Offering technical and management expertise needed to thrive in the electrical and manufacturing industries. Graduates gain hands-on experience with applied circuit design, automation, renewable energy, and power systems, leading to successful careers in project management, engineering, and more.
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Electrical Engineering Overview
UMaine’s Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) program provides students with a comprehensive, hands-on education that prepares them to meet the growing demands of the electrical engineering and manufacturing industries. The curriculum combines technical knowledge with practical, real-world experience, covering critical areas such as electrical circuits, semiconductor electronics, microcomputer applications, electrical machinery, and power systems. Students gain expertise in applied circuit design, automation, integration, and grid connection, with a particular emphasis on renewable energy technologies. The program is structured to provide students with a blend of technical and management skills that enable them to take on leadership roles in diverse sectors, including manufacturing, power delivery, alternative energy, and field engineering.
Graduates of the EET program go on to excel in a variety of roles such as electrical and instrumentation engineers, project engineers, equipment engineers, and applications engineers. They work for leading employers in the region, including major firms like General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and Toyota, as well as smaller, specialized companies in sectors like semiconductor manufacturing, power systems, and consulting. Many alumni have gone on to assume management positions within 10 years of graduation or have launched their own engineering firms.
The EET program at UMaine is ideal for students who want to learn the applied aspects of electrical engineering and technology, and who are ready to step directly into technical roles in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world. With a focus on both theory and practice, this program offers students the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the electrical engineering field, solve complex problems, and lead the way in innovations that drive industry forward
Electrical Engineering and Engineering Technology – Similarities and Differences
It is apparent that many ELE and EET graduates are employed as “engineers” of one sort or another. What is not so apparent are the differences (and similarities) in the EET and Electrical Engineering degree programs and the nature of the jobs obtained by program graduates. Some reference to the history of the programs is required to fully appreciate the current programs.
During the 1950’s and 1960’s the ‘space race’ and similar efforts to be technologically first internationally, caused engineering programs to center on creating graduates who were targeted at making new discoveries for the benefit of mankind and the progress of technology. As a consequence, the engineering programs became more and more conceptually (theoretically) based, or a shift toward engineering science. That is, they relied primarily on a mathematical basis to teach and to learn. After all, if the graduate is expecting to discover that which does not exist, he or she cannot very well work with it as a part of their education. The conceptual basis as the learning methodology continues today.
A large portion of the available engineering positions need conceptually based engineers. As industry continues to progress, more and more technicians are needed with hands-on abilities to create electronic products and industrial control systems based on electronic systems. This type of engineer is often referred to as an “engineer practitioner” or “electronics technician”.
An Electrical Engineering degree is the more traditional path to a professional engineering career and is the form of degree most typically offered within engineering colleges across the nation and most recognizable by other engineering professionals across the globe. EE programs typically require more math, science and core engineering theory than is required in the EET program. In the event that you may want to pursue graduate studies or research in the future, the EE program will give you the greatest versatility in choosing among opportunities.
Electrical Engineering Technology focuses primarily on the applied aspects of engineering aimed at preparing graduates for practice in industry. For those who may have struggled a bit with math and science courses in high school but are still interested in a career in applied Electrical Engineering, an EET degree is an alternative. Other students are simply more interested in applied production and construction than in design, development, prototyping and analysis.
Department Information
School Director: Will Manion
School of Engineering Technology
5711 Boardman Hall, Room 119
Orono, Maine 04469-5711
Tel: (207) 581-2340
Fax: (207) 581-2113
um.set@maine.edu
sCHOOL OF Engineering Technology
Our school was established in 1975 and offers four degree options for our students. Our programs are explicitly designed to prepare graduates for engineering careers. We accomplish this by working closely with industry to ensure that students are provided “hands on” experience with today’s technology and applications.
Our four engineering technology programs are explicitly designed to prepare graduates for engineering careers. We accomplish this by working closely with industry to ensure that students are provided “hands on” experience with today’s technology and applications.
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