<p>Was thinking about majoring in structural engineering and wanted to know if it was hard in today's economy to find a job in that field</p>
<p>If you were graduating today, I would say yes. But most likely, you will get a master’s degree (there’s just too much to learn about structures for a BS to be sufficient), so you won’t be looking for a job for quite a few years. It’s more important to pick a major based on your interests. Do you like problem solving and puzzles? You also have to enjoy figuring out lots of details - there are a lot of connections in buildings!</p>
<p>Yes I do like solving puzzles. The school I was looking at has structural engineering as a major but would you suggest majoring in civil engineering first and then get a masters in structural engineering?</p>
<p>You should learn about all of the civil areas in UG, then decide. Because if you do not like studying beams all your life, then you shouldn’t decide so quickly.</p>
<p>Jobs are not hard as long as you have good grades. Most people that whine about engineering can’t get job have bad GPA. Trust me, you get a job easier when you are an engineer, there are too much business majors and science majors out there compared to engineers.</p>
<p>I am a retired structural engineer. I got a degree in Civil E with an emphasis on structural analysis with a minor in materials. Never worked a day for a true civil engineering company. Went to work right out of school in the aerospace world doing structural engineering on space hardware. Interesting to note that NASA and their contractors hire a lot of civil structural engineers for their structural analysis staff (not all civils, but a lot). Later the company I worked for used some of it’s space power knowledge to enter some ground based power projects and finally got some “civil” engineering in.</p>
<p>If you like structural eningeering, go for it. As stated above, opportunities are not just limited to the civil world. Be a good engineer, of any kind, and you’ll always be able to find work.</p>
<p>I’m in structural and I really like it. Structural interesting field as it’s under civil but a lot of times can be considered it’s own field. I know aerospace companies, oil companies, chemical companies and many more types of companies hire structural. I get good grades at a top 15 program and have gotten a lot of calls back and interviews for internships being structural, which is a nice sign. </p>
<p>Also, a lot of times structural is under civil. So if you get a degree in “Structural Engineering” you get a degree in “Civil Engineering with an Emphasis in Structural”. Also, if you want to get your masters in structural, it might be a good idea to put your emphasis as structural in your undergraduate. As a lot of branches of civil does not require you too take prestressed concrete and steel design while structural does.</p>
<p>Structural and transportation/infrastructure, which one has a better job future?
I am doing structural right now, but I really enjoy both. I do plan on getting masters so I have to decide soon.</p>
<p>Can’t really tell. Both have safe futures. Just have to pick which one you prefer. Do you want to be in charge of the analysis of the framework and concrete for structure? Or do you want to be more in charge of the layout and systems of transportation?</p>
<p>Can you define safe future for transportation? Is there a lot of transportation companies and projects? I am a junior right now, will be getting at least masters so earliest I get out of school is 2015. Because some grad students tell me transportation is hard to find jobs.</p>
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A degree in civil engineering is trash, be it a structural or transportation. Environmental may be a bit better, but the pay sux so bad you’re gonna regret it. Geospatial is also in the crap cuz there’s not a lot of development, and the only ones hiring are gov’t - thats if u can a land a gov’t job when they’re shrinking…
Collecting the experience needed for the PE test is gonna be tough in this economy or in the forseable future.
Yet you’re gonna be competing with under/un employed civils with PEs some with MS or even PHDs.
If I could do it all over again I’d do ME or EE. I personally know 1 ME and 1 EE who got their masters in civils, but not the other way around.</p>
<p>“Trash??” You shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet, I guess!</p>
<p>Last time I checked, ME makes about the same as Civil.</p>
<p>That guys spelling should give you an indication on how good his information is. It’s interesting because he says a degree in ME is better, but often times Structural Engineering is actually considered a sub field of Mechanical Engineering. A structural engineer fresh out of college will not make as much as a Mechanical Engineer, at least at my school. Structural Engineering has a lot of risk involved and when you are out of college, you will be working under a Professional Engineer. If you graduate and then get your PE, you will be making at ME salaries or above. The professional engineering license in structural engineering is your ticket to making money and opening your own practice.</p>
<p>[Average</a> Mechanical Engineer IV Salary Information plus Job, Career Education & Unemployment Help](<a href=“http://www1.salary.com/Mechanical-Engineer-IV-salary.html]Average”>Mechanical Engineer IV Salary | Salary.com)
[Average</a> Structural Engineer IV Salary Information plus Job, Career Education & Unemployment Help](<a href=“http://www1.salary.com/Structural-Engineer-IV-salary.html]Average”>Structural Engineer IV Salary | Salary.com)</p>
<p>Check those out. I’m not saying that is 100% correct, but it goes with a lot of other things I’ve looked at. I was a bit worried about the salary as well, but after research, you are right there with ME.</p>
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Definitely no, especially when one is too out of touch with reality. As I said many times, and I will say again, there are many PHDs with PEs and years of experience who are un/underemployed, and I know many personally. We received 100s of such resumes just for a $15/hr summer internship this summer.</p>
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yes, but my point is that MEs can go back for an MSCE much more easier than the other way around, giving you a broader opportunity. My anecdotal examples are two of my coworkers, one an ME one an EE, both went back for their MSCE. Both has PEs in two disciplines. The ME who went back for his civil is los angeles city engineer.</p>
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Err… it should be “that guy’s spelling”.
Secondly, using ad-hominem to discredit me is low.
Lemme guess, you’re probably still a college student with ZERO experience in the field…
OK… in that case come back and let us know after you finish your school and have a few years of experience working in the field… It is true that they say, experience is the best teacher…</p>
<p>Yes, experience is the best teacher. I’ve been a structural engineer for 25 years. It’s an excellent field. I don’t know any unemployed engineers, by the way.</p>
<p>[25</a> college majors with lowest unemployment rates - CBS News](<a href=“http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505145_162-57324669/25-college-majors-with-lowest-unemployment-rates/?tag=contentMain;contentBody]25”>http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505145_162-57324669/25-college-majors-with-lowest-unemployment-rates/?tag=contentMain;contentBody)</p>
<p>ME is #12 on the list with a 3.8% unemployment rate.
CE is #24 with 4.9%.
EE is #25 with 5.0%</p>
<p>If you’re a decent student, you shouldn’t have a problem with any of these majors.</p>
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<p>Internet is serious business man. </p>
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<p>I have a structural engineering internship this summer lined up if that counts. </p>
<p>Good numbers right there by MaineLonghorn shows CVEN isn’t too shabby.</p>
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That’s good! Be grateful!</p>
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I really have a problem with the studies. They didn’t tell you how they came up with the numbers. </p>
<p>According to BLS the number of employment for:
Civil engineers - 278,400
Mechanical engineers - 238,700
Electrical engineers - 157,800
Environmental engineers - 54,300</p>
<p>On the other hand, a search on indeed.com as of 11/22/11 found openings for:
CE - 10,000+
ME - 42,000+
EE - 45,000+
EnvE - 15,000+</p>
<p>So I’m still scratching my head on how cbs came up with their numbers because from MY perspective, it looks pretty bad to me…</p>
<p>Jobs for transportation engineering graduates??? how is their job outlook specifically for transport related graduates…Do private firms hire them??</p>