Electronic Design Software

Can one design complex electronic devices with an EE degree education ?

When I see all those modern electronic devices in stores, I wonder what education it takes to design them. Would a B.S. degree in electrical engineering be enough for one to be able to do this?

Public Comments

1. Yes, most of these complex circuits are designed by computer anyway using circuit 'building' blocks.
2. Yep! That is all it takes. Plus a lot of experience doing a lot of different things. But most of all, it takes a love of electronics and a strong overwhelming desire to do it. As with anything worthwhile.
3. A computer helps. There a programs like "SPICE", "VeriLog", and "MatLab". Chances are, for many consumer electronics, you would work with other EE's, even if you only buy components they have designed. You would also likely be under supervision of someone with a more advanced degree
4. Yes and No. A degree will give you the background necessary. But, it may not give you the ability. Some of these devices take teams of 20+ engineers months to design. From making their own microcomputers,gates, inverters, amplifiers..many things have to be specially designed. Also, most electronic devices must meet a certain requirement regarding the noise, or interference, they put out. And it may take a few more engineers to redesign everything to meet this criterium.
5. Increasingly, masters degrees, MSEE, are prefered for chip design. It is still one of the glamorous roles for EE.
6. I have never met anyone with a degree that can design (straight from college) You need intution, experience and novelty
7. A BS is not an sufficient; circuits require a lot of knowledge that you do not get in school. Either you learn on your own by reading and experimenting or you find a good mentor or company to gain experience. That said a good designer does not need a BS degree but getting an MS degree does help because 'post BS' education usually teaches applied technology.