9 answers
Ahmad
Student
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1
Question
Asked
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What business major would best complement an electrical engineering degree?
As a first-year dual degree student in engineering and business, currently planning to pursue electrical engineering but not choosing my engineering major until second year and my business concentration until third year.
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9 answers
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Consultant and Freelance Writer
710
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Paul’s Answer
Accounting, finance and technology would work well. But the best complement, which goes well in this area, is an emphasis in Business Technology. It combines the elements of engineering with the focus on business oriented technology subjects.
Ben L
4
Answers
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
Ben’s Answer
Hi Ahmad,
Agree with the comments above, there is no one size fits all answer here, but a few thoughts from my career (electrical engineering + MBA):
1. Having your engineering degree is a huge asset! You will be able to work through very technical problems and have an appreciate for the nuance of the products companies deliver
2. From business school I found the following to be most helpful:
-Entrepreneurship - being close to customers and understanding their painpoints has been a great skill to build, it lets you be a better engineer if you want to go down that path, or it gives you optionality to explore product management skills
-Strategy courses - as an engineer you will work close to a specific product but miss a bit of the bigger picture (how does this product fit in a companies portfolio/goal?), it's not critical to have this skillset immediately, but I really loved it!
-Accounting - activity based costing (ABC) was a powerful idea I studied during the MBA, it's an advanced concept and not totally critical for you at this point, but it helped me build confidence talking pure business topics (e.g., cost to product a widget)
You're already on a great path looking at a technical + business degree, it's a really powerful combination and (more importantly) a really fun one to give you x-ray vision into how businesses operate and build their products! Good luck!
Agree with the comments above, there is no one size fits all answer here, but a few thoughts from my career (electrical engineering + MBA):
1. Having your engineering degree is a huge asset! You will be able to work through very technical problems and have an appreciate for the nuance of the products companies deliver
2. From business school I found the following to be most helpful:
-Entrepreneurship - being close to customers and understanding their painpoints has been a great skill to build, it lets you be a better engineer if you want to go down that path, or it gives you optionality to explore product management skills
-Strategy courses - as an engineer you will work close to a specific product but miss a bit of the bigger picture (how does this product fit in a companies portfolio/goal?), it's not critical to have this skillset immediately, but I really loved it!
-Accounting - activity based costing (ABC) was a powerful idea I studied during the MBA, it's an advanced concept and not totally critical for you at this point, but it helped me build confidence talking pure business topics (e.g., cost to product a widget)
You're already on a great path looking at a technical + business degree, it's a really powerful combination and (more importantly) a really fun one to give you x-ray vision into how businesses operate and build their products! Good luck!
Kevin Corkran
Mergers and Acquisitions Tax Associate
11
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
Hello Ahmad,
The types of business majors are: Accounting · Finance · Business Administration and Management · Marketing · International Business · Real Estate · Economics and many more.
I don't think there is any one "best" complement to electrical engineering, but project management might be close because project managers tend to have an engineering background due to the overlap of skill sets. Try taking a class in each area and see what you like the most.
I hope this was helpful!
The types of business majors are: Accounting · Finance · Business Administration and Management · Marketing · International Business · Real Estate · Economics and many more.
I don't think there is any one "best" complement to electrical engineering, but project management might be close because project managers tend to have an engineering background due to the overlap of skill sets. Try taking a class in each area and see what you like the most.
I hope this was helpful!
Art Allen
Retired Mechanical engineer
16
Answers
Mead, Washington
Updated
Art’s Answer
I agree with the above folks but I would also like to say that you have already been given a time line to make those decisions. You have chosen two very broad majors that include micro electronics, to megawatt power production, distribution in building or nation wide networks (power and communications)and business small footprint business (consulting, contracting) to Fortune 500.
1) Take any electives that you are interested in to gain detailed information that might help in the future decision.
2) get your feet wet with summer internships in and around your interests.
