Do I Need an Electrical Engineering Degree for a Career in Speech Processing?

[PeteSchult]

My academic background is in math and linguistics, but lately I've gotten interested in speech processing. What I'm wondering is whether I need to go back and get a BSEE (and possibly an MSEE or PhD in EE) or if I can realistically hope to get into the field by just taking a few courses in signal processing and speech processing. I should add that (1) I'm willing to go back to school for whatever background I need, I'd just like to get up and running as quickly as possible and (2) my first love is math, so though manipulating hardware is enjoyable, I'm more interested in mathematical modeling of problems.

--Pete Schult

 

[NoTime]

All the speech systems I have experience with are pretty horrid.
Make a few rude noises and they will decide you said something.

All the necessary hardware exists, and cheap
Math and software programing should cover the skill set.
Throw in a whole bunch of research and you might get somewhere.

Linguistics will help on the backend (after you get it to do words).

 

[hhegab]

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Speech processing is a fascinating and rapidly growing field, and it's great to hear that you have developed an interest in it. With your academic background in math and linguistics, you already have a strong foundation for a career in this field. While a degree in electrical engineering (BSEE, MSEE, or PhD) could certainly be helpful, it is not necessarily a requirement to enter the speech processing industry.

As you mentioned, taking a few courses in signal processing and speech processing would be a great way to start building your knowledge and skills in this area. These courses would provide you with a solid understanding of the technical aspects of speech processing, and would also give you the opportunity to work on real-world projects and gain hands-on experience.

In addition, your background in math and linguistics can be a valuable asset in speech processing. Mathematical modeling is an important aspect of this field and having a strong understanding of math can help you excel in this area. Furthermore, your knowledge of linguistics can be applied to understanding the complexities of human speech and developing algorithms to process it.

While going back to school for a degree in electrical engineering can certainly benefit you, it is not the only path to a successful career in speech processing. With your academic background and a few relevant courses, you can certainly hope to break into this field and contribute your skills and expertise. I wish you the best of luck in your career pursuits!