BU CompE vs. CS (Courses & Career Outlook)
At Boston University, Computer Engineering (CompE) is the more hardware-and-engineering-focused path; Computer Science (CS) centers on computing, software, and theory. Both can lead to technology careers, and some roles overlap. Compare BU’s current degree plans, prerequisites, and net cost, then choose based on the work you want to learn to do—not the degree label alone.
If you are choosing between BU CompE and CS, the hard part may not be deciding whether you like computers. It is working out whether you want to understand how computing systems are built, how software works, or both. That distinction affects your courses, workload, and options for projects and internships.
I find it useful to start with a specific question: Would you rather spend more time on circuits and devices, or on programming, algorithms, and software? Your answer need not settle your whole career. It can help you choose a starting curriculum and identify what to test through courses and projects.
BU Computer Engineering vs. Computer Science: Program Structure and Admissions
BU’s B.S. in Computer Engineering is offered through the College of Engineering. Computer Science is offered through the College of Arts & Sciences, with degree options and requirements set by the current BU catalog. The programs sit in different schools, so compare their official plans and confirm school-change rules before you apply or transfer.
BU is accredited institutionally by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Institutional accreditation applies to BU as a whole; it does not mean every program has separate accreditation. ABET lists BU’s B.S. in Computer Engineering through its Engineering Accreditation Commission. Check ABET’s current program search for the listing and the graduation years it covers.
Admission and choosing a school
Admission to BU is competitive and holistic. BU does not publish a guaranteed GPA or test-score cutoff for first-year admission, so online numbers or past student profiles should not be treated as a promise. Review BU Admissions for the policy, requirements, and deadlines that apply to your entry term.
Your application choice matters because CompE and CS belong to different schools. Before applying, check whether your intended school or major can be changed after enrollment, and whether that change has limits or a separate review. Transfer applicants should also ask how prior courses will count.
A practical first step is to review the BU Academic Bulletin for both programs in the catalog year that applies to you. If a course appears to fit both degrees, do not assume it will count toward both. Ask the relevant school or academic advisor for approval, preferably in writing.
Curriculum, Prerequisites, Credits, and Degree Requirements
CompE connects computing to engineering. Its coursework typically includes circuits, digital systems, computer architecture, and embedded systems, along with programming and mathematics. CS focuses more on computation, programming, algorithms, and software systems. Exact courses, credits, prerequisites, and electives can change by catalog year, so the BU degree plan is the authority.
| Area | BU Computer Engineering | BU Computer Science |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Hardware and software working together | Computation, software, and algorithms |
| Common subject areas | Circuits, digital systems, architecture, embedded systems | Programming, discrete math, algorithms, software and computing systems |
| Math and science | Engineering math and science sequence; check current plan | Math and computing requirements; check current plan |
| Best fit to explore | Devices, processors, sensors, embedded computing | Software, data, algorithms, computing systems |
| Degree | B.S. in Computer Engineering | Review the current BU catalog for available CS degree options |
| Planning caution | Engineering prerequisites can form a linked sequence | Course order and requirements depend on the selected CS plan |
How to compare the course plans
Start with required courses, not just the electives that sound exciting. A course list shows where each program spends time and what must come first. A prerequisite is a course or skill you need before taking a later class; a chain of prerequisites can affect how easily you change direction.
For CompE, map the required math, science, and engineering courses alongside the computing sequence. For CS, map programming, discrete mathematics, algorithms, and upper-level electives. Then mark courses that interest you and note how many required courses lead toward them.
Do not compare programs by total credits alone. Check the required sequence, capstone or design work, and electives. Course substitutions across BU schools are not automatic. Ask an advisor to confirm how a specific course will apply to your degree audit before you rely on it.
A simple fit check
Use these questions to test your first impression:
- Do you want to learn how a computer processes information at the hardware level, or focus more on the programs and methods that use it?
- Would circuits, digital logic, or embedded devices make you curious, or feel like a detour?
- Do you enjoy turning a problem into code, and then improving the design or speed of that code?
- Are you open to taking engineering and science requirements, even if your long-term goal is software?
These are clues, not a test. CS students can pursue low-level systems work, and CompE students can build substantial software skills. The required curriculum differs, but projects and electives can add breadth.
Academic Success, Advising, and Student Experience
Success in either program depends on steady work in math and programming, but the mix of required subjects differs. CompE students should prepare for an engineering sequence that includes hardware-related study. CS students should expect a structured path through programming and core computing topics. Review prerequisites early and use advising to confirm your plan.
Illustrative student scenarios
These are examples, not reports of specific BU students. They show how a goal can point toward a course plan, while leaving room for overlap.
- Maya is curious about smart devices. She wants to work on sensors and the code that controls them. CompE may give her a more direct required foundation in hardware and embedded systems. She should still check the current plan and seek relevant projects.
- Eli enjoys building apps and solving coding challenges. He is more interested in software design and algorithms than in circuits. CS may better match his course interests, while systems electives or projects could help him explore how software interacts with hardware.
- Jordan is undecided. Jordan likes both fields but has not tried either beyond a short coding project. Comparing first-year requirements, talking with both schools, and trying a beginner project may provide more useful evidence than choosing by job title.
