If you have a knack for working with practically anything that is powered electrically, then this may help to direct you to an appropriate career path. The formal training you will receive while working to obtain your bachelor's degree will prepare you to work with a wide range of electronics, from fuel cells to computer circuits. If you aim to work in a particular field of the electric industry, then as you progress through your degree program you will probably want to choose an area of specialization. Of course, before you can begin working on any part of your bachelor's degree in electrical engineering you will first need to obtain your high school diploma, or the equivalent. Additionally, the learning institution that you choose to attend following high school will likely want you to submit a copy of your ACT scores, a copy of your high school transcript showing your academic course work and GPA, and letters of recommendation that vouch for your ability level as well as your character.
The course work that is required for this degree program will have you taking a large number of mathematics classes, including a sequence of calculus courses and even more advanced classes that focus on linear equations and differential equations. Once you begin working on your more concentrated electrical engineering courses you will be learning about signals, systems, circuits, and electronics. Depending upon the college or university that you choose to attend, you may have the opportunity to participate in a cooperative internship as you near graduation. A cooperative internship allows students the opportunity to spend one semester in the classroom learning valuable instruction and techniques and then spend the following semester in the field applying what has been learned.
This rotation between real world application and classroom instruction provides students the best of both worlds in this industry. Furthermore, students earn semester credit for successfully completing the cooperative internship portions of their degree program. Lastly, you may want to consider doing some undergraduate research with one of your professors or conducting a research project in the senior year of your degree program. By conducting valuable research while working on your degree program you will begin networking with important people in this industry. Keep in mind, this may help you gain employment following graduation.
In your profession as an electrical engineer you will work with the production of, as well as the supply of electricity. You will also spend your time designing and creating equipment for consumer products. Common consumer equipment that you may be working with is battery networks, vehicles, operating systems, and power generating systems. It is important that electrical engineers have an extensive knowledge of a wide variety of technologies and instruments. This is due to the fact that electrical engineers are actively involved in practically every phase of the implementation process. Of course, because of the dangers that can be associated with electricity, electrical engineers must always pay attention to their safety and should stay current on their certifications.
Graduates of a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering should look into careers that match the skill-set they learned in college. Because you’ll have taken courses in different disciplines make sure to look into careers including:
- Manufacturing
- Automation and Controls Engineer
- Construction Industry
- Energy sector
- Telecommunications
- Oil and Gas Industry
- Research and Security
- Computer System Analyst
- Field Service Technician
- Utilities and Pharmaceuticals.
When you start your courses for your electrical engineering degree the first thing you’ll notice is the strong emphasis on courses in design and system structure. Courses like circuit structures and engineering will follow you through most of the four year degree.
- Electromagnetics
- Introduction to Engineering Technology
- Circuit Analysis
- Industrial Systems
- Communication Systems
- Business and Data Communications and Microprocessors
- Product Design and Solid State Physics
- Microprocessor Architecture
- Be able to solve problems related to electrical engineering.
- Apply the knowledge you learned during your Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering to understand economic ramifications of work conducted.
- Conduct a high level of research and be able to communicate technical documentation and data to your employer or team.
- Design manufacturing techniques in electrical engineering.
- Use microwave circuit analysis and element design.
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