What are actually the major differences as they overlap alot?
Which degree are perceived better to employers? Thinking of dev/swe roles.
In: Engineering
Computer Science is largely about computer theory, including stuff like algorithm design, information security, architecture, and other stuff.
Software Engineering is more towards the design side of how do you actually build a whole product. This includes the design, building, testing, and maintaining stages of the software lifecycle.
You can roughly think of it as the difference between implementing something that is detailed in a ticket vs writing out the requirements in that ticket.
Most of the Software Engineering is Computer Science. Lots of Computer Science is not Software Engineering.
Given the cost of education (I assume the USA), I would go for CS as it is more fundamental and long-lasting knowledge. Software Engineering is more hands-on and more sensitive to changes in technology.
Hypothetically, Software Engineering makes you slightly more “job ready”. In reality – if you write code and enjoy doing it, you are hire-able with either degree. And without one, too. Especially if you are able and willing to keep learning.
Don’t overthink it too much. You need to develop software to be a software engineer. “Coders gonna code”.
Technically speaking
>Computer Science
This is the more theoretical decree. You are learning about doing more theory. You should learn more about how and why stuff works.
>Software Engineering
This should be a more practically oriented decree. You should spend more time programming and engineering solutions.
But this is just in-general as the name doesn’t need to fit the program that well.
If you want a developer / SWE job a degree in Software Engineering will probably prep you better, however, Computer Science in general is the more broadly applicable degree.
A B.S. in Software Engineering will likely have you doing more courses on databases, front-end technologies, one or two major OOP languages, and DSA concepts, which will be directly applicable to the work you can expect in an SWE role.
A B.S. in Computer Science is much more broad. While you may end up taking a database course and maybe another couple courses focusing on C++ or Java, more of your curriculum will also focus on how computers work, networking, history, and major concepts in current CSE research. It’s worth noting that a B.S. in Computer Science won’t stop you from getting a job as a SWE, you just may have to do some extra self-study to be competitive if you were interviewing against someone who has a degree specifically in software engineering.
These are general assumptions though based on the names of the degree programs. **IT’S VERY IMPORTANT** that you review the curriculum of both programs individually and determine which will provide the education you’re looking for. Sometimes the required courses for a degree don’t always line up as well as they should with what the name of the degree implies.
It’s worth noting that in Canada there’s a major difference, which is that Professional Engineer is a protected title that can sign off on certain kinds of high risk projects, like medical devices for example. Someone with a Bachelor of CS cannot do that. However the Computer Science programs tend to be far more flexible and foundational.
Can not speak for every school, but at mine the only difference was SE set your electives for you, the core was the same.
No one has mentioned that an ABET accredited engineering degree is worth a lot, largely due to the rigor of the math and physics you’re expected to complete.
That can make the program more difficult, especially if your focus and interest is in programming/software development.
Engineering generally requires a broad and rigorous base of problem solving around fundamentals that more “science” focused degrees do not.
The difference at my college were two extra maths-based modules I had to take for SE.
As an employer we see them as identical.
The degrees are about 75% the same thing, which is focusing on how to design, code, debug, test.
For software engineering, the remaining 25% are specific areas of coding: you’ll learn AI, Cloud computing, mobile apps.
For computer science, the remaining 25% are not directly related to coding, but are tangentially related: you’ll learn how Operating Systems work (especially Linux), hardware interactions, networking protocols, and databases.
If I were an employer, if I were looking for a full-stack dev I might prefer computer science, and I might prefer the software engineer if I didn’t need full-stack. But the difference is small.
I have an MS in SWE, and I think CS would be the better option if you’re starting undergrad.
You’ll learn more theory which is particularly helpful during the interview process, and anything specific to a SWE major or emphasis can be learned quickly on the job.
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