<p>Is it good to major in a more specialized engineering field and go "all the way" in that field (e.g., aeronautical/aerospace engineering), or to major in a general engineering field (e.g., mechanical engineering), and minor in a "specialization"?</p>
<p>My advice (take with a grain of salt... I have a PhD in Astrophysics, but have MANY friends in engineering):</p>
<p>At the UNDERGRAD level, it's best to major in one of the broad engineering disciplines (mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical),
and either minor in a specialized field, or take a bunch of classes in that specialty (bio, aero, enviro, nano, etc).</p>
<p>It's better to get a broad engineering background in undergrad, and specialize in graduate school.</p>
<p>Thanx. That's what I was thinking, but I'll wait for some other replies, to see pros and cons of either side...</p>
<p>I agree...stay broad in your undergrad and focus more in grad work. It will give you time to be certain of what you like and give you a good base of knowledge.</p>
<p>I like the whole more general curriculum route. I'm doing it myself with ChemE major and BioE minor. But if you really have your heart set on an area, it is alright to take it. But if you really don't know stick with the more broad curriculums.</p>
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But if you really have your heart set on an area, it is alright to take it.
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<p>Agreed. My boyfriend has been a huge airplane nerd since he was very little, so it makes sense for him to be an aero/astro major as an undergrad.</p>
<p>At the same time, any good undergraduate aero/astro program will teach its undergrads everything a typical mech e major would know.</p>
<p>Well, I wouldn't say that an Aero program would teach everything an ME would know, but it does hit some ME subjects.</p>