Electrical Engineering vs Electronics Engineering vs Computer Engineering

[42Bits]

Are they all similar ?

[hamster_nz]

Going by the name, there seems to be 50% overlap...

Why do you ask?

[42Bits]

Going by the name, there seems to be 50% overlap...

Why do you ask?

Because I wanna know the difference between them.

[hamster_nz]

Going by the name, there seems to be 50% overlap...

Why do you ask?

Because I wanna know the difference between them.

A ten word question deserves at best  ten word answer....

No they are very different, but overlap slightly. A bit like doctor vs dentist vs physiotherapist.

[42Bits]

Could you give me some examples for each ?

[agehall]

Could you give me some examples for each ?

One works with computers. One works with electronics and one works with other stuff.

I think you are asking the wrong questions and therefore the answers will not really give you much information.

[Berni]

This is much like saying "Doctor vs Surgeon vs Veterinarian".

They all deal with a similar thing but the details are very different.

[EEVblog]

Going by the name, there seems to be 50% overlap...
Why do you ask?

Because I wanna know the difference between them.

Well you have to read all the course class descriptions to see the difference. Every university is different and every country is different.
You have to at least tell us the university name if you want any opinion that's worth anything.
But as a general rule, electronics engineering is a subset of the more general electrical engineering course. Computer engineering may or may not be under the electrical engineering department and will be much more heavily software focused and may or may not include all the core basic physics/maths stuff that electrical and electronics will have.

[tggzzz]

I suspect the OP is young, in which case they are starting on their journey of understanding that "answers are easy, but finding the right question is more difficult".

They may benefit from reading https://entertaininghacks.wordpress.com/library-2/good-questions-pique-our-interest-and-dont-waste-our-time-2/

[EEVblog]

I suspect the OP is young, in which case they are starting on their journey of understanding that "answers are easy, but finding the right question is more difficult".

Yes indeed. First lesson in this business is learning to phrase your questions right so that you help the respondents focus on giving you focused answer you need. Generic questions will only get generic answers.

[0culus]

Going by the name, there seems to be 50% overlap...
Why do you ask?

Because I wanna know the difference between them.

Well you have to read all the course class descriptions to see the difference. Every university is different and every country is different.
You have to at least tell us the university name if you want any opinion that's worth anything.
But as a general rule, electronics engineering is a subset of the more general electrical engineering course. Computer engineering may or may not be under the electrical engineering department and will be much more heavily software focused and may or may not include all the core basic physics/maths stuff that electrical and electronics will have.

From what I've seen, CE students will often take computer science-y courses in lieu of certain stuff EE students take. For example: http://www.ece.unm.edu/undergraduate/programs.html, in the spring semester of junior year, CE students are taking data structures and algorithms + a technical elective while EE students take Electronics II and EM fields.

[iMo]

There is such saying - "There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers"..

Electrical Eng. is a broader term, the Electronics Eng. is a subset of it, afaik.

Electrical Eng. may also deal with Materials used in EE, High Voltage Power (ie your national grid) distribution systems, Power plants technology, Electro-Mechanical systems, Metrology, Measurement systems, sometimes with Robotics, Automation, etc.

Electronics Eng. is also rather more general term - it, for example, covers Microelectronics, Optoelectronics, Radioelectronics, Bioelectronics, etc.

All above are more-less dealing with topics related to materials/components/hardware design.

Computer Engineering is usually a mix of Electronics and Informatics, with _much_ higher emphasis on "Informatics" topics, however. Therefore "software engineering" oriented.

There are universities where the "Computer Engineering" and/or "Informatics" split from more traditional "Electrical Engineering" and became independent few decades back.

[tggzzz]

There is such saying - "There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers"..

Electrical Eng. is a broader term, the Electronics Eng. is a subset of it, afaik.

Electrical Eng. may also deal with Materials used in EE, High Voltage Power (ie your national grid) distribution systems, Power plants technology, Electro-Mechanical systems, Metrology, Measurement systems, sometimes with Robotics, Automation, etc.

Electronics Eng. is also rather more general term - it, for example, covers Microelectronics, Optoelectronics, Radioelectronics, Bioelectronics, etc.

All above are more-less dealing with topics related to materials/components/hardware design.

Computer Engineering is usually a mix of Electronics and Informatics, with _much_ higher emphasis on "Informatics" topics, however. Therefore "software engineering" oriented.

