Best Associates Degree To Get...

LanceBass · Feb 13, 2014

...in terms of opening up doors in the Electrical field would it be better to get a degree in HVAC, Electrical or Electronics. Assuming one already had an Electrician's license which degree would an employer rather see?

whittom · Feb 13, 2014

Associates Degree

I would get an associates in Electronics. Then I would go sign on with with your local Power company and get one of those sweet substation technician jobs and make $100,000 per year, with overtime. That's the ticket.

backstay · Feb 13, 2014

LanceBass said:
...in terms of opening up doors in the Electrical field would it be better to get a degree in HVAC, Electrical or Electronics. Assuming one already had an Electrician's license which degree would an employer rather see?

If you have an electricians license, why would you need a degree? Why spend thousands of $$$ to get what a $5 library card will get you?(I stoled that).

sparky970 · Feb 13, 2014

I had an electronics/instrumentation degree before I got in the trade. It made a lot of apprenticeship classes very easy

lefleuron · Feb 13, 2014

What do you want to do?

If its resi/commercial- you dont need one and its basically like teaching someone to fly an airplane then having them push a shopping cart all day. A waste of money.

If you are interested in communications and setting up machine networks, the degree will be completely different then the guy who wants to do automation.

Loose Neutral · Feb 13, 2014

I don't think you can go wrong with the electrical/electronic degree. It will give you a better understanding of controls and open up other doors.

wildleg · Feb 13, 2014

I'd go for astrophysics. if you are going to get burnt up anyway wiring 277/480, you might as well have a degree in something you can do out of a wheelchair.

http://www.electriciantalk.com/f2/why-do-i-keep-getting-bit-65750/

LanceBass said:
Because my boss never shuts any of the breakers off EVER. And I mean NEVER. He insists on working on everything hot. We do 277 hot. We do 277 hot while soaking wet. Thank f-God I've never been tagged by that. I can't wait till I get my license because I'm turning the ****ing breakers off to work on stuff.

MWayne · Feb 13, 2014

Instrumentation is really big here in Texas:

http://www.waco.tstc.edu/programs/waco/automation_robotics-manu

If I was young again I would go for the Associates in astrophysics!

LGLS · Feb 13, 2014

Do what you love for a living, and you'll never work a day in your life.

Michigan Master · Feb 13, 2014

LanceBass said:
...in terms of opening up doors in the Electrical field would it be better to get a degree in HVAC, Electrical or Electronics. Assuming one already had an Electrician's license which degree would an employer rather see?

Depends on the employers line of work...

If I were you, and you want to become an electrician, I'd start taking classes that could potentially be applied to an electrical apprenticeship program (i.e. electrical and electronics).

CaptainSparky · Feb 13, 2014

Get a Business Management degree. You can hire a master of any field. Good managers are much harder to find.

LanceBass · Feb 13, 2014

Michigan Master said:
Depends on the employers line of work...

If I were you, and you want to become an electrician, I'd start taking classes that could potentially be applied to an electrical apprenticeship program (i.e. electrical and electronics).

I want to be solving complex electrical problems in a nuclear power plant or like a hydro-electric facility or something. Nothing against residential or commercial but a home owner can do that. Maybe not as proficiently or quickly, but still. I want to do something that very few people can do and I really mean that. And by "few" I don't mean going to the Hall every morning with 500 other guys that have the exact same license as you do.

I want to distinguish myself is what I guess I'm saying.

lefleuron · Feb 13, 2014

LanceBass said:
I want to be solving complex electrical problems in a nuclear power plant or like a hydro-electric facility.

I want to distinguish myself is what I guess I'm saying.

There is no such thing as "distinguishing" yourself doing that kind of work.

Its what is EXPECTED of you. If you are good at it, you will earn a great living and retire well.

If you are not good at it, you will be quickly weeded out and back to square one.

Either way, the amount of thought that goes into it will give you an tumor.:laughing:

LanceBass · Feb 13, 2014

lefleuron said:
There is no such thing as "distinguishing" yourself doing that kind of work.

Its what is EXPECTED of you. If you are good at it, you will earn a great living and retire well.

If you are not good at it, you will be quickly weeded out and back to square one.

Either way, the amount of thought that goes into it will give you an tumor.:laughing:

Do you think pre-Engineering is more appropriate for that type of work or robotics or electrical? We don't have an instrumentation program where I live but there is Robotics and another degree in Electrical Technologies. I suppose either would be good...Apparently you need a degree for a lot of these power plant jobs and I don't see anyway to get my foot in the door without one as I'm not that well connected.

Michigan Master · Feb 14, 2014

LanceBass said:
Do you think pre-Engineering is more appropriate for that type of work or robotics or electrical? We don't have an instrumentation program where I live but there is Robotics and another degree in Electrical Technologies. I suppose either would be good...Apparently you need a degree for a lot of these power plant jobs and I don't see anyway to get my foot in the door without one as I'm not that well connected.

Start looking at job postings that interest you and see what type of education is required.
http://www.powerplantjobs.com/ppj.nsf/mainhome?OpenForm

I want to be solving complex electrical problems in a nuclear power plant or like a hydro-electric facility or something.

This statement ^ sounds like you need to be looking at a BSEE.

fistofbolts · Feb 14, 2014

if you want to make some real money look into nursing or the medical field. my girl makes double what I do. I'm trying to work the whole stay at home dad/sugar mamma angle. lol

LanceBass · Feb 14, 2014

fistofbolts said:
if you want to make some real money look into nursing or the medical field. my girl makes double what I do. I'm trying to work the whole stay at home dad/sugar mamma angle. lol

Way more potential in Electrical I believe. Unless you're talking becoming an MD your salary will peak somewhere and on top you'll ALWAYS be working for someone else. There are no private RN's that I'm aware of. I think if you know something about business you can do real well in any trade since most contractors know **** all about running a business. If they did they wouldn't be out of work so often...

LanceBass · Feb 14, 2014

Michigan Master said:
Start looking at job postings that interest you and see what type of education is required.
http://www.powerplantjobs.com/ppj.nsf/mainhome?OpenForm

This statement ^ sounds like you need to be looking at a BSEE.

Yeah, the only thing is it'll take like 10 years to complete a BSEE while working full-time. I cam do the math though. Was just trying to get the associates to maybe get my foot in the door...

fistofbolts · Feb 14, 2014

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Big John · Feb 14, 2014

fistofbolts said:
if you want to make some real money look into nursing or the medical field. my girl makes double what I do...

You ever noticed how many electricians are in relationships with nurses? It's weird.

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