Electricity serves a vital function in our modern world. As Electrical Engineer works with electricity every day, designing new systems and making repairs to old applications in order to keep our world electrified. As an Electrical Engineering major, you will study how electricity works, how it is generated, and how it is used. Who knows, you may even be revered as the next Thomas Edison in this field. You will work on developing and designing all types of electronic equipment which includes broadcast and communication systems, MP3 players, GPS systems, and the electrical systems of automobiles and aircrafts. Computer hardware is also part of this field.
Courses that you will come across in this major can include: statistics, calculus, circuit analysis and design, physics, digital systems, electrodynamics, statistics, physics, technical writing for engineering, semiconductor technology, and electric components.
Concentrations in this major include: Laser Optics, Telecommunication, and Electronics and Communications.
Required Skills
Students should be prepared to be continuously learning in this field, even after graduation. As technology changes so will the approach you take to solving problems. College courses will be heavy with math and science. Be prepared to use many advanced principles in mathematics to analyze and deign your work.
This major appeals to students who love learning how things work and enjoy taking things apart and putting them back together. If you work hard to learn the basics, you will get the satisfaction of seeing your ideas become a reality.
Most electrical engineers will work in groups, making teamwork an important skill. You should be reliable and pull your weight, while helping others and keeping an open mind about the way they approach a problem. Hone your communication skills to build good relationships with peers, professors, and other professionals. In your course-work as well as your future career, you will often need to explain your designs and your reasoning behind them. Learn to take constructive criticism and use it to improve your work.
Careers
Upon graduation you will be prepared to work as an Electrical Engineer for an engineering firm or as an independent contractor. Electrical Engineers are found working in power stations, designing electrical systems for buildings and communities, or creating wireless and portable devices. As technology continues to advance rapidly, there should be a demand for electrical engineers in both research and development. Job growth in this field will be slight until 2020, but there is plenty of room to specialize and make your skills more competitive.
Graduates with a degree in electrical engineering average $61,394 as a starting salary with a mid-career salary of $103,601.
Here is a small sample of the careers that a degree in Electrical Engineering might open up.
