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ggunn

PE (Electrical), NABCEP certified
Location
Austin, TX, USA
Occupation
Electrical Engineer - Photovoltaic Systems
I want to go to college but I don't know if I should do Electrcial engineer or Electrical engineer technology
I'll just say that if you decide on Electrical Engineering you'll need to be a dedicated motivated student with good study habits to get through it. It's a very challenging field of study, but nothing worth a damn comes easy.
 

gadfly56

Senior Member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
I want to go to college but I don't know if I should do Electrcial engineer or Electrical engineer technology

Do you have some good idea of the kind of work you would like to do? Do you see yourself as more of a hands-on person or do you like to work with more abstract "big picture" concepts?
 

gadfly56

Senior Member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
I want work with distributing the power in a power station

OK, so do you want to be the foreman running the power gang, or do you want to be designing the bus ducts, wireways, duct banks, cable runs, etc?
 

peter d

Senior Member
Location
New England
I have what amounts to an ET degree, for me it's toilet paper since I have been doing electrical work ever since and have never once used my degree for a job. That being said, if you like designing stuff, go for the EE degree. If you want to be hands on, the ET degree is better.
 

JoelP

Member
Location
Stroudsburg Pa
I have what amounts to an ET degree, for me it's toilet paper since I have been doing electrical work ever since and have never once used my degree for a job. That being said, if you like designing stuff, go for the EE degree. If you want to be hands on, the ET degree is better.

I want to do more of the design aspect
 

Saturn_Europa

Senior Member
Location
Fishing Industry
Occupation
Electrician Limited License NC
In my field having a PE is the be all and end all. I would make sure what ever degree you choose is ABET accredited and eligible to sit for the FE at graduation.
 

gadfly56

Senior Member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
I want to do more of the design aspect

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has an Electric Power Engineering program that is separate from its EE program. Head there to look at the courses and get a feel for what you might be in for. The school itself is pretty well regarded; the smartest girl I've ever met went there. Poke around the web for similar offerings. Note that there are a LOT of Technology programs out there so you may have to look hard. You may or may not be able to save some money by taking courses at a community college first and transferring the credits. Look very closely at what RPI or any other 4-year school will take in transfer credits. Usually the humanities stuff goes over no problem. The more specialized the technical courses get, the less they'll give credit for.
 

JoelP

Member
Location
Stroudsburg Pa
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has an Electric Power Engineering program that is separate from its EE program. Head there to look at the courses and get a feel for what you might be in for. The school itself is pretty well regarded; the smartest girl I've ever met went there. Poke around the web for similar offerings. Note that there are a LOT of Technology programs out there so you may have to look hard. You may or may not be able to save some money by taking courses at a community college first and transferring the credits. Look very closely at what RPI or any other 4-year school will take in transfer credits. Usually the humanities stuff goes over no problem. The more specialized the technical courses get, the less they'll give credit for.
Thank you I will look into it
 

Jraef

Moderator, OTD
Staff member
Location
San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
Occupation
Electrical Engineer
I have an EET, one negative aspect is that in some states, you cannot go for a PE license with an EET, EE only. I'm finishing up my career arc now so it doesn't really matter any more, but it would have been good about 20 years ago. I tried and was denied.
 

charlie b

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Lockport, IL
Occupation
Retired Electrical Engineer
what is the difference between the two?
Don't take this as an authenticated response. My understanding is that the EE program has more math and science, and the EET program has more lab work.

Another option to consider is one that I had never encountered until I started with my present company two years ago. It is the Architectural Engineering program. My boss has that degree from Kansas State University. We have had graduates from the University of Kansas also, but they have moved on and are greatly missed. I have no idea who else offers the program. It differs from the EE and the EET in that you get a broader understanding of how buildings are designed and constructed. We had an intern last summer who was studying for an AE degree. She already knew her way around the NEC (not an expert, but who among us is?), and she understood circuiting, sizing feeders and branch circuits, and she was familiar with our phased design process (i.e., schematic design, detailed design, construction documents, construction support). I am sure that no EE or EET program gives that to a student, and that is what my company needs a design engineer to be able to do.

