I am struggling to decide what my career will be, I've thought about going to university and the only course which I am interested in is Computer Systems Engineering. Has anyone done this course or can anyone tell me anything about it? I am doing electrical engineering at college but am very interested in computers, which is why I am interested in doing this course. I am hoping to get 3 distinctions in my course so I can get into uni. If I didn't do this course does anyone have any other suggestions?
Computer Systems Engineering
- Thread starter mufc802
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It's made my eyes go all funny.
I'm currently studying CSE, on placement at the moment and will start level 3 next year. What would you like to know exactly?
CSE fits between Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, there really isn't much Electrical Engineering aspect in the course, but as your interested in computers it's definitely worth a look at.
CSE fits between Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, there really isn't much Electrical Engineering aspect in the course, but as your interested in computers it's definitely worth a look at.
I just want to know if it's the right course for me to do. I am wondering if the computing side of it will be too difficult because I haven't done computing at a-level or anything like that.
What sort of things do you do about in the course and what jobs could I do at the end of it?
I also hadn't done computing at a-level, so don't worry about not having relevant experience before hand, level 1 will introduce anything that you don't already know.
It's a very broad subject to I'll take the lazy route and just copy & paste what my Uni's course description says:
Job wise, you have a number of options, you can take different routes depending on what you prefer; software engineering, hardware/cpu/digital design, electronics, networking etc.
For example on placement I'm a software test engineer for a wireless communication company. So I've taken the wireless comm route.
All I can say is to just read what universities say about the course, look at the individual modules and research a bit about them.
It's a very broad subject to I'll take the lazy route and just copy & paste what my Uni's course description says:
Job wise, you have a number of options, you can take different routes depending on what you prefer; software engineering, hardware/cpu/digital design, electronics, networking etc.
For example on placement I'm a software test engineer for a wireless communication company. So I've taken the wireless comm route.
All I can say is to just read what universities say about the course, look at the individual modules and research a bit about them.
I did a year of Computer Systems Engineering before switching to Software Engineering ... And then Network Engineering.
The course is mainly about creating computerised/robotic systems that can regulate themselves, like ABS or Traction control in a car or the systems that keep a Eurofighter in the air and other cool things like that.
It's VERY maths heavy, Since you have to come up with the algorithms that mathematically describe the real world scenario you are tying to deal with. You'll also learn various programming languages, I did C, Java and Assembly my first year, as well as Matlab. There is a bit of electronics work involved too.
It's an interesting subject, but I cant stress the emphasis on maths enough. If you didn't really enjoy it at A level you're not going to like the course.
The course is mainly about creating computerised/robotic systems that can regulate themselves, like ABS or Traction control in a car or the systems that keep a Eurofighter in the air and other cool things like that.
It's VERY maths heavy, Since you have to come up with the algorithms that mathematically describe the real world scenario you are tying to deal with. You'll also learn various programming languages, I did C, Java and Assembly my first year, as well as Matlab. There is a bit of electronics work involved too.
It's an interesting subject, but I cant stress the emphasis on maths enough. If you didn't really enjoy it at A level you're not going to like the course.
I'm not doing A-Level maths, is it essential?
I currently study CSE, in my third year and did a placement at Broadcom. Honestly its a brilliant course I couldn't recommend it enough. If your a computer nerd but don't want to touch all the noddy stuff they do on compsci its deffo the way to go.
It was described to me as 70% ElecEng, 70% CompSci and I'd say thats about right. Don't expect much free time in the first year the work load is pretty hench.
I can't really think what to say so heres the modules I've done....
Y1
Programming in C
Digital Design & Instrumentation
Computer Systems Architecture
Digital Systems Design
Y2
Operating Systems
C++
CPU Architecture & VHDL
Embedded Microprocessor systems
Placement year at Broadcom, honestly one of the best years of my life. I would rape and pillage to get back there.
Y3
Building & Porting embedded systems
Embedded Co-Design (C & VHDL)
Designing & Writing Device Drivers
Embedded Systems Development
Personal Project
Hopefully that gives you an overview. Its very technical, which suits me just fine. Theres no BS 'requirements analysis' and reams of documentation with pretty charts.
The great thing at the moment is not many people do the course, CompSci seems the default selection. Therefore the job market is pretty good, lots of opportunites in semiconductors, military, automotive and aeronautical type stuff.
