Computer engineering (CE) students study the design of digital hardware and software systems including communications systems, computers and devices that contain computers. For them, programming is focused on digital devices and their interfaces with users and other devices.
Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, test, and oversee the installation of computer hardware and supervise its manufacture and installation. Hardware refers to computer chips, circuit boards, computer systems, and related equipment such as keyboards, modems, and printers.
Computer engineering majors are offered by a fairly large number of universities, almost always within engineering. This major requires significant study of mathematics. The work of computer hardware engineers is very similar to that of electronics engineers, but, unlike electronics engineers, computer hardware engineers work exclusively with computers and computer-related equipment. The rapid advances in computer technology are largely a result of the research, development, and design efforts of computer hardware engineers.