Electrical Engineering

The electronics age has been with us for many years now, and many of the new products you continue to see as a result of this age are created by electrical engineers. Electrical engineers perform jobs such as developing new ways of making microchips, designing communications systems, using lasers and robots to solve problems, running our nation's electric power distribution and telecommunications infrastructure and designing products such as automobile control systems, cellular phones, and biomedical devices.

The electronics age has led us into the development of revolutionary information technologies, in which new and very capable information products are being created at a rapid rate. Electrical engineers create products such as control systems for cars and airplanes, communications satellites, PDAs and cellular telephones, microelectronic devices, the internet and wireless communication systems, electric power distribution systems and microprocessors for computers and programmable devices.

Earning potential is excellent, despite the recent temporary downturn in the market. In 2003, new BS graduates in electrical engineering are earning an average of over $50,000 per year, while new MS graduates start at over $60,000 per year on average. Many electrical engineers earn six figure incomes. Moreover, the wealth creation potential over the years, through corporate stock ownership plans or starting new companies, is very large. An electrical engineering degree is also an excellent entry point for a career in law, business, management or medicine, and many of our graduates have pursued these professional paths. Nevertheless, the most important benefit of engineering is how enjoyable it is. Our graduates don’t work with tomorrow’s technology, they create it.

Employers have a lot of respect for our graduates. One local IBM manager recently stated that our program produces the best prepared graduates in the southeast. We are constantly improving and incorporating innovation into our program, laboratories and facilities. We emphasize a hands-on approach and have the computing and laboratory resources to support this teaching style. The program is regularly updated to reflect new advances. Our faculty has won national respect. Many have won prestigious national awards. Our research and outreach has had a major impact on companies such as Intel and IBM. Our location in the Research Triangle provides many co-op employment opportunities, leads to much industry involvement in our program, and will often provide for your first job.

Electrical Engineering has as its educational objectives to produce graduates who:

• will be able to utilize mathematics, science and engineering to identify, formulate, analyze and solve electrical and computer engineering problems. By engineering here we mean the skills, tools, and experimental techniques involved in the practice of engineering.
• will be able to design electrical system components, or processes to meet desired needs. This objective includes the ability to work effectively on interdisciplinary teams and to communicate effectively with team members to achieve design objectives.
• will demonstrate the ability to engage in lifelong learning in their profession as well as in contemporary issues of importance to the communities in which they live and work.
• will have an understanding of their professional and ethical responsibility, and have the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context.

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