Which Engineering Field Should I Choose: Electrical or Computer Engineering?

[gambit1414]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and I'm in need of advice regarding which engineering field to pursue. I'm currently in 2nd year doing my undergrad in ECE, and are required to select courses for 3rd and 4th year. I'm interested in both fields (computer or electrical engineering degree) therefore I'm having difficulty choosing between the 2. As a result I'm wondering which of the 2 has a higher job prospective and would recommend. Any advice is appreciated. Thank You.

 

[rootX]

I guess it would help you if you know what kind of fields you can choose. I have following options:

Communications/Information Systems
Computer Hardware
Devices/Fabrication/VLSI
Circuits
Power
Microwaves/Photonics
Control

I am going with Communications/Information Systems just because of interest and some kind of personal gut feeling that it is the best option. But, I still have some time to think ...

 

[berkeman]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and I'm in need of advice regarding which engineering field to pursue. I'm currently in 2nd year doing my undergrad in ECE, and are required to select courses for 3rd and 4th year. I'm interested in both fields (computer or electrical engineering degree) therefore I'm having difficulty choosing between the 2. As a result I'm wondering which of the 2 has a higher job prospective and would recommend. Any advice is appreciated. Thank You.

Welcome to the PF, gambit. This question gets discussed a fair amount here, so I searched back for a fairly recent thread to give you some ideas. Here's the most recent thread I found with a quick search (I searched on Computer in this forum):

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=105604

Hope that helps to give you some background.

 

[gambit1414]

Thank you, that was very helpful. We are required to select pre-requisites (the underlined courses on attachment) in 4 different areas (excluding area 7) then 2 depth courses in the areas and 1 from area 7. Of course for the rest of the courses you can select what ever you want as long as you have the pre-requisite. Would it be a good idea to take the pre-requisites from the 6 areas? And which of these courses would you recommend? Thanks again.

 

[RasslinGod]

neither. you're going to have to worry about outsourcing and competition for the few jobs left.

These are some news reports from CNN on job prospects for science and engineering that someone posted like a year ago on PF

 

[rootX]

neither. you're going to have to worry about outsourcing and competition for the few jobs left.

These are some news reports from CNN on job prospects for science and engineering that someone posted like a year ago on PF

Why choose any career when economy is so bad that you wouldn't find any good job

But seriously,
1) It is not easier to outsource everything/anything. If it was then everyone would migrate to those countries.
2) You can always move to other places. It's better than working in a country for all life.

 

[Luke1294]

neither. you're going to have to worry about outsourcing and competition for the few jobs left.

These are some news reports from CNN on job prospects for science and engineering that someone posted like a year ago on PF

It seems that every one of your posts are dissuading people to stay out of technical fields as it will be impossible to find a job after graduation. There is no need to spread such silly FUD. I'm a junior studying EE at a smaller private college in the Midwest, and our program graduates somewhere between 30-50 students every year- for the past 3 years, we have had 100% of our graduates go on to either graduate school or have a full-time job within 3 months of graduating.

Now, that being said, if you are truly concerned about the job market...be sure to keep your GPA up and get atleast one internship!

 

[Defennder]

My sentiments exactly. The downturn won't last forever, so how long do you think you'll be able to recite the mantra of "Don't do science/engineering!" ? It's getting tiresome and honestly it isn't very instructive. So what you recommend next? Getting into finance/business?

 

[fizzziks]

neither. you're going to have to worry about outsourcing and competition for the few jobs left.

These are some news reports from CNN on job prospects for science and engineering that someone posted like a year ago on PF

What about the defense industry? Ain't no way classified projects or information are leaving the borders here!

 

[RasslinGod]

hey I am just trying to give him my side. if you want to give contrary opinions that's fine. certainly fizzik's point is correct about defense.

 

[RasslinGod]

however i should rather say, u should study w/e u want, as long as u enjoy it because college is a once in a lifetime opportunity. But make sure you have career backup plans too.

 

[Defennder]

I don't see how your point of view is particularly relevant here, not to mention that you can't even substantiate it. Outsourcing is here to stay and the weak economy has hit every sector. Perhaps a better advice would be to advise the OP to simply give up college education altogether.

