What is Electrical Engineering?

 

Electrical engineering is a science-oriented branch of engineering primarily concerned with all phases, development and utilitzation of electronics, computer intelligence, and electrical energy. Electrical engineers design products and systems that meet the needs for today and tomorrow's electrical, computer, and electronic systems. As examples, electrical engineers design communication systems, integral circuits and components that run computers, TVs, stereo systems, robots for automated factories; aircraft and spacecraft control systems; utility and industrial power systems; and biological/biomedical systems.

Electrical Engineering is an extremely exciting field of endeavor. Electrical engineers work with signal at frequencies from zero to beyond the optical range, and they use tools such as computers, advanced mathematics, and wire cutters. Electrical engineers are thinkers and doers. Strictly speaking, Electrical Engineering is not just a single field, but a collection of many fields fused into one unified discipline. It is by far the most dynamic and most varied of all fields in engineering. The best way to find out what Electrical Engineering is to see what electrical engineers do and form your own definition.

Below are some of the major fields in electrical engineering. A few years down the road, new fields may appear, and the present grouping may look very strange. Keep in mind that the grouping you are going to see below is just one opinion written at one point in time. After going through the following links you might get the idea that specialization at an early stage is the best thing to do. Think again. If every field in electrical engineering is changing rapidly, by the time you graduate what is popular today might very well become obsolete! A frightening thought indeed! The best way to go about it is not to specialize early. Have a broad base like the pyramid and then you can climb high. Take courses that will cement your foundation, such as good solid courses in mathematics, physics, engineering, materials science and computer science. Again, welcome to Electrical Engineering! Enjoy it, and have a lifetime of excitement!

Communications Systems
Control Systems
Electronics
Electromagnetics
Power