I'm accepted into an undergraduate study into Civil & Environmental Engineering and also Electrical Engineering. I need to choose between the two. If I choose CEE, then I'll go into Transportation and Construction. I will go into electronics engineering for EE. I find EE more interesting, but I'm a bit concerned of the academic and job outlook aspects (studies in electrial systems, circuit theories, DSP, programming, etc...) as they seem more difficult and not as intuitive as CEE. And I haven't been able to find internships for undergraduates who finished their first year while I can find many more for CEE as job market for EE doesn't seem good in Seattle, WA, USA.
2006-07-18 10:15:25 · 6 answers · asked by Kevin N 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Kevin, I got my EE degree a looong time ago when EEs were still in demand (and the starting salary was in the mid 20's to low 30's to give you an idea of how long ago this was). As I see it, there are far fewer opportunities there since most of the focus of innovation in EE is on microprocessors, where inroads are hard to make. With the booming population in need of infrastructure, the demand I believe will be higher for CEE. Either way, you will suffer through a lot of math & physics, although I think CEE gets a little less of it than EE.
Good luck.
2006-07-18 10:48:53 · answer #1 · answered by DDK 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You'll be interested to know this advice is coming from a EE. I'd recommend a career in CEE, it will always be needed, it doesn't change as much or as fast and you can find a job just about anywhere you want to live. As a EE, if you focus on power systems you might be able to match the location choices of a CEE, but the pay won't be as good. Otherwise, a EE is limited to working for companies that can afford to have an R&D department, which is the first department dispersed when the economy becomes difficult.
2006-07-18 23:04:42 · answer #2 · answered by Daniel T 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The first question is easy: do what you love. You cant get a real idea of any field before you get into it. Like in marriage you dont even really get to know the person until after you married them (no matter how long the courtship).
Pick the one that you are going to have a heart for when your brain is numb, and you are sick to death of classes. Pick the one that you would do anyway.
Money is cyclic. The housing market is on the verge of popping and many of those civil engineer jobs and internships will dry up. Companies who outsourced to india and china are discovering that they no longer have intellectual property because that doesnt come with the deal. There is significant local EE hiring and support.
The people who have the biggest impact in the world dont do it for money, they do it for love. Love drives you farther, faster, better, and longer than greed ever will.
2006-07-18 17:25:53 · answer #3 · answered by Curly 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
you can do both. design electromechanical systems for civil applications. I did the same thing my freshman year in college. I went in as civil, but thats what all the dumb kids were taking so I switched to Electrical but I got sick of sitting in front of a computer 24/7 so now Im an ME, which I find really fun. You can get a nice job at that large aerospace company in town. Electromechanical design might be a good choice. I also wanted to do marine engineering, but they didnt offer it at my school
2006-07-19 18:20:57 · answer #4 · answered by Derek W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you like being indoors or outdoors? There are plenty of jobs in both career fields. Civil and environmental engineers spend more time outdoors than EE's do.Which do you feel more comfortable with?
2006-07-18 17:22:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
When your project fails, as a Civil Engineer it may crash and make a lot of noise. As an Electrical Engineer, the project may cause lots of sparks or nothing. GOod luck with your decision -- but Civil is a lot easier than Electrical in my opinion.
2006-07-19 03:26:29 · answer #6 · answered by Lee J 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