<p>could any of you guys explain the difference between Chemical Engineering and Materials Engineering?</p>
<p>both the majors kind of seem alike.</p>
<p>They are, and they're not.</p>
<p>As a General Engineer, I'll give you a general answer. ;) Materials Engineers deal more with the mechanical properties of materials and their applications in structures big and small. Chemical engineers deal more with the chemical makeup of materials and their use in non-structural capacities.</p>
<p>Still, the line between them can be pretty damned blurry at times, especially when you get into things like structural composites, which blend the two disciplines to the point you can't distinguish between them anymore.</p>
<p>you are a General Engineer?</p>
<p>So, what did you major in?</p>
<p>B.S. in General Engineering
M.S. in Industrial Engineering</p>
<p>oh, i didn't know there was a "general engineering" major.
What college did you go to?</p>
<p>my school has a major called "engineering science", its basically general engineering, i presume.</p>
<p>Since you have a Masters in I E, i have a question related to that field.
How is the growth of demand in that field?
I heard the manufacturing industry wasn't doing so well.
but i heard there is still demand in I E.</p>
<p>Zaphod, are you in consulting?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Zaphod, are you in consulting?
[/quote]
I was a hair over 2 years ago, but only very briefly. Great money, but I wasn't ready for the responsibilities of running my own business, nor did I have the experience level I considered necessary to really make a long-term run at it. It solved my short-term problems, and I can see myself doing it in the future as I near retirement, which won't be for another 15 years or so.</p>
<p>
[quote]
oh, i didn't know there was a "general engineering" major.
What college did you go to?
[/quote]
Annapolis.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Since you have a Masters in I E, i have a question related to that field.
How is the growth of demand in that field?
I heard the manufacturing industry wasn't doing so well.
but i heard there is still demand in I E.
[/quote]
Well, I'm no expert in the field in terms of demand, but I've not had any difficulty finding work. While manufacturing "may not be doing well", the skills of an IE are useful for more than just manufacturing. In my case, I do Quality Assurance and compliance in the Medical Device and Diagnostics industry. The skills I learned while getting my MSIE help me design solid Quality and Business Systems, and to find opportunities for improvement both in those systems and on the production floor. They also helped me while getting my Six Sigma Black Belt.</p>
<p>The MBA helps, too, because it helps give you the dollar side of engineering decisions.</p>