What Is Electrical Engineering? Branches, Careers, Skills & Certification

Electrical Engineering is the backbone of our modern world. Think about your day – from your morning coffee, the commute to work, to the smartphone you rely on. Picture a world without electricity – much of what we do relies on this invisible power. If you are curious how this power is harnessed and used, this blog will guide you in understanding electrical engineering, its varied branches, potential certifications, and how it opens doors to an exciting career.

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What Is Electrical Engineering?

Electrical engineering is the study of generating electrical power from other forms (mainly heat, but now including mechanical systems such as waves and wind), its transmission from one place to another, and its industrial and domestic use. Electronics is the branch of electrical engineering concerned with controlling individual particles called electrons whose movements we call electric current.

The Generation, Distribution, and Use of Electricity

Electrical engineering is concerned with using electricity to transmit and use power. There are natural sources of electrical power, such as lightning, and some living creatures, such as the electric eel. Still, the main concern of electrical engineering is directed at man-made systems that generate, distribute, and use electricity. Our main uses of electricity depend on converting electrical power to other forms, mainly mechanical effort, heat, and light. These other forms are also our main sources of electrical power.

The Historical Context

The first electrical effects to be discovered were those of static electricity, observed when amber was rubbed with silk. The ancient Greeks first discovered these effects, and because amber is called electron in Greek, we have coined words such as electricity and electronics that are so familiar today. 

Considerably later, in the eighteenth century, experimenters discovered other effects that also seemed to be electrical, but these were entirely different. Typically, these effects use a chemical action to generate what we now call electric current in a closed path that we call a circuit. Electric current can be compared to the flow of water in pipes to aid in imagining what is happening.

How Hard Is Electrical Engineering?

When gauging how tough electrical engineering (EE) can be, it’s essential to look at the courses involved. Typically, an EE curriculum is packed with classes that cover a wide range of topics like circuit theory, digital systems design, microprocessors, and electromagnetics. These are no walk in the park; they require a robust understanding of advanced mathematics and physics.

Let’s break down what makes these courses particularly challenging:

Mathematical Rigor

The demanding electrical engineering curriculum requires students to tackle complex mathematical concepts. This includes courses like Calculus I, II, III, and Differential Equations. It’s not just about solving problems but also about applying these concepts to real-world electrical systems. 

Theoretical Concepts

Courses on electromagnetism or signal processing may seem abstract, requiring students to develop strong conceptual thinking skills to grasp how unseen forces like electric fields function in the real world. This challenge demands a deep understanding of the theoretical side of electrical engineering.

Practical Application

Many courses include lab components where students must apply theory to build and test circuits or systems. This hands-on work demands meticulous attention to detail, as even minor errors can fail. Practical application is essential for students to excel in the field.

Design Projects

Capstone projects or senior design classes push students to synthesize everything they’ve learned into practical solutions for complex problems. These projects often involve teamwork under tight deadlines, highlighting the importance of collaboration and time management skills.

The Hardest Course for New Students

Experiences have shown that electromagnetics is one of the most challenging courses for new students. Visualizing unseen phenomena like electric fields can be challenging, and some teachers may explain these concepts more effectively than others.

The Easiest Subject in Electrical Engineering

 Digital Design and its advanced version (computer architecture) are often considered the simplest subjects in electrical engineering. Understanding the binary statement 1+1=1 can make digital design feel easy. These subjects are less abstract than others in the curriculum, making them more straightforward for students to grasp.

Volume of Work and Stress

The sheer volume of work expected in an electrical engineering degree program can lead to high-stress levels. Juggling multiple demanding courses simultaneously requires strong time management skills to succeed. Graduates often have stories of late nights spent debugging circuits due to simple errors, highlighting the importance of the intellectual demands and the resilience needed to navigate an electrical engineering major.

What Are The Branches Of Electrical Engineering?

Control Engineering

Control Engineering focuses on controllers designed to make systems behave in the desired manner. These systems range from aerospace flight and propulsion systems to industrial automation and robotics. Control systems are often created to provide feedback on performance that can be used to monitor potential problems or inform automated responses from autonomous drones, vehicles, and other systems.

Computer Engineering

Computer engineers design computers and computer systems for hardware devices such as desktop and laptop computers, video game consoles, mobile phones, robots, and more. While software engineering is often considered separate, computer engineers may work on a system’s software.

