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I'm considering Univerity of Houston. here is the curriculum. Do you guys see anything missing or is it pretty standard?
Electrical Engineering degree
- Thread starter strantor
- Start date
Looks pretty standard - I'm assuming engineering math is a combo of differential equations, linear algebra and numerical methods.
If you are planning on working part-time/full-time the course load might be a bit heavy. You should see if the school will give you credit toward your non-engineering core for your life experience. My school required fewer liberal arts courses for adult students.
If you are planning on working part-time/full-time the course load might be a bit heavy. You should see if the school will give you credit toward your non-engineering core for your life experience. My school required fewer liberal arts courses for adult students.
I'm looking at this and it appears to be a 4 year degree, but omits the term "engineering degree". What's up with that? Am I reading it wrong? Why would you get a 4 year degree just to be a technician when you could be an engineer? or is this really an engineering degree? I'm confused.
"Engineering Technology" and "Engineering" differ:
http://et.uncc.edu/engineering-vs-engineering-technology.html
FWIW, i feel like the colleges that are most well known for being good engineering schools are the best to go to for an engineering degree
if someone has never heard of the college, they will probably be more likely to overlook you
and from what i've heard, many people fail out of engineering school at purdue and come back and get engineering technology degrees with good grades, it is not quite an engineering degree
not to offend anyone with those degrees, it's also based off what you want to do
but go for engineering
if someone has never heard of the college, they will probably be more likely to overlook you
and from what i've heard, many people fail out of engineering school at purdue and come back and get engineering technology degrees with good grades, it is not quite an engineering degree
not to offend anyone with those degrees, it's also based off what you want to do
but go for engineering
Ok, that clears it up a lot, but I'm still left with the burning question, of why would somebody pay the same price for a technician degree when they can get the engineer degree. I guess it comes down to being accepted for the engineering program? and the engineering technology program is for the people that can't hack the engineering courses?
justtrying
- Joined Mar 9, 2011
- 439
Do your research very carefully. I am actually doing a technology program, but it is a 2 year program and is packed with courses. If you look at the curriculum, it is basically same as 4 year program minus all the humanities and a few courses from other areas of electronics leaving just the essentials for my field. Since I already have a university degree, there is no need for me to do the non-essentials. As far as the technology program being for people who cannot hack it in the engineering, it all depends on the school, we actually had people fail who already took engineering courses elsewhere... Having said that, I would never choose a technology program over actual engeneering degree if I had to pay same amount of money, sound bogus.
justtrying
- Joined Mar 9, 2011
- 439
Technologists have their own societies and regulations. There are also always ways of moving up once employed. It is simply a different category. The thing is it is definitely not worth paying the same money to get a tech. certification if you can get an engineering one. But if you are strapped for time/cash or just sick of school, then tech becomes a fairly viable option since there are good technology programs available that are 2 years long. One can also check if you can transfer to a university upon completion, some universities will give full credits for the whole program and admit you into 3rd year of their degree program.
I can only speak from experience based on the Electrical Engineering vs. Electrical Engineering Technology degrees offered by my school, but from what I have seen it is similar at other universities.
EET is definitely less rigorous than EE. For example, at my school EE requires Calc C and Differential Equations, EET does not. EE also requires two-semesters of solid-state electronics, EET has a one semester course that covers the essentials of both classes but in less detail.
However, EET's also take a few classes that aren't required by the EE program (e.g. technical writing, organizational leadership and project management.)
For some students it may be the extra math and theory that makes students choose EET over EE. However, most of the EET's I've been in classes with (they do take a lot of the same classes as EE's) were just as smart as the EE's, but they were more interested in the business side of the picture. Each degree is geared toward a different career. Most of our EET's are interested in management and sales at engneering and technology firms (and could easily earn more than an EE in these roles.)
I would say that as an EE you probably have more opportunity, since it's still possible to move into sales and management if you have aptitude for these careers (whereas it would seem harder for an EET to move into design or R&D.) All else being equal, if management or sales is your goal I'd say go for the EE degree anyway and just use some of the business oriented EET classes to fill out your general electives if possible (I used technical writing to fill my second English requirement.)
Also, in my experience, a four year (BS degree) in EET is not just a two year EET program with liberal arts classes added in. There is more depth and a wider exposure to the different sub-diciplines of the chosen engieering field. The positions requiring a BS in EET will likely have higher starting salaries and more opportunities for advancement without further schooling.
