English physician, physicist, and philosopher William Gilbert is credited with introducing the term “electricity.” Although he did not spark the scientific interest in electricity that already existed, he could be called the first electrical engineer. Following in his footsteps in the 19th and early 20th centuries were such luminaries as Michael Faraday, Nikola Tesla, and Thomas Edison.
As technology progressed and electricity became much more widespread – from the electric telegraph to the lightbulb – so did the demand for people who studied and could work in this new field. At first, electrical engineers studied within the physics department at schools like Cornell and MIT, but soon they had their own programs. The first electrical engineering department in the U.S. was founded at the University of Missouri in 1886.
Electrical engineers in the U.S. today would probably be hard-pressed to find a job where they work with telegraphs, but there are myriad other applications for this specialized knowledge in the modern world. Electrical engineers make it possible for us to enjoy many of the modern comforts we have in the U.S., from smartphones and tablets to public utilities.
In-demand – Whether an experienced practitioner or a fresh graduate, finding a job in the electrical engineering market is relatively easy. As technologies are rapidly expanding, the demand for electrical engineers has been increasing at a very fast pace.
Opportunities are available globally – Almost every part of the world needs and demands electrical engineers. There are a number of companies outside the country that need and are open to hiring electrical engineers from other countries. If you wish to take up an electrical engineering job overseas, you will be surprised to find a large number of opportunities available.
The forefront of future technologies – Electrical engineering forms the starting point of innovations in many industries including healthcare, transport, robotics, and construction. This field forms the backbone of technological innovation. Studying electrical engineering will help students impact the lives of millions of people across the globe.
This exciting field provides students with an understanding of complex designs and about building them from scratch. To excel in this career, students must have solid analytical and problem-solving skills. They should also demonstrate an inclination towards design, the ability to look at the big picture, as well as have an eye for detail.
Electrical engineering programs are not exactly the same across the board, but there are some basic topics that all programs cover. Undergraduate electrical engineering students will study mathematics, physics, and electronics as well as the intersection of these three main categories. Math courses in an electrical engineering program will likely include calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra, while physics courses will be at a more basic level. Electronics courses will cover circuitry, electromagnetism, and semiconductors.
Students that earn a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering can certainly go on to have fulfilling and lucrative careers. Still, many choose to pursue an advanced education with a master’s degree or PhD in electrical engineering. Graduate programs cover the same core areas at a more advanced level and may have more emphasis on computing and computer engineering.
Students will develop practical skills that they can apply to various different disciplines. Additionally, they develop problem-solving skills and their communication and interpersonal skills will also improve. They will learn to manage their resources and time in a better way and also assess risks associated with projects.
Electrical engineers are involved in designing, developing, testing, and supervising the manufacture of electrical equipment, such as radar and navigation systems, electric motors, power generation equipment, or communications systems. They are also responsible for designing the systems of aircraft and automobiles.
Typical duties of electrical engineers include:
There are a number of sub-disciplines related to electrical engineering. Electrical engineering covers but not limited to the following fields:
Electrical engineering is just as important and exciting a field as it was when Nikola Tesla was still struggling to understand the true power of electricity.
Though it is easy to look at the news and assume that computer programming, design, and mobile applications are the only important technologies to pursue, none of those things would be possible without the help of electrical engineers. Even the car company that bears Tesla’s name would not be able to exist without the field of electrical engineering and a team of people who understood how to make an electric car work, and how to maximize its battery life (still an area in need of further engineering innovation).
The future of electrical engineering work is likely to be both large and small. Electrical engineers will be able to choose whether they want to focus on the intricate circuits that make up personal computing devices or the huge instruments that control spacecraft, and even entire power grids.
Matt Zbrog is a writer and researcher from Southern California. Since 2018, he’s written extensively about a wide range of engineering disciplines, with a particular focus on the potential impacts of major technological breakthroughs. His work largely centers around conversations with engineeri...
Meet 25 top professors of electrical engineering, and learn more about their areas of expertise, their achievements, and their contributions to both engineering and their respective programs.
Electrical engineers bring a range of electronic equipment to life. Through research, design, development, testing, and manufacturing supervision, electrical engineers are the humans behind all the systems and devices that produce, use, or conduct electricity. Specializations in electrical engineering tend to be incredibly multidisciplinary.
Electrical engineering is a field where professionals research, develop, and design various electrical components and systems. An online master’s degree can be valuable to students who wish to take up advanced positions in their career.
Power systems engineering focuses on generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity as well as building and repairing the various electrical devices involved in these processes, such as transformers, motors, and generators.
