BS (Electronic Systems)
In engineering, career paths are often seen as linear: you pick a stream, you master it, and you build a career. But what if the most innovative path isn’t a straight line? Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Krish Sadana was always intrigued by Aerospace Engineering, a field that beautifully blends the principles of electronics and mechanics. Currently pursuing a dual degree, a BS in Electronic Systems from IIT Madras and a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIP Visakhapatnam, what sets his journey apart is how IITM’s cutting-edge hybrid BS program gave him an unexpected advantage.
From day one, Krish Sadana had his heart set on aeronautics. “I have been interested in aeronautics since Class 6,” he recalls with a smile. However, after his JEE results, he didn’t make it into his desired campus. He then stumbled upon the online BS degree launched by IIT Madras. “I was not expecting to do an online degree,” Krish admits, but that initial skepticism quickly transformed into fascination.
As Krish describes it, the program’s curriculum is “a blend of exciting and intense.” It includes theory courses, hands-on lab components, and even lab equipment delivered directly to students’ homes.
From Control Engineering to Electronic Product Design, every subject pushes him to understand not just the ‘how,’ but also the ‘why.’
“They don’t just tell you how a circuit works; they make you ask how that one element affects the entire product design. That’s the level of depth we’re thrown into,” he says.
The theoretical concepts are deep, and the courses are a mix of “interesting” and “difficult.” But the real magic lies in their application. With an ADLM-1000 kit on his study table, Krish doesn’t have to wait for a lab slot. “I can practice whenever I have time. I’m not tied to lab hours,” he explains.
Beyond flexibility, the program fosters deep mentorship through mandatory on-campus sessions each semester. There, students get to interact face-to-face with the professors who created the courses. For Krish, juggling a dual degree offers a unique superpower: “perspective.” When he encounters a concept, he sees it through both a mechanical and an electronic lens. He finds himself grasping complex mechanical concepts with an ease that his peers sometimes struggle with, all thanks to the foundational knowledge he’s building at IITM.
While it’s a hybrid degree, its structure is anything but passive. Krish emphasizes the course’s well-organized nature and the ample opportunities for on-campus interaction – something not commonly expected from a remote learning program. This creates a unique environment that promotes both flexibility and academic rigor. During his diploma phase, Krish got the opportunity to work on a comprehensive project that integrated concepts from multiple fields and subjects he had explored throughout the degree program.
“During a practical session, Professor Lakshmi Narasimhan stayed back with my friend and me for about 45 minutes. He resolved all our doubts and made sure we understood everything.,” Krish shares. He describes his interactions with all his professors as “wonderful and enlightening,” often going beyond the syllabus to discuss real-world scenarios, applications, and innovations.
This course is not just about theory; it’s designed to be in sync with what the industry needs. Subjects like Embedded Systems and Electronic Product Design teach the exact skills that recruiters in aerospace and consumer electronics are looking for.
Students are also encouraged to do internships, talk to industry experts, and look for jobs. For a diploma project called ‘Strategies for Professional Growth,’ Krish worked with a mix of people, from new graduates to professionals at companies like IBM. He says, “Because this degree is open to everyone, I got to learn a lot and see how real-world problems are solved in the industry.”
Krish now plans to pursue a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering, and the IITM BS program is his springboard. “Modern avionics is nothing but Electronic Systems in motion,” he says. For Krish, the sky isn’t the limit; it’s the destination. And he’s building the circuits for his flight, right here on the ground.
