I like Sound and Acoustics. What major is right for me?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Ok so I am really interested in Acoustical engineering. My main interests do not really involve focus on the technology and hardware of sound. I'm guessing they focus on that in like Electrical Engineering with a focus on signal processing. </p>

<p>What I'm actually interested in is more like architectural acoustics and others similar to that. Environmental acoustic control, noise reduction, make a room have echo etc. etc. What sort of Engineering major is most similar to that or focuses on that aspect?</p>

<p>I'm only applying to universities in California and almost all of them don't really have Acoustical Engineering as a selection, but I'd like to do the most similar thing. Any suggestions on major and/or university (California only)?</p>

<p>Thank You!!!</p>

2

<p>I think mechanical engineering would be a good option. Acoustics is a specialized branch of fluid dynamics where you are dealing with a compressible fluid and the displacements are small and oscillatory in character. In this case, the equations linearize and things like “modes of vibration” and acoustic transfer functions can be computed. This is all in the domain of mechanical engineering (or even aero). Electrical, not so much…but that would certainly cover the signal processing side (though MechE would too). HTH.</p>