Reddit reviews Microwave Engineering

> I signed up for an amateur radio licensing course

That's actually very relevant. This is the best way to learn a few EE junior-level fundamentals before you even take classes on them, and a majority of EEs and RF engineers are hams. It's an excellent way to network in the industry.

RFwise, the default answer around here is Pozar's Microwave Engineering book for some excellent theory, as well as Experimental Methods in RF Design for practical examples and projects.

I would also find a way to get HFSS/CST/FEKO through your university, either by taking courses and look for opportunities for research or independent study. Practically, build some ham radio antennas, get an RTLSDR (see /r/RTLSDR) and play around, build some cheap transmitter and receiver kits like the Pixie, and get involved with a ham club.

The indistury is strongly moving towards SDR and FPGA-based radio designs, so it might be wise to learn a bit VHDL/Verilog/FPGA programming, which is something I need to do. The industry uses a ton of MATLAB too.

If you are looking for a good RF internship/coop, I would look at Radio Observatories like the Very Large Array. If you meet Paul Harden (ham call NA5N) and mention you want to learn about RF design, he will blow your mind.

Pozar. Covers a good variety of the basics of RF.

If you are interested in doing anything in the microwave spectrum (which includes most modern communication standards), then Pozar is the book which everyone seems to have for the basics. The first couple chapters are super math heavy in deriving stuff from electromagnetics, but if simply learn the basics of transmission lines either from there or from another source, the following chapters mostly contain algebra, if I recall correctly.

Well, you can start at microwave engineering and work your way back to DC: Pozar

edit:

Antenna engineering is fun and mathy:

Balanis

Stutzmann and Thiele

This is a good introduction to high frequency stuff:

https://www.amazon.com/Microwave-Engineering-David-M-Pozar/dp/0470631554

Pozar's Microwave Engineering is a great book.

Microwaves 101 is a great website. It has information on how to self-educate on the subject as well (book suggestions, etc.)

Intro to Airbourne RADAR is another nice book with a RADAR focus.

The Agilent Impedance Measurement Handbook is required reading IMHO.

There are quite a bit of great papers published by the big companies, for example Rhode & Schwartz, Agilent, Analog Devices, and so on. Once you learn about what the names of the subfields of focus are you can look for papers on a particular technology or simulation/testing/analysis method.

Pozar for passives: http://www.amazon.com/Microwave-Engineering-David-M-Pozar/dp/0470631554/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324903362&sr=8-1

Gray and Meyer for actives: http://www.amazon.com/Microwave-Engineering-David-M-Pozar/dp/0470631554/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324903362&sr=8-1

http://www.microwaves101.com if you are poor.

Ok...

Mean while might I suggest you give something like this a read.

https://www.amazon.ca/Microwave-Engineering-David-M-Pozar/dp/0470631554