It can be tough to decide between electrical engineering and mathematics education and training. It may be even more difficult if you are exceptionally skilled and interested in math, as it is a vital component of both disciplines.
This article will help you separate the two and determine which one is best for you.
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Is Electrical Engineering Harder Than Math?
Most people consider engineering and math difficult disciplines. However, this is usually because they aren’t proficient in math or sciences.
You may find the math program easier as it is more concentrated. Electrical engineering can be harder than math because, on top of calculus, linear algebra, and geometry, you must also excel in physics, electricity, and electromagnetism.
Career-wise, mathematics may be more difficult than electrical engineering. Electrical engineers focus on conceptualizing, designing, creating, testing, and repairing electrical equipment and devices or resolving electric problems with innovative solutions.
As an electrical engineer in any specialization, you perform these tasks which start in the abstract and end in practical applications.
On the other hand, mathematicians create and evaluate mathematical theory, analyze data, and solve mathematical problems.
Unless you work in an applied field, such as with actuaries, you may use abstract thought for most of your tasks which may be more difficult.
On the subject of careers, you may find the difficulty worth it when looking at this quick overview of either program:
| Electrical Engineering | Math | |
| Average pay | $103,390 per year | $93,290 per year |
| Ease of finding a job | Good | Moderate |
| Types of jobs you can qualify for | Aerospace Engineering Automotive Engineering Defense Engineering Electronics Engineering Household Devices and Consumer Goods Engineering Materials and Metals Engineering Oil and Gas Engineering Telecommunications Engineering Utilities Engineering | Accountant Actuary Database Administrator Data Analyst Finance Analyst Finance Manager Insurance Agent Mathematician Operations Research Analyst Statistician Surveyor Teacher |
| Difficulty | Hard | Hard |
| Key things to note | Many types of jobs available once you specialize in a domain Many available job positions on the market Many jobs only require a bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions | Hard to find a job when you only have a bachelor’s degree in general mathematics Much easier to find a job if you have a concentration in a particular domain of math for a bachelor’s degree or if you have a higher academic degree such as a master’s degree or PhD to be a mathematician or statistician |
Are Electrical Engineers Mathematicians?
Electrical engineers study mathematics as part of their education and use it daily in their careers.
If you become an electrical engineer, you’ll use various branches of mathematics to conceptualize and design electrical products and systems.
You may use software for most of your tasks, so you may not need to work through every problem and calculation from scratch.
Also read Electrical Engineering Vs Bioengineering.
Which Is Harder Math Or Engineering?
Engineering may be a harder academic program, but math may be harder career-wise.
When you are fulfilling an engineering degree, you must accomplish different classes alongside math.
Therefore, you concentrate on math and math-related subjects when you complete a math degree. Furthermore, to graduate from engineering, you may have many requirements that math graduates do not have, such as an internship.
However, most math majors decide to pursue higher academic degrees, and this is when it may become a more challenging program.
Also read: Can An Electrical Engineer Be A Software Engineer?
What Kind Of Math Do Electrical Engineers Do?
Electrical engineers may use calculus, linear algebra and geometry, trigonometry, probability, and statistics, depending on the specific problem they want to solve.
They use different mathematical techniques to determine how to place or fit specific equipment and how it will run. They also measure the risks or the chances of an event occurring with that set-up.
Which Is The Hardest Engineering?
Engineering specializations have different workloads and degrees of difficulty. They may include architectural engineering, biochemical engineering, environmental engineering, and civil engineering.
You may have a more difficult time finding jobs when you graduate from these types of engineering, as there may be more candidates and fewer jobs to fill.
On the other hand, there are also domains of engineering that are more difficult such as aerospace engineering, computer hardware engineering, nuclear engineering, and petroleum engineering.
You will find that these types of engineers receive a higher pay and have more job prospects after graduation.
Which Engineering Major Has The Most Math?
The most math-intensive engineering programs are electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and automation engineering.
Read Electrical Vs. Automotive Engineering.
In some cases, these programs are taught alongside each other because they are very similar.
They require a solid math foundation, as they deal heavily with mathematical theory in practical environments.
Which Engineering Does Not Require Math?
Unfortunately, if you do not like math or are not proficient in math, you may not enjoy any engineering program.
Every academic concentration of engineering does require completing at least a few math courses.
Once you become an engineer, you may not need to use math, depending on your particular skill. On average, chemical engineering is the career path that uses the least math.
Can A Math Major Become An Engineer?
If you have already started a math major and have realized you would rather become an engineer, you do not need to worry. You can easily become an engineer with a math degree under your belt.
In fact, it may make you more desirable as an engineer to have such a significant understanding of math.
You will need to follow-up with a specialization in a certain engineering field, however, your program duration may be significantly cut down as you most likely already fulfilled most of the math requirements.
In many cases, you can transfer these credits when you begin your engineering program.
Final Thoughts
If you are struggling to decide between engineering and math, reflect on how much you enjoy math. If you like concentrating on math in particular, it would be better to pursue a math degree.
If you enjoy using math and other resources to solve problems, you may like engineering better.
You may also consider how long you would like to stay in school, as mathematicians typically need to accomplish further academic programs beyond a bachelor’s degree.