Does the thought of developing Global Positioning Systems (GPS) thrill you? How about working on intricate portable music players such as iPods? An exciting career might await you as an electronic engineer. Electronic engineers help develop, design and test the manufacturing of such equipment and these professionals learn their trade in electronic engineering schools.

Electronic engineers also develop, design and test broadcast and communications systems. They do not, however, work on designing computers, but may work closely with computers. Electronics engineers specialize in areas such as communications, signal processing, and control systems. They may have a specialty in control systems, or in such fields as aviations electronics, for example.

Design a New Future as an Electronic Engineer

Those interested in the engineering field should be creative, detail oriented, inquisitive and have good oral and written communication skills. While engineers may typically have the reputation of being “loners” in a company, their interpersonal skills is becoming more important, as it is necessary for them to interact more with people both inside their own company, as well as outside.

To qualify for entrance to one of the electronic engineering schools, applicants should also possess a high aptitude for math -- algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus – and science -- biology, chemistry, and physics. While bachelor’s degree programs at electronic engineering schools are typically four year degrees, students should plan on possibly spending up to five years completing their education. A bachelor’s degree from an electronic engineering school is the minimum requirement for an entry level electronic engineering position.

Most programs at electronic engineering schools focus the first two years on the basic general requirements for the degree, as well as basic engineering courses. The last two years consist of more advanced engineering courses, as well as allowing the student to choose a specialty. Some electronic engineering schools have agreements with community colleges to allow the first to year of general courses to be completed on their campuses.

There are more than 1,800 engineering schools in the country accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), Inc. There are over 700 more schools with accredit programs in engineering technology. Once students finish a bachelor’s degree, they may choose to further their education in post graduate and doctoral work.

In 2006, there were 1.5 million engineering jobs in the country. Of those, 138,000 were electronic engineers. Electronic engineers have a wide option of job opportunities, including in manufacturing, government and private and public corporations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for engineers overall is good through 2016. This is due to the high number of new jobs expected, as well as opening created when engineers retire. The lowest 10 percent of electronic engineers earn about $52,000 per year, while the annual salary for the highest 10 percent in the industry averages at nearly $120,000.

Design a new future of your own today, choose from one of the many electronic engineering schools and get a jump on the future!