A Study of the Distinctive and Overlapping Features of Computer Science and Computer Engineering in Ghana | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article A Study of the Distinctive and Overlapping Features of Computer Science and Computer Engineering in Ghana Selorm Kofi Tagbo, Franco Osei-Wusu, Anthony Ayi Bae, Samuel Kwasi Yeboah, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7576436/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The distinctions between Computer Science (CS) and Computer Engineering (CE) have become increasingly significant as technology evolves and academic disciplines expand. Although both fields share foundational knowledge in their curricula, they diverge considerably in areas such as focus, course content, and career outcomes. This study employs a mixed-method survey approach on 226 males and 210 females to collect data and analyze the roles and relevance of each discipline by examining their historical development, areas of overlap, and the career opportunities they offer within the Ghanaian context using Chi-Square test. By formulating clear hypotheses, the research aims to support prospective students, industry professionals, and educational policymakers in making informed decisions regarding academic pathways and career planning in the computing field. Findings indicate that over 89% of respondents hold the view that Computer Science was introduced into Ghana’s education system long before Computer Engineering. Computer Science Computer Engineering Information Technology Algorithm Career Pathways Technical Education Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7576436","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":549254902,"identity":"70452fbb-953b-4771-a04a-c5b2a9884fb8","order_by":0,"name":"Selorm Kofi Tagbo","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABAklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFAC5gYog4eB4QOEZQDEB/BoYQRrkQBpYZxBshZmHmK0yLc3Nj6uzGGo4+9fe/CxTc1huwb25m0SDL/u4NRicOZgs+HZbQwSEjfeJRvnHDuc3MBzrEyCse8Zbi0SiW2SjUAtDDfOmEnnNhxOZpDIMZNg7DmM22HzH0K0yIO0WIK0yL/Br4XhBiNEi8H5HjNpxobDdgwSPGYSDD9wazE4k9hs2LhNQnLjDb5kw55j6QlsPGnFFokNeBzWfvjgw8ZtNvxy588efPCjxtqen/3wxhsf/uBxGAQAo0UiAcxKbEOQhAD/ATBlD+H9IUbLKBgFo2AUjBAAAI9rV8JaUadFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Catholic University College of Ghana","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Selorm","middleName":"Kofi","lastName":"Tagbo","suffix":""},{"id":549254903,"identity":"a36ed2cc-1391-4ac6-9b9e-2e26e3700ffd","order_by":1,"name":"Franco Osei-Wusu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Franco","middleName":"","lastName":"Osei-Wusu","suffix":""},{"id":549254904,"identity":"cd8ed215-c649-487f-afff-56d5f3a08766","order_by":2,"name":"Anthony Ayi Bae","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"UENR","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Anthony","middleName":"Ayi","lastName":"Bae","suffix":""},{"id":549254905,"identity":"a868efec-c8ce-4982-8a4c-12ac84db011a","order_by":3,"name":"Samuel Kwasi Yeboah","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"UENR","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Samuel","middleName":"Kwasi","lastName":"Yeboah","suffix":""},{"id":549254906,"identity":"f21a41e8-7b13-47ef-a563-e45116612482","order_by":4,"name":"Obed Appiah","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Energy and Natural Resources","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Obed","middleName":"","lastName":"Appiah","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-09-09 18:23:20","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7576436/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7576436/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":96627776,"identity":"1d065680-55ff-4392-9002-47eb824fe361","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-24 12:10:20","extension":"docx","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":227327,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"forjournalComputerScienceandComputerEngineering.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7576436/v1/09706fa53a11c76ae4d67dfe.docx"},{"id":96627773,"identity":"273fd4b1-cd10-4aba-99b6-bddf7e6ba2dc","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-24 12:10:20","extension":"json","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":6634,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"4ef0a376f263455d8fd621bcc1f2ca8a.json","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7576436/v1/22ce4c6e321ba06d033faab1.json"},{"id":96708823,"identity":"04459d59-3db4-4529-b5e9-0105f9ea2f3b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-25 10:05:33","extension":"xml","order_by":2,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":105165,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"4ef0a376f263455d8fd621bcc1f2ca8a1enriched.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7576436/v1/0ba731e3b6c11b29d9b28841.xml"},{"id":96708926,"identity":"7218a8ad-18c1-4466-9b8d-c6e0cd20b3c3","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-25 10:06:20","extension":"jpeg","order_by":15,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":1074,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7576436/v1/248db7c128c4495a303b097d.jpeg"},{"id":96627772,"identity":"31318ae7-2402-4845-b3d1-d33fd23d6a89","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-24 12:10:20","extension":"jpeg","order_by":16,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":91225,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"groupimage1.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7576436/v1/0db25b074c6d52c49049f829.jpeg"},{"id":96627769,"identity":"a921f2ea-54db-44c1-bd9e-1d9b7db2202f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-24 12:10:20","extension":"png","order_by":17,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":935,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7576436/v1/2010931aaafe9be5def6f6d7.png"},{"id":96627771,"identity":"1d31a281-2f83-44f0-b11d-2b71b33de21c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-24 12:10:20","extension":"png","order_by":18,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":18416,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinegroupimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7576436/v1/7e47871705c177a1c89123a3.png"},{"id":96709073,"identity":"06a4a883-98f6-4470-91aa-74b5ba0800e1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-25 10:07:29","extension":"xml","order_by":19,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":101538,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"4ef0a376f263455d8fd621bcc1f2ca8a1structuring.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7576436/v1/d611a4efee901e5c3e66c9e4.xml"},{"id":96627774,"identity":"fa2ceb12-7809-46fb-9d5b-e2a380b35755","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-24 12:10:20","extension":"html","order_by":20,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":116047,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7576436/v1/88864fed2dd4968710e3bc82.html"},{"id":100371881,"identity":"102033a9-b712-43c1-837a-35ff09f9ddb6","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-16 08:11:08","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":578516,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"forjournalComputerScienceandComputerEngineering.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7576436/v1_covered_0d986608-425e-4861-b37c-47c4c5e1ab5a.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"A Study of the Distinctive and Overlapping Features of Computer Science and Computer Engineering in Ghana","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"
[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Algorithm, Career Pathways, Technical Education","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7576436/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7576436/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe distinctions between Computer Science (CS) and Computer Engineering (CE) have become increasingly significant as technology evolves and academic disciplines expand. Although both fields share foundational knowledge in their curricula, they diverge considerably in areas such as focus, course content, and career outcomes. This study employs a mixed-method survey approach on 226 males and 210 females to collect data and analyze the roles and relevance of each discipline by examining their historical development, areas of overlap, and the career opportunities they offer within the Ghanaian context using Chi-Square test. By formulating clear hypotheses, the research aims to support prospective students, industry professionals, and educational policymakers in making informed decisions regarding academic pathways and career planning in the computing field. Findings indicate that over 89% of respondents hold the view that Computer Science was introduced into Ghana\u0026rsquo;s education system long before Computer Engineering.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"A Study of the Distinctive and Overlapping Features of Computer Science and Computer Engineering in Ghana","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-11-24 12:10:15","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7576436/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"
[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"40c2533d-3f1e-471e-990e-062b3957328b","owner":[],"postedDate":"November 24th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-14T12:55:23+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-11-24 12:10:15","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7576436","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7576436","identity":"rs-7576436","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}
Text is read by the "Ask this paper" AI Q&A widget below.
Extraction quality varies by source — PMC NXML preserves structure
cleanly, OA-HTML may include some navigation residue, and OA-PDF can
have broken hyphenation. The publisher copy
(via DOI)
is the canonical version.