Choosing Between Computer Science and Information Technology Engineering Courses

What Computer Science Engineering Encompasses:

Computer Science is a branch of engineering which is also a subset of electronic engineering. Computer software engineers design, develop, and test software. There are software engineers who design, construct, and maintain computer programs for companies and some of them sets up networks such as "intranets" for companies. Computer software engineers can also work in application design which includes designing or coding new programs and applications to meet the needs of a business or individual.

A computer engineer will be exposed to electronic engineering, software designs, and hardware-software integration instead of only software engineering or electronic engineering.

Computer engineers are exposed to many hardware and software aspects of computing, from the design of individual microprocessors, personal computers, and supercomputers, to circuit design, writing software and firmware for embedded microcontrollers, designing VLSI chips, designing operating systems.

In computer Science engineering, there are various subjects which the students would be exposed to. Some of the subjects that are included as a part of the syllabus are operating systems, Microprocessor, Database Management Systems, Data Structures, C programming language, Java programming language, Software engineering, C++ programming, Unix operating systems, Networking, Computer Graphics, Computer architecture etc.

Difference between Computer Science engineering and Information Science engineering:

The study of computer science can range from the theoretical studies of algorithms to the practical issues that come with the use of computing systems. Studies in computer science usually focus on software design and creation, computational theory, computer design, and involve a great deal of mathematics.

Mathematics and algorithms are very dominant across Computer Science programs and courses. A typical program in Computer Science will include Programming principles, Programming paradigms, Data structures, Algorithms, Computer architecture, Logic and computation, and Mathematics

Individuals with Computer Science Degrees have a variety of options when it comes to choosing their career track. Most of the professionals in this field obtain jobs that deal with designing software, developing websites, designing computers or providing maintenance to computing systems and hardware.

Information technology is a branch of engineering which deals with using computers and telecommunications to send, receive, and store information i.e. uses electronic computers and computer software to store, protect, process, transmit and securely retrieve data. This is a comparatively a new field that has developed over the past years and the companies now depend heavily on information technology to function. Studies in Information technology focus on system analysis, software management and networking, information assurance, and informatics. Programs in this area train students to manage networks efficiently. A program in Information Technology also includes Project management, Problem solving, Policy consultation, Technology research methods, and IT plan development.

Information Technology professionals are employed as network administrators, database administrators, systems administrators, telecommunications specialists, and network engineers. A degree in Information Technology allows individuals to enter the same job market as individuals with Computer Science degrees, but also provides them with the option of working with networks and telecommunications.

Companies are open to hiring students of both fields. Hence, the students can choose a field which captures your interests.

Article By :
Written by Col (Retd) NPR Babu, Dir (Academics) of SCT Institute of Technology.The institute is one of the good Engineering Colleges in Bangalore.