Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering programmes teach the behaviour of electricity, electronics, signals and computing hardware, and the design of the systems built from them — power generation and distribution, communications, control, and the embedded computers inside almost everything else.

The degrees this program covers

Here the programme and the major are the same thing: a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, with master’s and doctoral degrees above it. Several Florida institutions split COMPUTER ENGINEERING off as a separate degree — if hardware and embedded systems are what you want, read both catalogues, because the first two years are often identical and the choice is reversible early and expensive late. ⚠ For Professional Engineer licensure the degree must come from a programme accredited by ABET’s ENGINEERING commission; an engineering TECHNOLOGY accreditation carries a longer experience requirement. ⚠ Much electrical work is done under the industry exemption, so many electrical engineers never licence — that should be a decision, not an oversight.

Careers this program leads to

Each one sets out the courses along the way, the licence or certification at the end, and the sources behind it.

Computer Hardware Engineer

Computer hardware engineers design and test the physical machine — processors, boards, memory systems, embedded controllers and the peripherals around them. ⚠ It pays better than any other career on this site and it is small: about 76,800 people nationally, and a third of the occupation expects a master's degree.

Electrical Engineer

Electrical engineers design, develop and test electrical and electronic systems — power generation and distribution, control systems, communications, embedded computing, instrumentation and the electronics inside almost everything else. In Florida the work concentrates in aerospace and space launch, defence and simulation, utilities and grid modernisation, semiconductors and medical devices.

Careers that name this program, but not as a route

Electronics Engineering Technician

⚠ The four-year alternative: engineering designs, technology builds and maintains. Ten institutions, the shorter licensure timetable, and the route to design work — read it before committing to two years.

Semiconductor Technician

The bachelor's degree above this path, for chip design and process engineering. ⚠ Valencia's calculus-based A.S. is unusually well placed to continue into it.

Programs similar to this one

Neighbouring fields that share much of the same coursework, and often the same employers. ⚠ Read these before you commit to a major — which doors a neighbouring degree keeps open is the part no catalog tells you, and it is far cheaper to change now than later.

Computer Engineering 10 Florida schools

⚠ Usually the same department and nearly the same first two years, so this is a decision you can defer to the end of year two — but not past it. Computer engineering leans to processors, embedded systems and digital design; electrical keeps power, communications, control and analogue open.

Computer Science 16 Florida schools

Where the software half of embedded and systems work is taught. ⚠ Many electrical graduates end up writing firmware; if that is the work you want, compare the two degrees rather than assuming electrical covers it.

Biomedical Engineering 8 Florida schools

The other half of the device industry — instrumentation, imaging, signal processing and the electronics inside anything implanted or monitored. A strong route into medical devices, and available at ten institutions.

Engineering Technology 76 Florida schools

The engineering counterpart on the electrical side. Many technology graduates later complete an engineering degree; ask the receiving department which courses transfer BEFORE you start, because the mathematics and science sequences differ.

Electronics Engineering Technology 20 Florida schools

⚠ The four-year degree beside it, and the distinction that matters: engineering designs, technology builds and maintains. The engineering degree keeps the PE route open on the shorter timetable; this one is faster, cheaper and closer to the equipment.

Florida public institutions offering this program

10 institutions awarded a credential in this field in 2023, at these levels: Associate, Bachelor's, Doctorate (research/scholarship), Master's, Postbaccalaureate certificate. A school appears here if it awards anything in the field, however limited its offering — a technical college teaching only practical nursing has a nursing program. Listed alphabetically, not ranked.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Bachelor's · Doctorate (research/scholarship) · Master's

Florida Atlantic University

Bachelor's · Doctorate (research/scholarship) · Master's · Postbaccalaureate certificate

Florida International University

Bachelor's · Doctorate (research/scholarship) · Master's · Postbaccalaureate certificate

Florida Polytechnic University

Associate · Bachelor's

Florida State University

Bachelor's · Doctorate (research/scholarship) · Master's

University of Central Florida

Bachelor's · Doctorate (research/scholarship) · Master's · Postbaccalaureate certificate

University of Florida

Bachelor's · Doctorate (research/scholarship) · Master's · Postbaccalaureate certificate

University of North Florida

Bachelor's · Master's

University of South Florida

Bachelor's · Doctorate (research/scholarship) · Master's

University of West Florida

Bachelor's

Source: federal IPEDS completions data for 2023, first majors only — the most recent year published. ⚠ It records what was awarded, which is strong evidence of what is offered, but a program launched since 2023 will not appear here. Check the institution’s own catalog before applying.

Updated 21 September 2026. ⚠ Program pages describe a field of study, not one school’s degree — always read the catalog of the institution you are applying to.