But that is just my 2 cents.
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Thanks for that description Zazoo. I'm not a people person by nature, so neither management nor sales appeals to me; I would prefer spending my time designing things. But I do want to own my own business some day, so those classes may be helpful. I think I could get past my aversion to sales & management if it was in support of running my own business, but I wouldn't want to fill those roles as an employee for anyone else. I am going to compare the courses for each degree and see which ones are shared; I might take the engineering route, plus the extra courses given in the engineering technology.
Strantor,
Some points I hope you'll find helpful:
Make sure whatever college you choose is accredited such as by ABET: http://www.abet.org/why-accreditation-matters/. This will determine if your degree is worth something or not. You could pay $100K to Bob's Engineering College of Whahoo and get a degree, but if it isn't accredited, it will be worth nothing.
Technicians make less than engineers but they get more hands-on. Typically all they get is hands-on and work on circuits, equipment, etc., very little or no design work. This isn't a bad thing, it depends on your interests and abilities as to whether to be a technician or an engineer. Some people can do both, some can only do one of the two (and some could do neither). My opinion is to shoot for the top. If you get an engineering degree and find you dislike the work and want to be a technician, no problem. If you become a technician and want to be an engineer later, then you have to go back for the degree.
I'd avoid anything that is referred to as a technology degree.
Large colleges typically include the humanities as a requirement so you're more well-rounded. I don't recommend skipping them as they'll immensely help your overall GPA. To really know what you have to take and what you're allowed to skip, contact the department you're interested in and find an advisor. This person or group of people makes those decisions and it will save you a lot of headache up front to plan all this out now.
I'd advise taking some community college classes when possible if you plan to go to a big university. Find out which classes the big university will accept as part of your curriculum first. Reason is you'll get more help, better understanding, and better grades. The basic courses like math, physics, etc. are often handled by teaching assistants or professors who have to do teach it, not necessarily want to, in a big university. In the end, an employer is going to see you graduated from BIG university, not that you took some classes at a CC.
Loosewire mentioned being licensed. You only get licensed if you become a professional engineer (PE). This is done first by taking the Fundamentals of Engineering exam (FE), usually right out of college. Then you study under a certified PE at your job who has to recommend to whatever the organization is that you're ready to be a PE in a few years, then you take the PE exam. If you pass, you'll be a PE. This is really only good if you're going to work in an engineering construction/design firm as PE's have to sign off on building plumbing, HVAC, electrical systems and the like and road construction. In other words, design of things where lots of people's lives are involved. Great money, but if you're not going into a field that requires it, you probably don't want to waste the time and money in getting it. If you're unsure, take the FE right out of college just to be safe (it'll test all the knowledge you have fresh in your head which is why you don't want to wait to take it).
Mechanical vs. Electrical: Well, my degree is in ME but most of the work I've done has been as an EE, so it really depends on what you want to do. It's much easier to do EE work with an EE degree than with an ME degree and vice versa. Some common areas/tasks of each:
ME - mechanical design, CAD, automotive
EE - electrical design, circuit design, programming
The question is what do you want to do 80% of the time when you get a job? If you find the right company, you can some of both and still get your hands dirty building something. Take a look at Monster.com for jobs in your area for whatever degree(s) you are considering and look at the job descriptions. This will give you a better idea of the type of work involved with whatever degree you are considering. Choose one that makes you happy above all else.
Hope this helps.
Some points I hope you'll find helpful:
Make sure whatever college you choose is accredited such as by ABET: http://www.abet.org/why-accreditation-matters/. This will determine if your degree is worth something or not. You could pay $100K to Bob's Engineering College of Whahoo and get a degree, but if it isn't accredited, it will be worth nothing.
Technicians make less than engineers but they get more hands-on. Typically all they get is hands-on and work on circuits, equipment, etc., very little or no design work. This isn't a bad thing, it depends on your interests and abilities as to whether to be a technician or an engineer. Some people can do both, some can only do one of the two (and some could do neither). My opinion is to shoot for the top. If you get an engineering degree and find you dislike the work and want to be a technician, no problem. If you become a technician and want to be an engineer later, then you have to go back for the degree.
I'd avoid anything that is referred to as a technology degree.
