So it's that time when I have to make the decision now and I can't wait any longer. I love anything that moves or has electricity, but I hate programming. I used to be extremely car oriented in my hobbies but now with living in Raleigh and having no garage it has shifted towards computers. I have been using computers since I was 5 on DOS and I build my own high end gaming machines now. I also work as a computer tech for the NC-DWM.

Basically how would one go about picking between them?

I've been told that CpE and EE are extremely similiar, what is the difference? How much hands on circuit board work will I be looking at? What is the bad side of CpE? ME is so broad in its application, is this the same with CpE?

I'll end up going to talk to the dept in person, but I figured I'd make this post to see if any CpE's could give me a general run down before I go talk to them.

[Edited on October 8, 2007 at 11:22 PM. Reason : p]

10/8/2007 11:10:37 PM

CE = civil engineering

you've obviously done your research

10/8/2007 11:14:51 PM

I forgot the p, excuse me.

10/8/2007 11:19:20 PM

CPE covers a large range of topics. To some extent you get to pick and you choose what you want to specialize in. Topics most people seems to like are embedded systems, computer microarchitecture, and networking. Also, I think getting a EE degree is about 3 hours outside of CPE if you choose your courses correctly.

As they have it setup now I'd say they have scaled back the importance of programming. When I went through CPE's had to take three levels of object-oriented programming and now I think they have them all switched over to low level C. However, I believe you retain the option to take the OO-programming courses if you want to.

10/9/2007 12:17:25 AM

Dice.
Even numbers CE
Odd numbers ME.

10/9/2007 12:22:22 AM

so how many semesters in programming are we talking?

10/9/2007 12:22:42 AM

double major, one extra semester will not hurt

10/9/2007 12:30:58 AM

of course none of this information is available on the website...

10/9/2007 12:39:25 AM

Quote :

"double major, one extra semester will not hurt"

10/9/2007 1:44:17 AM

from what you say, sounds like CpE to me.

10/9/2007 2:20:56 PM

Quote :

"double major, one extra semester will not hurt"

you mean double major in EE and CPE or in one of those two and ME ? There isn't enough overlap with ME to make it only another semester.


As for the original question . . . it depends on what you want to do after you graduate. There are more than likely opportunities in either field to do a variety of things. ME's could do a lot of field work in manufacturing or they could sit at a desk all day doing design work or be in lab doing R&D. I would imagine EE's would have similar opportunites. If for nothing else I might chose ME so you don't have to wait in line with 139459028376 asians / indians / whatever to talk to the 4 booths at the career fair that want EEs.

You could transfer to UNCA and do Mechatronics since I don't think there is an actual Mechatronics degree program at State even though the courses for the UNCA degree are typically distance courses through NCSU.

[Edited on October 9, 2007 at 5:04 PM. Reason : ]

10/9/2007 4:53:00 PM

if youre going to do mechatronics, clemson >> unca

10/9/2007 5:24:02 PM

i know there is at least one class that spans EE and ME

it's a grad class though

if you like mechatronics, there are a few courses that you can take as an EE/CPE that'll touch on it, but it seems like most of the good stuff is in the grad courses

10/9/2007 8:28:16 PM

if you're trying to decide between ME and CPE...

.. but you dont like programming ( )

you should definitely go EE.

i mean, if you dont like programming, then WTF are you considering CPE at all?

do EE, you can get involved with mechatronics, electromagnetics, power systems, robotics, instrumentation/control systems, etc, etc, etc... and not have to do hardly any more programming than an ME would.

and the way i see it, here in the industry, an EE is much more broadly applicable. an EE can get hired at about any job that a CPE can, but there are a number of jobs that only an EE -- not a CPE -- will be qualified for.

combine the BSEE with the FE/EIT certificate (take Ben O'Neal's class) and you'll be on your way to a PE and you can do whatever the fuck you want and make 80 to 100K+ in a matter of maybe 5 years or so.

10/11/2007 3:30:46 AM

I just read your lounge post, and its too late to edit the above comment now...

im sorry

10/11/2007 4:01:08 AM

EE FTW espicially if you hate programming

CPE has 3-4 different class requirements and one of them is an extra programming class.
After the necessary CSC pre req EE does not deal with much programming.

Would you guys even consider Verilog "programming" in 406????

10/11/2007 8:21:32 AM

yes, but it's so easy that it doesn't matter

[Edited on October 11, 2007 at 8:37 AM. Reason : ^you might consider matlab "programming" (in dsp especially)]

10/11/2007 8:28:25 AM

i never really learned matlab until i took ECE402. Professor Townsend provided a great tutorial.

ECE220 had a matlab "lab" they never really gave much incentive to learn matlab nor an effective way to teach it.

ECE 301/303 Alexander assumed that everyone was a MATLAB GURU and LOVED assigning matlab problems w/o even bothering to review matlab or providing some sort of tutorial for students to read on their own.

10/11/2007 11:11:48 AM

yeah, 402 and 421 were the ones i had in mind

10/11/2007 11:23:35 AM

i'm def taking 420, and i am leaning toward taking 463.

If i can not take 407 due to time conflict i am trying to decide btw 421 or 403.

I am not too interested in taking another circuits class but i heard 421 is a biatch.
404 is def a no go, 435 is taught by the worst professor in EE, and 470 would be too easy since i have my CCNA

10/11/2007 11:37:41 AM

yeah, 421 kinda sucked, i think it was mostly the professor though--it's basically an extension of 301. i took 422 instead of 420, mainly because dr. bilbro is the man...i think he teaches 403 also, so i would def. check that out

10/11/2007 11:57:04 AM

HUR: don't waste your time with 407. Take 470 if you are interested in networking.

10/11/2007 2:22:11 PM

very carefully

10/11/2007 10:36:20 PM

back in the day, if a particular program didn't suit your interests, you could arrange a customized curriculum leading to a B. Sc. in Engineering--i think this is still possible

10/13/2007 11:26:35 PM

B. Sc. ?

where the fuck you from? england?

10/14/2007 5:22:54 AM

yep, and i made the dean's list at MIT

10/14/2007 5:56:42 AM

anyone who makes Dean's List at MIT, should *NOT* be posting on TWW.

ever.

10/14/2007 8:19:21 PM

just what are you tryin' to say?!

haha, anyways, i was being a smartass--nobody at MIT makes the dean's list

10/14/2007 8:33:08 PM

aha thats funny. ... and I actually should have known that -- the principal engineer I work under is an MIT alum. he said the same thing last week, telling me how he busted someone who had claimed to have graduated MIT with distinction (cum laude) on their resume, that they don't give any distinctions.

anyhow... i guess im just saying something that if someone were "really* smart, they wouldnt be wasting their lives posting here. Like me, for instance. I like to think im pretty smart, but if you've been noticing my postcount, you'll see im actually getting dumber by the day.

Tangential Story: my navy boot camp drill instructor was a Filipino, a short stocky martial arts dude, and one day he was going off on me, had me down on the ground doing pushups forever, and was screaming at me: "You think you smart? You not smart! You smart ass. You smart mouth. But you not smart. I could break you neck!"



[Edited on October 15, 2007 at 1:44 AM. Reason : ]

10/15/2007 1:43:06 AM

Quote :

"CE = civil engineering you've obviously done your research "

10/15/2007 3:30:38 PM

10/15/2007 3:45:13 PM

Quote :

"HUR: don't waste your time with 407. Take 470 if you are interested in networking."

i am already CCNA certified and heard 470 thus would be very boring

10/16/2007 2:43:51 PM