How qualified would I be for EE as a math major?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the qualifications of a mathematics major considering a career in electrical engineering (EE). Participants explore the implications of pursuing advanced mathematics while fulfilling engineering degree requirements, as well as the potential for job readiness in the field of EE.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses enjoyment in mathematics and seeks to understand how their math-focused studies will affect their qualifications for an engineering career.
  • Another participant suggests that additional math courses will be beneficial in an engineering career, emphasizing the importance of meeting engineering degree requirements.
  • A participant questions whether the original poster plans to switch from EE to math, indicating that such a switch may limit qualifications for EE jobs without an EE degree.
  • Concerns are raised about the adequacy of the proposed EE coursework, with one participant suggesting that a limited course selection may not provide a strong EE background.
  • Another participant highlights math-intensive areas within EE, such as electromagnetics and signals and systems, which could align with the original poster's interests.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best path forward. There are competing views on the value of additional math courses versus the necessity of completing an EE degree for job qualifications.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the specific content of the EE courses mentioned, and there is a lack of clarity on how the original poster's current and future coursework aligns with industry expectations.

PGClark
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I am currently a freshman majoring in electrical engineering and minoring in mathematics about to go into my sophomore year. While I enjoy the engineering aspect, I've found that what I've enjoyed most is the basic analysis in my proofs class and the basic topology my professor mentioned while discussing vector fields in Calc 3.

Since I've already registered for classes next semester, it would be too late to switch. However, I plan on pursuing an emphasis in electrical engineering. I do like the problem-solving aspect, but would also like to be able to study mathematics at a more advanced level. My plan is to take sequences in abstract algebra and real analysis, as well as classes in topics on the applied side such as computation and numerical solutions to ODEs.

I would already be taking classes in Physics 1, Physics 2, EE 201, Signals and Circuits, and Electrical Networks. How qualified would I be to work as an engineer with this program of study? If not, since I would have an extra semester, what sort of classes should I be taking in addition?
 
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Additional math courses will never be wasted in an engineering career. Just be sure that you meet and do well in all the engineering degree requirements. Then you will be ahead of the game.
 
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Just to be clear, is your plan is to drop the EE major and switch to math? If so, there is nothing wrong with making such a switch but you shouldn't expect to be particularly qualified to work as an EE. If you really want to be qualified for an EE job, get the EE degree.

PGClark said:
I would already be taking classes in Physics 1, Physics 2, EE 201, Signals and Circuits, and Electrical Networks. How qualified would I be to work as an engineer with this program of study?
Would these three EE courses be the only ones you would take? If so, that is a weak EE background. By the way, "EE 201" means nothing to those of us who are not in your department. What does it cover?

jason
 
Dr.D said:
Additional math courses will never be wasted in an engineering career. Just be sure that you meet and do well in all the engineering degree requirements. Then you will be ahead of the game.

Yep.
 
If you're looking for math-intensive areas of Electrical Engineering, you could go into EM/Optics type of stuff or Signals and Systems, which is all math.
 

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