Electronics Engineering VS Electrical Engineering  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: otpowell
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 05:46:23 pm
content: What's the difference guys? Electrical engineers have the same electronic knowledge as electronics engineers but have more knowledge about power systems? Is this correct?

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 05:54:06 pm
content: Generally electrical engineers only deal with things electronics engineers count as passives, though I'm sure there's an awful lot of crossover nowadays.EDIT: Well that's my understanding, pretty certain if I'm wrong I'll be corrected.

author: AG6QR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 06:46:51 pm
content: There are different fields of specialization, but the names given to them aren't always consistent.At my university, there was a program in "Electrical Engineering", which included all facets of the industry, from design of the internals of integrated circuits, all the way up to design of power grids to span a continent. Obviously, not every student graduated with an equal background or interest in all aspects of each of those subjects. There was no program called "Electronics Engineering", but people with degrees in Electrical Engineering went out and got jobs at semiconductor manufacturers, IBM, Cisco, Tektronix, manufacturers of consumer electronics, defense contractors, and a host of other types of companies. Some even went to work on power distribution systems for electric utility companies.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 06:56:22 pm
content: Here in NZ an Electronics Engineer (EE) has a degree in Electrical Engineering, be it a Diploma, Batchelor, Masters or Dr.That might cover all facets of the profession depending on the years of study for the quafication desired.I do know that more in depth study of facets is performed in the higher qualifations.Power Electronics is just 1 of those branches that is studied in more depth at the higher levels.I'd echo AG6QR's comments and add that an EE qualilification does not lisence you to do any work on the mains supply or the distribution network, there are additional qualifications required for that.Maybe an electrical engineer here has the same qualification, I'm not sure.

author: Sigmoid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 07:49:37 pm
content: Often the two aren't so well separated.For example, I studied computer engineering at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. The EE faculty there has two Bachelors' programs, Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering. Computer Engineering covers software, network design, applied mathematics, and all that. Electrical Engineering covers everything from high voltage power lines to IC design.There are of course deeper specializations available in graduate programs. But what one becomes really proficient at usually depends on the line of work one chooses after graduating from college.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 11:23:45 pm
content: IEEE has them separate in the name, therefore must be distinctive differences between the two.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2015, 02:12:02 am
content: Quote from: Bud on March 10, 2015, 11:23:45 pmI think it has them combined in the name, as in "Institute of Electrical AND Electronics Engineers". If they were separate it would be "Electrical OR Electronics". (And if they were really distinct, it would be "Electrical XOR Electronics")But in fact the IEEE has moved on even from that heritage, and now says: "as the world's largest technical professional association, IEEE's membership has long been composed of engineers, scientists, and allied professionals. These include computer scientists, software developers, information technology professionals, physicists, medical doctors, and many others in addition to IEEE's electrical and electronics engineering core". So apparently it doesn't seem to matter what you do as long as it is technical

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2015, 09:09:17 am
content: Quote from: Bud on March 10, 2015, 11:23:45 pmGenerally speaking, electrical engineering has to do with basic theory, power distribution, maybe major appliances and things like that, whereas electronics engineering would specifically focus on making widgets...computers, radios, things like that.IEEE was a merger of two different groups. The "electronics" part was homage to the Institute of Radio Engineers.Honestly, I've never heard anyone call themselves an "electronics engineer". I think these are very anachronistic distinctions that made more sense 100 years ago when the electrical world was basically divided up into 3 sections....power distribution, light bulbs, and radio.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2015, 09:16:59 am
content: Quote from: otpowell on March 10, 2015, 05:46:23 pmI've always considered that:- electrical engineering is about the use of electricity as a source of power- electronic engineering is about the use of electricity to convey informationThere is, of course, considerable overlap between the two.

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2015, 05:11:31 pm
content: My degree is in Electrical Engineering and most of my course (many years ago) was in the heavy stuff such as motors, generators and electrical power distribution. Electronic Engineering was a separate course and covered vacuum tubes, transistors, ICs and the passive components. I still think of myself as an Electrical Engineer but now I do electronics for fun.