<p>I am a Junior at Purdue and until my sophmore year I was not very concerned with my major. I am now a junior majoring in ECET. Next year spring 2012 will be my last semester for my bachlors degree. I am considereing transfering to ECE major. This past year I decided that I really want to attend grad school and get my P.E license and eventually become a software designer. I want to specialize in Internet Security Software.</p>
<p>Is it worth it to switch my major to ECE? From what I read it will help me in the long run. I am very good at math/physics. I am starting to feel under challenged though. I think ECE will be a better fit for me beacuse I really enjoy the design aspect of all components electronic. I want to have a big effect on the world and design a new type of software that I can patent and eventually start my own company.</p>
<p>I know its a very big DREAM, BUT! I feel that the ECE major that purdue offers will better suit my aspirations. </p>
<p>Both majors are offered at my school. Has anyone done this before?? Will a good amount of my credits transfer? Most classes have the same descriptions just different names. </p>
<p>Most of all IS IT WORTH IT!!! GPA, Class Load, Cirriculum is NO problem. I am very focused and I know I can do very well in the major. </p>
<p>Thanks guys! any info is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I thought CompE was more hardware and CS is more software? I feel like those two majors are VERY specific fields and even thought I have an Idea what of where I want to end up I would rather go ECE beacuse computers in general are a hobby of mine, but I also enjoy the electrical/electronic deisgn side of ECE. </p>
<p>I dont want to just major in Computer Engineering beacuse I want to learn about the elctronics aspect of electrical engineering. ECE seems to be the best of both worlds to me.</p>
<p>First, I would heartily recommend switching out of ECET if you have aspirations towards grad school - Some grad programs will not admit people who hold technology degrees.</p>
<p>Second, recognize that ANY switch is likely to add semesters to your studies - you are pretty far along to be switching.</p>
<p>Third, do not be suprised if a great deal of your credits do NOT transfer! ECET has a completely different focus, and the courses you took may not cover the depth and breadth of what you need in ECE.</p>
<p>Fourth, ECE is very rewarding (at least I think so) but also very specialized, and it may be that the reward varies greatly by speciality. ECE has less-dedicated versions of CS and CompE but you need to understand that this often prepares you for more limited roles in those areas - you may not receive the software education you are really looking for, and may not have the same software job opportunities as a CS holder.</p>
<p>I am aware that switching my major will add semester, but I belive its worth it. I am just hoping I dont have to completely start over. </p>
<p>Purdue has a career website that lists a ton of jobs. Most the require a bachlors also seem to require some experience with computer programming. Even though ECE may not go into depth of programming, I still am pretty confident that I can learn these languages another way. </p>
<p>I also enjoy the idea of being an engineer. I dont like the tech title that ECET ads on. its really makes it feel like you should only Choose ECET if you fail out of the ECE program.</p>
<p>There are valid reasons for going into the ECET program, but it is definitely restrictive and not for everyone.</p>
<p>As to the programming, it is not just the languages that you learn in CS - it is the algorithm development and the structures. These can be hard to pick up on your own, but it is certainly possible - heck, until relatively recently that was the normal way to do it! As an EE you will be expected to have some programming knowledge but will not be expected to do much of it, and very little if any of that would be complex. My earlier point was that if you wanted to do complex programming, CS is the way to go.</p>
<p>The problem with the ECET vs. ECE comparison is that people look at ECET as ECE light. It’s not. It’s a completely different major to prepare you for a completely different career path.</p>
<p>I’ll admit that I would rather be known as an engineer instead of technologist. The prestige of becoming a P.E. And attending grad school is very motivating to me. I really am more intrested in the design aspect of engineer. I have always felt that I could do whatever the person next to me was doing, but better. Its just a personal dream but the slight idea that ece requires more math and physics is apealing to me. I was just wondering if it was worth it anymore since I am already a JR. Next spring will be my last semester and if I stick with ecet I am pretty sure I can apply to purduea grad program. On the other hand I would love major in ECE, get my bachelors and P.E. Then get a job an have my employer pay for my grad school.</p>
