<p>Ive been interested in aerospace for a while now, so Im leaning on that as my major for the moment. But I would like to know how are the job prospects outside the aerospace industry after college? It seems like aerospace is such a specialized field and Im worried that the only jobs I will be qualified for are going to be in that specific sector, which is so small and declining. Ive heard about engineering student getting jobs in the finance sector, does that apply for aerospace engineering students too? Does aero offer the same versatility as a civil or mechanical degree?</p>
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<p>And there you have it. It IS a specialized field. There aren’t a ton of jobs outside aerospace and automotive for aerospace engineers, but there are some. The finance sector DOES apply to aerospace engineers, but it isn’t a job that everyone would like.</p>
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<p>Did you research that quote before you said it? Just because things like the constellation program are getting cancelled doesn’t mean that aerospace is dead or dying. It is still a huge field and one of the major sources of advanced technology that eventually makes its way into consumer products after being developed for planes or spacecraft.</p>
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<p>No. Aerospace engineering is essentially a specialized form of mechanical engineering, and as such, it will not be as broad or versatile. My advice to people is if you are 100% set on entering the aerospace field, then go ahead and do aerospace engineering since it prepares you best for that area. If there is any doubt in your mind, go for mechanical engineering since it is a nearly identical set of classes and subjects, just with a broader focus than just planes. That allows you to go into more fields while still having plenty of a chance to get into aerospace. I did mechanical engineering in undergrad and am now doing my Ph.D. in aerospace engineering.</p>
<p>^ This is why I always suggest that a BMechE be considered as a first degree…along with Aero electives…if you are interested in aerospace. You can always specialize in grad school.</p>
<p>I have a question also: if you were to specialize in the aerodynamics in the aerospace engineering discipline, would this be applicable as far as civil engineering goes as well? Are there other specializations that are cross-disciplinary that would be more versatile than something that only dealt with aeronautical structures?</p>
<p>I’m interested in structures a bit, but what I’m really wondering about is aerodynamics and propulsion/engines. Would you be able to simply apply for another job if you were previously working on rocket engines (let’s say) to a place where they build automobiles? And maybe even to some place where they use stationary engines to do… hell I don’t know (saw it in PopMech magazine once)?</p>
<p>I would suggest to start with ME undergrad and go from there.</p>
<p>Aerodynamics is really useful for two things… aerospace and automobiles. The fluid mechanics applied to civil engineering is a different focus and set of principles than in aerospace, so while you could make the jump between the two, you would probably have to do some on-the-job training to retool your aerodynamics mindset to accommodate the civil fluid mechanics application. Pure fluid mechanics is also a somewhat small part of civil engineering, so I don’t know how in demand pure fluid mechanicists would even be in the civil engineering world.</p>
<p>I’d do mechanical engineering as an undergraduate to keep your options open.</p>
<p>Here’s my path:</p>
<ul>
<li>Mechanical Engineering undergraduate</li>
<li>MS Mechanical Engineering at University of Washington (in progress)</li>
<li>Astronautics and Aeronautics at Stanford (planned after completion of my MSME)</li>
</ul>
<p>I think that should give me a good skillset in both general mechanical engineering and good specilization in aerospace</p>
<p>I see the wisdom in being a mech. major, but I really like aerospace engineering and the field really motivates me. I’m also interested in cars (and bullet trains, since the State of the Union Address…), I’m fascinated with engines. What I’d really like to know is if working with rocket engines is really all that different from working with car engines (or other types of engines). This way, I could study what I really enjoy as well as keep my options open, just incase.</p>
<p>Rocket engines and auto engines are quite different.</p>
<p>Hadsed,</p>
<p>Rocket engines are essentially turbine engines, as are train engines, combined cycle engines power generation engines, and jet aircraft engines. You also find these in Abrahms tanks. I consider this to be “high dollar” engines that usually require highly trained mechanics and lots of engineering hours to design and maintain.</p>
<p>Internal combustion engines and diesel engines operate on a much different principal and of course are much more common. While engineering skill is usually required for design, I consider this to be “low dollar” engines because they are widespread and oftentimes are maintained by somebody with much less specialization / skill (such as a homeowner or carowner).</p>
<p>Ah, that’s embarrassing because I knew some of that. But thanks for clarifying, it did help.</p>
<p>Do mechanical engineers specialize even to what sort of engines they work on? If so, would you think if I wanted to work on the supposed ‘top dollar’ type engines, would I be better served with an AeroE degree?</p>
<p>hadsed, you are talking about stuff that is concerned with grad school…this is a popular misconception of engineering…students come in with preconceived notions of what engineers do and almost all of the time these are things that require grad school…you will not need to chose specifically until much later on…like upon entering M.S. </p>
<p>I should note that if you’re interested in the Aero E side of things than as an ME you would want to excel in the thermo fluid sciences coursework and take Heat Transfer early on so your eligible to delegate your tech electives to advanced coursework in fluids,computational modeling, IC Engine design, turbomachinary, etc…</p>
<p>You can do the work you want with either a ME or AE degree. Both will serve you well, but a ME is more broad.</p>
<p>And yes, you specialize. The guy that designs the geometry of the turbine blades for an engine is usually not the guy that designs the fire protection system or the guy that designs the fuel pump or the bleed air valves.</p>
<p>Actually aerodynamics plays a pretty big role in Civil Engineering at times. Aeroelastic instability (flutter) of bridges (tacoma narrows) or vortex shedding (john hancock) are examples of how important it can be!</p>
<p>Rocket engines are NOT turbine engines, bigtrees. A rocket engine has no cycle, it just ignites the fuel, forces the exhaust though a nozzle and uses that as pure thrust. There is no turbine in the exhaust to siphon off power or anything like that.</p>
<p>A gas turbine runs off of a modified Brayton cycle, a car engine runs an Otto cycle and a diesel engine runs a Diesel cycle.</p>
<p>Also, if you really do plan to get a Ph.D. in aero at Stanford after your MS, it really isn’t going to matter one bit where your other degrees are from or what subject they are in. Ph.D. degrees are such a specialized degree that talking about being well-rounded is a bit of an
oxymoron. At that level, you are banking on specialization.</p>
<p>Also, while aerodynamics plays a role in civil, it is still a small part in the grand scheme of civil engineering and as such I am not sure what kind of jobs are available to a pure aerodynamicist withing the civil industry.</p>
<p>Actually my degree from Stanford will be another MS, not a PhD. I don’t plan on pursuing a PhD.</p>
<p>Why on earth would you need 2 M.S. degrees? haha</p>
<p>I don’t “need” any MS degrees. I have gainful employment as an aerospace engineer right now with just my BS.</p>
<p>My company will pay for the MS degrees that I’m pursuing, so they’re free. I figure if I can get a MSAA at Stanford or a MSME from University of Washington for free, that’s a good deal I should take advantage of.</p>
<p>But why both? Seems… redundant, especially since both are non-thesis.</p>