Computer science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their application in computer systems. The study programme for computer engineering - the discipline is also called electronic and computer engineering or computer systems engineering - combines both electrical engineering and computer science. It involves studying the design of digital hardware and software systems. B.Tech programme in computer science and the MCA programme, to an extent, stress on problem solving paradigms rather than the use of specific software like Excel and PowerPoint. The emphasis is on comprehending the principles behind creating such complex software.
This course is concerned with theoretical and engineering aspects of computer architecture, system and application software, computer networks, VLSI, internet technology and applications. Adequate emphasis is also given to programming, algorithm design and analysis, formal languages and automata theory, and theoretical computer science. Computer Engineering is a discipline encompassing electronic engineering and computer science. This hybrid of electronic engineering and computer science allows the computer engineer to work on both software and hardware and to integrate the two Computer engineers are involved on all aspects of computing, from the design of individual microprocessors, personal computers and supercomputers to the integration of computer systems into other kinds of systems (a motor vehicle, for example, has a number of subsystems that are computer and digitally oriented). Electronic equipment today relies very heavily on computer technology and so electronic engineers and computer engineers may work together to design and manufacture electronic equipment which requires both hardware and software design. Common Computer Engineering tasks include writing embedded software for real-time micro controllers, designing VLSI chips, working with analog sensors, designing mixed signal circuit boards ad designing operating systems.
Computer Engineering will draw an increasing number of students who have an interest in the design of computer hardware and software. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by the year 2005, computer engineering will become the second largest engineering field.
The average salary for fresh computer science engineers from good institutes is about Rs. 4.5 lakh - Rs. 6 Lakh per annum. Candidates typically start as trainees or development engineers and then move to be design engineer, senior design engineer, (sometimes she/he might become architect and chief architect), project leader, (she/he might become business unit head) and then CTO, when the pay can range from Rs. 20 Lakh - Rs. 30 Lakh a Year.
Take science with maths at Plus two level. You need to clear a written test to get into a Bachelor's programme in CSE at the IITs or institutions like the National Institutes of Technology. If you can't get into a UG programme in CSE at an IIT, then you could try for the IITs M.Tech for which entry is not as competitive.