Trends in Electrical Engineering Education

AI Thread Summary
There is a noticeable trend in electrical engineering programs shifting towards prioritizing programming skills over traditional hands-on electronics training. This change is largely motivated by the evolving demands of industry and academia, which increasingly value software proficiency alongside hardware knowledge. Institutions like MIT and the University of Toronto, and potentially the University of Waterloo, are leading this shift, reflecting a broader adaptation to the digital revolution. While many electrical engineering programs have historically maintained a uniform curriculum, the integration of programming into coursework is becoming more prevalent, with some programs requiring foundational programming knowledge before students can engage in advanced classes. This evolution highlights the importance of adapting educational approaches to align with current technological advancements and workforce needs.
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Hi.

Is there a movement in some electrical engineering programs to favour programming skills over a more hands on/electronics approach (if I could call it that)?

If so, what is the motivation for this? Trends in skills demanded by industry/academia?

Schools associated with more programming/CS skills include MIT and U of Toronto (I imagine U Waterloo as well).

I thought EE programs were pretty uniform, with some schools having more established reputations than others of course.

Just asking.

PS: Sorry I do not have any links. These are things I come across and don't pay much attention to at first.
 
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My school requires only 1 semester of C programming or 1 of C and 1 of Java if you're doing the computer design track.

Alot of classes use a programming though and require to know the basics before you start them.
 
@Chunkysalsa: Thanks for the response.

I noticed a similar thread by Jurassic at the bottom of the page. It should have occurred to me that the ongoing digital revolution would be behind the apparent shift at some schools (the most research-oriented I might add) toward becoming more programming-based.
 
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