Basically, if you like computers to do stuff in real life like help fly planes or shoot down missiles, its for you. If you want to design pretty websites or windows applications don't bother.
It was described to me as 70% ElecEng, 70% CompSci and I'd say thats about right. Don't expect much free time in the first year the work load is pretty hench.
I can't really think what to say so heres the modules I've done....
Y1
Programming in C
Digital Design & Instrumentation
Computer Systems Architecture
Digital Systems Design
Y2
Operating Systems
C++
CPU Architecture & VHDL
Embedded Microprocessor systems
Placement year at Broadcom, honestly one of the best years of my life. I would rape and pillage to get back there.
Y3
Building & Porting embedded systems
Embedded Co-Design (C & VHDL)
Designing & Writing Device Drivers
Embedded Systems Development
Personal Project
Hopefully that gives you an overview. Its very technical, which suits me just fine. Theres no BS 'requirements analysis' and reams of documentation with pretty charts.
The great thing at the moment is not many people do the course, CompSci seems the default selection. Therefore the job market is pretty good, lots of opportunites in semiconductors, military, automotive and aeronautical type stuff.
Basically, if you like computers to do stuff in real life like help fly planes or shoot down missiles, its for you. If you want to design pretty websites or windows applications don't bother.
Soldato
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I'm on Software Engineering, which AFAIK is 90% Computer Science and 10% taken from Computer Systems Engineering/Electronic Engineering.
@Chris1712: If CSE is like Computer Systems Architecture but for a full degree then I'm glad I stuck with Software Engineering
. Of our class the number of people that understand what Rob's on about in his CSA lectures must be single figures!
@Chris1712: If CSE is like Computer Systems Architecture but for a full degree then I'm glad I stuck with Software Engineering
. Of our class the number of people that understand what Rob's on about in his CSA lectures must be single figures!I disagree with the comment about the course being maths heavy. I hated maths at a-level, did awfully bad, however have been more than able to cope with the engineering math modules.
It depends on the university course criteria but I can say that CSE at the university I’m attending (Brunel) is not math heavy.
There is a fair amount of programming, so far we've done C++, assembly (Motorola 68k, pic micro), Verilog hdl, Unix scripting, etc. But it's not like they just throw you into it, you start from the very basics.
It's a difficult course, I'm not saying that other courses are easy (cough* sports science), but if you achieve the requirements to get in then your already on the right track. Level 1 wasn't so bad for me so had quite a lot of free time, level 2 was hell. I would also recommend doing a sandwich (placement year) but your Uni will go further into that during the course so don't worry about that now.
It depends on the university course criteria but I can say that CSE at the university I’m attending (Brunel) is not math heavy.
There is a fair amount of programming, so far we've done C++, assembly (Motorola 68k, pic micro), Verilog hdl, Unix scripting, etc. But it's not like they just throw you into it, you start from the very basics.
It's a difficult course, I'm not saying that other courses are easy (cough* sports science), but if you achieve the requirements to get in then your already on the right track. Level 1 wasn't so bad for me so had quite a lot of free time, level 2 was hell. I would also recommend doing a sandwich (placement year) but your Uni will go further into that during the course so don't worry about that now.
Man of Honour
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The Computer Engineering course at Southampton is pretty maths heavy. If maths isn't you strong subject, pick you uni carefully.
@Chris1712: If CSE is like Computer Systems Architecture but for a full degree then I'm glad I stuck with Software Engineering
Unfortunately it gets a lot worse
. CSA I found was mostly stuff I knew anyway from being a hobbyist, VHDL is where it gets really brain melting imo.
Soldato
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- Berkland
From what I remember, it took hard modules from CS and hard modules from EE and were mashed together to make CSE. I thought it was relatively hard!
Soldato
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Unfortunately it gets a lot worse
Hehe, glad I didn't chose CSE then
.Because Rob dove straight in at the deep end assuming people knew the basics of CSA he's got very few fans in our class, that and the fact that the talks at 10000MPH.
Having said that, I really like his style! Shame it's ***ing complicated.
I did this degree and finished it in 2007.
It is tough any engineering degree will be but for sure it is worthwhile.
Yes Maths is very important we did a lot of Engineering Maths so you'll need a decent foundation.
The courses we had ranged from programming, hardware, electronics, dynamics (hated this) networking, AI to engineering management.
Basically it is not a specialised degree if you do get the opportunity see if you can get it specialised like computer systems engineering with networking etc
although I don't know if this exists