Engineering is a uniquely diverse and impactful field. It’s all about applying specialized skills and knowledge while solving today’s most pressing problems. Two especially impactful types of engineering? Computer engineering and electrical engineering. These areas are both important, sparking innovation across numerous industries, not to mention personal satisfaction among today’s passionate engineering workforce. There is no easy way to decide between these powerful career paths, but the insights provided below should help.
What Is Electrical Engineering?
Electrical engineering is a branch of engineering that, as its name implies, focuses on the use of electricity within diverse systems and technologies. This applied field aims to understand how we can leverage electricity and electronics to solve complex problems in our modern society, all while elevating our general quality of life. Electrical engineering focuses on power generation, control systems, and circuit design. These concepts are used in manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare.
What Is Computer Engineering?
Computer engineering blends elements of computer science with electrical engineering concepts to influence the design and optimization of advanced computer systems. This field has a strong emphasis on the physical components of the modern computing system, including essentials such as processor architectures and integrated circuit design. Computer engineering also touches on the software that allows physical mechanisms to reach their full potential.
Key Differences Between Electrical and Computer Engineering
Electrical and computer engineering are distinct subsets of a broader engineering field that addresses complex problems from unique angles. These may be branches of the same field, but they rely on different concepts and skill sets to deal with contemporary challenges.
The electrical vs. computer engineering debate can best be summarized based on the different types of systems or components that these niches involve: computers and hardware versus electrical circuits and systems. Both are valuable, but understanding their nuances is important. Different engineers are drawn to different specialties, and ultimately, choosing the right area of focus could be key to achieving genuine career satisfaction.
Focus of Study
Electrical engineering is primarily concerned with electrical systems, drawing on concepts such as electromagnetism and electrical circuits. In addition to exploring these fundamental areas, electrical engineering reveals how electrical systems can be designed to reflect many different goals or functions. Common electrical engineering applications include signal processing and power generation.
Meanwhile, computer engineering is all about the components and hardware that allow today’s advanced computing systems to run optimally. Computer engineering coursework is more likely to explore microprocessor architecture, parallel processing, or hardware-software integration, with some courses also touching on software as it relates to embedded systems.
Skill Sets
In addition to covering theoretical concepts such as power generation or control systems, electrical engineering requires a diverse set of hands-on skills that allow engineers to manipulate and optimize electrical systems directly. Circuit design and testing are priorities, and electrical engineers extensively use simulation software and physical prototyping tools.
Computer engineering similarly emphasizes practical skills, but these are more likely to involve programming languages or hardware integrations. Above all else, computer engineers must possess an in-depth understanding of computer architecture, components, and integrations. Also crucial is familiarity with network protocols, parallel processing, and wireless communication. Internet of Things (IoT) devices and machine learning (ML) algorithms are increasingly prioritized in this quickly evolving field.
Career Opportunities
Both electrical engineering and computer engineering are diverse fields that encourage individuals to pursue their unique goals and interests, often by integrating technical competencies with industry-specific insights. In addition to basic job titles such as “electrical engineer” and “computer engineer,” these professionals may pursue specialized roles in areas such as embedded systems or cybersecurity. After acquiring several years of experience, engineers can move into senior roles or may even take on management or research opportunities.
Tools and Technologies Used
Electrical engineers rely on simulation tools (such as Multisim) to model or test electrical circuits and reveal how they might respond to different conditions or situations. These tools help electrical engineers pinpoint potential issues such as signal interference or voltage drops. Electrical engineers may also use PSpice to simulate circuit behavior or Ansys to support system-level design for power electronic systems. Other tools, although less tech-driven, remain significant, with electrical engineers heavily utilizing multimeters and oscilloscopes.
In computer engineering, top tools include integrated development environments (IDEs), simulators for network systems, and graphical modeling tools. These allow computer engineers to design hardware and software systems but may also be used for troubleshooting purposes. In both areas, there is a growing shift toward using artificial intelligence to streamline time-consuming tasks while drawing on diverse data to support informed decision-making.
