<p>I'm a structural engineering student but my main interests is in structural analysis. I like all the classes I've taken besides design, with my favorite being structural analysis and finite element analysis. I like them because I like programming and analysis. I don't like design, to me it is just looking up tables and crunching numbers. I don't think I'd like construction either because of my interests.</p>
<p>I'm starting to think that I'd be happier working on other like aerospace and automobile applications where analysis seems more vital. </p>
<p>I know I want to do grad school but now I'm torn between focusing on earthquake engineering and solid mechanics/finite element analysis. For the former I can pursue consulting and for the latter, aerospace firms but I'm not really sure what they entail. </p>
<p>From this I have was hoping for some insight on anyone who has had the same feeligns/experience. Also, what kind of jobs have you civil/structural engineers have and what did it entail (including the aerospace structure ones)? And, If I do make the transition into ther aerospace sector, then what classes would you reccomend? Like thermo, fluids, etc.</p>
<p>I am a structural engineering grad student beginning school this fall. I can relate to some of your concerns about which areas of emphasis to pursue. Personally, I always liked the connection between analysis, design, and construction, so choosing an emphasis was pretty tough. I guess what I can offer is that if you're going for a master's program, a lot of schools have enough leverage in your course selection that you can overlap a bit and get a broader taste of everything. </p>
<p>Also, you mention choosing between earthquake engineering and FE analysis. Some schools I visited (like UIUC) have excellent programs that combine the best of both worlds, so that might be an option. I also toyed with the idea of working as a structural engineer on space shuttles/aircraft, and I would recommend taking any courses on computational structural mechanics and fundamentals of aerodynamics (anything that covers types of flow/Navier-Stokes).</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Feel free to PM me so we can discuss this further. But a large part of my undergrad was finite element analysis and its something I will be pursuing in structural engineering grad school as a tool for research. You don't have to go into aerospace engineering. There are in fact structural engineering firms such as SGH that have an engineering mechanics division that has people doing computational mechanics and full blown finite element analysis (without 2D frame simplifications you might find in typical undergrad structural analysis classes)of buildings and resulting complex nonlinear load interactions.</p>
<p>If you're interested in aerospace type stuff, I would suggest a course in aeroelasticity (combines fluid-structure interactions) and perhaps composite materials. Also, depending on what you've learned in your undergraduate work, I would also consider taking an applied FEM course, where you are taught the use of specific programs such as ANSYS, ABAQUS or NASTRAN (developed for NASA). </p>
<p>As much as you dislike design work, it may be worth while to get some basic understanding of Pro|E because it ties into ProMechanica (which can be used for basic linear FEA analysis). Many firms like to use this CAD program for this reason, as it is often difficult to import CAD designs into the abovementioned programs.</p>
<p>Plus, if you go into aerospace engineering you automatically become qualified to say: "it's not rocket science".</p>
<p>One more thing: If you plan on working in the American aerospace industry, it helps significantly if you are an American citizen or you have PR. This is due to issues pertaining to security clearances, and the difficulty/expense of getting visas for foreign workers.</p>