Vincent Deno wrote:
>
> Here at U.C., it takes _only_ 5 years to get a BSEE.  IMHO, the best part of o
ur
> curriculum is our manditory co-op.  So far, I've accumulated over a year and a
 half of
> REAL engineering work.  I agree, I started with the brute-force method.  While
 I was
> able to MAKE things work, I quickly saw it was the hard way to do things. I kn
ow now
> when I return for my final co-op quarter, I'll be able to churn out quality wo
rk which
> will stand the rigors of real engineering problems.... I won't complain about
the
> money there anyway.  :)
>
Five years?  Luxury.  ;-)

In Canada, we also have the option of a technology diploma which takes 2
years (3 in some institutions).  I originally went this route and then
worked in electronics design for 5 years.  After a while, though, I
found that I had to compete for jobs with you engineers <g>.  Back to
school the co-op way (5 year degree).  From diploma start to degree
completion: 12 years.

I don't regret at all the time "wasted" getting the technology diploma,
though: the practical experience was invaluable.  Engineering school
just doesn't have the time to teach the basics of soldering and other
mundane (and extremely important) tasks.  Co-op does a good job adding
at least part of the practical experience required for a graduate
engineer to make it in the "real world".

--Matt