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I'm asking here so since you all have experience in or around game programming, that's what I want to do, and I’m trying to find as many options as I can before my senior year, which is next year. So do you have any opinions on the matter of which would give me a better education in programming? Please no talking about anything other than the two degrees because I know of game programming degrees out there but I like to see which of these would provide the best alternate choice. |
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Since you're asking on the game development forum, I'm assuming you're interested in a game development career. Both programs would be fine. They have some overlap, but they also would lead you in different directions. A traditional computer science program is aimed at the more theoretical aspects of computing. You'd generally work in more traditional languages (C/C++/Java) and you'd spend a lot of time contemplating data structures, algorithms, and efficiency. CS majors typically are required to take a great deal of Math and Science. (I encourage our students to get a Math minor, because they're only one course away by the time they take our requirements.) The focus on math and theory are good preparation for certain kinds of game programming (say building game engines and creating lighting models.) Software engineering has a different focus. Software engineering programs are typically more focused on business applications. The emphasis is on working with large teams of developers and building large software projects. Games are a form of business application, so the skills would be applicable. Plenty of CS majors move into software engineering as they gain experience, but fewer people seem to move into CS after they've studied software engineering. |
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Both will give you a good education in programming. The primary difference is that Comp Sci will enable you to solve problems that no one else can, whereas Soft Eng is geared more towards delivering products to customers. Both are necessary for good development, and will round out a good dev team. It depends on whether you are more science minded (answer questions) or engineering minded (design solutions). |
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Computer Science and Software Engineering should be different courses of study, but you'll find that most colleges only offer one. Most schools only offer a Computer Science program, which is essentially combining the two. I attribute this to the relative youth of computer science as an area of study. Just a decade or two ago most Universities didn't have a computer science departments. The computer scientists where just part of the mathematics department. |
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The question that should really make your decision is "which is the better school?" When I'm reviewing resumes, I typically consider CS and SE degrees to be pretty much equivalent. I know the curricula differ, but not in any standard way between schools, and a high GPA in either degree serves the same purpose of imbecile-filtering. |
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I point you to my popular answer in the CS vs. Game Dev degree question. Basically I feel it really doesn't matter all that much as to which degree you choose. Pick whichever one has courses that seem most interesting to you, take advantage of electives in your major that seem pertinent (i.e. algorithms, numerical analysis, etc) and learn game specific programming or do some mod work on the side. |
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take a look at http://computingcareers.acm.org/?page_id=6, also see gaming and animation http://computingcareers.acm.org/?page_id=10 |
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CS majors tend to have a better understanding of algorithms and other mathematical processes while being able to explain it to others. Engineering will actually put it to practical use and do things with it. The CS will spend two days hand making their own code. The engineer will take two hours copying it from a book of algorithms. The CS will either do research or try to go into an "engineering" job; however, the ENGINEER will always be better at an ENGINEERING job. The engineer will be making much more money. Too many people major in CS hoping to get a job right after graduation.. CS was originally made to go into grad school in Phd. Engineering was made to take the science and put it into practical use. Would you rather spend your life learning, or spend your life doing? That's what it comes down to. I haven't declared a major yet, but I'm probably going to declare computer engineering. |
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