<p>I'm at a crossroad where I must decide which major to pursue between CE or PE. I really have no idea which engineering but I do know that I'd prefer hands on. So that would leave me with either CE or PE. For CE, the curriculum is much easier, less chem and physics.</p>
<p>How is the future for CE and PE? If I graduate with PE degree, would that guarantee me a job? Penn State advertised that PE graduate is 100% placement.</p>
<p>Only if you’re interested in the refining process. If you’re more interested in the actual extraction, a petroleum engineering major makes perfect sense.</p>
<p>You have significantly more flexibility in location for civil engineering than petroleum engineering. Other than that, it’s more about what you like better. If you’re not sure, then research both fields in depth. </p>
<p>And nothing in life is 100% guaranteed. Penn State may have had some years where they did have 100% placement, but that doesn’t mean you will get a job for sure.</p>
<p>PetE right now is certainly different than that hiring at the end of 2007. If you graduated in June 2008 with a PetE degree, it’s quite possible you did not have a job.</p>
<p>Anyone worried about civil being easier shouldn’t go ChemE.</p>
<p>The 2 are quite different. Recognize that for PetE, you will be going to where oil is being drilled. For Civil, work is everywhere, but I think pay has been lower for them forever.</p>
<p>I read somewhere that Civil E is currently at 14% unemployment, the highest field to be unemployed at the moment? I also did a quick search for jobs on monster and seems like the majority are hiring industrial engineering (IMO, easiest curriculum of all engineering). PE is specialized so I think they recruit through campuses.</p>
<p>I’m not sure about civil engineering specifically, but the construction industry as a whole is at 18%. Based on that, I would guess civil engineering would be significantly less than that (though still high).</p>