<p>I’m going to college next year and major in civil engineering? is it really that bad? i heard that there will be more jobs in later years because of all the “baby-boomers” retiring and stuff… plus, does it depend on your specialization? I want to specialize in transportation and since the roads in the US are like crap… we should have enough jobs for a lot of people right?</p>
<p>What can people do with a civil engineering degree outside of the civil eng. field?</p>
<p>It’s bad right now, but 4-5 years down the road, when current HS seniors will be looking for jobs, the economy may get better. That’s a very long time and its hard to predict. Four or five years ago, those who decided on majoring in civil engineering made that decision during a major building boom in the city. I couldn’t walk down a street without seeing a crane back then. Nobody predicted this country would be in the situation we’re in now.</p>
<p>Things are starting to look a little better now. NYU just announced a $6 billion plan to expand its campus by 40% over the next two decades. Columbia already started on their own $6 billion expansion recently, and that work is expected to last over the next 20 years as well. Ratner just broke ground on his Atlantic Yards last month. Contracts are in the process of being awarded for the ARC tunnels.</p>
<p>Yes, the immediate future isn’t looking too good for those currently looking for jobs, and the economy has a ways to go before it’s back on its feet. But what about 5 years from now? I am concerned, but I don’t believe the sky is falling.</p>
<p>The roads and rails are in pretty bad shape in this country, but the tricky part is getting the money to fix the deteriorating infrastructure. It’s pretty dependent on politics since it’s mostly government funded.</p>
<p>I know civil engineering majors who went on to law school, urban planning, business, and investment banking.</p>
<p>@ken285, thanks for the information! really helpful!</p>
<p>could you tell me more about those other jobs? (law school, urban planning, business…) like, what can people do? are the jobs somewhat related to civil engineering? or is it just the critical thinking?</p>
<p>They’re unrelated to civil engineering.</p>
<p>Environmental engineering is becoming a big field. I am planning on specializing in water resources. I figure everyone will always need water. Both these fields are related to civil engineering.</p>
<p>that’s depressing :(</p>
<p>By the way Hofstra does have a Civil Engineering department, I graduated from there in 2009</p>