<p>I know that lower div science and engineering degrees are pretty much similar, although science majors often can take the easier versions of calculus and physics, except the physics majors. For this reason, let's compare the curriculum of physics/other hard sciences to engineering. I've heard that engineering is vocational: what makes it so? I know how accounting and nursing are vocational, but I don't understand how Engineering is vocational, due to how much theory engineers must learn. Because the lower division classes are similar, how are the upper division courses of science majors alike/different from the the upper division courses of engineering majors?</p>
<p>Whoops. I should have titled this thread " How are Science and Engineering degrees different?"</p>
<p>In an engineering curriculum, you will take courses that are very specific and focused on the field of engineering you are studying. You will also have a capstone design course at the end of the degree. For physics, in particular, you will study a broad range of fields which touch on the areas of a number of engineering degrees. A physics curriculum will have Classical dynamics (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering), Electrodynamics (Electrical Engineering), Computational physics (Computer Science), Statistical physics (Chemical Engineering), and Quantum mechanics. Physics degrees are usually also less packed and have free electives so you can have a minor relatively painlessly.</p>
<p>I would not say that Engineering is “vocational”, rather it is a “professional” degree. Lots of engineering majors follow up by studying for the Professional Engineer exam. While I like to say that a physics major is capable of doing well in an engineering job (across a number of disciplines), he/she will be missing the specific coursework that employers often are looking for in a first time employee.</p>
<p>Finally, physics is perhaps the worst hard science to compare to engineering simply because there exists an ABET accredited major called Engineering Physics, which combines physics with some more specific engineering courses.</p>
<p>The difference between science and engineering:</p>
<p>Science = studying the natural world as it is and making discoveries about it
Engineering = solving design problems using principles from science and math</p>
<p>Of course, engineers need scientists to discover properties of the natural world that can be helpful in solving design problems, and scientists need engineers to design things that will help them discover properties of the natural world.</p>