The OP's question was on which classes to pick for an upper-level EE specialisation course, and he clearly wasn't a freshman asking for advice on what to major in.

 

[aquitaine]

http://electronicdesign.com/Articles/ArticleID/13698/13698.html

Adding fuel to the discussion was the recent revelation that the Bush administration buried a government report on outsourcing prior to the 2004 elections for political reasons—and that the report’s analysis was allegedly doctored by Bush political appointees in the Commerce Department. The report concluded that U.S. chipmakers were accelerating the outsourcing of design work to Asia at the expense of skilled engineering jobs at home.

According to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), as logistical barriers to the performance of engineering work at remote locations continue to erode, the global pool of trained engineers is growing. This means that U.S. engineers are now in global competition with engineers in developing nations whose wages are 40% to 80% lower than theirs.

Granted this was written nearly 3 years ago.

Yes, there are still plenty of engineering jobs in the US for now, however that being said there is still an underlying (and slowly growing) trend towards outsourcing. How far this trend will advance in 10 years is a mystery. The thing is about something like circuit design is that it does not have to be done at any particular location.

 

[RasslinGod]

okok sorry i shoudla stuck to the topic. I can't answer whether CE or EE is better for employment. i would say to gambit that u should ask your academic counselor on which side is more in demand to boost ur job opportunitinies. However realize things change too.

WHat i would do is go to an alumni networkign system at your school. Is there a database of alumnis? ask alumnis on what they think. What do they forecast is the better field? Networking is a great way to find job opportunities.

 

[Defennder]

http://electronicdesign.com/Articles/ArticleID/13698/13698.html Granted this was written nearly 3 years ago.

Yes, there are still plenty of engineering jobs in the US for now, however that being said there is still an underlying (and slowly growing) trend towards outsourcing. How far this trend will advance in 10 years is a mystery. The thing is about something like circuit design is that it does not have to be done at any particular location.

To be relevant

I should add that we don't even know where the OP is from. He/she did not indicate so, and for all we know he/she might even be from those countries the Western nations have been outsourcing their EE jobs to. In that scenario, outsourcing actually benefits him/her.

 

[RasslinGod]

oh yeah also, find the professors who are most involved with industry to know which way the wind is blowing.

you can also simply just email prof if they're willing to talk to you at OH about career planning, what fields, etc. usually when you email them about jobs and careers, it's a really long answer, and they would rather speak w/ you in person.

 

[gambit1414]

To be relevant

I should add that we don't even know where the OP is from. He/she did not indicate so, and for all we know he/she might even be from those countries the Western nations have been outsourcing their EE jobs to. In that scenario, outsourcing actually benefits him/her.

No, I'm from Canada. We will soon have a sessions where the professors speak about courses etc. but i just wanted more insight before attending it. Specifically i was wondering if it would be better to take the core courses in the different areas or specialize in a few of the areas?

 

[RasslinGod]

i donno if this will apply to your case. i was in a similar situation. specialize or go general?

honestly, i would go after whatever u find interesting. for me, id choose the one on E&M waves and optics. this is ur chance to broaden your horizens and see which field you like. One of my professors advised me that companies don't look too closely at which single courses you took. They look at the kinds of research experiences you have. to make sure you're capable outside the usual textbook course. it's usually hard to steer all your courses towards oen career path that you think you're going into years later. Who knows maybe you'll end up changing your mind into this field of EE and go into another EE field.

So my advice, experiment!

 

[gambit1414]

Between Digital and Analog electronics: I am interested in Digital Electronics and would tihnk its more useful than the course on Analog electronics, so is it worth taking the course on Analog electronics or should take another course instead?

 

[RasslinGod]

good question which i don't got the answer to.

Again, i would point you to alumnis. Ask your career counselor if they got s network of alumnis. Ask the guys currently working or even laid off to know what skills you should have. It's good you're thinking of what's useful or not for your future, but here is prolly not the best place to ask.

I can only hope i point you in a helpful direction.

 

[gambit1414]

Oh ok thanks for the advice. By the way do you know any good engineering forums where you can get those kinds of advice like the ones from alumni's? Because i don't think we have one. Thanks.

 

[RasslinGod]

sorry i don't know any other forums for engineering.