Controls VS. Communications (EE)

[perplexabot]

Hey all. I will get straight to the point. I am about to get into graduate school and I have the option to choose between Controls & Robotics OR Communication & Signal Processing. I am kind of not sure what to pursue, the reason is because I feel if I choose one I will unfortunately lose the opportunity to learn the other. I have just recently become interested in HAM radio, which coincides with "Communication and Signal Processing." But I also loved my controls class I took as an undergraduate (also who doesn't love robotics). I have heard that as a Controls major it would be easier to find a job. I feel Communication and Signal Processing is easier to self study than Controls, if that is the case then I think I should go for Controls, but I am not sure of this...

What should I consider? Any ideas? Thank you.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I'm sorry you are not generating any responses at the moment. Is there any additional information you can share with us? Any new findings?

 

[donpacino]

At least at my company there are more communication and signal processing jobs...

That being said I'm sure there are plenty of jobs in both disciplines. I would go with the field you are more passionate about.

 

[analogdesign]

I agree with Don. The fields are pretty different. Which one excites you more? I'm not sure I agree communications is easier for self-study. Once you get beyond the basics the math gets really hairy.

 

[perplexabot]

Thank you all for the replies... I haven't decided yet, and I have to choose soon. I'm thinking that Communication and Signal Processing is a larger field, so maybe better for me? Do the two fields overlap at some point?

 

[DLX]

There is always some overlap but in this case communications is restricted to electrical/electronic circuitry whereas control is a much more generalized field as control systems cut across branches.

 

[perplexabot]

There is always some overlap but in this case communications is restricted to electrical/electronic circuitry whereas control is a much more generalized field as control systems cut across branches.

I will go with Controls and Robotics. As DLX pointed out it is a generalized field that can be used to explain (on a more general level) a variety of other fields.

Also going through the course list for each field kind of helped me out. Thanks again to everyone.