Electronics Engineering

Originally known as radio engineering, this field involved designing and testing electronic circuits for radios, communications and radar systems, and early television. The field has expanded to include modern television and audio systems, computers, and microprocessors.

Power and Energy Engineering

This engineering field involves generating and distributing electricity and designing devices such as electric generators, motors, transformers, and other power systems, including electricity grids. These engineers are involved in traditional, nuclear, and renewable energy solutions.

Micro and Nanoelectronic Engineering

These disciplines deal with electronics on a small scale. Microelectronics includes designing and fabricating microscopic-scale electronic circuit components, while nanoelectronics scales this work down to nanometers.

Photonic and Optic Engineering

This area concerns the generation, analysis, amplification, modulation, detection, and transmission of electromagnetic radiation. Optics uses this to design optical instruments like telescopes, microscopes, lenses, and sensors. This area also involves lasers, fiber-optic communication, and novel metamaterials.

Instrumentation Engineering

This engineering area is concerned with designing devices to measure physical quantities such as flow, pressure, and temperature. It requires knowledge of physics to create instruments, including those used in aviation, automotive, or other industrial uses, such as thermocouples that help ensure a constant temperature in a furnace.

Signal Process Engineering

Signal processing involves the analysis and manipulation of both analog and digital signals. These signals may need amplification or modulation for telecommunication purposes or compression and error detection if digitally sampled. Working in areas such as communications, broadcasting, biomedical, and control, these engineers work with everything from automotive control and audio systems to mobile phones and missile guidance!

Telecommunications Engineering

This engineering branch transmits communication via modulation through cables, optical fibers, and the atmosphere. These engineers design systems for transmitting and receiving telecommunications.

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What Exactly Do Electrical Engineers Do?

Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, ranging from electric motors to radar and navigation systems. They also oversee the creation of communication systems and power generation equipment. Electrical engineers use components such as batteries, capacitors, conductors, coils, diodes, inductors, magnets, resistors, switches, and transistors in their designs. A deep understanding of electronic and electrical theory, materials, and mathematics is essential to designing circuits that meet safety, reliability, and energy efficiency requirements. 

Computer-Aided Design in Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineers are increasingly utilizing computer-aided design (CAD) systems to create schematics and circuit layouts, including integrated circuits. These systems facilitate conducting virtual tests on the functionality of electronic devices and systems. Computer technologies are employed to model circuits, processors, or entire grids, enhance drafting times, print circuit board layouts and device blueprints, and facilitate design modifications and rapid prototyping.

Specializations in Electrical Engineering

While electricity was historically predominantly transmitted for information and energy purposes, electrical engineering now encompasses a variety of specialized sub-disciplines. Electrical engineers may concentrate on a single area or work across numerous disciplines. Focusing on a particular domain involves deepening expertise and honing skills within that specific sector, which helps enhance electrical engineers’ expertise and problem-solving skills.

What Careers Are There In Electrical Engineering?

Control Engineer

Control engineers design and develop systems and equipment that help create products. They meticulously test their designs, investigate any detected errors, and find suitable solutions to rectify them. These professionals are crucial in ensuring that products meet specific requirements and standards. By overseeing the development of various systems and equipment, control engineers contribute significantly to the success of numerous projects.

Project Engineer

Project engineers are essential in managing electrical engineering projects. These professionals supervise the entire management process, from budgeting to hiring a task force, ensuring the project is completed within the specified timeline. They also monitor the progress of each team member and ensure effective teamwork to achieve project success. Project engineers are key players in coordinating efforts and resources to meet project goals efficiently.

Test Engineer

Test engineers are responsible for conducting tests on electrical systems and providing valuable insights to manage them effectively. They are crucial in test planning, analyzing results, and researching optimal solutions. With their expertise, test engineers help ensure the quality and reliability of electrical systems, contributing to the overall success of engineering projects.

Design Engineer

Design engineers utilize computer-based design software to create systems and products according to specific specifications. These professionals engage in experimentation, track progress, and make necessary modifications to meet particular requirements. Design engineers are instrumental in developing innovative solutions and enhancing the performance of electrical systems and products.

Communications Engineer

Communications engineers specialize in building communication systems such as satellites and fiber optics. They may also be involved in installing these devices to ensure optimal performance and quality results. Communications engineers are vital in advancing communication technologies and facilitating seamless connectivity across various platforms.

What Skills Do Electrical Engineers Need?

