Leading the charge: 3 US universities shaping the future of Electrical and Computer Engineering

With the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) and countries aiming for ambitious adoption of EVs, the world needs more engineers who are experts in designing electrical circuitry that allows a gas engine to charge the battery in a hybrid vehicle and distribute the electricity from the battery to the electric motor. Beyond EVs, there are many more computing and smart appliances changing the way we live. 

These innovations require more experts who can design, develop, test, and supervise electrical equipment manufacture. An advanced degree will help you acquire these skills, thus setting you up for a successful career in the ever-growing sector, whether it is in automotive, manufacturing, construction, gaming, and many more.

While many universities in the US offer degrees in electrical engineering, only a few focus on research. These three universities have programmes that investigate, study, and take on some of the field’s grandest challenges. 

As the only engineering department in the nation home to two concurrent NSF Engineering Research Centres, NC State ECE emphasises high-quality research in its postgraduate programmes. Source: North Carolina State University

North Carolina State University

Ranked eighth best university to study electrical engineering in the US (ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking 2021), North Carolina State University (NC State) emphasises high-quality research through its postgraduate programmes. Whether you enrol in master’s degrees such as Master of Science (MS) in Electrical Engineering, MS in Computer Engineering, MS in Computer Networking, MS in Electric Power Systems Engineering, or a PhD in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) promises that you get to research and innovate tomorrow’s technology, from transistors for future integrated circuits to revolutionising how computers work.

NC State ECE students can access various research opportunities across multiple areas. These include Bioelectronics Engineering, Communications, Controls, Signal Processing, and Learning, Computer Architecture and Systems, Electronic Circuits and Systems, Physical Electronics, Photonics and Magnetics, Machine Learning and AI, Networking, Power Electronics and Power Systems, and Quantum Information Science and Engineering. No matter which area of expertise you choose, you will gain demonstrable knowledge and real-world skills through complex projects and research that will help elevate your career in academia, industry or government.

As an NC State ECE student, your research is enhanced by having multiple national centres and laboratories scattered around the campus. Here, you’ll have a front-seat view to see how the department’s research gets internationally recognised and leads to new patents and prototypes being created for potential future market use. As one of the two engineering departments in the nation to be home to two concurrent National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centres, you have the chance to interact and work with industry professionals who are committed to moulding the next generation of engineers.

As the department is located in the United State’s Centre of Innovation, you’ll benefit from lots of industry involvement, collaboration, and partnership with leading companies around the Research Triangle and Silicon Valley area. This allows graduates to find work easily, as many industry giants recruit from NC State ECE. Apply to NC State ECE today.

University of California, Davis’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has two types of master’s degrees here – one by writing a thesis, the other by completing an exam. Source: University of California, Davis/Facebook

University of California, Davis

At the University of California, Davis‘s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, graduate students choose their research specialisations. These include communications, control, networking, and signal processing; computer engineering; electronic circuits; optoelectronics; radio frequency, micro- and millimetre waves; and physical electronics. All these areas will develop suitable skills and insights needed to solve some of the world’s most complex technological problems.

The MS degree here is divided into two plans – one that requires you to write a thesis that proves your proficiency in research methods and scientific analysis, as well as a thorough knowledge of your chosen field and the other an exam that you will take after completing the required courses. The PhD, on the other hand, needs you to come up with an original and significant contribution to your specialised area after passing a preliminary evaluation, performing on an exam, and completing a research dissertation.

The department addresses 21st-century engineering challenges through its research programmes and curricular innovations in diverse areas of information technologies. Computer Engineering, Quantum, Photonic and Electronic Devices, Bio, Ag and Health Technologies, Information Systems, RF-to-THz Electronics and Waves, and Integrated Circuits and Systems are the main research areas that students will work on in over 40 laboratories and centres dedicated to a specific field.

The University of Texas at Austin is a leading public research university, home to more than 51,000 students. Source: The University of Texas at Austin/Facebook

University of Texas at Austin

Right in the heart of Austin sits the University of Texas. It is the largest and most comprehensive university in North Texas and offers an array of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in engineering.

The Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is the university’s most prominent department within the Cockrell School of Engineering. Home to more than 2,500 students and 80 faculty, the department is renowned for its state-of-the-art research, development and design experience.

The four-semester MS in Engineering degree has eight academic tracks: Architecture, Computer Systems, and Embedded Systems (ACSES); bioECE; Decision, Information, and Communications Engineering (DICE); Electromagnetics & Acoustics (EA); Electronics, Photonics and Quantum Systems (EPQS); Integrated Circuits & Systems (ICS); Power Electronics and Power Systems (PEPS) and Software Engineering and Systems (SES). Students can make full use of the various resources and interdisciplinary work at UT Austin as well.

Upon completion, they can progress to the PhD — a route that’s led Yifan Jiang to become a recipient of a 2023 Apple Scholars in AI/ML PhD fellowship. He will receive funding as he pursues his PhD, internship opportunities, and mentorship with an Apple researcher in their field. 

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International