<p>I’m not sure why everyone is freaking out about Matlab, it’s really not that bad.</p>
<p>Idk what Matlab is. My school had us take Java which I think is dumb if we’re going to use Matlab</p>
<p>I learned some MATLAB in my Introduction to Engineering course but that was it so far.</p>
<p>Get a field work job if you do not want to program.</p>
<p>Oh I actually meant that I do enjoy programming, I just don’t want to go into CS-type jobs exactly. Thanks for the responses!</p>
<p>MATLAB? My school is going to teach me Java, and unless it’s in the labs, I don’t see it in my curriculum. 
Do EE use Java a lot?<br>
The only programming I know is visual basic. How much harder is Java?</p>
<p>Java is easy. I don’t know why they would teach you Java for numerical computing, which is what MATLAB is mainly for. I would not have considered Java to be a good language for EE computations…it’s more of a GUI/business application-oriented language.</p>
<p>***? Why are all the EE students here throwing Matlab in the trash like it’s some nasty disgusting dish? MATLAB is KEY to being a sucessful engineer. A early function one uses it for is solving for Current Loops when you have like 20 of them. It’s stupid to use linear algebra when the software is much easier. Plus, many companies want you to be able to show your graphs and displays. Yes their are the old school engineers that still do everything by hand and that’s a complete waste. Learn Matlab and learn it well. I ended up telling my teacher he was wrong because his math was faulty and ending up with an A in my advanced circuits classes. </p>
<p>@karabee - Anyone who enjoys programming should probally get out of Electrial Engineering. I’m currently a computer engineering major and it’s the best of both worlds. Designing a processor in Verilog (Or VHDL) is pretty amazing stuff and it’s pretty important information to know with many of the top companies.</p>
<p>MATLAB is a tool that some engineers may find useful to varying degrees. I would say it is by no means a requirement for being a successful engineer for the vast majority of the engineers in the world. Skills in programming languages such as Java and C++ are more valuable skills for engineers in the real world. The focus shifts from solving an endless number of circuit-based problems to producing some product or service that will make money. This generally accompanies a drastic reduction in the amount of math used to solve problems.</p>
<p>Programming FPGAs is useful knowledge but you don’t have to be a CompE to do it. I have done some FPGA design work and never took a class on the subject. VHDL/Verilog knowledge is important for some design jobs but I would be reluctant to say it is that important.</p>
<p>now I’m confused. So is the general consensus that Java or this Matlab thing useless to EE? and I still have no clue what matlab is at all</p>
<p>[MathWorks</a> - MATLAB and Simulink for Technical Computing](<a href=“http://www.mathworks.com/]MathWorks”>http://www.mathworks.com/)</p>
<p>My school has made it seem like every engineer should have at least a basic understanding of it, but I’m not sure if that’s actually true or not.</p>
<p>Matlab is a great tool, but only for what was it was designed for: numerical and matrix operations and quickly visualizing data.</p>
<p>Java/Whatever programming language is great for general computing and programming.</p>
<p>Problems occur when students or professors use Matlab for general computing.</p>
<p>Knowing Matlab and general programming (Java, C++, C, etc) can only help you. And at one point or another, you’re likely to use both skills.</p>
<p>So how much programming is involved in EE or Chem E?</p>
<p>Very little to lots. It depends what part of EE you go into.</p>
<p>MATLAB is just a solving tool.It can be very useful for repetitive numerical tasks but, seriously, I would not go ahead and say it is necessary to know a great deal of it to become a successful engineer. Knowing how to handle MATLAB is always a plus and will make you become a good engineer which doesn’t necessarily mean a successful one too.</p>