In most universities there is a distinction between software engineering and computer science. Computer science deals more with things like writing and optimisi

In most universities there is a distinction between software engineering and computer science. Computer science deals more with things like writing and optimising compilers, and the interface between hardware and software, and writing an optimised sorting algorithm is a good introduction to that kind of thinking. Software engineers (like engineers in other fields) are in the business of taking stuff made by scientists and building things out of it that businesses and consumers use (like spotify and bridges and dialysis machines). They wouldn't do much in the realm of specific algorithm design, it's mostly about research and system architecture.