<p>At University of Waterloo (Canada), they offer a nanotech engineering program. I'm quite curious about it and is very eager to apply to that program rather than my original choice, chemical engineering. However, I'm not too sure about job security. Nanotech is a new field and the demand for people is high, but I think nanotech isn't developed enough in Canada to provide me with job security.</p>
<p>Should I go for chemical engineering and hope that one day I may be able to switch fields to nanotech engineering? Or should I take a risk and pursue a career in this new field? Additional information on nanotechnology in terms of job prospects is welcome.</p>
<p>I would suggest majoring in a more traditional engineering field such as electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, or chemical engineering, so you have more flexibility in terms of jobs. If you choose to go to grad school, that's when you should specialize.</p>
<p>I agree with im_blue as well. Beware these trendy majors, such as biomedical engineering and nanotech. If it is going to last for real, then there are always graduate school opportunites. If not, your mainstream engineering major will be valuable.</p>
<p>Adding my voice to the chorus of those who are opposed to chic majors. Engineering is not a sexy field. Engineers aren't about trendiness. They want to know what courses you took, how hard you worked, and what you know. A "cool" major isn't going to get that for you.</p>
<p>My degree is in chemical engineering (well, one of them is in chemE ;) ). I worked as a nanotechnologist. The other people in the nano group were all chemEs, EEs, or mat. sci. undergrad. Just a thought.</p>
<p>You can always go from chemE to nanotech (perhaps more easily than someone with a nanotech degree), but you can't go from nanotech to the traditional chemE fields. Generally, it's best to specialize in grad school and go for the hot fields then. Have undergrad as a meat-and-potatoes field.</p>