Guide to College Majors in Electrical Engineering Electricity is actually made up of extremely tiny particles called electrons, that you cannot see with the naked eye unless you have been drinking. --Dave Barry What Is Electrical Engineering? Electrical engineers design, develop, and test electrical equipment. The broad field of electrical engineering involves working with all manners of electronic devices, from pocket calculators to supercomputers. Often overlapping with computer engineering, a college degree in electrical engineering can open up the door to a technical career in almost any industry. Since technology is always changing and expanding, the need for electrical engineers is always growing. Like any other kind of scientist, electrical engineers must also know how to communicate their ideas to others in their field. A successful electrical engineer possesses not only an understanding of his area of concentration, but also a broad grasp of engineering in general. This is why most electrical engineering degree programs begin with the fundamentals of engineering itself. Once the student has mastered these fundamentals, she can start to focus on a specialty. Electrical engineering students learn through a combination of design and lab work. This mix of theory and practical application allows students to think things through and then apply their ideas in a variety of real life situations. Students also learn to diagnose problems and develop a variety of solutions. Is Electrical Engineering Right for You? If you enjoy taking things apart, seeing how they work, and then putting them back together again, electrical engineering might be a good career choice for you. If youve often wondered what makes your computer compute and you have a strong interest in math and science, an engineering degree should be a serious consideration. Electrical engineers arent just techies. While engineers often work in the technology services arena, their tasks range from designing and building medical equipment to working for the military or Department of Defense. Contrary to popular belief, electrical engineers dont just sit in their labs alone, tinkering with their latest invention. Electrical engineers often work in groups, so a great deal of teamwork is required from them. Career Education in Electrical Engineering When preparing to enter the field of electrical engineering, most students usually start with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Many campus-based and online colleges and universities offer this entry-level degree. Most engineering students dont stop their schooling after obtaining a BS. Earning a in a specialized engineering field is very common, and some students continue on for their PhD in order to be eligible to teach at the college level. A typical electrical engineering curriculum spans the math and science worlds. Many programs include the following courses: Integrated circuits and solid state devices - A major part of the entertainment and consumer appliance industries, this area focuses on new products like electronic controls for electronic games, home appliances, and navigation systems. Robotics - Robotics engineers might work with artificial intelligence, design robotic arms or manipulate dangerous substances. Power systems - This field deals with how power grids are set up and how generators work, as well as how to make energy more efficient. Communications systems - These systems underlie basic television, radio, and telephone technology, as well as the more complex forms of wireless and laser transmission. Computers - As computers come to dominate the engineering field, professionals must learn the ins and outs of digital systems, microprocessors, and all manner of computer hardware design and manufacturing.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 11:22:36 +0000
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