Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Qualifications
BE(Hons), ME, MEM, MEngSt, PhD
See also Engineering
Introduction
Electrical and electronic engineering involves the generation, storage and use of electricity, and also the transmission and transformation of information. Electrical and electronic engineers create and design new electrical, electronic and computer products, and also analyse, manage and redesign existing systems.
Electrical and electronic engineering is at the heart of the twenty-first century economy. To get some idea of the wide range of influence of electrical and electronic engineers, consider some of the technological advances we take for granted every day, such as electric heat and lighting, nationwide electrical power, mobile phones, digital television, fly-by-wire aircraft, medical imaging systems, hybrid cars and robotic space exploration. Electrical and electronic engineers have played a major role in the development of all of these.
Most modern 'high-tech' products and systems have computers and other electronics at the core of their design. For example, a modern car has 50–100 computers inside it, along with a variety of electronic sensing and control systems. Thus electrical and electronic engineers are involved in developing an extremely wide range of systems, including:
- new ways of generating power from renewable energy sources including wind, hydro and solar powered technologies
- faster and cheaper, and more reliable ways of sending information and communicating
- more precise non-invasive medical instruments and scanners
- new nano-scale devices and materials that enable whole new ranges of products
- more efficient ways of using electric power
- intelligent systems to improve people's lives while protecting the environment
- better ways of gathering information to help people like farmers and manufacturers make accurate decisions.
The University of Canterbury has a well-established international reputation in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and strong connections with the electrical and electronic engineering industry both in New Zealand and internationally.
Recommended background
To know whether you have an aptitude for engineering is difficult when you haven't tried it! Some indicators are:
- enjoyment of practical hobbies (eg, electronics, electrical tinkering)
- enjoyment of using computers (eg, programming, creating applications)
- good organising skills and enjoyment of project work
- enjoyment of art, drawing and design, as well as a curiosity for how things work and a desire to make them work better.
100-level courses
The first year of the BE(Hons) is called the Engineering Intermediate Year. See Engineering for more information on the Engineering Intermediate.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering – required Intermediate courses
- ENGR 101 Foundations of Engineering
- EMTH 118 Engineering Mathematics 1A
- EMTH 119 Engineering Mathematics 1B
- EMTH 171 Mathematical Modelling and Computation
- PHYS 101 Engineering Physics A: Mechanics, Waves and Thermal Physics
- PHYS 102 Engineering Physics B: Electromagnetism, Modern Physics and 'How Things Work'
- COSC 121 Introduction to Computer Programming
- At least one 15-point elective course
200-level and beyond
The First Professional Year is aimed at establishing a sound foundation in the core Electrical and Electronic Engineering subjects. Courses focus on circuits and signals, electronics and devices, electrical systems, computer systems, and materials in electrical engineering.
A significant amount of flexibility in course structure, through a system of options, is available in the second and third professional years. The list of options includes embedded computer systems, digital electronics, signal processing, communications engineering, control systems, power electronics, electronic devices, electric power engineering and management.
During the Third Professional Year, each student undertakes a major project. These projects give students the opportunity to solve real engineering problems.
Career opportunities
University of Canterbury Electrical and Electronic Engineering graduates are well prepared to join the technological revolution, with a wide range of career options. Some examples of these are:
- consulting engineer for the telecommunications industry
- consultant or design engineer in the electric power industry
- electronic design engineer in one of the many New Zealand electronics companies
- computer software engineer
- biomedical engineer
- research engineer in areas such as nanotechnology, renewable/power engineering, communications, biomedical engineering
- project management for a new electronic or software product
- entrepreneur with own company
- teacher/educator in industry, school or university.
Contact
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Telephone: +64 3 364 2867