one or more programming languages, data structures, algorithms and basic probability, statistics and discrete math.
And since Computer Science is the theoretical study of computers or computations, a Computer Science degree will build on that foundational knowledge with advanced topics on the same areas. For example, advanced algorithms and analysis, concurrent programming, operating systems, linear algebra, advanced calculus, finite state machines, and also other advanced mathematics courses.
A computer science degree is a great option for you if you love learning things at a very deep, academic level. It is also a good choice if you plan on getting advanced degrees like Masters or PhD in specialized areas like operating systems, distributed systems, data science, machine learning, so on and so forth.
A Software Engineering degree will also cover the same foundational topics. But since Software Engineering is the application side of things, a Software Engineering degree will take the foundational knowledge and teach you how to build software systems that are used in the real world. For example, Software Development Lifecycle, Software Design (that includes things like design patterns, principles and paradigms), Software Testing, Scalability, Distributed Systems and Web Technologies.
A software engineering degree is a great option for you if you want to get a high-level overview of the engineering practices used in the real world. And also, if you want to get into the industry right away.
You need the fundamentals. Programming logic in at least one language, data structures and algorithms. If a CS or a SE degree does not have that, run the other way. Those aren’t going to be good for your career as a software engineer or developer. If you plan to do advanced degrees in specialized topics, you want to go with a CS degree, which has courses that cover a lot of theoretical knowledge and mathematical concepts related to the area you want to specialize in. This sets you up for success when you pursue advanced degrees. But at the same time, if you don’t want to pursue advanced degrees, you probably don’t want too much theory.
Not all Software Engineering degrees are created the same. Some lean more heavily towards electrical engineering and physics. If that is what you want, that is cool. But if you want to stick to software engineering, watch out for too many classes in those areas.
And then there are those degrees which linger around within the Computer Science or the Engineering Department, but are neither. They have their own merits, but they may not give you enough knowledge to kickstart your career as a software engineer. These are degrees like Information Technology, Information Systems, Data Science, etc. They are fine as specializations, but I wouldn’t recommend them as full degrees, at least not at an undergraduate level.
Computer Science helps you understand how computers work, and in Software Engineering, you put that knowledge of Computers into practical use in order to build software systems. Hopefully, this real world example changes your perspective from obsessing about this degree vs that degree and instead thinking about how you can get the best out of your 4 years in college with a good mix of theory and practice? And for that, here is my advice.
Do your due diligence. Look at the curriculum to make sure at least the fundamental courses are covered. After that, see what choices you have for advanced courses. Does the degree give you choices to pivot on, or is it too structured and strict? Is it too theoretical or too practical? Ideally, you want a good balance between theory and practice. |
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