There are universities where the "Computer Engineering" and/or "Informatics" split from more traditional "Electrical Engineering" and became independent few decades back.

Most, but not all, of the above is misleading to the point of being wrong.

[Berni]

Yeah if its for a university program the thing can be quite specific for a given school. Some might overlap 80% some might overlap almost nothing.

Electronics engineering is where you get to the components that make up electronic devices. This is where you learn about transistors and chips. It might include some power electronics/transmission from Electrical Engineering, and it might include things like C or assembler programing from Computer Engineering (This is actually quite likely due to microcontrollers)

Electrical engineering is electricity on a higher level. Here you learn about electrical distribution networks, putting together industrial modules such as PLCs, running big motors and generators for industrial use etc. This essentially makes you a more sophisticated version of an electrician(or spaky as you aussies call them.)

Computer engineering can vary the most. This could be training you to be an an IT guy that can set up large corporate networks, maintain servers, service computers and other IT work. Or it could go the other way where you are taught the deep details of programing in various languages, writing and porting linux drivers or even programming microcontrolers and other embedded systems, in this direction they are usually also taught a bit of electronics and sometimes given a soldering iron a few times, but don't expect to learn how to practically use transistors.


When choosing don't look at the apparent difficulty of the program. All of them are difficult in a different way. Chose by what you would want to do. Is it typing code on a keyboard, soldering stuff at a workbench, or installing massive industrial equipment at a factory.

[42Bits]

--Electrical Engineering (Main Degree)
------ Electronics Engineering (Discipline of Main Degree)
------------- Computer Engineering (Sub-field of Discipline)

What I mean above ^ is that more you move down the list it get more specialised in your degree.
So, that are all related by the main degree of somewhat ?

[iMo]

As others have indicated it depends on how the Technical University is organized.
There are not firm rules on where the "discipline" or "sub-field" Computer Engineering belongs to.
Moreover, it depends on what you understand under "Computer Engineering".
Better you look at the organization scheme of the specific University you are interested in (all Universities have got their web pages, imho).

[tggzzz]

From this question we can tell that you haven't bothered to read the link I gave you...

--Electrical Engineering (Main Degree)
------ Electronics Engineering (Discipline of Main Degree)
------------- Computer Engineering (Sub-field of Discipline)

What I mean above ^ is that more you move down the list it get more specialised in your degree.
So, that are all related by the main degree of somewhat ?

No. (And the wackypedia article on "electrical engineering" is pretty much rubbish)

If you want an overly simple distinction between electrical and electronic engineering, then:

• electrical engineering deals with 0.1-400kV, and >10A, and with getting electric power to your home and desk
• electronic engineering deals with <50V, <10A, and with using electricity to do things

Computer engineering deals with the theory of what can be done with computation, as opposed to software engineering which deals with what can be done with computers, and then there is computer programming... The distinctions between those are very grey, and many engineers consider that "computer engineering" and "software engineering" are oxymorons.

[EEVblog]

--Electrical Engineering (Main Degree)
------ Electronics Engineering (Discipline of Main Degree)
------------- Computer Engineering (Sub-field of Discipline)

What I mean above ^ is that more you move down the list it get more specialised in your degree.
So, that are all related by the main degree of somewhat ?

Not necessarily.
You are approaching this the wrong way. Simply tell us what universities you are considering and we can take a loot at the courses and then advise you.
There are massive differences between countries (this forum is international) an universities within countries.
Talking generically about the difference is kinda just pissing in the wind really and won't ultimately help you decide which course is best for you.

[EEVblog]

If you want an overly simple distinction between electrical and electronic engineering, then:

• electrical engineering deals with 0.1-400kV, and >10A, and with getting electric power to your home and desk
• electronic engineering deals with <50V, <10A, and with using electricity to do things

Some universities only have "Electrical Engineering" degrees, and to make it more "electronic" oriented you have to pick and chose specific electives within that degree.

[EEVblog]

Yeah if its for a university program the thing can be quite specific for a given school. Some might overlap 80% some might overlap almost nothing.

