Computer Hardware Engineer

[Boinbo]

Hello.

I'm 13 years old, and I want to pursue a career in Computer Hardware Engineering specifically. By some research, I've determined getting a Master's in Computer engineering and a Bachelor's in computer science would be my best option, correct me if I'm wrong of course. My question is, is there a way I can do those degrees now, online, for free, at home? Or if not, where can I learn the basics of what is learned in those degrees? 

 

TL;DR: 13 year old wants to become a computer hardware engineer, wants to know what degrees to get, and how to learn them at home online for free.

 

Thanks, 

   Boinbo

[Boinbo]

Just now, James Evens said:

No.  Read the books and "skip" the first terms later on.

What do you mean by read the books? And what first terms later on? Can you elaborate on your answer please? Because I feel like not all my questions have been answered.

[Theguywhobea]

Stay in school. A less than 16 year old cannot really pursue a masters in Computer Engineering online and for free. Just stay in school and pay attention for now

[Boinbo]

On 7/23/2019 at 8:05 PM, Theguywhobea said:

-snip-

AIght then. Is there any way I can get an early headstart though? I'm really passionate about it, but I know that it's hard to become one.

[Mira Yurizaki]

Do you have a competent grasp of higher level math like trigonometry and pre-calculus topics? Calculus play a huge role in the courses you have to take.

 

From there you'll likely take physics and electrical engineering. And it's a lot more than just knowing formulas. 

[Guest]

Ok... Go to Makers Fairs, play around with Arduino's, get some old computers and open the beasts insides, look, poke, watch youtube videos.

 

To be a hardware engineer you need to understand how things work, you need knowledge in circuitry, in electricity, in materials conductivity and resistance, physics and some chemistry, calculus etc. That's why the job description says "engineer".

you need also to understand how programming works, so frankly, at your level, play with arduino's, lego technics and so on. EXPERIMENT!

You can do some wonderful things with just that. And work hard in high school.

[- A -]

I'll be upfront. I'm an upcoming college student who is about to take up computer engineering. And boy oh boy am I intimidated by the subject I'm taking. There's Engineering Math and Calculus (AGAIN) and from the looks of it, we'll have our thesis by 3rd year.

The basics? Well you need A LOT of math to review on. First off, from your Pre-algebra to Algebra II and Pre-calculus. I heard that the subjects in Computer Engineering involve logic and defining values because of the programming languages that you'll later learn on the 2nd year.

But what do I know, it might be different on your country compared to mine. So explore your options about the basics.

oh, and you can do it. Just do your math properly and you'll be alright. Chemistry is another.

[Mira Yurizaki]

To add to my post and @This is a DIsplay Name's post, when I was in school, programming played second fiddle in courses related to my major. Like I had maybe one class per semester that was programming related or involved programming. The rest were math/physics/EE related (and a GE for good measure).

 

The first three or so years of CompE is hard at least where I took it. Then again I can't imagine it being easier anywhere else.

Edited July 24, 2019 by Mira Yurizaki

[harryk]

6 hours ago, Cora_Lie said:

Ok... Go to Makers Fairs, play around with Arduino's, get some old computers and open the beasts insides, look, poke, watch youtube videos.

Absolutely 

 

At 13 the best thing would be an Arduino kit. Start with the tutorials, learn how to program and wire basic circuits, then move on to designing and building your own projects. Your school may have related clubs, if not start them. There are plenty of coding and robotics leagues for students that host contests and challenges. When it comes to college applications showing off your cool projects will go further than just grades. Not to say grades don't matter, but at a certain level everyone has good grades so your other skills and accomplishments will make you stand out and hopefully score a nice scholarship.

[Boinbo]

18 hours ago, Theguywhobea said:

 

 

18 hours ago, James Evens said:

 

 

17 hours ago, Mira Yurizaki said:

 

 

10 hours ago, Garretjacob said:

 

 

8 hours ago, Cora_Lie said:

 

 

3 hours ago, This is a DIsplay Name said:

 

 

1 hour ago, harryk said:

 

Thanks for all the help guys! So what I've gathered from this, is:

- Use this thing called Arduino's (A kit?)

- Get a grasp on trigonometry and calculus

- Know some basic programming (What languages?)

- Experiment myself

- Take CE, and other courses like CS and ES for good measure

Please correct anything in missing out. Again, thanks!

[Mira Yurizaki]

1 minute ago, Boinbo said:

Thanks for all the help guys! So what I've gathered from this, is:

- Use this thing called Arduino's (A kit?)

Yes it's a kit. But you don't have to get an Arduino. There are plenty of kits from microcontroller manufacturers like NXP, STMicro, Atmel, and the like.

 

A pre-configured Raspberry Pi might be a good option to look at too.

1 minute ago, Boinbo said:

- Know some basic programming (What languages?)

Language doesn't matter. If you can grasp the basics of programming, it'll carry with you regardless of what language you use.

 

But if you're not happy with that answer: Python or C.

 

1 minute ago, Boinbo said:

- Take CE, and other courses like CS and ES for good measure

You likely won't find anything similar to this in high school unless you somehow get into a college. Focus more on math and science, particularly physics, and take AP courses whenever you can.

[Guest]

Just my 2 cents: You got it wrong ^o^

Have some FUN!

Be CURIOUS!

Find something you want to build!

Gather the information and the ressources to do it!

Do that with other people (emulation) together!

 

But most importantly: have some funm doing it!

 

If you don't you're going to burn yourself pout and your dream will become your nightmare.

[Boinbo]

@Mira YurizakiYurizaki when you say C do you mean CSS? And in highschool focus on math and physics?

 

5 hours ago, Cora_Lie said:

Just my 2 cents: You got it wrong ^o^

Have some FUN!

Be CURIOUS!

