Introduction
As much as the name suggests, Electrical and Electronics Engineering are not two sides of the same coin. They are different disciplines that open a variety of distinguished pathways. For example, electrical engineers study machine modeling and dynamics to design and test the manufacture of electrical equipment. And, electronics engineers study algorithms and principles of computer engineering and system maintenance to design test circuits for electromagnetic properties of various components.
Electrical Engineering Vs Electronics Engineering; Definition
Electrical Engineering: Electrical engineering is the study of the design, testing, and application of equipment used in electricity, electromagnetism, and electronics. The field also covers the distribution of electrical energy and its controls.
Electronic Engineering: Electronic engineering is a subset of electrical engineering, which uses active and non-linear electrical components. The extended field covers many critical subfields such as digital electronics, analog electronics, embedded systems, and consumer electronics. Electronics covers powers in heavy current and high voltage equipment.
Electrical Engineering Vs Electronics Engineering; What Can You Expect?
Electrical Engineering: If you are interested in electrical engineering, you are looking at the future of computers, gadgets, navigation systems, radars, and power plants. Electrical engineers are employed in projects that cover 5G networks, energy conservation and climate change. You will also be required to work on projects which involve storage networks for sustainable energy and power distribution models that aren’t reliant on coal.
As per the latest research, here are the major industries where electrical engineering can start their career from
- Manufacturing of navigational, electromedical, measuring, control instruments.
- Research of life, engineering, and physical sciences.
- The transmission, distribution, and generation of electric power.
- Electronic manufacturing and semiconductors.
- Miscellaneous engineering services.
Electronics Engineering: As an electronic engineer, your primary job will be to design circuits used in electromagnetic components of machines. Resistors, diodes, semiconductors, devices, capacitors, inductors, and transistors come under the purview of electronic engineers. Electronics engineers optimize components that are used in electrical devices. The job is not limited to the private industry. Electronics engineering work for government projects, and are instrumental to the development of military and healthcare initiatives of public-funded projects. From ensuring regulatory compliance to making private inspections, electronics engineers are responsible for reinforcing public health measures in critical areas.
As per the latest research, here are the major industries where electronics engineering can start their career from
- Semiconductors and electronic parts manufacturing
- Public projects, as authorized by the federal government
- Control, navigational, electromedical, and measuring instruments
- Telecommunications
- Engineering applications
Electrical Engineering Vs Electronics Engineering; Syllabus & Application
Electrical Engineering: Electrical Engineering degree largely cover areas of electric production and the levels involved. Students enrolled are required to study the various modes of generation, storage and transmission of power. From small-scale electronic systems to integrated circuits, electronic engineering masters the control of power transmissions from the generation to the final switch. Can you imagine a day in your life without electricity? Then you must thank electrical engineers because they are the ones that ensure a smooth supply at all hours is maintained at all costs.
Here are the core subjects of study in electrical engineering:
- Thermal and Hydraulic Prime Movers
- Fundamentals of Power Electronics
- Electrical Engineering Materials
- Electrical Machine Design
- Analysis of Electrical Power System
- Power Electronic Converters
- Fundamentals of Electrical Power System
Electronics Engineering: Electronics engineers study telecommunications applications in hardware productions. Along with this, they also study the embedding of systems and their outlined microelectronics.
Here are the core subjects of study in electronics engineering:
- Embedded Systems Design
- Telecommunications Engineering
- Control Engineering
- Instrumentation Engineering
- VLSI Design Engineering
- Microelectronics
- Electromagnetic Engineering
Electrical Engineering Vs Electronics Engineering; Branches
Electrical Engineering: In all major ME colleges of Mumbai, Electrical Engineering overlaps electronics engineering in significant areas. Further, it is split into electrical and electromagnetic engineering. Oftentimes colleges cover both electrical and electronic engineering under the same umbrella, but they are drastically different.
Electronics Engineering: Electronics engineering includes digital electronics, circuit design, power electronics, microelectronics, optoelectronics, semiconductor devices, analog electronics, and integrated circuits.
Electrical Engineering Vs Electronics Engineering: Skill Set
Electrical Engineering:
- Project Management
- Engineering Design
- Matlab
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Programmable Logic Controllers
Electronics Engineering:
- Project Management
- Test Engineering
- C, C++, HDL Programming Languages
- Engineering Design
- Electronic Troubleshooting
Electrical Engineering Vs Electronics Engineering; Level of Expertise
Electrical Engineering: An electrical engineer must be an expert in furnishing semiconductor devices such as diodes, metal oxide semiconductor fields, bipolar junction transistors and their connection on a printed circuit. In extension to this, they should also be well versed in Analog Electronics, Digital Electronics, Power Electronics, Microelectronics, Computer Networking, Consumer Electronics, and Embedded Systems.
Electronics Engineering: Electronics engineering is typically more focused specifically on the design, optimization, and management of electronic devices. While knowledge of networks and power systems can be valuable, these are not as common areas of focus for electronics engineering.
Electrical Engineering Vs Electronics Engineering; Jobs Scope & Future
Electrical Engineering: The field of electrical engineering is brimming with opportunities. Both public & private sectors are seeing openings in the fields of generation, storage, and transmission of electrical power. The emergence of green energy has renewed the excitement in the sector furthermore. The distribution of government electricity boards is largely responsible for the distribution of energy in all spheres.
Here are the major job titles that await fresh electrical engineering graduates:
- Plant Engineers
- Field Application Engineer
- Electrical Design Engineer
- Automation Engineer
Electronics Engineering: Electronics engineers deal with the principles developed with related fields. Consumer electronics, digital electronics, embedded systems, analog electronics, and power electronics are all under the purview of electronics engineers. After a degree in electronics engineering, you can further your studies with master’s in electric power distribution engineering from ME colleges in Mumbai.
Here are the major job titles that await fresh electronics engineering graduates:
- Power Electronics Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Optical Fiber Engineer
- Electronics Engineer ·
Here is a competitive analysis of the two disciplines:
| Particulars | Electrical Engineering | Electronics Engineering |
| Major topics | Electromagnetism.Physical laws.Control engineering.Electronics.Power engineering.Electric vehicles.Signal processing.Instrumentation. | Ohm’s LawPower – electrical powerQ, quality factorResistanceResistivitySemiconductorsTransformersVoltage – potential differenceWaveforms |
| Areas of Expertise | Signal processing, vehicular technology, laser, robotics, frequency control, ultrasonic, remote sensing, geo-science, and electro-optics. | Signal processing, computer engineering, systems engineering, robotics, electric power control, control systems, radio engineering, solid-state physics, instrumentation engineering, telecommunications, and many others. |
| Field of Work | Electric charge, electric shock, electric heater/kettle, electric current | Electrical machines, electrical appliances |
| Starting Salary | 4 Lakhs INR | 4 – 6 Lakhs INR |
Conclusion
Electrical and electronics engineers are the constructors and saviors of modern technology. We owe the small sizes of our laptops, the ease of our vacuums, and the expansive powers of our smartphones to the joint work of electrical and electronics engineers. We hope now you understand the basic differences between the two disciplines which indeed work together, but are very different from each other.