3) Get and use a Mentor at school, at the internship, or a friend of the family that has basic knowledge of the career paths and has experience in the trenches.
Remember that a broad based education allows for future flexibility in your career, it looks like you are on a path with many forks in it. As Yogi Barra said "when you come to a fork in the road TAKE IT!"
1) Take any electives that you are interested in to gain detailed information that might help in the future decision.
2) get your feet wet with summer internships in and around your interests.
3) Get and use a Mentor at school, at the internship, or a friend of the family that has basic knowledge of the career paths and has experience in the trenches.
Remember that a broad based education allows for future flexibility in your career, it looks like you are on a path with many forks in it. As Yogi Barra said "when you come to a fork in the road TAKE IT!"
Aydil Ayber
Digital Innovation Consultant
7
Answers
Eindhoven, North Brabant, Netherlands
Updated
Aydil’s Answer
Hello Ahmad!
I also studied Electrical Engineering and continue my career as Digital Innovation Consultant, in past also worked as business strategist.
Electrical engineering seems to be a specific major but it is actually not. All the engineering majors are driven from 3 engineering disciplines: Electrical, Mechanical and Chemistry. I would strongly recommend to study one of there hence possibilities and alternatives are various.
For example as an Electrical Engineer you can focus on many sectors and professions like:
1. Energy production and distribution even storage - only electrical engineers can work as engineer in high voltage areas. This is a never ending sector with specific people need. So the engineers there are rare and valuable.
2. Electronics - this is a major you can focus while studying electrical engineering and actually can work on any kind of low voltage electronic devices as hardware developer on new generation devices. Not everything on technology is about SW. Actually very special people build better and better processors, micro-chips, even servers and even quantum computers around the world.
3. Computer Engineering - Also Software side is driven from low voltage electrical engineering so there are lessons you can take to learn coding languages and be as good SW engineer as an HW one.
4. Construction - Every building has electrical engineers to build the electricity infrastructure and control it. This is also only possible for electrical engineers. That is a huge responsibility to sign the energy security papers of any construction area.
5. Smart Mobility & Automotive - I also worked in this major for years. Most of the people thinks it is a mechanical engineering job to design and produce car and car parts but actually a car has more electric - electronic parts and software than mechanical parts. Nowadays it is even getting bigger with connected and electrified cars.
6. Motors and Generators - Most of the technology devices uses motors and generators. There are big motor design companies around the world that you can happily create ones and have a good quality of life (Bosch, Siemens, etc)
7- Energy & Sustainability - There are growing opportunities in this sector. Bio-energy, thermal energy and nuclear energy production facilities are still having a huge effect on sustainability calculations of cities and countries. Being able to understand the dynamics and pros cons of those is a big advantage you can earn in Electrical engineering major.
I'm sure there are many more I missed to write here. Please remember that all of these are also businesses. You can always choose to manage big projects, be strategist or be business developer in those areas. It is absolutely a huge advantage to understand the tech behind them to be a good businessman in those areas. Studying electrical engineering and doing an MBA afterwards would be the best fit.
I also studied Electrical Engineering and continue my career as Digital Innovation Consultant, in past also worked as business strategist.
Electrical engineering seems to be a specific major but it is actually not. All the engineering majors are driven from 3 engineering disciplines: Electrical, Mechanical and Chemistry. I would strongly recommend to study one of there hence possibilities and alternatives are various.
For example as an Electrical Engineer you can focus on many sectors and professions like:
1. Energy production and distribution even storage - only electrical engineers can work as engineer in high voltage areas. This is a never ending sector with specific people need. So the engineers there are rare and valuable.
2. Electronics - this is a major you can focus while studying electrical engineering and actually can work on any kind of low voltage electronic devices as hardware developer on new generation devices. Not everything on technology is about SW. Actually very special people build better and better processors, micro-chips, even servers and even quantum computers around the world.
