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Studies & Degrees in Computer Systems Engineering

Computer systems engineering, often simply called computer engineering, is the branch of engineering that deals with the computer as a whole: the electronic hardware, the software that runs on it, and the way the two are made to work together. It sits between electrical engineering and computer science. Arizona State University describes its degree in the subject as focused on the analysis, design, testing, integration and evaluation of hardware and software systems.

Students start with mathematics, physics, programming and digital electronics. They then study computer architecture, digital circuits, operating systems, networking, embedded and distributed systems and, increasingly, cybersecurity. Laboratory work is a large part of the course: building and testing circuits, programming microprocessors and integrating components into a working system. The old picture of the field as designing processors for personal computers is now too narrow. Much of the work concerns embedded systems, the small computers inside vehicles, machines, medical devices and phones.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. This is the usual entry qualification. In the United States, the Computer Systems Engineering BSE at Arizona State University has 120 credit hours. Tennessee Tech University teaches a BS in Computer Engineering aimed at the design of both the hardware and the software of computers and computer-based systems, with an optional concentration in hardware and system security.
  • Spain. Official bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240 ECTS credits. Computer engineering appears as Ingeniería de Computadores, one of the specialisations defined for informatics degrees: graduates must be able to design and build digital systems, including computers, microprocessor-based systems and communication systems, and to develop embedded systems and their software. The Universidad de Málaga lists a Grado en Ingeniería de Computadores of 240 ECTS credits over four years, taught in Spanish and English. Its page currently marks the degree as being phased out ("en proceso de extinción"), so applicants should check the university's current list of informatics degrees.
  • Latin America. The Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá teaches Ingeniería de Sistemas y Computación in eight semesters. The university presents it as the oldest informatics degree in Colombia, founded in 1967.
  • Master's degree. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Arizona State offers its bachelor's degree as an accelerated programme together with an MS in Computer Engineering (Computer Systems). Málaga points its graduates to master's degrees such as the Máster Universitario de Ingeniería del Software e Inteligencia Artificial.

Accreditation is a useful check. In the United States it is voluntary; the degrees at Arizona State and at the Universidad de los Andes are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, and the Málaga degree holds the European EURO-INF quality label.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 11 active schools for computer systems engineering: three in Spain, three in the United Kingdom, two in the United States and one each in Estonia, Denmark and Colombia.

  • Spain: the Universidad de Málaga, the Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona and the private training centre CENEC Málaga.
  • United Kingdom: the University of Kent, the University of Sunderland and London Metropolitan University.
  • United States: Tennessee Tech University and Arizona State University.
  • Elsewhere: Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), VIA University College in Denmark and the Universidad de los Andes in Colombia.

The language of instruction depends on the country: English in the UK and the US, Spanish in Málaga and Bogotá. Do not assume English in northern Europe: the TalTech bachelor's programme in Hardware Development and Programming, in its Computer and Systems Engineering area, is taught in Estonian. Programme names also vary (computer engineering, computer systems engineering, electronic and computer engineering), so compare course lists and not titles.

Careers

Graduates design hardware, embedded systems and communication networks, write low-level software, test and integrate systems, or move into IT management and technical consulting. The Universidad de Málaga lists hardware and network designer, embedded systems, head of IT, technical consultant and researcher among the roles for its graduates.

In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics counted about 76,100 computer hardware engineers in 2025. Semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing was the largest employer, with 24 percent of jobs. It projects employment to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 4,100 openings a year. Many graduates work under other job titles, such as software developer or network engineer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between computer systems engineering and computer science?

Computer science concentrates on software, algorithms and data. Computer systems engineering adds electronics and hardware, and looks at how hardware and software work together in a complete system.

How long does the degree take?

It depends on the country. An official bachelor's degree in Spain has 240 ECTS credits over four years; the Arizona State degree has 120 US credit hours; the Universidad de los Andes programme lasts eight semesters.

Which subjects do I need at school?

Mathematics and science. The Bureau of Labor Statistics advises students who plan a computer or electrical engineering major to have a solid background in both, and notes that familiarity with programming is helpful.

Can I study computer systems engineering in English outside the UK and the US?

Sometimes, but check each programme. The Málaga degree uses Spanish and English, while the TalTech bachelor's programme mentioned above is taught in Estonian.