What's the difference?

Electrical Engineering: The Electrical Engineering major at UNH empowers you to shape the future by exploring electrical and electronic circuits and systems applied to complex electrical engineering problems.  Students learn fundamental concepts related to the design, development, modeling, prototyping, and testing of a wide range of electrical circuits and systems.  Students can take advantage of a variety of research opportunities available to them from ocean mapping to intergalactic space-based instrumentation.  These experiences are designed to give you the skills and technological expertise needed to succeed in either graduate studies or a variety of growing career fields.

Computer Engineering: The Computer Engineering major at UNH empowers you to shape the future by exploring electronics systems intertwined with software. Here, you’ll dive into the essentials of electrical circuits and their software-driven control with our engaged faculty, developing expertise in digital systems design, embedded systems, and computer architecture. You can also take advantage of research opportunities and paid internships at the renowned UNH Interoperability Lab, a leader in data network testing that works with some of the top technology companies in the world. These experiences are designed to give you the skills and technological expertise needed to succeed in either graduate studies or a variety of growing career fields.

When exploring what department to declare prospective students often ask, “What is the difference between Computer Science and Computer Engineering?”  For most students this distinction is not clear, and in some cases, students will get enrolled in a department only to find out much too late that they are in a major in which they are not that interested.  I periodically hear such statements as, “Had I known then what I know now….”  This handout is meant to provide you with some distinctions between Computer Science and Computer Engineering of which you may not be aware. 

CE vs CS Flyer

For more questions please contact the ECE Undergraduate Coordinator

Computer Engineering: The Computer Engineering major at UNH empowers you to shape the future by exploring electronics systems intertwined with software. Here, you’ll dive into the essentials of electrical circuits and their software-driven control with our engaged faculty, developing expertise in digital systems design, embedded systems, and computer architecture. You can also take advantage of research opportunities and paid internships at the renowned UNH Interoperability Lab, a leader in data network testing that works with some of the top technology companies in the world. These experiences are designed to give you the skills and technological expertise needed to succeed in either graduate studies or a variety of growing career fields.

Computer Science (CS): This program is tailored to students who want to focus on problem solving, with an emphasis on the design of computer-efficient solutions. The curriculum is rooted in fundamentals; students gain the skills and knowledge necessary to enter this ever-changing field with confidence. With a solid foundation in science and mathematics, students also develop strong problem-solving skills and abstract thinking, and many work in laboratories to get hands-on experience building software systems. Graduates of this program pursue advanced degrees or join the professional world in a wide range of positions.

EE or CE biomedical engineering (BME): The BSEE/BSCE Biomedical Engineering Option program provides the core knowledge expected of a computer and/or electrical engineer to provide engineering services in the biomedical engineering field. They work to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare and, develop instrumentation, sensor technology, and medical imaging devices and systems for both diagnostic and therapeutic needs.  The BME option is embedded in both the electrical engineering (EE) and the computer engineering (CE) programs.

Bioengineering: The BS in Bioengineering is tailored to students who want to use engineering principles to analyze problems and design solutions in the fields of healthcare, medicine, and biology. It is a truly interdisciplinary program.  Bioengineers’ work often focuses on general theory that can be applied to various areas of natural sciences to solve problems in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, natural resources, health care, and the environment.