Opportunities in Circuit Branches in Engineering

By Dr. S.R.K. Prasad

The word “Circuit Branches” in engineering comprises of Electrical & Electronics Engineering (EEE), Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE), Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) and Information Technology (IT) on a broad classification.

Many students are confused as to what could be the future of the circuit branches and which branch would give them the best mileage in terms of employability and/or higher education. This article is targeted towards a broad understanding of these four branches and the direction in which students should think in selecting any one branch to pave way for their future.

The mother or parent of these branches is Electrical and Electronics Engineering. EEE is the oldest of all these branches. In many universities abroad, only the EEE department exists and all the other circuit branches like ECE, CSE, IT form part of the EEE department.

In India however, each of these departments is separate. EEE gives a broad understanding of Electrical Engineering concepts integrated with a lot of mathematics. These days energy studies are becoming very popular and this is finding a place in EEE. In India, however, EEE seems to be slowly losing its sheen, not being sought after by students, probably because they feel there are no computer courses in EEE branch and the branch is old and outdated. However, this is not very true because in the existing choice based credit system (CBCS), the students are free to choose courses in Computing, IT and Communications. So by studying EEE branch, the student is fully equipped in all the fundamentals along with mathematics, computing and communications and is equipped to undertake employment either in the IT sector or industry and government where there's a requirement of Electrical Engineers.

The future of computing and the IT industry lies in the hands of Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning, etc. Abroad, even a few decades ago, AI department professors formed a large part of the EEE department.

ECE on the other hand is also a generalised branch involving basic concepts of electronics engineering, communications and computing. This branch could offer good potential to students wanting to join in IT industry and industries like Automobiles, Aviation and the like wherein a lot of electronic controls, communication systems and computers are involved.

CSE branch is highly specialised towards computing both hardware and software and would push students to join the IT industry. The Information Technology branch has 80% of the subjects in common with CSE branch. So ultimately, students who study this branch will have to move for employment in the IT sector.

A student who is wondering which of the above four branches he / she should select has to probably think of the following criteria:

1. Aptitude and passion for a particular subject / branch
2. How would you like to shape your future
3. Do you want to be a specialist or move towards a general framework
4. Do you want to be in the technology arena or move later into the managerial space
5. Do you want to pursue higher education
6. Don’t rely on popular opinion, what the neighbours say, or listening to the so called “education gurus” on TV

A word of advice to students is to select the branch depending on their aptitude and passion. After gaining a couple of years of industrial experience, you could think of moving further towards higher education. If you want to be a technologist, then it is advisable to pursue higher studies in the same or related branch. If you want to be a technology manager or someone who manages technology, which is a futuristic and a lucrative job opportunity, then you should think of studying to earn a business degree.

The combination of a technology and business degree could be the best possible track for students to follow as it makes way for a bright future and it would be easier for students to adapt to the fast changing technological and business scene.

About the Author

Dr S.R.K. Prasad

Dr. S R K Prasad is Director, Correspondent and Chairman of Governing Council,  Coimbatore Institute of Technology. He has published several articles in professional journals.

Dr. Prasad has won several honours including Rashtriya Rattan Award (2010); Vikas Jyoti Gold Medal & Award, International Socrates Award (2011); Hind Rattan Award and The Name in Science (2012); The Peak of Success Award (2013); and World Leader in Education Award (2018) by WORLDCOB among the more recent ones.

His educational qualifications include BTech – Chemical Engineering, PGDOR from Madras University; MSc, Advanced Chemical Engineering from Imperial College, England; DSC from City University, LA, US.

Also Read: Integrating Engineering and Management: Be a Master in Decision & Computing Science