Evening star., 1930-12-11
ENGINEERS PREFER
ELECTRICAL FIELD
PopuIarized by TeIephotog.
raphy and TeIevision, Sur
vey of Industry Shows.
BIZ REX COLLIER.

The lure of television, telephotography
and other new fields for electrical ex-
ploration has proved so compelling dur
ing the past few years that electrical
engineering has jumped to the fore as
the most popular of all engineering
professions.
Uncle Sam, having at heart the inter-
ests of his young men who aspire to
that profession, Is somewhat concerned
about the situation, 1t would appear.
If the rising young engineer also hap
pens to be of an inventive disposition,
his services will be in quite general de-
mand If he has the creative mind Of
o designer of electrical apparatus, he
win 1ind 1t not difficult to land good
job.
But if he is just another electrical
engineer, he will find competition keen,
though not necessarily disheartening.
Report Made by GreenIeaf.
These are the conclusions to be drawn
from a report covering a survey of the
industry made by Walter j. Greenleaf,
associate specialist in higher education
of the Office of Educat on, Department
of Interior The study was conducted
especially for the information of young
men-and young women, for there are
some in the profession-who desire to
train for electrical engineering.
With so many graduates in this field
from the colleges" Mr.. Greenleaf stated,
'the question arises, Is electrical engi-
neering becoming an overcrowded oc-
cupation?"
Without specifically answering this
query, he added:
1.-The impetus which electrical engi-
neering has had since the World War
I'LL u -
census figures, which are not now avail
able. Although electrical Is one of the
youngest of the engineering specialties,
there are now more students enrolled in
electrical engineering courses in the col
leges than in any other single branch Of
engineering"
Nearly half of the college graduates
who land a job on leaving the class
room are placed through college agencies
or through solicitation of employers
Others get preference for work done
with firms prior to graduation, for per-
sonal initiative land to some extent
through family, alumni and employment
agencies"
While electrical engineering is essen
tally mans occupation, Mr. Greenleaf
states, "a few women already are in the
field, engaged in drafting designing,
Illuminating, radio engineering, teaching
anu even ulauuIdCCur1u8.
Salaries of electrical engineers average
. little more than So 500 year, accord
ing to a study of 1,736 men made in
1928 during the land-grant college sur
vey. Those out Of college years aver
aged 81 1889 annually; those out of COL
lege 5 years averaged 81, 2,8S9; those out
OF college 10 years averaged $4,231; IS
years, $5,357; 20 years, S6;452; Is years,
1855, and 80 years, $8,141.
Four Major Divisions Available.
The four major divisions of work
available to followers of the profession,
it was pointed out, are manufacturing,
power transmission, transportation and
communication.
Inquiry shows that only 40 per cent of
students who enroll in electrical engi-
neering courses graduate. Nearly half
drop out because of scholastic failure.
In a study Of recent graduates about
30 per cent stayed In the electrical en-
cheering field, while the remainder
entered other work.
Four-year courses are offered In 116
institutions, of which but six schools
offer evening courses leading to degrees.
Expenses of the student average 500
. year, not including travel, clothing o.
fraternities, it was found.