3. Computer Engineering - Also Software side is driven from low voltage electrical engineering so there are lessons you can take to learn coding languages and be as good SW engineer as an HW one.
4. Construction - Every building has electrical engineers to build the electricity infrastructure and control it. This is also only possible for electrical engineers. That is a huge responsibility to sign the energy security papers of any construction area.
5. Smart Mobility & Automotive - I also worked in this major for years. Most of the people thinks it is a mechanical engineering job to design and produce car and car parts but actually a car has more electric - electronic parts and software than mechanical parts. Nowadays it is even getting bigger with connected and electrified cars.
6. Motors and Generators - Most of the technology devices uses motors and generators. There are big motor design companies around the world that you can happily create ones and have a good quality of life (Bosch, Siemens, etc)
7- Energy & Sustainability - There are growing opportunities in this sector. Bio-energy, thermal energy and nuclear energy production facilities are still having a huge effect on sustainability calculations of cities and countries. Being able to understand the dynamics and pros cons of those is a big advantage you can earn in Electrical engineering major.
I'm sure there are many more I missed to write here. Please remember that all of these are also businesses. You can always choose to manage big projects, be strategist or be business developer in those areas. It is absolutely a huge advantage to understand the tech behind them to be a good businessman in those areas. Studying electrical engineering and doing an MBA afterwards would be the best fit.
Brian Schunck
Director, Intelligent Software Systems at GoPro
34
Answers
San Diego, California
Updated
Brian’s Answer
Not clear you need a business major. Engineering teaches lots of math and I have known engineers who had no trouble transitioning to finance. Perhaps take a course or two in business school on topics not covered in engineering but only if very relevant to your career. One thing worth learning: accounting. Not the most interesting course but it is important if you anticipate working on the business side of engineering to understand how to map the flow of money through a business. Essential if you ever start your own business.
Jamie Mathews
Construction and Engineering Administration
13
Answers
Fort Worth, Texas
Updated
Jamie’s Answer
There's no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to combining business and electrical engineering. It all boils down to what you envision for your business journey. If you dream of launching your own venture, pairing Business Administration with Finance could be your winning ticket. On the other hand, if you're gearing up to join a firm, honing your skills in project and people management could be beneficial. After all, you'll be interacting with contractors and city officials concerning permits and regulations. So, go ahead and choose the path that aligns with your ambitions. You've got this!
Robert Epstein
General Manager
78
Answers
Naples, Florida
Updated
Robert’s Answer
Hi Ahmad,
Looks like you’re already doing a great job planning your next moves…excellent! Judging from other engineering professionals and managers I’ve know in my 50+ year career, I’d recommend this: consider Marketing as a major. In general I feel that Marketing gives you a broader, more useful perspective in serving different consumers. Of course it depends on your particular job position. Taking Macro- or Microeconomics as a major can give you a very wide view. If you're planning to be an entrepreneur, then maybe Finance is the way to go. But I’ve found that most engineers benefit from Marketing knowledge to help show how their engineering efforts can be better utilized in the marketplace. I wish you all the best!
Looks like you’re already doing a great job planning your next moves…excellent! Judging from other engineering professionals and managers I’ve know in my 50+ year career, I’d recommend this: consider Marketing as a major. In general I feel that Marketing gives you a broader, more useful perspective in serving different consumers. Of course it depends on your particular job position. Taking Macro- or Microeconomics as a major can give you a very wide view. If you're planning to be an entrepreneur, then maybe Finance is the way to go. But I’ve found that most engineers benefit from Marketing knowledge to help show how their engineering efforts can be better utilized in the marketplace. I wish you all the best!
Thomas Mathes
Real Estate Asset Manager
6
Answers
Hartford, Connecticut
Updated
Thomas’s Answer
That's such a great question. If you like advanced math and calculus I would suggest either focusing in investments such as trading or maybe operations related degrees with a focus in statistics. And there's many technology types of degrees I'm sure, those that related to coding might be of interest.