<p>To back up Dad, the PE is primarily limited to those areas where safety regulations require an engineer to certify a particular product. In EE this does not come up very often, and as a result PE’s are pretty rare. I knew one, and we asked him what he had used it for - his response was “nothing”. A former classmate (and current coworker) of mine took the FE test and became an EIT, but was unable to find any PE’s among my company’s hundreds or thousands of engineers, and so is unable to complete the requirements to take the P&P test and become a PE.</p>
<p>If I choose to change to ECE what should I focus on? Should my main priority be grad school? Is there anything a future industry job will require that I can get before I apply?</p>
<p>Sorry for the double post but I wanted to add that my main intrest is in design. I am not very sure if I want to be involved on hardware design or software computers/electronics but I just feel like there are so many designs that can be improved upon due to all the recent advancements in tech. I want to position myself to have to most influential qualifications order to get a job that gives me the opportunity to really design something that will change the world.</p>
<p>Grad school is not necessary for most design fields, but there are a few where a masters is more or less expected. I cannot name them all, but I know that in my company and many others where I interviewed they would not generally entertain antenna engineers with just a BS. A BS ECET is definitely not for design, so you are at least making the correct first step.</p>
<p>Well thanks for all the info guys. I am going to talk my my advisor today and find out how many credits will transfer. I am pretty content on switching to ece even if it means adding a couple semesters. If nothing transfers then I am going to have to go back to the drawing board. Agian, thanks for all the useful information guys. It is very much appreciated</p>
<p>After talking to the advisor for ECE I have decided to switch my major from ECET to ECE. My advisor is is a Edward S. Pierson. Professor of Electrical Engineering
Undergraduate Coordinator, Departments of Engineering
ScD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Electrical Engineering, 1964</p>
<p>He mentioned that with an ECET degree if I even wanted to get my masters I would have to take a couple more classes before I would even be accepted into Purdues Grad program. He mentioned the differences of ECE vs ECET. How ECET works with the tech thats already available while ECE Engineers focus work on creating the technology of tomorrow. He also brought in another student who transfered from out fo the country and got placed into ECET. The other student made a good point that Purdue is known for Engineering not Technology. Both the student and the advisor agreed that the prestige that comes from a ECE degree is much more valued that an ECET degree.</p>
<p>Obviously this ECE advisor was trying to sell Engineering to me, but he did say that ECET is technology and ECE is Engineering. After everything that was said I am suprised there is still an ECE vs ECET debate going on or that there is even a question between which is more beneficial an ECE degree or ECET.</p>
<p>Only bad point is that from being done with Calc 2 and finished with math in ECET, I have to take 4 more cources in Math when I switch to ECE. Also add Chemistry and 2more semesters of Physics. I will add and extra 1.5 years to my scheduale, but it will be worth it. </p>
<p>He made a point to say that ECET math and physics are not the same and very different than ECE Math and Physics.</p>
<p>That is probably the most succinct and accurate description I’ve ever seen: </p>
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<p>Maybe we should do away with the Nurse - Doctor comparison that’s on here and instead use an Aircraft Designer - Pilot comparison. Aircraft designers probably can’t fly a plane, and a pilot probably can’t design new aircraft, so they are distinct majors. The pilot works to master the existing technology while aircraft designers work to invent the future of flying.</p>
<p>I think its more of a Aircraft Designer vs Aircraft Mechanic Debate. ECE Design/Create while ECET Fixes the already made designs.</p>
<p>I Think the Doctor vs Nurse debate is wrong too. I dont know anything about those majors though. I think a better comparison is Pharm Tech vs Pharmacist.</p>
<p>I think its more of a Aircraft Designer vs Aircraft Mechanic Debate. ECE Design/Create while ECET Fixes the already made designs.</p>
<p>I Think the Doctor vs Nurse debate is wrong too. I dont know anything about those majors though. I think a better comparison is Pharm Tech vs Pharmacist.</p>