Can an Engineering graduate work in a field that they did not study?

Hi
I'm a second year Electronic and Electrical Engineering student, just about to sit my first set of exams for this year.
I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do after I graduate, and unfortunately I do not think I want to go into EE engineering. I do however definitely want to be an engineer, don't get me wrong I love my course, I just think that I have chosen the wrong field of engineering.

I chose EE Engineering because in the first year of unspecialised Engineering I found the digital electronics module fun and the strength and materials module pretty boring, that was enough reason for me to go down the electronics side. However now I'm thinking about careers and I would like a job that is meaningful to me, and personally I don't think I can get that with EE Engineering. I would much prefer to go into the green energy business, researching and designing alternative sustainable energy sources, or working on nuclear fission or fusion reactors, the latter being the most tempting to me.

The problem is that my university actually offers a nuclear engineering course, and a sustainable engineering course, so they obviously would have been better choices for me. However, the nuclear engineers course is not too different from mine. All Engineering students study; Engineering maths, Thermodynamics and heat transfer, Instrumentation and control, power and heat, and Engineering projects. The only difference between EE and nuclear is that they do 20 weeks of a module simply titled "Nuclear Engineering" where as we do the module "electrical circuits and power systems". We also both study Electro-Magnetics and RF Engineering in the same lectures (This is my new favourite module). Next term they will be studying decommissioning and sustainability where as I will be studying digital electronics part two.

After these sets of exams I am going to ask if I can study the nuclear module instead of the digital one, although I doubt they will let me as it will mean I do not have a complete degree in one field, I wont be a full EE Engineer or a full Nuclear Engineer.

So I have two questions, firstly, if by some chance I can change schemes to nuclear do you think I should take this opportunity or do you think having an inconsistent mix of modules is a bad idea? And secondly if I carry on with my EE degree can I still get a job in the nuclear industry or the green energy industry?

Thanks for reading.

bq). *can I still get a job in the nuclear industry or the green energy industry?*


I've just realised this bit of the question is quite vague. What I meant was; do I have as much chance as those studying nuclear engineering to become successful in the nuclear industry, and do I have as much chance as those studying sustainable engineering to become successful in the energy industry.

Talk to your course tutor now about the different possibilities. It is always best to have things arranged sooner, as some things cannot be changed later.

Digital electronics is absolutely basic to everything in the twenty-first century, so whatever engineering job you apply for, a deeper knowledge will be very useful and acceptable.

Check if it will be possible to study additional subjects to the necessary level at a later date by part-time or correspondence courses.

I expect sustainability engineering will be a continually massively growing field, but the need for nuclear power station engineers will probably be more limited (but still definitely needed).
But perhaps places like hadron colliders will gradually increase in number !

See if you can talk this over with someone employed in nuclear engineering, and check out websites for nuclear power stations, perhaps write to the personnel recruiting officer at the kind of place you envisage working at.

Off course guys you can get a a job in every where in the electrical and electronics property present even in nuclear industry because 1) you leaned about physics 2nd there no object is changed without the boiler and nuclear boiler electrical generator remains same so you dont need to sad.Thanks for ask to this forum
for better details you may visit those sites
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Nuclear_technology
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Pro...ountries-T-Z/USA--Nuclear-Power/#.UVZuw5a5XXE
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-A-F/France/#.UVZuw5a5XXE

My two cents are directed at this portion of your inquiry -"After these sets of exams I am going to ask if I can study the nuclear module instead of the digital one, although I doubt they will let me as it will mean I do not have a complete degree in one field, I wont be a full EE Engineer or a full Nuclear Engineer."

I think it would be a bad choice to not have the degree. Many EE's are working in the nuclear field. If it means that you have to return to school to persue the nuclear degree then you could be working, with income, while persuing the degree. Many employers have education assitance so they may even help you to get the second degree. Now think about how marketable you would be with two degrees as opposed to one.

Thanks for answering everyone, it is very helpful to hear experienced EE's opinions.