As an ECE student, you will be taught C and Data structures as a part of the ECE curriculum and not an extra subject. One needs to have good programming skills to excel in this branch. A skilled ECE engineer is someone who has a strong grasp of concepts as well as programming skills. He can easily get a job in core companies and need not opt for software-based jobs.
Electronics
Networks
Overall, ECE students require good programming skills to apply/ test/ design their core concepts in the real world. Due to some similarities in the curriculum, many software companies allow ECE, and EEE students to sit with CS and IT for placements.