Find something you want to build!

Gather the information and the ressources to do it!

Do that with other people (emulation) together!

 

But most importantly: have some funm doing it!

 

If you don't you're going to burn yourself pout and your dream will become your nightmare.

ReeDeEee!!! Lol got it, I'll make sure to have fun

 

[Mira Yurizaki]

6 minutes ago, Boinbo said:

@Mira YurizakiYurizaki when you say C do you mean CSS?

C as in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(programming_language)

 

6 minutes ago, Boinbo said:

And in highschool focus on math and physics?

Yes. High schools are unlikely to provide anything specific related to the Computer Engineering major. That isn't to say there will never be something like say a programming class, but until those opportunities show up, stick with those two subjects.

[Guest]

I don't know if you're really where you stated you are (lat. & long.), but I found this :

https://tampahackerspace.com

 

 

[Boinbo]

1 minute ago, Cora_Lie said:

I don't know if you're really where you stated you are (lat. & long.), but I found this :

https://tampahackerspace.com

 

 

I've recently moved to plainsboro new jersey, should've updated, sorry

[Guest]

Wherever you are, you know what to look for ^o^ a Makers Fair, a Hackerspace, etc.

[Boinbo]

19 minutes ago, Cora_Lie said:

Wherever you are, you know what to look for ^o^ a Makers Fair, a Hackerspace, etc.

Kk

[Boinbo]

2 hours ago, Heimdallr said:

Your best route would actually be a BSE in Electrical/Computer Engineering and not Comp Sci

Ye I'm aware.of that, but what's bse

[dalekphalm]

On 7/23/2019 at 8:59 PM, Boinbo said:

Hello.

I'm 13 years old, and I want to pursue a career in Computer Hardware Engineering specifically. By some research, I've determined getting a Master's in Computer engineering and a Bachelor's in computer science would be my best option, correct me if I'm wrong of course. My question is, is there a way I can do those degrees now, online, for free, at home? Or if not, where can I learn the basics of what is learned in those degrees? 

 

TL;DR: 13 year old wants to become a computer hardware engineer, wants to know what degrees to get, and how to learn them at home online for free.

 

Thanks, 

   Boinbo

When you say you want to be a "Computer Hardware Engineer", what do you really mean by that? Describe what you think you'd be doing with such a job? Because this can go one of two directions.

 

A computer engineer generally has a focus on both computer programming, as well as electronics theory.

 

So if you want a head start, start learning a programming language. I'd suggest Visual BASIC or Java or Python as a starter. Take some online courses. Once you're pretty familiar with one of those, move on to C (any variant, C, C++, C#, etc - C++ and C# are likely the most useful these days).

 

You also want to start learning electrical theory - that's your basics of AC and DC, voltage, circuit analysis, etc.

 

In terms of getting a degree, you'll need to go to University for that. You can take University classes online (not necessarily every class, but many of them), but you'll have to take the exams in person. Also, it won't be free (depending on where you live). If you live in the US, it'll cost you tens of thousands of dollars (or more). If you find a free Online Degree, it's worthless and fake (Note: Some Europeans have access to free university - but even there, it would be mostly in person).

 

In terms of schooling, you're 13. You must be just going into Grade 9 at best. Make it through High School first. If your school offers computer classes, take as many as you can. Especially programming. If your school offers electronics classes (learning electrical theory, learning soldering, learning PCB design, etc), take those too.

 

Once you're partway through High School, start looking at Universities, and the programs they offer. Find ones that interest you, and learn the requirements (What classes you need to be eligible). Study and get good grades, and you won't have a problem getting accepted into a University.

[dalekphalm]

21 hours ago, Boinbo said:

@Mira YurizakiYurizaki when you say C do you mean CSS? And in highschool focus on math and physics?

C and CSS are two different, largely unrelated things.

 

C is a programming language. It has several derivatives (C++, C#, etc).

 

CSS is kind of a programming language, but not really. It stands for Cascading Style Sheets, and is heavily important to how modern HTML and web development takes place. CSS is where you define styles and how various things inside a website will look. You define them in the CSS (The "Style Sheet"), and then you reference those styles in the HTML itself.

 

This is important because it allows you to minimize the amount of needed HTML in any one HTML page - it also prevents you from writing the same duplicate code dozens or hundreds of times.

 

CSS isn't bad to learn, if you're going to learn about HTML - in fact, it's crucial. But I'd say learning HTML - while useful - is not a requirement if you intend on going into Computer Engineering. It could be useful, and won't hurt, but isn't mandatory.

[Gmoneyinthebank]

MIT has a lot of their course infomation for free online and lot's of online lectures.  

https://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm

 

Yale Opencourses

https://oyc.yale.edu/

 

 

[BuckGup]

On a side note it's sad someone has to go to the internet to have strangers explain their future career goals. Almost like every school should have a paid position that's suppose to do this. Oh wait

[dalekphalm]

9 minutes ago, BuckGup said:

On a side note it's sad someone has to go to the internet to have strangers explain their future career goals. Almost like every school should have a paid position that's suppose to do this. Oh wait

I imagine not every school actually has a Guidance Councilor. Nor does that mean the person would know about every career option.

 

Granted, this was a long time ago, but my guidance councilor was the gym teacher, and he wouldn't have known jack shit about what I should do to prep for InfoTech.

[Guest]

41 minutes ago, BuckGup said:

On a side note it's sad someone has to go to the internet to have strangers explain their future career goals. Almost like every school should have a paid position that's suppose to do this. Oh wait

I think on the contrary that what he did is a very good thing.

 

At 13yo he went on a board/forum with people with all sorts of backgrounds but obviously tech oriented to ask for some advice.

And even more so, he listens and thinks about it.

 

I say kuddos to him.