September 4, 1882, Thomas Edison built the first central power station in Pearl Street, Lower Manhattan. It had its humble beginnings with one generator that produced power for 800 light bulbs. Fast forward 128 years; we now generate over 2.5 million gigawatt-hours annually. If you are wondering what that implies, it is the equivalent of lighting 4.8 billion 60 watt bulbs for a year! With time, our energy needs are only growing and to meet our growing demands we needed smarter machines; appliances that require less power. We also need ideas that fiddle around with the basic concepts of physics and mathematics to produce cheaper options. Ideation is a purely human exercise and that can only imply one thing; we need engineers. Electrical engineers who make our life easier by making that chargeable battery last a wee bit longer, or that instant geyser that burns a smaller hole in your pocket, or that iPod that can now store 25 movies along with 5GB music. The list is endless, however if you think that you have a natural flair for applying pure sciences in the electrical domain then electrical engineering is a great option. Read on to know all about electrical engineering.
Courses On Electrical Engineering
Eligibility
A candidate aspiring to be an electrical engineer should have completed his 10+2 from a recognized government board of education. It is essential to major in science at your undergraduate level. Most candidates opt for the combination physics, chemistry, mathematics and electronics at the undergraduate level to be eligible for electrical engineering. Entrance tests conducted by respective universities need to be taken up, in order to acquire a place at the university. In a country like India it is considered one of the best branches, and requires the candidate to do exceptionally well in the entrance exams.
Details Of The Course
The course has duration of 4 years; the first year includes a general overview of all the engineering branches, basic physics, chemistry and engineering drawing. From second year onwards the topics under study include the following:
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Logic Design
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Analog electronics circuits
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Network analysis
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Electric and electronic measurements and instrumentation
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Electric Power generation
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Signals and Systems
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Modern control theory
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D.C machines and Synchronous machines
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Linear Integrated circuits
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Transmission and distribution
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Digital Signal Processing
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Electrical machine design
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Switchgear and Protection
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Power system analysis and stability
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Power electronics
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High Voltage Engineering
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Electrical power Utilization
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Industrial Management, Electrical Estimation and Economics
Skills Required
A candidate aspiring to be an electrical engineer must have a strong hold on mathematics. A strong hold on basic concepts of electromagnetism and pre-university physics are helpful in understanding the course material of electrical engineering. A candidate must be able to apply theoretical knowledge to improve an everyday situation or troubleshoot a common problem.
Specialization
A candidate can always follow up a Bachelor’s degree with Masters. Candidates interested in research can take up doctoral programs. The most common areas of research include the following:
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Semiconductor physics
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Very large scale integrated chip design (no fabrication procedure)
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Digital Signal Processing
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Electrical Estimation and Economics
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Embedded systems
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Microelectromechanical system (MEMS)
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Adaptive signal processing
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Power Electronics
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Smart Materials
Career Prospects
In times where are energy needs are only increasing by manifold, electrical engineers are a necessity. They are mainly employed in atomic power plants, hydro electric power stations and thermal power stations. They are also used by companies making household appliances like refrigerators, computers, microwaves and television. Job responsibilities include specification, design, development, and implementation of products or systems, as well as research to create new ideas. They can also work in government organizations.
Some Of The Best Institutes Offering Courses In Electronics Engineering
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Massachusetts institute of technology, USA
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University of California, Berkeley , USA
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University of Southern California, Los Angeles , USA
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Indian institute of technology , Kharagpur, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai , India
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National Institute of Technology, Karnataka, India
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National Institute of Technology, Trichy, India
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BITS Pilani, Rajasthan, India
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Anna University, Chennai, India
