This is what co-op programs address. 5 year degree, learn all the fundamentals from silicon to applications, with 6 co-op placements of 4 months each interspers

This is what co-op programs address. 5 year degree, learn all the fundamentals from silicon to applications, with 6 co-op placements of 4 months each interspersed throughout. That was the Waterloo formula when I went through their CS program and it works tremendously well. Sure, it's a lot to learn in 5 years, and there's always more to learn, but it does give you a very solid foundation to build on.