Electrical Engineering requires a complete and thorough understanding of the theory and laws that govern electric and magnetic behavior. This understanding is most compactly and concisely communicated using mathematics. Understanding the electrical behavior of conductors and semiconductors, along with the ability to model the behavior of these materials, is vital for success in the field. A strong mathematics foundation allows electrical engineers to efficiently analyze and solve complex electrical problems.

Simulation Tools

Computer simulations are increasingly helpful in predicting the behavior of electrical devices, electronic circuits, or systems without building a physical prototype. Therefore, experience in using computer-aided design tools is an asset. Learning to use industry-standard software such as MATLAB and SPICE enables electrical engineers to easily design, simulate, and test electrical circuits. Proficiency in these tools is necessary for electrical engineers to be competitive in the job market and contribute effectively to the field.

Foundational Sciences

Some knowledge of chemistry, physics, and materials is helpful to a greater or lesser degree, depending upon the particular specialty area within electrical engineering. Understanding the properties of different materials and how they interact with electricity is crucial for designing and optimizing electrical systems. Knowledge of quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, and circuit theory is essential for electrical engineers to innovate and solve real-world problems in their field.

Beyond Technical Skills

Along with the hard skills listed above, a successful electrical engineer must be persistent, dedicated, and detail-oriented. Electrical engineering projects often involve complex systems and require meticulous attention to detail to ensure their success. Working diligently and persevering through challenges is key to becoming a proficient electrical engineer. Strong communication skills are essential for collaborating with colleagues, presenting findings, and documenting project progress effectively.

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Is Electrical Engineering A Good Career?

Electrical engineering is a versatile and rewarding field with many opportunities for growth and development. With the power to make a difference, electrical engineers significantly impact many aspects of our lives. Career opportunities in electrical engineering are abundant across various industry sectors, including power generation, robotics, defense, communication systems, and biomedicine. 

The field of electrical engineering is continuously evolving, creating an array of possibilities to explore and contribute. Contribute to the economy and make a difference in the world by choosing electrical engineering as your career path.

1. A lot of Career Options

Electrical engineering is a vast discipline that has linkages to other engineering disciplines and several subfields. Electrical engineering thus obtains an interdisciplinary advantage and diversifies its application in various academic and professional domains.

With this versatility, students have access to a wide range of specializations and numerous career options to choose from, such as:

• Control Systems
• Microelectronics
• Photonics
• Power Engineering
• Radio-Frequency Engineering
• Signal Processing
• Telecommunications

Thus, you can expand your expertise while pursuing an electrical engineering degree by adding pertinent specializations to boost your career opportunities.

2. Consistent Progress in Career

Electrical engineering is a rapidly evolving field that is constantly growing due to developing technologies and innovations in current models, methodologies, and design.

To encourage you to pursue electrical engineering as a career, take a look at the following statistics:

The job outlook for electrical and electronics engineers is expected to go up 7% between 2020 and 2030, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

It means Electrical, and electronics engineers are anticipated to have an average of 22,700 job vacancies in the next ten years. This is a definite sign that the electrical engineering discipline will progress further and remain a promising career option.

3. Demand Worldwide

Electrical engineers are in high demand all over the globe, and they will continue to be as long as there is electricity in the world.

Organizations and hiring managers are always looking to employ electrical engineers from multiple countries to add diversity, fresh perspectives, and new ways of doing things to the workforce.

And it’s because the field of electrical engineering is grounded on essential, universal principles of electrical, physics, and mathematics, so your acquired expertise does not confine you to the nation where you studied.

For this reason, Electrical engineers have a high potential for better employment options worldwide.

How Much Do Electrical Engineers Earn?

The average salary for electrical engineers is $91,953 per year. Yearly salaries can vary from $63,177 to $133,835. Experience is the key salary indicator, with senior electrical engineers earning substantially more than entry-level engineers. Electrical engineers can also increase their salaries by earning an advanced degree and gaining their Professional Engineer (PE) license.

7 Little-Known & Interesting Facts About Electrical Engineering

1. Emergence in the Late 19th Century

Electrical engineering is one of the newest branches of engineering, having emerged primarily in the late 19th century. Since then, it has grown to encompass various sub-disciplines, including:

• Power Systems
• Control systems
• Telecommunications
• Microelectronics

2. Impact on Industries

Electrical engineers play a pivotal role in shaping various industries, from designing electrical systems for buildings and infrastructure to developing cutting-edge electronics. Their work profoundly impacts everything from power generation to communication devices.

