Electrical Engineeing or Aerospace Engineering?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

Hi! I’m very curious about this subject, and overall topic matter. For a job, I would really like to work on space craft communication and controls/signal processing/flight control and aerodynamics. I’ve always wondered which way was the best to go, because I’ve heard the job market for aerospace engineers isn’t very foretelling at the moment.

If I want to do things such as control systems, signal processing, and flight control and aerodynamics, would it be best to get my undergraduate in EE and take a lot of aerospace electives, then go to aerospace engineering as a master’s, or do mechanical engineering as my undergraduate with electrical electives and then go for aerospace? I’m curious as to which path would be better, or just not doing aerospace at all and just focusing on electrical engineering, but still try to get a aerospace job. OR, which I know a lot of you would not suggest, but doing a dual degree in electrical and aerospace engineering.

I like the idea of control systems as you can tell, but not sure if I would like flight control aerodynamics (more aerospace focused) or signal processing and communications control (more electrical focused). Right now, I am leaning more towards electrical focused, but that’s because I’ve had a lot of experience with electrical engineering though EC’s and haven’t had a lot of experience with aerospace.

2

You have more options with either mechanical or electrical engineering. Aerospace is quite specific. Typically, if you do mechanical, you can do aerospace, but not necessarily the other way around.

3

Along of jobs in aerospace related to what you’re interested in are labeled “Systems Engineers”. I see EE more sought after often than Aerospace, but often times see both included with Mechanical, Physics, Math, and Comp Sci majors. Any experience you can bring to the table pertaining to your interests would outweigh any perceived difference between all these majors.

4

You don’t need an aerospace degree to work in aerospace. Since you’re interested in controls, signal processing, and communications, you would probably be best served with an EE degree, and possibly an EE Master’s as well.

5

I am in the exact same situation as OP. I would really like to focus on systems engineering. Is it possible to major in aerospace engineering and still get all the knowledge of controls systems that I would need? Maybe transition into an electrical engineering masters?