The personal computer industry began to take off in the 1970s, and things have come a very long way since then. In today’s world, computers are a huge part of everyday life, and many people work in jobs that rely on them. There are various types of IT career paths available, but it’s easy to get these mixed up with one another.
Software engineering and computer science are two good examples. Both can be great career paths, but people often don’t know which to choose. In this software engineering vs computer science guide, we’ll look at how these two fields compare so you can get a better idea of which one is right for you. Keep reading for more.
Table of contents
What Is Software Engineering?
Software engineering focuses on the principles and standards of engineering that are involved in designing, maintaining, testing, and evaluating computer software. People also often call this “computer programming”, “software design”, or “software development”. This is because the nature of software engineering typically requires a solid understanding of programming languages and principles of software design.
Software engineers sometimes perform quality assurance checks on software that’s currently in development or has recently been launched. They help ensure its efficiency and efficacy to determine if it’s suitable for its real-world application.
Software engineers are also sometimes familiar with theories surrounding software use. With that in mind, working with these theories usually doesn’t fall under the software engineering job description. It generally focuses more on constructing and testing theories about programming and operation.
What Is Computer Science?
Computer science is all about the study of computers and computational systems. Computer scientists typically theorize and calculate elements of software and software systems during the design and development stages.
On top of this, computer scientists sometimes study and work in areas focused on:
- Computer networks
- Security networks
- Security monitoring systems
- Machine intelligence
- Artificial intelligence
- Database systems
- Mathematical analysis
- User interaction
- Programming languages
- Computing and processing theories
In some cases, computer sciences will study principles of software engineering, which is usually the only characteristic that’s shared between the two fields.
Software Engineering vs Computer Science: The Key Differences
There are some shared qualities between these two information technology careers, but if you’re looking for one to pursue, it’s important to understand each of them in detail. Computer science and software engineering jobs can vary quite significantly, so you want to make sure you’re starting on the right path.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the key differences between these two careers.
Career Progression and Salary Expectations
Understanding the typical career trajectory and salary potential can help you decide which path aligns better with your aspirations.
- Software Engineering Career Path: You’ll likely start as a Junior Software Engineer, focusing on coding and debugging under the supervision of more experienced developers. With a few years of experience, you could advance to a Senior Software Engineer or Tech Lead, overseeing a team and making architectural decisions. Further down the road, roles like Engineering Manager, Software Architect, or even CTO (Chief Technology Officer) become attainable.
- Salary Expectations:
- Entry-level positions typically start around $70,000 to $90,000 per year in the U.S., while experienced engineers can earn well over $120,000. At the management or architect level, salaries often exceed $150,000.
- Salary Expectations:
- Computer Science Career Path: As a computer scientist, you might start as a Data Scientist, Systems Analyst, or Algorithm Developer. With experience, you can move into more specialized roles, such as Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher, or Cybersecurity Specialist. Academic or research-focused computer scientists may pursue roles in university research, private research labs, or R&D departments of major tech companies.
- Salary Expectations:
- Entry-level roles in computer science often start around $65,000 to $85,000. With specialized skills (e.g., AI or cybersecurity), experienced professionals can earn $130,000 to $150,000+. Research roles may also offer competitive salaries, particularly in cutting-edge fields.
- Salary Expectations:
Certifications and continuous learning play a significant role in career advancement for both paths, as technology trends shift rapidly.
Core Educational Studies
Whichever path you want to take, you need to pursue the right type of education. This is the first choice you’ll need to make before starting your career.
There are various core studies that computer science and software engineering share. While studying, however, the focus of each is different.
In computer science, students are more likely to do courses that center around computing, analysis, application, and data systems of computer software and programs. A software engineering student, on the other hand, will typically focus on applying these key principles to product design, performance, interplay, and other functional aspects of computer software.
To make things a bit clearer, you can think of computer science as learning about the science behind how computers work. Software engineering centers on taking the mathematical and scientific principles here and using them to design, build, and implement hardware and software programs.
Career Paths
It’s important to make the right choice at the start because both fields have different career paths. Whichever you choose to study and pursue will determine the kind of jobs you’re able to secure in the future.
Those who work in computer science tend to have a broad range of jobs in the IT industry they can aim for. This includes things such as computer programming for website design, IT support, game development, and more.
A software engineering career is typically more specialized. These jobs commonly involve developing and building applications and software programs for corporations, companies, and mid-sized businesses.
Common Tasks on the Job
In most cases, computer science jobs involve analyzing and monitoring the processes of computer applications (typically when they’re new or still in development). This can either be done as an independent contractor working with different companies, or as part of a software firm. They’re often responsible for data systems, security networks, and other crucial systems that an organization uses.
Software engineers may work for similar companies, but they’re unlikely to perform the same tasks. They’ll usually be focussing on designing and developing specific software programs that the organization needs to operate.
Hardware and Software Interaction
Computer scientists often deal with the interaction between hardware and software. This could be ensuring a specific program works with the appropriate hardware, for example.
Software engineers are far less likely to handle computer hardware. Their job is specifically related to designing, creating, testing, producing, and maintaining software programs.
Software Design
Both computer scientists and software engineers can deal with software design but in different ways. A computer scientist is likely to work with theories and algorithms based on how a program works, the best way to design it, and how to apply programming languages to it. They might also decide how a program should be built based on their use of computer languages and mathematical calculations.
Software engineers might use information and analysis from a computer scientist to design the framework for a specific piece of software. They may also build software using specific program requirements that they’re given.
Programming and Development
Computer science focuses on determining the best ways to create software. It also looks at finding suitable calculations that make it possible for developers and software engineers to create programs that meet the necessary requirements.