Large colleges typically include the humanities as a requirement so you're more well-rounded. I don't recommend skipping them as they'll immensely help your overall GPA. To really know what you have to take and what you're allowed to skip, contact the department you're interested in and find an advisor. This person or group of people makes those decisions and it will save you a lot of headache up front to plan all this out now.
I'd advise taking some community college classes when possible if you plan to go to a big university. Find out which classes the big university will accept as part of your curriculum first. Reason is you'll get more help, better understanding, and better grades. The basic courses like math, physics, etc. are often handled by teaching assistants or professors who have to do teach it, not necessarily want to, in a big university. In the end, an employer is going to see you graduated from BIG university, not that you took some classes at a CC.
Loosewire mentioned being licensed. You only get licensed if you become a professional engineer (PE). This is done first by taking the Fundamentals of Engineering exam (FE), usually right out of college. Then you study under a certified PE at your job who has to recommend to whatever the organization is that you're ready to be a PE in a few years, then you take the PE exam. If you pass, you'll be a PE. This is really only good if you're going to work in an engineering construction/design firm as PE's have to sign off on building plumbing, HVAC, electrical systems and the like and road construction. In other words, design of things where lots of people's lives are involved. Great money, but if you're not going into a field that requires it, you probably don't want to waste the time and money in getting it. If you're unsure, take the FE right out of college just to be safe (it'll test all the knowledge you have fresh in your head which is why you don't want to wait to take it).
Mechanical vs. Electrical: Well, my degree is in ME but most of the work I've done has been as an EE, so it really depends on what you want to do. It's much easier to do EE work with an EE degree than with an ME degree and vice versa. Some common areas/tasks of each:
ME - mechanical design, CAD, automotive
EE - electrical design, circuit design, programming
The question is what do you want to do 80% of the time when you get a job? If you find the right company, you can some of both and still get your hands dirty building something. Take a look at Monster.com for jobs in your area for whatever degree(s) you are considering and look at the job descriptions. This will give you a better idea of the type of work involved with whatever degree you are considering. Choose one that makes you happy above all else.
Hope this helps.
Back to this engineering VS engineering technology discussion...
Some background: I'm 26, married, 2 kids. I work in a manufacturing plant doing electrical maintenance on production machines. I got this job because of related experience in the Navy. During the course of working here for the past 3 years I have gotten lots of experience with PLCs, motor controls (VFDs), and machine control circuits. I make about 60K/year (gross) but I have to work 60-70hrs/weeks to make that. I love making things. Both the design phase & the hands on building of it. Being an engineer sitting at a desk designing things but never being able to build them would be only marginally more fulfilling than what I do now - fixing things that other people designed. But a least I would still be making things, and I would be payed much better for it. If I could be paid double my current paycheck for doing the same job, I would seriously consider it over engineering.
I have been planning quit my job to go to college in the fall. Community college for 1 year, then finish at the university with an undergraduate in Electrical Engineering.
Recently I spoke with an old salty technician. He urged me to get a 2 year Engineering technology degree instead of a 4 year engineering degree. He said that's what he did, and he makes about 150k/year working 50-60hrs/week (but he has 30 years of experience too). He said that engineers are paid poorly considering how much school they have to go through. He said that the engineering field is mostly moving overseas where labor is cheaper, so the job market for engineers is flooded in America so wages for engineers are low. He said most companies keep a few old engineers around that have been engineering for a few decades and aren't really looking for fresh new American engineers. He said that while engineering is largely going away, there will always be a need for people who know how to fix things, and currently companies can't find good technicians who can be counted on to fix machines, so good technicians can easily make way more money that decent engineers.
What he said makes sense, but it makes me wonder now if I really need the degree, or if I can just go out and get a better paying job with the experience that I already have. So, do you agree with the things that he said? Do you think I should go for Electrical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or simply start looking for a new job?
Some background: I'm 26, married, 2 kids. I work in a manufacturing plant doing electrical maintenance on production machines. I got this job because of related experience in the Navy. During the course of working here for the past 3 years I have gotten lots of experience with PLCs, motor controls (VFDs), and machine control circuits. I make about 60K/year (gross) but I have to work 60-70hrs/weeks to make that. I love making things. Both the design phase & the hands on building of it. Being an engineer sitting at a desk designing things but never being able to build them would be only marginally more fulfilling than what I do now - fixing things that other people designed. But a least I would still be making things, and I would be payed much better for it. If I could be paid double my current paycheck for doing the same job, I would seriously consider it over engineering.
