\Workers involved in the electronics, electrical and communications areas deal with some of the basic areas of system design. Computer and electrical engineering are areas so closely connected that many online programs do not separate the two. Computer engineers are not much different from electrical engineers except for their areas of concentration which may include Integrated Circuits, Design and Fabrication, Semiconductor Materials and Processing, Semiconductor Devices, Wireless Communication, Digital Image Processing, Power Systems/Electronic, Digital and Analog Conversion and High-speed I/O Interface just to name some of the possibilities.
Because of a rapidly changing world, electrical and computer engineers must be able to adapt to new technologies consistently. Technology is growing and changing, so these professionals need to have a broad understanding of the field of engineering including electrical, electronics and communications engineering.
The online Bachelor degree program in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering prepares students to apply mathematical and scientific principles to allow them to design, develop and operate electrical, electronic and communications systems and all the supporting components including systems that generate power, analyzing problems with those systems and other related functions necessary within the scope of the individual job.
Students in this online program also gain fundamental knowledge of electrical and computer engineering and how to apply that knowledge to various aspects of computer and electrical engineering. Students who choose to pursue online graduate degrees learn how to solve a variety of problems through the use of instrumentation and software tools.
Projections by the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate a growth rate of 2 percent during the reporting decade 2008-2018. While there will continue to be a high demand for electrical devices, the job growth will be substantially impaired by international competition and outsourcing to other countries. There should be better growth for electrical engineers who work for companies that provide services to manufacturers.
BLS does not anticipate much of a change for electronics engineers (except those in the computer field). In spite of the rising demand for various electronic goods including communications equipment, the increased use of outsourcing as well as foreign competition will have a major impact on growth within this industry.
Earnings vary for engineers depending on the specialty, industry and experience of the employee, but as of May 2008 BLS reported median income for electrical engineers at $82,160 with the lowest 10 percent earning $52,990 and the highest 10 percent earning $125,810. Electronics engineers outside of the computer field earned a median income of $86,370 during the same period with the lowest 10 percent earning $55,330 and the upper 10 percent earning $129,920.