ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING | Definition, Subjects, Duties and Subdisciplines

i. What is Electrical Engineering?

Electrical engineering deals with the design, operation and protection, maintenance and economics of
electrical equipment and electrical systems with emphasis on ethical values to harness economically and
safely the materials, and forces of nature for the benefit of society and the environment.
○ It focuses with the generation, transmission, distribution and utilization of electricity.
○ This field first became an identifiable occupation in the later half of the 19th century after
commercialization of the electric telegraph, the telephone, and electric power distribution and use.
○ Apart from the production of electricity, it also includes the development and real-life applications of
electrical circuitry, digital systems, signal processing electrical equipment, instrumentation and machine
control.
ii. Fundamental Subjects
The fundamental subjects of electrical engineering usually include:
‣ Algebra (College and Advanced), Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry, Calculus (Differential and Integral),
General Chemistry and Physics Subject
‣ General Engineering Subjects (e.g., Statics, Dynamics, Strength of Materials, Fluid Mechanics,
Thermodynamics, Engineering Management, Computer Fundamentals and Programming)
‣ Electrical Circuits
‣ Electromagnetics
‣ Electrical Equipment Operation and Design
‣ Principles of Communication
‣ AC and DC Machinery System Design
‣ Transformer and AC Apparatuses
‣ Electrical Transportation and Distribution
‣ Power Plant Engineering
iii. What Do Electrical Engineers Do?
○ Electrical engineers design, develop, test and manage the manufacturing of electrical equipment, from
electric motors and navigation systems to power generation equipment and the electrical components of
vehicles and personal devices.
○ Electrical engineer's job duties may also require:
‣ Evaluating electrical systems, products, components, and applications
‣ Designing and conducting research programs
‣ Applying knowledge of electricity and materials
‣ Confirming system's and components' capabilities by designing testing methods and properties
‣ Developing electrical products by studying customer requirements
‣ Researching and testing manufacturing and assembly methods and materials
‣ Developing manufacturing processes by designing and modifying equipment
‣ Assuring product quality by designing electrical testing methods
‣ Testing finished products and system capabilities
‣ Preparing product reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends
‣ Providing engineering information by answering questions and requests
‣ Maintaining product and company reputation by complying with federal and state regulations
‣ Maintaining product data base by writing computer programs and entering data
○ Electrical engineers work on a variety of projects, such as computers, robots, cell phones, cards, radars,
navigation systems, wiring and lighting in buildings and other kinds of electrical systems.
iv. Subdisciplines
o Electronic Design – this focuses on the assembly of basic electronic components to accomplish essential
and complex tasks. This field of specialization can range from the creation of simple designs to the
construction of more advanced circuits.
o Control Systems – focuses on the modeling of a diverse range of dynamic systems and the design of
controllers that will cause these systems to behave in the desired manner. To implement such controllers,
electrical engineers may use electronic circuits, digital signal processors, microcontrollers, and programmable
logic controllers (PLCs).
o Power Engineering – deals with the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity as well as the
design of a range of related devices. These include transformers, electric generators, electric motors, high
voltage engineering, and power electronics.
o Microelectronics – deals with the design and fabrication of very small electronic circuit components for use
in an integrated circuitor sometimes for use on their own as a general electronic component. Some specific
examples of microelectronic components are capacitors, transistors, resistors, microchips, inductors, and
diodes.