I have been planning quit my job to go to college in the fall. Community college for 1 year, then finish at the university with an undergraduate in Electrical Engineering.
Recently I spoke with an old salty technician. He urged me to get a 2 year Engineering technology degree instead of a 4 year engineering degree. He said that's what he did, and he makes about 150k/year working 50-60hrs/week (but he has 30 years of experience too). He said that engineers are paid poorly considering how much school they have to go through. He said that the engineering field is mostly moving overseas where labor is cheaper, so the job market for engineers is flooded in America so wages for engineers are low. He said most companies keep a few old engineers around that have been engineering for a few decades and aren't really looking for fresh new American engineers. He said that while engineering is largely going away, there will always be a need for people who know how to fix things, and currently companies can't find good technicians who can be counted on to fix machines, so good technicians can easily make way more money that decent engineers.
What he said makes sense, but it makes me wonder now if I really need the degree, or if I can just go out and get a better paying job with the experience that I already have. So, do you agree with the things that he said? Do you think I should go for Electrical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or simply start looking for a new job?
Strantor, there is no one answer or easy answer. Anyone can come up with one situation or another to justify or refute that position.
I have an engineering degree and could have moved on to get a PhD but chose not to.
I do a technician's job that someone with a technical background can do. The person before me might have been a high school drop-out for all I know.
I don't make a lot of money but as a technician, my job is not about fixing things that other people designed. I do a substantial amount of new engineering design. I have a lot of freedom to choose my own projects. I also do a lot of teaching. I see a lot of students who should not be at university and would be better off in a technical school.
I would not trade my job for anything else. It is not about the money but about job satisfaction and lifestyle choices.
I think one of the things you should continue to work at is looking for a niche market that you are good at and start working for yourself at least on the side.
I have an engineering degree and could have moved on to get a PhD but chose not to.
I do a technician's job that someone with a technical background can do. The person before me might have been a high school drop-out for all I know.
I don't make a lot of money but as a technician, my job is not about fixing things that other people designed. I do a substantial amount of new engineering design. I have a lot of freedom to choose my own projects. I also do a lot of teaching. I see a lot of students who should not be at university and would be better off in a technical school.
I would not trade my job for anything else. It is not about the money but about job satisfaction and lifestyle choices.
I think one of the things you should continue to work at is looking for a niche market that you are good at and start working for yourself at least on the side.
Right on. If I had my way, I would own a small business building one-off purpose-built machines. If not that, then at least my own small business repairing machines. I already have my first customer lined up - my current employer. Before I started here, he had to call in technicians (one of the guys who gave me the advice) from a 3rd party company once every week or two, paying thousands of dollars each time. I told him after I leave, I am keeping the same phone number, and to call me before he calls the other technician - I'll only charge hundreds of dollars instead of thousands. He said he would definately do that. So, I should have the occasional side job available while in college.
Not to rain on your parade, but I'll share what I've found in my years of working, the last 30 for GM.
In a large company its not so much about WHAT you know as it is about WHO you know. Having worked hand in hand with engineers over the years, some of the dumbest have been the ones at the top of the pecking order. All because they had a "rabbi" or two that helped them along the way. Due to family ties or for what ever other reason.
About being able to design and actually build things. In a 'union' shop that won't happen. If your lucky you may get to do design work, but the hands on is a no-no.
And you will still be up against the problem of being given work/projects that you are not really interested in, or even want to do.
Just my observations from life, your mileage may vary. What ever you decide, best of luck to you.
In a large company its not so much about WHAT you know as it is about WHO you know. Having worked hand in hand with engineers over the years, some of the dumbest have been the ones at the top of the pecking order. All because they had a "rabbi" or two that helped them along the way. Due to family ties or for what ever other reason.
About being able to design and actually build things. In a 'union' shop that won't happen. If your lucky you may get to do design work, but the hands on is a no-no.
And you will still be up against the problem of being given work/projects that you are not really interested in, or even want to do.
Just my observations from life, your mileage may vary. What ever you decide, best of luck to you.
I don't have much to add as a lots of very good things have been said so far. With a wife and two kids, a stable job with good medical and dental should be a priority. If you want a EE degree go to night school , community college and work out a plan to stay where you are until the paper is in your hand.
