Science vs Engineering (Score 1)

In my experience as a chemical engineer, I find that engineers focus more on applications problems and scientists focus more on theoretical problems. There is a very close interplay between the two. It is said that engineers prefer to look things up (equations, solutions, etc) while scientists would rather derive things from the basics. This application to computer science would make me think that CSs would focus on new algorithms, programming languages, limits and design of new architectures for computers, whereas CEs will use these use current methods to solve some sort of application problem. I believe that in an engineer's work you will most likely be focused on some sort of product whether it is a hardware application or software. Whereas for scientists you may be more focused on software or theoretical work. Most of the CSs I know are doing programming or sysadmin type work. But that is at the BS level. Beyond the BSCS level, I know of people with PhDs from UW that are working on design of new chip technologies designing the architecture, compilers, and software support that make the chip work. I think in general that as a BS in any engineering field you can expect to be at the bottom of the barrel as far as design goes. You will more likely be doing the grunt work than doing the high level design. It is at the PhD level where companies are interested in your talents in designing their products. Not true in every case...just a generalization. Hope this helps.