Electrical Engineering : What Can I Do With A Major In...

Electrical Engineering

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
College of Engineering

Description of Major

The electronics age has been with us for many years now, and many of the new products you continue to see as a result of this age are created by electrical engineers. Electrical engineers perform jobs such as developing new ways of making microchips, designing communications systems, using lasers and robots to solve problems, running our nations electric power distribution and telecommunications infrastructure, and designing products such as automobile control systems, cellular phones, and biomedical devices.

The electronics age has led us into the development of revolutionary information technologies, in which new and very capable information products are being created at a rapid rate. Electrical engineers create products such as control systems for cars and airplanes, communications satellites, PDAs and cellular telephones, microelectronic devices, the internet and wireless communication systems, electric power distribution systems and microprocessors for computers and programmable devices.

Courses include:

Computer Systems Programming, Intro. to Computer Systems, Intro to Computer Organization, Electric Circuits, I & II, Fundamentals of Logic Design, Analytical Foundations of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Linear Systems, Electromagnetic Fields, Microelectronics, Senior Design Project (see note)

note-The senior design project in electrical engineering is a semester long team activity involving the application of engineering and basic sciences to the total design of electrical engineering circuits and systems. Consideration of the design process including feasibility study, preliminary design detail, cost effectiveness, development and evaluation of a prototype, and a written report and presentation are included.

The Undergraduate Catalog shows a listing of Electrical Engineering courses, and the degree audit shows the curricula requirements for this major. If you are interested in expanding your career options, consider double-majoring and/or adding a minor.

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Skills You Develop In This Major

Engineers are problem solvers -- people who make things work better, more efficiently, quicker and less expensively. They use skills and dedication to search for better ways to solve problems. National Society of Professional Engineers

As an engineering student, you will have to work hard at your studies, getting a solid background in engineering principles, and then apply your knowledge in real world applications. Your studies are not everything, however. The professional engineer of today is not just an expert in a particular field. Today’s engineer is a many-faceted individual whose knowledge is combined with a wide range of skills and experiences. As a student at NC State, you are not just spending time in class and studying; you are preparing yourself for a professional career. Louis Martin-Vega, Dean of Engineering

Gaining Career-Related Experience

You are strongly encouraged to gain career-related experience prior to graduation in the form of an internship, summer job, or co-op. Though course credit is not available for this experience through the College of Engineering, you may expect compensation from the employer.

Co-op is a program of alternating semesters of work and school. Paid work terms of increasing responsibility enable students to graduate with the minimum equivalent of one year of relevant work experience. Full-time enrollment during the semester prior to the first work term is required. You can begin co-op after completion of at least two semesters (30 credit hours) at NC State (one semester for transfers and graduate students). An NC State transcript must show grades and admission to a degree program. A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.50 (3.00 for graduate students) is required. The Co-op Office web site lists the Orientation Schedule, which is the first step to program participation.

Internships are typically full-time during the summer or (for some) part-time during the semester. You can start interning or seeking summer jobs related to your field, whenever you are ready. The University Career Center provides services to help you get started.

Participate in ePack, the Career Center's on-line system that connects employees with students through internship postings, on-campus interviews, information sessions, and resume searches. You may activate your ePack account at any time.

Internship Example

Northrop Grumman

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Sample Career Titles and Possible Work Settings

The following lists provide a brief sampling of the kind of jobs and work environments you might find with a degree in this major. These titles and work settings are by no means an exhaustive listing. Because the world of work is always changing, over time job titles and work settings can change. The below listing is provided in hopes of giving you initial insight into a particular career field that would employ the skills and knowledge gained through this major.

Sample Career Titles Sample Work Settings

Network Engineer Public School System

Associate Engineer Power Industry

Systems Engineer Consumer Products Industry

Test Engineer Semiconductor Industry

Design Engineer Aerospace Industry

Project Engineer IT Consulting Firm

Careers Needing Advanced Degrees

Assistant Professor, University or College
Researcher, Research Center

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Salary

Baccalaureate - $ 61,021
From NACE Report - Summer 2011-www.naceweb.org

The salary listed above is an average starting salary based on skills and experiences gained at the Bachelors level. Keep in mind that salary level typically increases with additional experience and/or educational degrees.

Furthermore, you may have the opportunity to mold an entry-level position into your dream job and subsequently increase your salary as you learn more, add responsibilities and gain experience.