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• Computer Science vs. Software Engineering

Computer Science vs. Software Engineering

A question that is often asked of us is the difference between Computer Science and Software Engineering.

The following table summarizes some key characteristics of the two disciplines:

	Computer Science	Software Engineering
Key goal	Provide the basic science of computing hardware and software.	Build effective software systems using a rigorous engineering approach.
Primary focus	Study of the theoretical foundations of computation and their implementation and application in computer systems.	Application of a systematic, disciplined, and quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software
Common curricular components	Programming fundamentals Basic computer science theory
Distinguishing curricular content	Choice of advanced CS topics Systems Networking Database Artificial intelligence Computing theory SE content Generally 1-2 courses at most	SE fundamentals Software design and architecture Requirements analysis and specification Verification and validation Quality assurance Software engineering process Teamwork and project management CS content Required advanced CS courses Technical electives

 

The field of software engineering grew out of computer science, to meet the needs of organizations and professionals faced with the challenge of building ever more complex and critical computer systems. Computer science continues to provide a solid foundation for understanding and innovation in computer systems, while software engineering combines the results of computer science inquiry with the engineering methods and practices. Software engineers are thus prepared to conceive, implement, and enhance the complex software systems that are so important to industry and society, while delivering cost-effective, high-quality solutions in predictable manner.

Since undergraduate software engineering programs are relatively new, only a small number have been accredited in the United States. The graph below shows the approximate number of accredited programs in Computer Science (CS), Computer Engineering (CE), Electrical Engineering (EE) and Software Engineering (SE), as of May 2008.

You can find more about the various computing careers, including Computer Science and Software Engineering here.