Specifically, what can you do with a BS in Electrical Engineering?

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
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I am finishing up all the basic classes in my EE coursework and it is time to start looking at EE electives. They recommend that we take electives that are geared towards what we want to do professionally.

I'm not sure what I want to do professionally.

So if you would be so kind to list EE type jobs and tell me what area (analog, digital, communications, vlsi, etc) they are in, I'll buy you a :beer:

:beer::):beer:
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
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I'm a 5th year senior working in a R&D lab that specializes in communications.

If you ask OS you can be a LED salesman, sales rep for a computer wholesaler or a calibration technitian:)
 

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
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How is the communications industry (jobs/pay-scale)? And what kind of classes are needed/useful for that industry.

I could sell LED's without a EE degree, unless Radio Shack has really up'd their requirements!
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
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Originally posted by: misle
How is the communications industry (jobs/pay-scale)? And what kind of classes are needed/useful for that industry.

I could sell LED's without a EE degree, unless Radio Shack has really up'd their requirements!

The LED thing was technical sales for a manufacturer, not RS.

I'm not in the communications industry per se, I'm just in the part of the company that does Comm.
 

cchen

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
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Are you interested in EE related jobs or other fields? Cuz frankly an EE degree is one of the most flexible degrees you can get, since you can practically work in any field. A lot of EE's jump into financial engineering, using signal processing techniques.
 

LordJezo

Banned
May 16, 2001
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Work for a patent laywer in NYC and make tons of money and get to have your firm rent out the Intreped for a night of dinner and drinking.

At least that is what a guy I know does with his EE degree.
 

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
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Originally posted by: cchen
Are you interested in EE related jobs or other fields? Cuz frankly an EE degree is one of the most flexible degrees you can get, since you can practically work in any field. A lot of EE's jump into financial engineering, using signal processing techniques.

Thank you. This is why I am asking the question. EE is so wide open, I'm not sure where I want to go with the coursework or what I want to do after graduation. I was hoping to get a lot of different, but serious, responses about EE fields.

I'm pretty much interested in EE related jobs, but I'm definitely open to other fields as well.

 

cchen

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
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Are there any particular topics you've enjoyed so far? (Circuits/Electronics, Signals and systems, Communications, Photonics/Solid-State)? Or maybe courses that you've done well in and don't hate? I would reccomend focusing on a particular topic (maybe 2 or 3 courses) and then take 1 course in other topics, just so that you have a good breadth of knowledge in case one day you might have to use it. Or in exploring these other topics, you might find something that you really enjoy.
 

TuxDave

Lifer
Oct 8, 2002
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Take your pick.

Control Theory
Communication
Computer Architecture
Devices
Circuits

 

DanTMWTMP

Lifer
Oct 7, 2001
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Originally posted by: TuxDave
Take your pick.

Control Theory
Communication
Computer Architecture
Devices
Circuits

u forgot to add

Digital Signal Processing
Data Networks
Software Systems
Machine Intelligence
 

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
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I graduated with a BSEE, gearing my classes toward grad school. When I went to Cornell for my MSEE, I concentrated on analog circuit design and signal processing. I love to design analog circuitry, mixed signal design for instrumentation and audio (not RF). My first job after graduating in '88 was working for a data acquisition and control embedded design company. I enjoyed applying my interests to this type of application, but it leaned a bit too much into the digital section, as I was responsible for not only the analog design, but the whole board, which included an embedded intel microprocessor with firmware in assembly language. The code was quite lengthy (in my mind ~8000 lines of code, or nearly 80K of EPROM space). In retrospect, it was good experience, as I am now an adjunct faculty member, teaching night classes in ECE, with a class in embedded design!

Go for what you're interests are in and take a few classes in that. A BSEE won't get you very specialized though, you'll need to go to grad school for that. HTH :)
 

Bigblades

Senior member
Mar 17, 2004
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You engineers should get together and make a death ray. Think about how great it would be to dish out death in "ray" form. Tesla never finished it, so I say its high time engineers pick up where he left off.

 

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
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Control Theory
Communication
Devices
Circuits
Digital Signal Processing
Data Networks
Machine Intelligence

I have interests in these fields. I currently don't know enough about them (coursework & employment-wise) to narrow the field anymore.

Where would Power engineering fall?
What is Control Theory?

I was searching for jobs on HotJobs & Monster and there seems to be a big demand for RF related engineers (RF = ?Radio Frequency?).
 

Mookow

Lifer
Apr 24, 2001
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Originally posted by: misle

Whoops! I guess I needed to see that sign about 9 years ago. :eek: Is that real? It is funny!

Based on my observations when I was living in an engineering dorm (through no fault of my own, I'm not an engineer)... yes. Very true.

EDIT: May you and your hand have a happy, fulfilling relationship, 'cause that's about all you're going to get.
 

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
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Originally posted by: Mookow

Based on my observations when I was living in an engineering dorm (through no fault of my own, I'm not an engineer)... yes. Very true.

EDIT: May you and your hand have a happy, fulfilling relationship, 'cause that's about all you're going to get.

:D I'm 25, this is my second time through college. I've had quite a few girlfriends, including a 3.5 year relationship with my High School sweetheart. :brokenheart: But I will agree, there are some people in my engineering classes that probably haven't even spoken to a woman, besides their mom.
 

Mookow

Lifer
Apr 24, 2001
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Originally posted by: misle
Originally posted by: Mookow

Based on my observations when I was living in an engineering dorm (through no fault of my own, I'm not an engineer)... yes. Very true.

EDIT: May you and your hand have a happy, fulfilling relationship, 'cause that's about all you're going to get.

:D I'm 25, this is my second time through college. I've had quite a few girlfriends, including a 3.5 year relationship with my High School sweetheart. :brokenheart: But I will agree, there are some people in my engineering classes that probably haven't even spoken to a woman, besides their mom.

If so, good for you. It is just that almost any engineering student I've met, if they are claiming to have had multiple girlfriends, they are talking about both their right and left hands.