Electronics engineering is where you get to the components that make up electronic devices. This is where you learn about transistors and chips. It might include some power electronics/transmission from Electrical Engineering, and it might include things like C or assembler programing from Computer Engineering (This is actually quite likely due to microcontrollers)

Electrical engineering is electricity on a higher level. Here you learn about electrical distribution networks, putting together industrial modules such as PLCs, running big motors and generators for industrial use etc. This essentially makes you a more sophisticated version of an electrician(or spaky as you aussies call them.)

Many Electrical Engineering degress won't ever touch anything to do with electrical distribution networks. Generally you'd only cover those sorts of things if you pick a specific elective.

[EEVblog]

Lets make this easy, the OP is from NSW Australia, so assume Sydney universities, so take UNSW as an example:
https://www.engineering.unsw.edu.au/study-with-us/undergraduate

Electrical Engineering: https://www.engineering.unsw.edu.au/study-with-us/undergraduate-degrees/electrical-engineering-beme

Computer Engineering: https://www.engineering.unsw.edu.au/study-with-us/undergraduate-degrees/computer-engineering

They don't offer "Electronics Engineering" as such.

Note that the CE degree has the same maths and physics as the EE degree.

You can have a "flexible first year": https://www.engineering.unsw.edu.au/study-with-us/undergraduate-degrees/flexible-first-year

UWS also have (had?) a flexible first year where you were everyone was taught electrical, mechanical and civil engineering so that you could swap in the 2nd year if you changed your mind.

[tggzzz]

If you want an overly simple distinction between electrical and electronic engineering, then:

• electrical engineering deals with 0.1-400kV, and >10A, and with getting electric power to your home and desk
• electronic engineering deals with <50V, <10A, and with using electricity to do things

Some universities only have "Electrical Engineering" degrees, and to make it more "electronic" oriented you have to pick and chose specific electives within that degree.

I was referring to the terms as used w.r.t. careers and employment, not simply some degrees from some universities in some countries. That may (or may not) help the OP clarify their thinking. IMNSHO it would help the OP if they understood and decided where they wanted to end up, and only thereafter choose a course.

It does not confict with your statement(s).

[EEVblog]

If you want an overly simple distinction between electrical and electronic engineering, then:

• electrical engineering deals with 0.1-400kV, and >10A, and with getting electric power to your home and desk
• electronic engineering deals with <50V, <10A, and with using electricity to do things

Some universities only have "Electrical Engineering" degrees, and to make it more "electronic" oriented you have to pick and chose specific electives within that degree.

I was referring to the terms as used w.r.t. careers and employment, not simply some degrees from some universities in some countries. That may (or may not) help the OP clarify their thinking. IMNSHO it would help the OP if they understood and decided where they wanted to end up, and only thereafter choose a course.

It does not confict with your statement(s).

Yes, when I think of "electrical" I think of high power stuff as you say.
In the case of UNSW post above you have to do a specific Energy post-grad degree to get that sort of specialisation.

As a general rules "Electrical Engineering" is just your bog standard engineering degree that involves lots of maths, physics, signal theory, general electronics, and a bunch of electives. High power distribution stuff is usually not included unless you take a specific elective subject.
A typical "Electronics Engineering" degree might only differ in one or two extra classes, and for most intents and purposes is the same as an Electrical degree.

[EEVblog]

UWS has no Electronics Engineering specific degree either:
https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/future/study/courses/engineering-courses.html

Nor does UTS:
https://www.uts.edu.au/future-students/engineering/undergraduate-courses-0

Nor does USyd
https://sydney.edu.au/courses/subject-areas/major/electrical-engineering0.html

But all of them teach "electronics" as part of the core curriculum

Macquarie seems to be the only one that has a specific electronics degree, but really seems to be just a stream:
https://www.mq.edu.au/study/find-a-course/engineering/_

[frogg]

In the US, there are multiple degree accreditation bodies.

Here are some examples:

https://www.abet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/E001-18-19-EAC-Criteria-11-29-17.pdf

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

etc. There are a lot of these.

These accreditation programs define both general and specific curriculum for all degree programs, including Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, and Computer Engineering. These accreditation bodies are the authorities for the definition of each program. Individual schools start from these definitions and expound upon them.

The US generally follows a hierarchical teaching methodology for engineering:

1. Admission to the engineering school (vs. liberal arts)
2. Choosing one of three main engineering disciplines: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering
3. Adding electives to choose specialization.

Also note that Computer Science is usually tied to the study of Mathematics, although there's more focus on programming and computing theory than, say, Applied Math students.