Electronics engineering vs material science engineering?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the comparison between electronics engineering and materials science engineering, specifically focusing on which field is more physics-based and which is considered more prestigious. Participants explore the implications of these fields in terms of career prospects and cultural perceptions of prestige.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about which field is more physics-based and prestigious, indicating a desire for comparative analysis.
  • One participant shares anecdotal evidence that some physics majors transitioned to electrical engineering due to job market challenges, suggesting a perceived difficulty in securing employment with a physics degree alone.
  • Another participant notes that the perception of prestige can vary significantly by culture, citing examples from Iran and China regarding the status of different fields.
  • A later reply asserts that materials science is more physics-based, although this claim is not universally agreed upon.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on which field is more physics-based and prestigious, indicating that there is no consensus on these questions. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that the prestige of a field may depend on cultural context and individual program characteristics, which introduces variability in the discussion.

miray dicle
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which one is more physics based? which one is more prestigious?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
As I tell my children, google search for the top 10 paying degrees.

http://www.affordable-online-colleges.net/top-10-valuable-engineering-degrees-employers/

Two of my classmates in EE were physics majors, they found it was tough to get a job without getting a Phd so they took the EE route.

Most prestigious... that's kind of a loaded question in a forum, but your professors can offer advice here.

My advice? Go for EE, take a lot of CS classes (make sure you take C/C++ over java. Focus on systems design / compilers) and take a few digital classes.. I worked pretty close to the metal for most of my career, but I had a career that spanned all levels of engineering and across disciplines. Then start buying real estate before you are 40 and become obsolete in the field and become a landlord... which makes it a lot easier to retire before you are 50.

I tell my older daughter to check out the actuary field, man what a gravy job and it pays well for smart people with backgrounds in math and physics.
 
miray dicle said:
which one is more physics based? which one is more prestigious?
This really depends on the program/adviser if you're talking about research. Also it depends on the culture which is regarded as more prestigious, but I think chasing prestige is rarely a good idea anyway. An Iranian friend told me that electrical engineering is considered the highest field in Iran, whereas a friend from China told me that mathematics is considered to be the highest field in China, so the silly field hierarchy will vary from place to place.
 
miray dicle said:
which one is more physics based?

materials science
 

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