If you are thinking of getting a degree in computer engineering degree then you might be wondering whether or not it is a good major.
This post will show you whether or not computer engineering is a good major for you and some things that you might want to consider.
So, is computer engineering a good major? Computer engineering is a major with strong job prospects in a variety of fields and one that many people find very fulfilling. However, it is also a challenging major that requires a lot of math and will require a lot of time spent studying.
While there are many positives to majoring in computer engineering there are also a number of things that you might want to consider. There are also a number of things that you can do to make your time in the major easier.
It is a well paying major
According to Payscale, the average salary of a person with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering is $84,000. This is a lot higher than the average salary across all majors which is $61,000.
Many of the alternative degrees to computer engineering also have high salaries. However, an advantage that computer engineering has is that you will be able to qualify for many well-paying jobs with just a bachelor’s degree.
Types of jobs that you can get with a computer engineering degree
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts slower than average growth for computer hardware engineers. However, since computer engineering makes use of a number of different disciplines the degree will also help you qualify for a number of different types of jobs.
Types of jobs that you can get with a degree in computer engineering can include:
- Computer hardware engineer
- Software engineer
- Embedded systems engineer
- Electrical engineer
- Computer network architect
Courses that you will be taking
Computer engineering makes use of a variety of technical disciplines so you will be taking many classes from areas outside of computer engineering. This will especially be the case in your freshman and sophomore years.
Computer engineering makes use of subjects such as:
- Mathematics
- Engineering
- Physics
- Computer science
- Computer engineering
You can look here to see what the curriculum for computer engineering at UCLA looks like.
Alternative majors
If you are interested in getting a computer engineering degree then there are a number of other degrees that you might want to consider which can include:
- Mathematics
- Computer science
- Electrical engineering
- Physics
It is a challenging major
In computer engineering, you will need to take classes in physics, engineering, math, computer science and computer engineering. Each of these tend to be difficult classes when compared to most college classes.
This means that computer engineering will be one of the more challenging degrees to obtain. So, you will have to spend more time studying if you want to get a degree in computer engineering than you would in other majors.
How difficult it will be for you will largely depend on a number of factors but one main factor to consider is how much math you have taken. If you have already done well at math in high school and you took some math AP classes then you will be in a good position to do well in the major.
Whereas, if you did not take any math or physics classes in high school then you will have a harder time in the major. With that being said, the major will be designed so that you will be able to start without any prior knowledge. So, you will still be able to do well in the major provided that you are willing to study a lot.
Another thing to consider is your level of interest in the subject. If you are highly interested in the subjects mentioned above then it will be a lot easier for you to motivate yourself to study and to continue when you are struggling with your classes.
Ways to make computer engineering easier
If you do decide that you want to get a computer engineering degree then there are a number of things that you can do to make your time in the major easier.
Plan the schedule out in advance
As soon as you get the syllabus for each of your classes, at the start of the semester, it would be helpful to plan out the due dates of all of your classes for the entire semester. By doing this you will be able to see when there will be potentially difficult weeks and you will know when you should focus on certain classes.
Study consistently
Many students will do the bare minimum on the homework throughout the whole semester and then they will try to cram it all in at the last minute before the exams.
There are a number of problems with doing this. The main one is that cramming doesn’t take advantage of the forgetting curve so it is not effective for long term understanding. The other issue is that it will mean that exams will be more stressful and it might not always be possible for you to fully make sense of the material ahead of exams.
On the other hand, if you study consistently throughout the semester, you will be able to avoid getting stressed when exams come around and improve your long term understanding of the subject.
Consider the professor
The professor that is teaching a class can have a big impact on its difficulty. The professor will dictate the pace of the class, how exams are graded, what goes on exams and how much homework there will be. Some will give you a study guide and others will tell you that anything from the book goes.
Before selecting a class it would help to consider what other students have said on ratemyprofessors.com.
In your junior and senior years, most of your classes will only be taught by one professor. In that case, you can either take a different class or take the class anyway.
Study for the class ahead of time
One way to make your classes much easier would be to study for them before taking them. You can do this by watching a playlist on Youtube or reading a highly rated book online. Doing this will help you to understand the lectures much more easily and allow you to do better on the exams.
Take the homework seriously
While the largest weighting will be on the exams, the homework can still have a reasonably high weighting. Many students don’t take the homework so seriously but this is a mistake especially in computer engineering. Doing well on the homework will allow you to do better on the exams and make up for a poor exam result.
Prioritize material the professor gives you
When preparing for exams it would help to prioritize the material given to you by the professor. You will often find that material provided by the professor will be the most likely to be on the exams. This would especially be the case if they give you a study guide.
Read the textbook
Many students will skip to the homework problems before reading the relevant chapter from the textbook. The problem with doing so is that the professor might have skipped over certain parts of it and the questions will be based on what is in the book.
Instead, you will likely find it to be more time-efficient to read the chapter before attempting the problems.