Software engineers work on the full development and construction of software programs and new frameworks. They do this using the outlines and analysis that computer scientists provide.
Engineering Concepts
The studies of computer scientists focus largely on mathematical engineering as it applies to computers and computing systems. They also learn about engineering principles and concepts along with software engineering studies.
Software engineering concentrates more on building entirely new frameworks that applications can run on. Computer science often touches on this, but software engineering looks more closely at how real-world engineering concepts are applied.
Scientific Theories
The scientific theories that computer science is based on relate to computer operations, computing and data systems, and how software is designed. These are about the theories behind computer operations.
Software engineering, on the other hand, uses these theories to help with the design and processes of building frameworks, software, and applications. Rather than looking at how these theories tie into computer operations, this involves applying these theories to create the required applications.
Product Management
Computer science looks at the complexity and algorithms of software and other data analytics. This can include things like the computational science of programming, user interaction, and the structures of visuals and graphics.
A software engineer will take an approach that includes the design process, application, evaluation, testing, and quality assurance checks for the relevant software programs.
Computer Coding
Both computer science and software engineering involve computer coding to some degree, but they focus on it in a different way. A computer scientist will typically consider how coding relates to computer languages. They may use coding to perform calculations and determine compatibility between hardware and software applications.
Software engineers have a much more in-depth focus on coding. They learn it to a high level so they can use it to help them design and develop software.
Skill Sets and Qualifications
While there is some overlap, the skill sets required for software engineering and computer science differ based on their focus and career demands. Here’s a closer look at what each path entails:
- Software Engineering Skills
- As a software engineer, you’ll need to be proficient in programming languages like Java, C++, Python, or JavaScript, depending on the type of projects you’ll work on. Understanding software development methodologies (like Agile or Scrum) is crucial, as these frameworks guide the process of designing and building software solutions. Additionally, a solid grasp of software testing, debugging, and version control tools (such as Git) is essential for maintaining code quality.
- Communication and teamwork are also vital since software engineers often collaborate with project managers, UX designers, and QA testers to deliver functional and user-friendly software. The ability to translate technical requirements into working code and explain complex technical concepts to non-technical team members can make a significant difference in project outcomes.
- Computer Science Skills
- Computer scientists need strong mathematical skills, especially in areas like discrete mathematics, linear algebra, and probability, which are often used in algorithm development. They should be comfortable with programming languages that support complex computations, such as R, C, Python, or Matlab. Additionally, expertise in data structures, algorithms, and computational theory forms the backbone of computer science work, enabling the design of efficient solutions for challenging problems.
- Analytical thinking is critical in computer science, as it involves breaking down complex problems into manageable components and developing algorithms to solve them. Collaboration is still important, but computer scientists often work more independently, focusing on research and problem-solving rather than direct software development.
In both fields, continuous learning is essential, as technology evolves rapidly. Staying updated on new programming languages, frameworks, and emerging technologies is necessary to remain competitive.
Challenges and Rewards of Each Career
Both fields offer exciting opportunities but come with unique challenges.
- Software Engineering: Building Solutions, Fast-Paced Work
- The rewarding aspect of software engineering is seeing your work come to life in applications used by millions of people. You’ll have the chance to solve real-world problems and create products that have a direct impact. However, the field can be fast-paced, with tight deadlines and constant updates, requiring quick problem-solving and adaptability. The demand for continuous improvement and debugging can lead to burnout if not managed properly.
- Computer Science: Delving into Complex Problems, Intellectual Fulfillment
- Computer science offers the satisfaction of working on complex, intellectually stimulating problems that push the boundaries of what technology can do. Whether it’s developing new algorithms for AI or solving challenging cryptographic puzzles, there’s a sense of fulfillment in advancing the theoretical limits of computing. However, the work can be isolating and highly abstract, with long hours spent on research or working with theoretical concepts that may not yield immediate results.
Both fields allow you to make a significant impact on technology, but the nature of that impact differs—one being more hands-on, and the other more conceptual.
Choosing Your Focus
Even with all of this information, it can still be difficult to decide how you want to proceed. There are a few things you can do to make your decision easier.
Examining your interests is perhaps the most important part of your decision, as it’s best to pursue a career you’re interested in. If you’re more interested in computer systems and how software and hardware work together, computer science may be the right choice. If you’d rather get into hands-on and real-world applications, software development could be more suitable.
You should think about the hands-on nature of software engineering and if you’d like to work on the creation and assessment of software. Software engineers are usually given specifications to meet and these guide their work. Computer scientists may instead offer strategies and effective ways to create a program.
It could be a good idea to consider computer science as a starting point to enter the IT industry. You can potentially move from here to software engineering further down the line if it’s what you decide you want.
Coding Temple’s Offerings for Each Career Path
At Coding Temple, we offer specialized programs designed to prepare you for success in both software engineering and computer science.
- Software Engineering Program
- Our program focuses on full-stack development, covering languages like Python, JavaScript, and frameworks such as React and Node.js. You’ll gain hands-on experience with version control, unit testing, and Agile methodologies, equipping you with the skills needed to build robust software solutions. The curriculum includes real-world projects, ensuring that you graduate with a portfolio that stands out.
- Computer Science Program
- For those more interested in computer science, we offer courses that dive into algorithm design, data structures, AI, and machine learning. You’ll learn the foundations of computational theory and work on complex problems, preparing you for roles that require deep analytical thinking. The program also covers data science tools like R, Python, and TensorFlow, allowing you to explore fields such as data analysis and machine learning.
Both programs provide career support, mock interviews, and job placement assistance, boasting high job placement rates. Our deferred payment options make starting a new career more accessible, allowing you to enroll with $0 upfront and pay after landing a job.
