1. Introduction to Electrical Engineering
Everything you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask …
M. Holtzman & B. Pejcinovic

3. What is Engineering?
Engineering is the discipline and profession of applying technical and scientific knowledge and utilizing natural laws and physical resources in order to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes that realize a desired objective and meet specified criteria. Wikipedia
The profession in which knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study, experience and practice, is applied with judgment to develop ways to use, economically, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind. ABET

4. Some Quotes
“Engineering is not merely knowing and being knowledgeable, like a walking encyclopedia; engineering is not merely analysis; engineering is not merely the possession of the capacity to get elegant solutions to non-existent engineering problems; engineering is practicing the art of the organized forcing of technological change... Engineers operate at the interface between science and society... ”
Dean Gordon Brown
“Scientists explore what is; engineers create what has not been.”
Theodore Von Karman
“Engineering is sometimes thought of as an applied science, but engineering is far more. The essence of engineering is design and making things happen for the benefit of humanity.”
Martha Sloan, Am. Assoc. Engr. Soc. Chair
“For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of life, please press three.”
Alice Kahn

5. You don’t have to be a genius to be an Engineer…
What Makes an Engineer?
Curiosity about how things work
The desire to solve interesting problems
Interest in design and experimentation
Some affinity for using math and science
Good teamwork and communication skills
Creative and adaptable
Eager to keep learning new things
You don’t have to be a genius to be an Engineer…

6. Engineering Jobs Research Development Testing Design Analysis Systems
Manufacturing
Operations
Tech support
Sales
Consulting
Management

7. Engineering Fields Aerospace Agricultural Biomedical Chemical Civil
Electrical
Environmental
Industrial
Materials
Mechanical
Mining
Nuclear
Petroleum
Power
Systems

8. Some Examples
Aerospace engineers might work on spacecraft, aircraft or missiles. They could be concerned with aerodynamics, structures or propulsion systems.
For example, a team of design engineers at an aerospace company is designing an aircraft engine fan blade. They run detailed computer analyses and do on-engine testing. Reliability, efficiency, cost and weight are all design constraints. The goal is to push current design barriers to optimize these constraints, probably making some trade-offs between efficiency, cost and weight. The final design must be certified by the FAA.

9. More examples
Test engineers design and perform tests to verify integrity, reliability and quality of products before they are introduced to the public.
For example, test engineers use a “chicken gun” to fire birds at the windshields of planes and high-speed train locomotives to ensure the windshields can withstand a high-speed impact.
Biomedical engineers help develop artificial limbs and joints to provide mobility to the physically impaired. They also develop mechanical and electrical devices to aid in diagnosis and treatment.

10. What about Electrical Engineering?
Computers
Communications
Circuits and devices
Control
Instrumentation
Signal processing
Bioengineering
Power

11. Computers Computer engineers design and develop computer hardware
Also design and develop software that controls or interfaces the computer and its components such as operating systems and compilers
Work on computer architecture to improve speed and efficiency
Also computer networks, security, artificial intelligence, voice recognition, etc.

12. Communications – satellites, GPS, fiber optics, lasers, wireless
Circuits and devices– micro (and nano) technology, circuit design, device fabrication and packaging, MEMS, photovoltaics
Control – almost all machines and plants have control systems to monitor and self-correct processes.

13. Instrumentation – measurement devices (temperature, pressure, flow, etc.), systems to transmit information (telemetry)
Signal processing – signals are electronically filtered, amplified or otherwise modified, e.g., active noise control
Bioengineering – develop devices to aid in diagnosis and treatment, e.g., MRI, CAT scans, pacemakers, cardiac monitors, prosthetics
Power – production and distribution of electrical power, alternative energy technologies

14. Engineering Job Market
Engineers make some of the highest amounts of any career with a 4-year degree
Employers want the “total package” – graduates who are not just academically well-prepared, but have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, teamwork and leadership experience and technical and computer proficiency
Salary data from NACE report 2014

15. Top 20 Majors by Salary Potential
Starting Salary 
Mid-Career Salary  1
Petroleum Engineering
$103,000
$160,000 2
Actuarial Mathematics
$58,700
$120,000 3
Nuclear Engineering
$67,600
$117,000 4
Chemical Engineering
$68,200
$115,000 5
Aerospace Engineering
$62,800
$109,000
6 - tie
Electrical Engineering (EE)
$64,300
$106,000
Computer Engineering (CE)
$65,300 8
Computer Science (CS)
$59,800
$102,000 9
Physics
$53,100
$101,000 10
Mechanical Engineering (ME)
$60,900
$99,700 11
Materials Science & Engineering
$62,700
$99,500 12
Software Engineering
$60,500
$99,300 13
Statistics
$52,500
$98,900 14
Government
$43,200
$97,100 15
Economics
$50,100
$96,700 16
Applied Mathematics
$52,800
$96,200 17
Industrial Engineering (IE)
$61,100
$94,400 18
Management Information Systems (MIS)
$53,800
$92,200 19
Biomedical Engineering (BME)
$59,000
$91,700 20
Civil Engineering (CE)
$54,300
$91,100

16. So Why Be an Engineer? Great variety and challenge in your work
Build or improve lasting and tangible products
Use your creativity to solve problems and help humankind
Good salary and job prospects
Is it fun and do you like it?

17. Individual assignment
You will explore one of these areas (fields) of ECE in more depth
Read the assignment carefully and start right away
Make sure that you write about something that you care about, even if that is not what you will pursue as a career