Electrical Engineering major
Electrical Engineering: courses, careers, and where to study
Electrical Engineering applies physics and math to circuits, power, and electronics, suiting students who want to design the hardware and systems behind modern technology.
An Electrical Engineering (EE) major builds on a heavy math and physics core, calculus through differential equations, linear algebra, and physics with electromagnetism, then layers on circuit analysis, electronics, signals and systems, electromagnetics, and digital logic. Most EE programs are credit-heavy ABET-accredited BS degrees that culminate in a senior capstone design project and let students concentrate in areas such as power systems, control systems, communications, signal processing, microelectronics, or embedded systems.
Graduates can design analog and digital circuits, model and process signals, work with microcontrollers and embedded firmware, and analyze power and control systems. EE work spans semiconductors, telecommunications, power and energy, aerospace and defense, automotive, consumer electronics, and instrumentation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of electrical engineers to grow 7.2% from 2024 to 2034.
The bachelor's degree is the typical entry credential. Graduates working on systems that affect public safety, particularly in power, can pursue a Professional Engineer (PE) license through the Fundamentals of Engineering exam followed by supervised experience, while others continue to a master's or PhD for research and specialized design roles.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Electrical Engineering maps to CIP 14.1001, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, within the ENGINEERING family. The official definition:
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of electrical and electronic systems and their components, including electrical power generation systems; and the analysis of problems such as superconductor, wave propagation, energy storage and retrieval, and reception and amplification.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What you'll study
- Circuit analysis and design (DC/AC, Kirchhoff's laws, network theorems)
- Analog and digital electronics (transistors, op-amps, logic gates)
- Signals and systems, Fourier and Laplace transforms, and digital signal processing
- Electromagnetics and transmission lines
- Microcontrollers, embedded systems, and firmware (C, assembly)
- Control systems and feedback theory
- Power systems, electric machines, and power electronics
- Lab instrumentation, PCB design, and senior capstone design project
Typical careers
- Electrical Engineer
- Electronics Engineer
- Power Systems Engineer
- Embedded Systems Engineer
- Hardware Design Engineer
- Controls Engineer
Typical salary range: $70,000–$95,000 early-career (BLS, 2024 electrical engineers median $111,910)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Electrical Engineering. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.
- Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Aerospace Engineers
- Computer Hardware Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.
Before you commit to a Electrical Engineering major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Electrical Engineering program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Electrical Engineering department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Electrical Engineering program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Electrical Engineering programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Electrical Engineering by state
- Electrical Engineering in California
- Electrical Engineering in Florida
- Electrical Engineering in Georgia
- Electrical Engineering in Illinois
- Electrical Engineering in Maryland
- Electrical Engineering in Massachusetts
- Electrical Engineering in New York
- Electrical Engineering in North Carolina
- Electrical Engineering in Pennsylvania
- Electrical Engineering in Texas
Related majors
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering applies physics, materials, and design to machines and mechanical systems, suiting students who want to build, analyze, and test physical hardware.
Computer Science
Computer Science combines the mathematical foundations of computation with practical software engineering, preparing graduates for careers in software, AI/ML, security, data, and research.
Physics
Physics studies the fundamental laws of matter, energy, and motion, a foundational major for engineering, computing, finance, and graduate research.
Engineering
Engineering majors apply math, physics, and design to build the physical and digital systems that power society, from bridges and chips to medical devices and aircraft.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering applies physics, mechanics, and design to the built environment, roads, bridges, water systems, and buildings, suiting students who want to plan and build public infrastructure.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Electrical Engineering degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Engineering & Architecture careers
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Explore Management careers
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How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Electrical Engineering degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Electrical Engineering path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.