Certifications and Licensure
Both electrical engineering and computer engineering promote formal, college-based training, but also offer the chance to verify knowledge and skill acquisition via rigorous certification exams and licensure processes.
With electrical engineering, licensing requirements tend to be more straightforward, although these engineers may pursue diverse certifications that reflect their unique interests or career goals. In general, however, it is common to seek the Professional Engineer (PE) license, available through state licensure boards. Some electrical engineers also seek the Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST) certification through the International Society of Automation (ISA).
With computer engineering, certifications are not always viewed as a necessity and, as such, depend largely on preferred specializations. Some computer engineers, for example, may seek targeted distinctions such as the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) via the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2).
Similarities Between Electrical and Computer Engineering
Electrical and computer engineering share much in common, including a general intention to apply engineering principles to solve challenging problems and spur innovation. Key commonalities may attract like-minded individuals to both fields, with engineers, in general, expressing an admiration for these top qualities:
Interdisciplinary Nature
Engineering is, by nature, an interdisciplinary field. This is true of all types of engineering, which generally draw heavily on advanced mathematics. How these mathematical concepts are leveraged can differ depending on whether engineers focus on electrical or computing systems, but there is no denying the fundamental importance of applied mathematics. Electrical and computer engineering can also draw on advanced software and algorithms to optimize systems and fuel innovation.
Innovation and Emerging Technologies
Technological innovation promises to deliver exciting new opportunities across the scope of electrical and computer engineering. Both fields increasingly rely on data analytics to help predict system behavior and even optimize performance. The types of data collected and the methods used to analyze this information may differ, but in both fields, there is a clear push for the integration of cutting-edge, data-driven solutions, including artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Problem-Solving Approach
Problem-solving is at the heart of engineering. As the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) explains, this is a “field composed of relentless problem-solvers” who, despite tackling a variety of challenges and specializations, share a similar mindset of seeking improvements — and using a structured, step-by-step approach to realize the “art of the possible.”
Work Environments and Day-to-Day Responsibilities
Despite the significant similarities highlighted above, the practical elements of computer engineering and electrical engineering can look dramatically different. These distinctions are most evident in real-world engineering environments, where different types of engineers may solve different problems while using different tools or technologies.
Electrical Engineers
Electrical engineers develop electrical devices and systems, influencing everything from power generation to consumer electronics. They work in many industries, actively leveraging their understanding of circuit theory and electromagnetism while using practical skills such as circuit design and troubleshooting. Due to this diversity, no two positions look exactly alike, and often, this diversity extends to the day-to-day life of an electrical engineer, who continually encounters new challenges and opportunities.
Despite this, electrical engineers can expect to tackle a few common tasks or priorities: drafting diagrams, running simulations, or testing prototypes. This field is more collaborative than many people realize, with electrical engineers often working in diverse teams that include technicians, product designers, or other types of engineers.
Computer Engineers
Computer engineers design and test computer systems, including components such as processors, routers, and motherboards. As with electrical engineering, day-to-day tasks may vary depending on the engineer’s preferred industry or niche, but often, priorities include circuit design, prototype assembly, or debugging.
Some computer engineers spend a significant amount of time writing code, while others focus on validating circuit performance or conducting stress tests for various components. Engineers may take an iterative approach, refining designs in response to feedback or based on evolving system requirements. Like electrical engineering, this field can be highly collaborative; computer engineers may be expected to work with software engineers or quality assurance professionals.
Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering? Which Is Right for You?
Now that you’ve examined the electrical vs. computer engineering debate from all angles, it’s time to make a decision: Should you study computer engineering or electrical engineering? There is no simple decision, and ultimately, this may come down to intuition. Are you more fascinated by the intricacies of computer hardware, or are you intrigued by the underlying electrical systems? Both areas are essential, and both call for highly technical skill sets that you can develop under the guidance of a targeted graduate program.
If you feel drawn to electrical engineering, take this opportunity to clarify your career goals and find a program that helps you meet your full potential. As you navigate Texas A&M University’s Online Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, you will discover exciting opportunities to unleash your newfound skills and understanding as you drive innovation in today’s most exciting fields or specializations. Request more information or take the next step and apply today.