I have accepted a co-op job with a power company and now have to fill out the whole plan of work thing. I was just wondering what would be some good ECE electives to take that would be beneficial to a power career. Obviously I'm planning on 305 and 451 but beyond that I am pretty clueless. Looking through the class catalog I didn't really see anything else directly pertaining to power. I need seven electives and I was also thinking about 402, 403, and 435. Thanks.

4/4/2008 7:59:37 PM

go talk to townsend, that's what an advisor is for

4/4/2008 8:43:55 PM

^obviously I have to go see her, that is part of the requirements. But I was told to fill out the plan of work BEFORE going to see her. I was just wondering if I could get some input from upperclassmen.

4/4/2008 8:50:24 PM

yeah, I think I did that too when I cooped the summer after my first year, I had no idea what I was gonna do so we just kinda filled out the later stuff together

unfortunately I don't know much about the power side of things so sorry I'm not much help

4/4/2008 9:01:29 PM

In addition to all the power electives 305/451/453, take some controls courses. The control systems that utilities use are very complex and also many are getting old and outdated, with need to replace and update them. Lots of money is being poured into developing new types of intelligent control systems. I'm obviously biased towards them because I'm finishing up my PhD on them and because I've been working with them for over three years now.

But for a co-op position, you'll learn quickly what you need to take once you get on the job and figure out what you'll be doing for them.

4/5/2008 11:37:54 AM

^thanks joe# I was hoping you would reply. Unfortunately, I don't think they offer 453 anymore. I looked in the grade distribution reports and the class isn't listed for the last couple years. I know 435 is a controls course. Would you recommend 436 (digital control) too?

4/5/2008 12:04:00 PM

^They only report grades for classes with 20 or more people, so it doesn't mean the class hasn't been offered. Just that the class hasn't had more than 20 people.

4/5/2008 12:07:01 PM

Definitely take a digital controls course. Many new control systems utilize microcontrollers and other complex digital circuits. Because they're discrete you will find yourself moving away from the Laplace transform and working more with the Z transform.

I didn't take a digital controls course at State, so I don't know what all they teach. I sorta learned about them by myself by reading a few digital controls books that I bought from Amazon, and I sat in on a digital controls course down here at Georgia Tech.

4/5/2008 12:25:32 PM

when i filled out my plan of work I just listed my departmental electives as when I was going to take them and "MAE 4** MAE Tech Elective"

4/5/2008 4:27:44 PM

I wouldn't worry about it. Most likely if you are not a senior and if its your first co-op you will end up doing a lot of bitch work. Even if it does get technical they will teach you everything they need. I had only taken one ECE class (ECE200) my first CoOp rotation at Sony Ericsson

4/7/2008 1:00:57 PM

^thanks. Yeah, I know that they will train me and everything and I haven't even taken a single power course yet. I was just wanting some advice for good electives for a power career because right now that is what I am thinking about doing. Obviously that could change, though.

4/7/2008 1:06:21 PM

actually, you should go talk to Tara Britt. She's an amazing lady.

4/7/2008 2:35:02 PM

I would recommend taking MAE 406: Energy Conservation in Industry. It will give you a good overview of some of the mechanical aspects of power generation and energy (boilers mainly). Also, you will learn about rate schedules and other useful things that you may find interesting and applicable.

4/7/2008 10:00:54 PM

ECE-453 hasn't been offered for at least the past year or two.

Take ECE-305 and 451 in the near future. Who knows how much longer Dr. Grainger will be around (or Dr. Baran, for that matter).

Look through the graduate courses. Depending on your GPA, you may be able to take them.

As a couple people have alluded to, power consists of more than just electricity. Take a look at some of the MAE and NE courses.

For what you're looking for, Mrs. Townsend >>> Tara Britt.

4/8/2008 9:54:51 AM

I am tired of Tara Britt spamming my inbox

4/9/2008 11:13:18 AM

Quote :

"s a couple people have alluded to, power consists of more than just electricity. Take a look at some of the MAE and NE courses."

This is absolutely true. I wish I would have thought about taking a couple of ME and even NE courses (my NE419 with the drunk professor doesn't count).

4/9/2008 7:47:51 PM