College Courses Needed to Become an Electrical Engineer

by Luanne Kelchner
Electrical engineers design the equipment used in power stations.

Electrical engineers design the equipment used in power stations.

Andy Sotiriou/Photodisc/Getty Images

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual median salary for electrical engineers in 2011 was $85,920. Electrical engineers work on equipment and systems that produce or use electricity. Some engineers focus on the generation of electric power while others concentrate on developing equipment that uses electricity, such as motors. A bachelor's degree is the basic academic requirement, and the electrical engineering curricula include both engineering fundamentals and liberal arts courses.

Job Description of an Electrical Engineer

Engineers develop new products or make improvements to existing products and systems. That includes all kinds of products that use electrical power, such as motors, communication equipment or navigation systems. Engineers may oversee the manufacture, testing and installation of electrical products to ensure workers meet specifications and quality requirements. Positions may be available in engineering firms, electrical product manufacturers, research and development firms or power generation businesses. Some electrical engineers work in the construction field overseeing the installation and operation of equipment in a power generation facility or other industrial sites. Electrical engineers also may work as independent consultants and handle projects for several businesses.

Degree Requirements

The BLS states the minimum education for an electrical engineer is a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree program in electrical engineering requires a four-year commitment. Some cooperative programs are available that allow students to earn credit for work experience in the field. Cooperative programs provide students with an opportunity to earn money and gain valuable work experience while studying for a bachelor’s degree. Obtaining an engineering license may be necessary for positions involving government contracts, according to the BLS. The professional engineering license, or PE, may enhance job opportunities. Positions in research or teaching at the university level require at least a master’s degree in electrical engineering.

Electrical Engineering Courses

Courses in a bachelor’s degree program include general engineering principles and coursework that focuses on electrical engineering. Introductory courses in engineering principles cover problem solving, teamwork and design in a general engineering context. Electrical engineering courses include electric circuits, microelectronics and electromagnetic fields. Design courses in an electrical engineering program introduce students to computer-aided design tools for simulation and modeling. Master’s degree programs allow students to focus their studies in specific areas, such as communications systems, electromagnetics, computers and biomedical applications. Master’s degree programs may require students to complete a thesis, but some schools allow students to select a non-thesis option.

General Education Courses

A four-year degree program also requires students to complete general education courses such as social sciences, humanities, chemistry, physics and advanced mathematics. Students must also complete English composition courses, economics and public speaking to complete the degree program.

About the Author


Photo Credits

  • Andy Sotiriou/Photodisc/Getty Images
bibliography-icon icon for annotation tool Cite this Article