 

Ingenieur

Senior Member
Location
Earth
Do you ENJOY math and physics? If so EE
if more hands on, EET

You have some good choices in PA
Pitt has a respected EE program with a power concentration
PSU well regarded for electro-mech technology
PSU Behrend Erie solid EET program

go talk to some guys working in the field
The PA society of PE's might be able to help
 

Ingenieur

Senior Member
Location
Earth
Don't take this as an authenticated response. My understanding is that the EE program has more math and science, and the EET program has more lab work.

Another option to consider is one that I had never encountered until I started with my present company two years ago. It is the Architectural Engineering program. My boss has that degree from Kansas State University. We have had graduates from the University of Kansas also, but they have moved on and are greatly missed. I have no idea who else offers the program. It differs from the EE and the EET in that you get a broader understanding of how buildings are designed and constructed. We had an intern last summer who was studying for an AE degree. She already knew her way around the NEC (not an expert, but who among us is?), and she understood circuiting, sizing feeders and branch circuits, and she was familiar with our phased design process (i.e., schematic design, detailed design, construction documents, construction support). I am sure that no EE or EET program gives that to a student, and that is what my company needs a design engineer to be able to do.


http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/Dep...lectrical-Engineering-Areas-of-Concentration/

look at the power engr concentration
cost estimating
bulding layout
nec stuff, sizing, etc
they have a lab donated by eaton with xfmrs, panel boards, etc
field trips to the ibew to work with their apprentices

more EE programs are offering practical stuff
ece 1700
a lot of design firms and contrators recruit these guys (and gals)

http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/Dep...graduate/Electrical-Engineering/EE-Electives/
Description:
This course introduces the basics of three-wire and three phase electrical distribution for homes, retail, apartments, and light industry. Electrical fundamentals are presented and initially applied to residential wiring to demonstrate circuit construction, ratings, and protective devices. Power entranceways, protective circuit breakers, branch circuits, lighting loads, isolation devices, and safety of operation are considered. The means electrical cost estimation method and data are used. Building control and automation are introduced.


 

Shaneyj

Senior Member
Location
Katy, Texas
Occupation
Project Engineer
I had 14 years in the field when I decided I wanted a degree. I got my associate degree through the local community college, while working full-time, thinking this was the best route.
Then I transferred to the local university (university of Houston). They accepted less than half of my credits. (that amounts to about $10k worth of credits not accepted). Spent a year there, while working part time. (they didn't offer all the classes I needed during the evening hours so I couldn't work full time) and realized I can't afford to live on part time work.
Looked for an online EE program, completely online. That was 2 years ago but the only program I found was through Arizona state university and it was $$$.
After some deliberation I decided to go the EET route. I found the least expensive program I could and it is still a couple dollars more per credit hour than U of H was.
This is through Grantham university. They accepted 32 of the 67 credits I paid for and earned to get my associate degree.
But I get to work full-time.
I'm 11 classes away from my degree.
It's not easy, but as quoted earlier, nothing worth a damm is.
Short term pain for long term gain.
I say go for it.
Based on my research you will save money starting and finishing a program at the same institution.



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Ingenieur

Senior Member
Location
Earth
I had 14 years in the field when I decided I wanted a degree. I got my associate degree through the local community college, while working full-time, thinking this was the best route.
Then I transferred to the local university (university of Houston). They accepted less than half of my credits. (that amounts to about $10k worth of credits not accepted). Spent a year there, while working part time. (they didn't offer all the classes I needed during the evening hours so I couldn't work full time) and realized I can't afford to live on part time work.
Looked for an online EE program, completely online. That was 2 years ago but the only program I found was through Arizona state university and it was $$$.
After some deliberation I decided to go the EET route. I found the least expensive program I could and it is still a couple dollars more per credit hour than U of H was.
This is through Grantham university. They accepted 32 of the 67 credits I paid for and earned to get my associate degree.
But I get to work full-time.
I'm 11 classes away from my degree.
It's not easy, but as quoted earlier, nothing worth a damm is.
Short term pain for long term gain.
I say go for it.
Based on my research you will save money starting and finishing a program at the same institution.



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sound advice

and when you graduate you will be truly well rounded with working and theoretical understanding
not to mention with proven drive and motivation
a good hire
 
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