It’s a question every student interested in technology eventually has to face: how to choose between computer science and software engineering when computers are at the heart of both ? The question is even harder when you consider than most computer science students later work as software engineers. If the job outcomes are pretty much the same, what’s the difference between the two majors ?
Well, turns out, it’s pretty much the same difference than between studying physics and building rockets.
A physicist is an inquisitive mind who will question the world, seek answers and grow the knowledge of their field. They will be looking to improve existing theory and practices to have an ever broader understanding of the world. The physicist is mostly a knowledge-seeker.
An engineer will rely on the hard-earned knowledge of the physicist to design, build, and successfully launch a rocket. They will have to use every bit of their creativity and practical experience to come up with efficient ideas to make the product come to life. The engineer is mostly a builder.
Back to our chosen field: computers.
Computer science approaches computers with the lens of science. It studies how computers work from a research perspective, focusing heavily on theory and mathematics. It aims at understanding information science and optimizing algorithms, data and operating systems.
Software engineering approaches computers with the mindset of building things that work. It’s about translating ideas into practical plans and putting knowledge to work. The software engineer will turn business needs into an actionable plan, and will see that the plan is effectively turned into a successful product. They will build upon the computer scientist’s work, and produce something real from the knowledge blocks given to them.
Considering that most jobs in the tech industry are about building products for society, it’s not surprising that many computer science majors transition into software engineering. But that transition implies learning such skills as quality assurance, product design and testing — the skills needed to make achievements possible in the business world. Those skills don’t come with a pure computer science major.
“Just because you can make the best piano in the world, that doesn’t make you a great pianist. It doesn’t mean you can play wonderful tunes. Just because you can create the foundations of which other people can build upon, just because you are a great computer scientist, doesn’t mean that you are a great software writer.” (DHH — Creator of Ruby on Rails)
Many computer science and software engineering degrees actually overlap and borrow electives from their cousin. But your major will influence your overall approach to the field : as a hard science or as an applied science.
So the question that you should ask yourself is: do you want to study computers as a science, or are you interested in building information systems directly ?
It really depends on you.
If you are interested in the world of research and academia ; if you love maths and want to go into a specialist field (like games, AI or graphics) — computer science is probably the best major for you.
If you like to build things ; if you are interested in improving life around you with your designs ; if you like to solve real world problems — software engineering is probably the best major for you.
There’s no need to confine yourself in computer science if you don’t enjoy maths or the scientific approach. Equally, there’s no need to go into software engineering if you don’t enjoy solving practical problems.
There is no right or wrong answer, it’s up to you to choose the field that will offer an approach that caters to your natural interests.
At the end of the day, if what you enjoy is solving problems, a hands-on approach focused on practice and on-demand theory would better fulfill your drive to be challenged and build great things.
Intek fully embraces the project-based, hands-on approach. To help you decide if it suits you, Intek’s admissions process includes a 3-week bootcamp over the summer where you learn the basics of software engineering.
Experience our approach and decide if it’s for you !
Intek is a higher education institute opening in Ho Chi Minh-City in 2018. Its mission is to turn students into job-ready computer engineers by using an innovative project-based learning model which focuses both on technical excellence and soft skills.