3. Popular and In-Demand Field

Electrical engineering is one of the most popular and in-demand fields of engineering. It offers diverse career opportunities and allows professionals to specialize in different areas.

4. Thomas Edison

Cornell University awarded the first electrical engineering degree, and Thomas Edison—known for inventions like the phonograph and electric light bulb—became an iconic figure in the history of electrical engineering.

5. Mathematics Is the Key

Mathematics is often called the language of engineering, especially in electrical engineering. A deep understanding of mathematical and physical principles provides electrical engineers with a surprisingly powerful toolbox of solutions to technological problems. 

Math: The Language of Electrical Engineering

For anyone who has wondered where the maths they have learned can be used, electrical engineering is mainly about applying a vast breadth of mathematical theory, including imaginary numbers, to many real problems.

6. There Are Still Many Things To Discover Within Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering has been recognized for over 100 years but continues to reinvent itself. After giving birth to the transistor, all computer science grew out of electrical engineering. 

The Impact of Electrical Engineering on Technology

• Automatic control
• Renewable energy generation
• Sensors
• High-speed optical fiber
• Wireless communications networks

These advances highlight that electrical engineering is fundamental to much of what we call ‘technology.’

Current Trends Shaping The Future Of Electrical Engineering

Electric Vehicles

The market for electric vehicles (EVs) has surged in the U.S. as the motor vehicle industry attempts to cut climate-warming tailpipe emissions.

Electric Vehicle Surge

According to Argonne National Laboratory, sales of plug-in vehicles were up 47% in January 2023 compared to the previous year. 

EV Market Transformation

EVs accounted for almost 8% of all light-duty vehicles sold. As automakers ramp up production, those numbers could increase substantially over the coming decade. S&P Global Mobility projects that EVs will make up 40% of new vehicle sales by 2030.

Plug-In Sales Soar

Electrical engineers are needed to design and develop EVs, including their:

• Engines
• Batteries
• Electrical systems

EV Market Share Rises

Electrical engineers are also involved in creating charging station networks for EVs to make long-distance travel practical. 

Automaker Production Ramps Up

The IIJ Act will invest $7.5 billion of federal money into constructing 500,000 charging stations, up from 147,000 at the end of 2022. But that figure may be just a start. 

EV Sales Poised for Boom

S&P Global Mobility projects that by 2030, the U.S. will need 2.3 million public charging stations to service a fleet of 28 million EVs.

Wearable Technology

Wearable technology has advanced significantly since the first Bluetooth headset was introduced in 2000. According to Allied Market Research, global sales of all types of wearable technology are growing 12.8% per year and will reach $184 billion by 2031. The top categories of wearable technology relate to lifestyle.

Electrical Engineering Certification: How To Become A Professional Electrical Engineer

The first step to becoming a professional electrical engineer is typically obtaining a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field. This educational foundation equips students with the essential knowledge and skills required for a successful career in electrical engineering. Many countries or organizations may also require professional certification and a degree. 

This certification meets specific requirements, such as practical work experience, and ultimately enables engineers to use designations like Professional Engineer, Chartered Engineer, Chartered Professional Engineer, or European Engineer.

A Gateway to Career Advancement in Electrical Engineering

In the United States and Canada, professional certification is typically mandatory for practicing electrical engineering. On the other hand, other countries may not have this stipulation. Nonetheless, even in regions where certification is not obligatory, obtaining it and becoming a member of a professional organization like the National Society of Professional Engineers can significantly benefit one’s career progression and open up opportunities for securing desirable roles within the vibrant field of electrical engineering.

Professional Certification Matters for Electrical Engineers

Professional certification is a vital testament to an individual’s competency and expertise in the electrical engineering landscape. While a bachelor’s degree lays the foundation for a career in this dynamic realm, achieving professional certification is crucial in honing one’s skills and showcasing a commitment to excellence in the field. By obtaining certification and becoming part of a professional body, aspiring electrical engineers can confidently navigate this industry’s complexities and set themselves up for long-term success.

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StudyForFE is an online exam preparation platform founded by Wasim Asghar, a licensed professional engineer with over 15 years of industry experience. The platform offers a comprehensive review course, the FE Electrical Exam Prep Review Course, designed to help students pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. With interactive lectures, practice problems, and personalized mentorship from Wasim, students are guided to success.*

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