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The Electrician + Electrical Engineer combination program integrates a licensed journeyman electrician credential with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering — in roughly the same time it takes to complete one or the other alone. Students earn trade income during the apprenticeship phase, graduate with zero or minimal student debt from trade earnings, and hold a credential set that is essentially unmatched in the job market: someone who can both design and build electrical systems.
Program Structure
- Years 1–2: Core electrical apprenticeship — NEC code, wiring, conduit, panel work, motor controls
- Concurrent: General education and engineering prerequisites via AI tutor accelerated pathway
- Year 3: Journeyman exam preparation and licensing. Begin upper-division EE coursework
- Years 3–4: Power systems, circuit design, embedded systems, communications, controls
- Year 4: Senior capstone project — an engineering design project implemented at MDN
- Outcome: Licensed Journeyman Electrician + BS Electrical Engineering
Why This Combination Works
- Electricians who can read schematics, design circuits, and write specifications command premium wages and leadership roles
- Electrical engineers who can actually run conduit, size wire, and troubleshoot a panel are immediately more valuable than classmates who can only model
- Trade income during apprenticeship years offsets education cost — many graduates have zero debt
- Michigan JATC and community college articulation agreements allow credit transfer and dual enrollment
- MDN manufacturing facility provides real-world engineering project site unavailable to typical university students
Career Ceiling vs. Trade Alone
- Licensed Electrician only: $65,000–$90,000/yr journeyman, $90,000–$130,000+ contractor/owner
- EE degree only: $75,000–$95,000 entry, $95,000–$140,000+ mid-career
- Electrician + EE combination: $90,000–$110,000 entry, $130,000–$200,000+ senior/owner/entrepreneur
- Startup path: Design + build your own energy systems, robotics, or infrastructure company with both skill sets
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