Electrical Engineers build a wide variety of products and work in almost all industries. They design control
and communication systems, sensors, displays, learning machines, robots, instruments,
voice recognition, computer vision, electronics, motors, power systems, the internet
of things—the list goes on and on. Required study includes electronics, microprocessors,
digital circuit design, control systems, communication systems, power systems, signal
processing, and software. Electives can then be chosen to learn more about any of
the above fields or even bioengineering. It allows more freedom in choosing electives
than Computer Engineering, and thus is a very flexible degree that allows the holder
to work on a wide variety of applications utilizing vastly different skills. This
allows our graduates to choose careers best fitting their exact interests. For instance,
some of our graduates develop complex new mathematical algorithms to achieve the highest
possible system performance; others work with basic physics to develop better circuits
and devices; others work outside in the field to improve the generation and transmission
of electric power; some become high-level executives at companies like Google; others
complete law or medical degrees. The Bioengineering option of Electrical Engineering
provides the right training to design medical instruments and with a few additional
courses becomes a full Pre-Med or Pre-Dental major. After graduating, our students
have gone on to the world’s best graduate programs: Stanford, MIT, Johns Hopkins,
etc.
Degree Programs
Computer Engineering is a blend of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. In fact, a Computer Engineering
student can change majors to Computer Science within the first three semesters without
losing any credits. More careful planning is required to switch from Computer Science
to Computer Engineering. Computer Engineering students receive training that allows
them to design complex computer systems and embed them in custom applications such
as robots, spacecraft, automobiles, etc. A typical system may interface with a sensor
to measure the world, then decide how to best use the information to achieve goals
and eventually turn on actuators which perform the needed task. They also develop
computer vision systems, high-performance computers and software, and the internet
of things. They take many of the same required courses as Electrical Engineers, but
fill in their electives with computer-specific courses. Graduates have the ability
to design electric circuits, understand network hardware, design computer systems,
and write the software inside those systems. Compared to Electrical Engineers, Computer
Engineers have less breadth of knowledge in Electrical Engineering but more depth
in software and computer hardware. Compared to Computer Scientists, Computer Engineers
know much more about hardware and signal/system theory. Computer Engineers sometimes
also major in either Electrical Engineering or Computer Science to get two degrees.
Our students have gone on to the world’s best graduate programs and top companies.
Degree Programs
Electrical and Computer Engineering
