<p>Well, all engineering majors require multivariable calculus at a bare minimum, he will also take a differential equations class, and probably a statistics class, he may also have to take a linear algebra class, discrete mathematical structures class, etc. But he may not, depends on his major. I’m a physics and compE major, I have to take half the math classes a full-on mathematics major takes, and what math major classes I don’t take I’ll probably study the material anyway in my physics and engineering classes.</p>
<p>Regardless of what engineering branch he goes into, basic competence in multivariable calculus and differential equations is a must to get through school. Once he’s out of school, he may find he only uses a fraction of the math he learned in any job he got. Virtually every problem he’ll have to solve in all his engineering classes are word problems in math and science.</p>
<p>My first attempt at college, years ago, I was turned off by all of the math. I had to grow up and mature and develop an interest in math which stemmed from my growing interest in physics and science. Until you get to calculus and understand its uses in science, it’s hard to get excited about math. Up to then, math seems to be all about arithmetic and algebra and word problems about moving trains and buying things on sale, etc.</p>
<p>Engineering technology, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH BONA FIDE ENGINEERING, is another type of undergrad degree which prepares you for a job as a technologist. You may work in quality assurance, testing machines, servicing and programming machines, etc. Think of engineering as being a doctor, and engineering technology as being a nurse. The division of labor is similar. It’s a growing field, and a lot of engineering technology majors are getting jobs as engineers (I’m talking introductory level engineering positions, not head of R&D at Intel). It’s not a bad degree, so long as you understand the limits of what you’re getting into.</p>
<p>Here is what engineering technology doesn’t prepare you for:</p>
<p>–the higher math necessary for many engineering positions, especially research and development positions
–the heavier theoretical foundations in science necessary for many engineering positions</p>
<p>ET has almost all of its emphasis on existing technology. A job in EET, electrial engineering technology, would get you a job programming and testing the embedded systems on a big machine or working on the electrical system of a big building. But an actual engineering major is the one who designed the microchips and the manufacturing machinery where the circuits were fabricated.</p>
<p>If you go to Devry, for example, you’ll study ET, not bona fide engineering. It doesn’t hurt to call up some of the companies your son is interested in working for, asking to speak to somebody in HR about the sort of jobs they do and the sort of people they hire, and ask what type of educational background is adequate.</p>