Earning a degree in electrical engineering can help you get started on a fulfilling career path. Texas has many educational opportunities; in fact, there are 65 schools with electrical engineering programs. There are 42 schools with Associate’s degree programs and 36 schools with Bachelor’s degree programs. Master’s degrees are offered at 25 Texas schools. You can earn a PhD at 23 schools. There are also two certificate programs in Texas.
The first decision you have to make regarding your education is whether you want to earn an Associate’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree. An Associate’s degree only takes two years, but it does not allow you to earn your engineering license in Texas. A Bachelor’s degree takes about four years, and it is required for licensure in Texas. If you earn an Associate’s degree, you may be able to transfer your credits to a four-year school in the state. Some of the undergraduate courses you may be required to take include Fundamentals of Power Systems, Digital Signal Processing, and Electronic Circuits.
An advanced degree can help you qualify for different career paths in electrical engineering. A Master’s degree takes less time; you may be able to complete your program in two years if you attend school full-time. A PhD requires a thesis, so the average completion time for this degree is five to seven years.
The average cost of tuition in Texas is $11,700. Since there are so many engineering schools in the state, there is a wide range of tuition costs.
There are many scholarships you can consider applying for in Texas. The Texas Society of Professional Engineers is a local group that awards scholarships to student members of the group. The Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering awards scholarships to students in eligible minority groups every year.
After you have graduated from your engineering program, you can earn your license from the Texas Board of Professional Engineers. This process involves passing a comprehensive exam and submitting a thorough application. The exam is offered every April and October, so it is important to register as soon as possible. Once your application is approved, the board will send you your license.