COMPUTER ENGINEERING
What do computer engineers do?
Computer hardware engineers “research, design, develop and test computer systems and components such as processors, circuit boards, memory devices, networks and routers,” according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Naturally, an important function of computer engineers is to integrate these components into computer and network systems. According to the US BLS, this requires a good working knowledge of electrical engineering. However, there are some universities which disagree with this and instead focus on electronic engineering.
According to Techopedia, “The term computer engineering is often confused with computer science, but these two terms are different. Computer scientists are responsible for electrical and software manufacturing, while computer engineers are trained to design software and perform and integrate that software with hardware components. Computer engineering also includes the engineers who write firmware specifically for embedded microcontrollers, design and develop analog sensors, design very-large-scale integration chips, and create schemes for mixed- and single-circuit boards. The engineering field of computer sciences also contributes to robotic research that requires digital systems to monitor electrical components like motors and sensors”.
(techopedia.com).
According to the University of Southern California, “Computer Engineering is the creative application of engineering principles and methods to the design and development of hardware and software systems”.
It is not surprising to note that computer engineering also involves software development. Today, more than ever before, software plays the most significant role as more and more devices are enabled (by software) to perform more and more tasks. Thus computer engineers are engaged in all activities leading to transfer of data across networks, and generally devise means to make computers, faster, smaller, and more capable. And with so much interest in wearables, the link between computer engineers and software gets deeper. In sum, we can say that they have to understand both hardware and software and more important, how the two work together.
Boston University offer an MS in Computer Engineering (http://www.bu.edu/academics/eng/programs/computer-engineering/ms/).
So does the University of Southern California (https://gapp.usc.edu/graduate-programs/masters/electrical-engineering/computer-engineering), and The Arizona State University but specifically asking students to make a choice: “This program will require that you select a concentration in Electrical Engineering or Computer Systems Engineering at the time of your application, as it has a direct correlation to the curriculum you will follow”. (https://cidse.engineering.asu.edu/forstudent/graduate/computer-engineering/m-s-in-computer-engineering/).
For universities in Europe that offer a Masters in Computer Engineering, take a look at http://www.mastersportal.eu/studies/70/computer-science-and-engineering.html.
The National University of Singapore offers a differently structured programme under the title of Masters in Technology (https://www.iss.nus.edu.sg/GraduateProgrammes/MasterofTechnology.aspx). If you are looking at universities in Australia, examine http://www.graduateshotline.com/australia/computer-engineering.html#.VmUZJWe6HIU.