Master's in Electronics Engineering
Do you have a real knack for troubleshooting problems and fixing things? Does a career in the electronics industry interest you? Earning an electronics engineering degree will provide you with the skills and knowledge to be part of a growing industry. Read on to find answers to any questions you may have about earning a master's degree in electronics engineering. Schools offering Electrical Engineering degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
What Courses Will I Take For a Master's Degree in Electronics Engineering?
Electronics engineering master's degree programs may be offered as a Master of Science (M.S.) in Electronics Engineering or as a more specialized electronics degree, such as an M.S. in Telecommunications Engineering. You may also pursue an electronics concentration within an M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering or similar program.
Your program may have a thesis or non-thesis option; the thesis option is generally targeted at students who plan to pursue doctoral study. Some programs require a comprehensive exam. Your core curriculum may include the following topics:
- Programming and integration of microcontrollers
- Analog circuit applications
- Exploring electronics systems
- Analyzing digital hardware systems
- Very-large-scale integration systems
- Digital communication system assessment & evaluation
- Advanced robotics
Some programs allow you to choose a track according to your area of interest, such as optics, computer engineering or microelectronics. Topics of study may include the following:
- Computer architecture design & analysis
- Microcomputer processing concepts
- Computer data communication systems
- Intro to ASIC technologies
- Microelectronic device operation
- AC drive system signal analysis
- Principles of optics
What Are The Admission Requirements?
You may be required to hold a bachelor's degree in electronics engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering or a related field to be accepted into an electronics engineering master's program. If you do not have a bachelor's in a relevant field, you may have to complete certain prerequisites prior to enrolling in your engineering courses, such as undergraduate-level coursework in math, science and engineering. Some schools require you to pass these courses with a C or better.
Is This Degree Available Online?
You can find schools that offer online master's degree programs in electronics engineering. There is generally no distinction between online and on-campus courses. You need a computer with Internet access and an e-mail address. You can stream pre-recorded lectures and e-mail or fax in your assignments, but you may have proctored exams. Some online programs may require you to participate in an on-campus seminar or lab.
What Are My Career and Licensure Options?
Earning a master's degree in electronics engineering will provide you with the training to find employment in communications, control systems, acoustics, computers, aerospace, manufacturing, telecommunications and other industries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), electronics engineers should experience little to no employment growth from 2008-2018, although the engineering profession overall can expect an increase of up to 11% for the same time span (www.bls.gov).
All states require you to be licensed as a professional engineer (PE) if you plan to work for the public. To get your license, you'll have to complete a 2-part state exam, have at least four years of work experience and hold an engineering degree from a school accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). You can take the first part of the exam - Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) - right after graduation and become an engineer intern or engineer in training. After you've had sufficient work experience, you can take the second part, which is the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. You may have to complete continuing education credits to maintain your engineering license.
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