Computer Engineering
Computer engineering (CE) students study the design of digital hardware and software systems including communications systems, computers and devices that contain computers. For them, programming is focused on digital devices and their interfaces with users and other devices. An important area within computing engineering is the development of embedded systems. Devices such as cell phones, digital audio players, digital video recorders, alarm systems, x-ray machines, and laser surgical tools all require integration of hardware and embedded software, and are all the result of computer engineering.
Computer engineering majors are offered by a fairly large number of universities, almost always within engineering. This major requires significant study of mathematics.
Read more about Aaron and other computing majors on our Faces of Computing page.
Occupational Outlook Handbook:
Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, test, and oversee the installation of computer hardware and supervise its manufacture and installation. Hardware refers to computer chips, circuit boards, computer systems, and related equipment such as keyboards, modems, and printers…. The work of computer hardware engineers is very similar to that of electronics engineers, but, unlike electronics engineers, computer hardware engineers work exclusively with computers and computer-related equipment. The rapid advances in computer technology are largely a result of the research, development, and design efforts of computer hardware engineers.