CS: Computer Science
CE: Computer Engineering

How do they differ?

The two programs are indeed similar, in that students in both programs study essential topics in programming and software development. The fundamental difference between the two programs arises from the difference between science and engineering. The word "Science" means knowledge or learning. It ultimately derives from the Latin word meaning "to know." The word "Engineering" derives from the Latin word that means to contrive. Thus, the operational difference starts with the requirement that Computer Engineering students have a sound understanding of circuits, electronics, and VLSI design which are vital to the actual construction of modem computers, while Computer Science students study topics in algorithms, computability, and programming languages which form the foundations of advanced programming and knowing how to compute.