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How do I get an Associate's Degree in Electrical Engineering?

G. Wiesen
G. Wiesen

To receive an associate’s degree in electrical engineering, you should typically begin by receiving a high school diploma or equivalent certification. You can then find schools that offer an associate’s degree program in electrical engineering and apply to those schools. Once you are accepted, you can then begin working on the classes and coursework to complete before you can receive your associate’s degree. After you receive your associate’s degree in electrical engineering, you can then consider pursuing a career utilizing your degree or you can continue your education and work toward a bachelor’s degree.

An associate’s degree in electrical engineering is typically a two-year degree that allows you to work in certain engineering fields. This type of degree is often awarded by colleges and universities, though many technical schools also offer an associate’s program in electrical engineering. The first thing you typically need to do toward this degree is receive a high school diploma or equivalent certification, such as a general educational development (GED) certificate. This will allow you to begin applying at colleges and schools that offer an associate’s degree in electrical engineering, though you should also determine any other requirements such schools have before applying.

A mortarboard and diploma for an associate's degree in electrical engineering.
A mortarboard and diploma for an associate's degree in electrical engineering.

Once you apply to a school, and are accepted, you can begin working on your associate’s degree in electrical engineering by attending various classes and completing the coursework required to graduate. This will vary from one school to another, though it can include some basic coursework in language and history, as well as classes in math, computers, science, and electronics. The school you attend will typically establish what classes you need to complete, though most schools offer similar programs.

An electrical engineer inspecting a circuit breaker.
An electrical engineer inspecting a circuit breaker.

After you complete your coursework and earn your associate’s degree in electrical engineering, you can then begin working in a number of different fields or pursue higher education. An associate’s degree in electrical engineering can qualify you to work in areas such as testing and quality assurance of electrical devices, development and research on home electronics, and maintenance on computer hardware and network mainframes. You can also use your degree to continue your education and begin working on a higher level degree, such as a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Your associate’s degree is typically the equivalent of the first two years of work toward a bachelor’s degree, which often only requires another two years of education to complete.

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    • A mortarboard and diploma for an associate's degree in electrical engineering.
      By: Matthew Benoit
      A mortarboard and diploma for an associate's degree in electrical engineering.
    • An electrical engineer inspecting a circuit breaker.
      By: sevaljevic
      An electrical engineer inspecting a circuit breaker.
    • An electrical engineer working.
      By: michaeljung
      An electrical engineer working.