[Answer] What Is the Electrical Engineering and Automation Major About?

[Answer] What Is the Electrical Engineering and Automation Major About?

The Electrical Engineering and Automation major can be divided into several broad directions, such as power generation, power transmission, power distribution, electricity utilization, relay protection, power systems, and power electronics (which are separated into different majors at some schools). In general, it covers the entire chain of how electricity is generated, delivered, and used.

In terms of coursework, besides the required general education and foundational major courses, the specialized courses will differ depending on the specific track. These differences also largely determine future employment options. For example, students focusing on power generation will most likely aim for jobs at power plants; those in transmission and distribution often target grid companies (if they can get in) and related upstream and downstream industries; and those specializing in relay protection may have the best chances at relay protection companies such as NARI or Nanjing Automation.

In addition, design institutes, research institutes, electrical equipment manufacturers, and power engineering companies are also fields that broadly recruit graduates from this major.

It has nothing to do with chips. If you are interested in semiconductors or chips, you should choose a major in electronics or communications instead. That is completely unrelated to the Electrical Engineering and Automation major.

The power industry—especially the power grid sector—is a monopolistic industry, so overall compensation is usually quite good. Even in recent years, when salaries in many mainstream fields have been declining, pay in this area has generally remained relatively high.