Plan for workload, school rules, and cost
Before you commit to a sequence, check prerequisites semester by semester. Ask an advisor which courses are offered when you need them, what happens if you need to repeat a course, and whether switching schools could add time. These details can affect graduation timing more than the degree name.
Compare the full cost, not tuition alone. BU’s published tuition is only one part of attendance costs; housing, fees, books, travel, and personal expenses also matter. Use BU Financial Assistance’s net price estimate tools and confirm any aid renewal rules, including academic progress requirements. A lower estimated cost can change which path is practical for you.
Career Pathways, Skills, and Employment Outcomes
CompE aligns naturally with work that joins hardware and software, such as embedded systems, computer architecture, or hardware-related engineering. CS aligns broadly with software engineering, systems, data, and other computing work. Neither degree guarantees a job or salary. Skills, experience, location, and role requirements also matter.
| If you want to explore… | A useful starting point | What else to build |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded devices or hardware–software integration | CompE courses in digital systems and embedded computing, if required or available | A project using a microcontroller or sensor; team design experience |
| General software development | CS programming and software courses, or relevant coursework in either degree | Tested code, team projects, internship experience |
| Operating systems or computer architecture | Relevant CS or CompE systems courses | Projects that show how software and hardware interact |
| Data-focused roles | CS courses in algorithms and data-related topics, where offered | Statistics, practical data work, and clear project documentation |
The table is a guide to areas of study, not a promise that a degree alone qualifies you for a specific job. Read job postings for roles you may want. Note the tools, skills, and experience they ask for, then compare those with BU courses and opportunities to build projects.
For labor-market context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes job outlook and wage data by occupation. Those figures describe broad occupations, not BU graduates or a direct comparison of BU CompE and CS. I would not use national salary averages to claim that one BU degree pays more. Check the occupation definitions, date, and location behind any statistic you use.
How to choose and act on your decision
Use a short process to turn a broad interest into a degree plan:
- Name the work you want to try. For example, “write software for a service” or “build code that runs on a device” is more useful than “work in tech.”
- Compare required courses. Use the correct BU catalog year and note prerequisites, labs, design work, and electives.
- Test the subject. Try an introductory programming task, a basic electronics activity, or a relevant campus project. A small experience can reveal what you enjoy.
- Ask about switching. Contact the appropriate school about transfer credit, internal change rules, and degree timing before relying on a possible later switch.
- Compare net cost and aid. Include living costs and verify renewal requirements.
- Recheck with an advisor. Confirm the plan against your degree audit before registering.
If you are a high school student, prepare for calculus and programming where possible, but do not treat prior coding experience as a BU admissions cutoff. If you are a current student, ask which courses can help you explore without delaying required prerequisites. In either case, use the current official plan rather than an old course list.
Conclusion and Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing between BU CompE and CS is mainly a choice about the work and coursework you want to emphasize. CompE provides a more engineering-centered route into hardware–software systems; CS provides a more direct focus on computing and software. Both can support overlapping careers, especially when your electives, projects, and experience fit the role.
Before deciding, verify the catalog year, course sequence, school-change rules, and net cost. The best choice is the one whose required work fits your interests and whose plan you can complete with informed support.
Is BU Computer Engineering a B.S.?
Yes. BU lists its Computer Engineering program as a B.S. through the College of Engineering. Confirm the current program details in the BU Academic Bulletin.
Is BU Computer Science a B.A. or a B.S.?
Check the current BU catalog for the CS degree options and requirements that apply to your school and entry year. Do not rely on an older catalog or a general description of CS degrees.
Which is harder at BU, CompE or CS?
There is no single answer. CompE includes engineering and hardware-focused coursework, while CS emphasizes computing and software topics. Difficulty depends on your strengths, preparation, and interest in the required subjects.
Can CompE students become software engineers?
Yes, that is a possible path. Relevant programming courses, projects, internships, and technical skills can help prepare students for software roles. Check job requirements and build experience that matches them.
Can CS students work on hardware-related systems?
They can pursue systems-related work, especially with relevant courses and projects. For roles centered on circuits or hardware design, review the job’s technical requirements and compare them with the CompE curriculum.
Is BU’s Computer Engineering program ABET-accredited?
ABET lists BU’s B.S. in Computer Engineering through its Engineering Accreditation Commission. Verify the current listing and the graduation years it covers in ABET’s program search.
Does BU require a set GPA or test score for admission?
BU does not publish a guaranteed GPA or test-score cutoff for first-year admission. Review the current admissions policy and profile for context; neither should be treated as a promised threshold.
Can I switch from CompE to CS, or from CS to CompE?
A change may involve school-specific rules, course availability, and degree progress. Ask the relevant BU school how a transfer would work before assuming courses will substitute or that a switch is guaranteed.
Which degree has better job prospects or pay?
Neither degree guarantees better employment or pay. Compare the skills for your target roles, then use BLS occupational data for broad context. BLS figures are not BU-specific comparisons.
How should I compare the cost of the two paths?
Use BU’s net price estimate and include tuition, fees, housing, travel, and personal costs. Check financial aid renewal terms and ask whether a change of school could affect your time to degree.
Which BU sources should I check first?
Start with BU Admissions for application rules, the BU Academic Bulletin for degree requirements, BU Financial Assistance for cost and aid, NECHE for institutional accreditation, and ABET for the CompE program listing.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Michael Harrington. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
